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Naomi Adams

  • ​​

  • nadams23@depaul.edu
  • Adjunct Faculty

  • ​MBA (University of Illinois)

  • Public Relations and Advertising
  • Adjunct Faculty

  • Public Relations and Integrated Communications including strategy, content, writing for public relations and marketing communications, media relations

​​Naomi Adams is a seasoned communicator who is passionate about developing impactful narratives that build strong relationships with media and other stakeholders, using communications as a tool to drive positive change and support organizational and business goals. She has deep experience in strategic communications, channel and content strategy, integrated marketing, and public relations--including media relations. She is committed to helping the next generation of communicators prepare for the workforce.

With more than 25 years at agencies, in-house, and at non-profits, Naomi is currently a Director of Internal & External Communications at CIBC. She is also the founder of a communications consultancy, Adams Comms.  Previously, Naomi has held roles at international holding company agencies, including Burson Marsteller and BCW, Edelman, GCI Group/Cohn & Wolfe, and Golin. She was Chief PR officer at integrated independent agency Archer Malmo and also led communications for independent integrated firm JB Chicago (now C.A. Fortune). Naomi previously worked in-house as VP of Communications at national nonprofit Financial Health Network and did a stint at Enzymatic Therapy (now Nature's Way).

Naomi is a past president of PRSA Chicago and has served on the chapter's executive committee for the last four years. She also served as a PRWeek Purpose Counsel member and juror in 2022 and 2023.

Under her leadership, Naomi's teams have won numerous industry awards from PRSA, PRWeek, and PRNews. She was recognized by the PRSA Memphis Chapter as PR Executive of the Year in 2016 and was named to the Memphis Business Journal's 40 Under 40 for her leadership in communications and in the community. Naomi has held various roles on the board of directors of both PRSA Memphis and PRSA Chicago.

Naomi has an MBA with a focus on marketing, digital, and innovation from the University of Illinois Gies College of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois College of Media.

Naomi is an avid (but slow) runner and is (usually) currently training for an upcoming marathon or race.

You can follow Naomi on LinkedIn, where she posts about communications, leadership, building resilience, and running at https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-adams-ponzio/ and on X (formerly Twitter) at @NaomiNAdams.