Board of Directors
President
Chrystal Neely
Target
Chrystal serves as president, leading board planning and meetings, setting expectations, and overseeing all board activities. She keeps members informed, provides resources, recruits volunteers, and creates development opportunities to strengthen board performance. An IABC member since 2017, she previously served as Vice President, Professional Development, leading the planning of virtual, hybrid, and in-person events to connect members and build their capabilities.
Chrystal is Lead, U.S. Internal Communications at UCB, where she develops and executes strategies that drive employee engagement, support change management, and ensure consistent messaging. She has held communications roles at the American Diabetes Association, Morehouse School of Medicine, Acuity Brands, and Target. Chrystal is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and CALIBR. An award-winning communications professional, she has served on the IABC Grant Selection Task Force and participated in the 2020 Inspire Atlanta Leadership Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina-Columbia and an MBA from Brenau University.
Vice President, Professional Development
Katy Griggs
Common Thread Studio
Katy Griggs serves as the chair of the Professional Development Committee on the IABC Atlanta board, a role that signifies her commitment to continuous learning and development in the communications field. Her involvement in IABC Atlanta spans well over a decade and includes previous stints as co-chair of the Professional Development Committee, as well as a member of the Awards & Amusements committee.
Katy is a senior communications leader with a passion for excellent storytelling. With more than 25 years of experience in the technology, fintech, banking and automotive industries, she is known for her ability to connect the dots across business lines and influence positive outcomes. Most recently, she founded Common Thread Studio, a communications consulting business. Prior to launching her own practice, Katy held internal communications consulting roles at Gallagher and Cox Automotive. She also spent eight years at Elavon, a global payments processor, where she established the inaugural North America Customer Communications team and expanded into multiple communications disciplines.
Vice President, Awards and Amusements
Eric Berrios
5 Part Strategy
Eric Berrios is an independent brand strategist with over 25 years of integrated marketing experience in B2B, spanning brand approach all the way through to marketing activation and sales effectiveness. Eric had worked in agency life for most of his career as head of client services for a range of clients and businesses before splintering off in 2019. Now, he works as a fractional CMO for a limited number of clients while supporting a small boutique agency as in-house strategist and advisor.
An avid environmentalist and supporter of causes, Eric treats work as his practical means to fund his gardening habits. As a board member of IABC, Eric has served and managed Professional Recognition for a decade promoting the Golden Flames Awards.
Vice President, Membership
Carmen Jones
Slalom Consulting
Carmen Jones is a senior communications leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations communicate through growth, change, and transformation. She is currently an executive and internal communications leader at Slalom, a professional services consulting company, where she advises on communications strategy, executive messaging, employee engagement, and the role of AI in shaping the future of work.
Carmen is known for her thoughtful counsel and ability to turn complex business priorities into clear, human-centered communications. Her work helps leaders build trust, create clarity, and bring people along during moments of change. Her career has included investor relations communications and engagement for Anheuser-Busch/InBev in London, followed by communications work in Atlanta for organizations including Truist Bank, Delta Air Lines, Syniverse, Genesys, Nouryon, Rocket Software, and BrandSafway.
Carmen earned a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and holds continuing education certificates in project management, digital marketing, and crisis and change communications.
Chapter Administrator
Jackie Fogas
Jackie Fogas Consulting
Jackie Fogas provides project management and administrative support for IABC Atlanta, helping the chapter stay organized and responsive. Much of that work happens behind the scenes, from supporting board operations and member updates to coordinating with vendors, tracking engagement, and keeping event information current. She also volunteers with the Professional Development Committee to support programs that help communicators learn from one another and make meaningful professional connections.
Jackie is a communications consultant with experience in internal communications, employee engagement, employer brand, editorial content, and nonprofit donor communications. Her background includes national magazine publishing, corporate communications, and mission-driven work. She brings a strong editorial eye to her work, along with a practical understanding of how clear communication helps people stay informed, connected, and focused on what matters.
