Communicators of the Year

2007 Communicator of the Year

New York IABC is pleased to announce that Jon C. Iwata, Senior Vice President, Communications, IBM Corporation has been selected as its 2007 Communicator of the Year. This award, New York IABC's highest professional recognition, is presented annually to a senior executive in the tri-state region who exemplifies vision and leadership in strategic communication.

Jon Iwata is responsible for worldwide communications for IBM. His organization manages the company's communications with the media, industry analysts, employees, and shareholders. In addition, IBM communications is responsible for corporate brand strategy and design, and the company's global intranet, which serves 355,000 employees. It coordinates IBM's corporate affairs initiatives and plays a leading role in instilling IBM Values into the company's practices and culture.

Over more than 20 years at IBM, Jon has taken a leadership role in leveraging technology to sustain and share the company's winning values, and has built a global communication team recognized for professional excellence, innovation and integrity. His work has helped advance the state of our profession and sets a commendable example for communicators who aspire to be the best.

NYIABC was recognized Jon Iwata on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at the Metropolitan Club. Click here to see photographs. Click here to read Jon's thank you letter, (PDF).

2006 Communicator of the Year

The New York Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is pleased to announce that Catherine J. Mathis, vice president, corporate communications, The New York Times Company has been named the 2006 Communicator of the Year.

Throughout her career at The New York Times Company, Ms. Mathis achieved challenging business objectives, navigated diverse crises, exemplified the highest ethics, and pushed the envelope to explore new communications methodologies. For almost a decade, she worked tirelessly to integrate decentralized and distinct communications functions — for example, investor relations, public relations, crisis communications, employee communications, and marketing efforts at multiple locations around the world — so that communications professionals throughout The New York Times Company could coordinate effectively with each other. The result? One Voice, with natural strength and authenticity, speaking in harmony to the varied constituencies that the organizations touches. Ms. Mathis' magnificent achievement and ongoing commitment to integrity and excellence earned her this year's Communicator of the Year Award.

(To view the thank you letter from Catherine Mathis, click here. )