About Anne Marie
Anne Marie Schiller is a 30-year advertising and marketing professional with more than 20 years within Omnicom’s RAPP network. Based in Dallas, she brings a wealth of strategic marketing, change management and producer experience to her current role as Global Chief of Client Operations, supporting clients and serving our global network.
Schiller’s client management experience spans multiple categories, including healthcare, automotive, telecommunications, technology, retail and travel. She spent several years managing brands such as Toyota, HP, Bank of America, DIRECTV and AT&T, delivering high levels of personalization and data-driven creativity.
She is a recognized expert in demand generation and loyalty marketing. Her passion is to provide a balanced perspective to solving both marketing and operational objectives, ultimately delivering sustainable growth. Schiller holds an advertising degree from MSU with master certifications in Change Management and SCRUM
About Merri Jo
Merri Jo Bales is vice president and strategic director of University Communications at MSU. In this role, Bales directs a strategic, coordinated and proactive approach to communications and public relations, overseeing the work of two teams, Marketing, Public Relations and Digital Strategy, and Media and Public Information.
Bales recently completed a 27-year career with Consumers Energy where she ultimately was responsible for establishing, expanding and aligning the strategy function and for executive communication. Prior to joining Consumers Energy, Merri Jo was executive director of the Michigan Sesquicentennial, the commemoration of Michigan’s 150th anniversary of statehood.
During her career, Bales has gained extensive experience in public relations, internal communication, media relations and crisis communication, as well as strategic planning and major program development.
A 1977 graduate of MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Bales is among the college’s Distinguished Alumni and has served on the executive board for the MSU International Alumni Association and the ComArtSci alumni board.