Officers
President
Patricia Szpekowski, APR
- PR Strategies & Communications, Inc.
- 847-468-0210 / pmsadv@sbcglobal.net
- Term expires 2024
1st Vice President
John Lampinen
- jlampinen@dailyherald.com
- Term expires 2022
2nd Vice President
Sharon Boehlefeld
- sboehlefeld@gmail.com
- Term expires 2024
Treasurer
Dan Campana
- Communications Senior Manager, Emergency Nurses Association
- Contact: dan@dancamcom.biz
- Term expires 2023
Past President
Dan Campana
Executive Secretary
Jason Akst
- NIU Dept. of Communication
- Contact: jakst@niu.edu
Communications Coordinator
Shelley Hendricks
- Adviser, Northern Star, NIU
- Contact: 815-753-4239 / shendricks@niu.edu
NINA Board members
Dennis Anderson
- Shaw Media
- Contact: danderson@shawmedia.com
- Term expires 2022
Donnell Collins
Jay Dickerson
- The Galena Gazette, Galena
- 815-777-0019 / jdickerson@galgazette.com
- Term expires 2024
Anne Halston
- Chicago Tribune
- ahalston@chicagotribune.com
- Term expires 2024
Cristi Kempf
- Writer, editor, communications consultant
- Cristi3906@gmail.com
- Term expires 2024
Margarita Mendoza
- El Observador, 555 Colman Center Drive, Rockford, IL 61108
- Contact: 815-399-4300; mmendoza@rockforddiocese.org
- Term expires 2024
Rick Nagel
- Kane County Connects
- ricknagel23@gmail.com
- Term expires 2022
Tom Parisi
- Northern Illinois University Division of Marketing and Communications
- (815) 753-3635 / tparisi@niu.edu
- Term expires 2022
Roger Ruthhart
- The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus
- (309) 736-3517 / roger.ruthhart@gmail.com
- Term expires 2022
Penny Wiegert
- The Observer, Rockford Diocese
- (815) 399-4300 / pwiegert@rockforddiocese.org
- Term expires 2023
Committees
2021 NINA Committee Assignments
Contest Committee
- Chair: Jay Dickerson
- Nagel, Hendricks, Szpekowski, Akst, Kempf, Ruthhart
Education Committee
- Chair:
- Ruthhart, Parisi, Hendricks, Akst, Nagel
Membership Committee
- Chair: Open
- Campana, Mendoza, Wiegert, Lampinen, Dickerson
Outreach Committee
- Chair: Pat Szpekowski
- Nagel, Campana, Kempf, Wiegert
Training Committee
- Chair: Tom Parisi
- Mendoza, Lampinen
NINA Board Terms
Bylaws: No fewer than 15, each to serve 3-year terms
Class of 2023 (6)
Penny Wiegert
Open
Dan Campana
Open
Open
Class of 2022 (5)
- Roger Ruthhart
- Tom Parisi
- Margarita Mendoza
- John Lampinen
- Dennis Anderson
Class of 2024 (5)
- Donnell Collins
- Jay Dickerson
- Pat Szpekowski
- Rick Nagel
- Anne Halston
- Cristi Kempf
Jason Akst and Shelley Hendricks are appointed to their positions and do not serve terms.
Northern Illinois Newspaper Association 