Catholic Media Association Announces Election of Three Board Members
Catholic Media Association Announces Election of Three Board Members
Board provides leadership, advocacy and expertise in support of Catholic media professionals and organizations
CHICAGO (March 27, 2024) — The Catholic Media Association announced today the election of three members to its Board of Directors, the governing body of the association. Directors serve various categories of membership, representing the diversity of Catholic media professionals throughout North America.
Terms are for three years and begin on June 20 at the CMA members’ annual meeting at the Catholic Media Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Directors may serve up to three consecutive terms.
“On behalf of the Catholic Media Association, I am grateful to God for the commitment of our Board of Directors,” Rob DeFrancesco, executive director of the Catholic Media Association, said. “Our board brings a wealth of ingenuity, leadership and faithfulness to the table, which is vital to us in our mission of helping members share the Good News through Catholic media.”
Janelle Gergen, re-elected to her second term as Member at Large, is Chancellor/COO and Chief Communications Officer for the Diocese of Crookston in northwest Minnesota. She has been a CMA member for 10 years and has served on the Board of Directors since 2021. Her background includes 19 years of experience in non-profit leadership, with notable expertise in public relations, integrated marketing, crisis communication, strategic planning, policy writing, media relations, and editing. Gergen chairs the Strategic Planning Committee.
Jessica Rinaudo, elected to the Magazine Member at Large position, has been a member of the Catholic Media Association for the past 16 years. She began her career in Catholic media as the editor of The Catholic Connection magazine for the Diocese of Shreveport. In 2019, she was hired by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to evolve their 190-year-old Catholic newspaper into a magazine. Within two years of launching the newly re-envisioned magazine format, The Catholic Telegraph won diocesan magazine of the year.
Marnie McAllister, elected to the Newspaper Business Staff Member position, has worked in the Catholic press for more than 22 years. She leads a staff of seven as the editor of The Record. The Archdiocese of Louisville’s weekly newspaper has a circulation of 57,000 in central Kentucky. She manages the news and advertising departments, as well as the website and print and digital production. Under her leadership, The Record staff has won dozens of journalism awards from the Catholic Media Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Amy Kawula, immediate past president, National Planning Committee Chair, and Newspaper Business Staff Member, as well as John Feister, Membership Committee Chair and Magazine Member at Large, are long-time board members whose terms conclude in June.
“I am so grateful to Janelle, Jessica and Marnie for agreeing to serve on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Media Association. Our Board is richer because of their experience and their heart for serving the Lord through Catholic communications,” CMA Board President Gretchen Crowe said. “I am grateful, too, to Amy and John for their many years of dedicated commitment to the CMA.”
About the Catholic Media Association
The Catholic Media Association is committed to its mission of helping members share the Good News through Catholic media. The CMA provides professional development, networking, inspiration, and support for the faith formation of Catholic media professionals. The CMA is made up of 340 member organizations, consisting of 870 mission-driven professionals.