Michelle Mekky

Michelle Mekky has more than 20 years of experience as a broadcast journalist and public relations executive, leading award-winning marketing and PR campaigns for some of the nation’s biggest and most diverse brands and businesses—from start-ups to global powerhouses. Michelle is a graduate of Northwestern University, achieving both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the renowned Medill School of Journalism. She spent over a decade as a senior producer and news writer for Fox-TV in Chicago. She also worked as a news writer at NBC and reported for WISC-TV in Madison, Wi., while finalizing her Master’s program in Washington, D.C. 

After her years as a veteran journalist, Michelle transitioned into a career in public relations and marketing, spending more than 10 years at agencies in Chicago, where she was able to use her insider media knowledge and widespread connections to achieve success and top-tier media coverage for the clients she managed. She launched her own company, Mekky Media Relations Inc., in 2016, to bring her brand of PR to the market and deliver powerful publicity. Michelle’s goal was to fuel growth through personal attention and a passion for creative storytelling. With the impressive early results that Mekky Media delivered, the client roster quickly grew, and organizations ranging from start-ups to established businesses started signing on to work with the agency.

The long list of Mekky Media clients has included Abt Electronics, Francesca's Restaurant Group, The Art of Plastic Surgery, Wealth Management Group, Victory Italian, BKS Custom Clothiers and West Edge Design, to name a few. Mekky Media also has been proud to be a PR leader in serving many nonprofits that are making a difference throughout Chicagoland, including Susan G. Komen Chicago, Chicago Lights, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Devices 4 the Disabled, the Center for Enriched Living, Because Love, Holiday Heroes, Chicago Scholars and the Muslim American Leadership Alliance. In addition, Mekky Media serves the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and Michelle, a cancer survivor, has been a spokesperson for the organization.

Michelle has led her company through a fast-paced launch and high-profile successes, including winning a prestigious 2018 Stevie Award for Women in Business, receiving a bronze medal in the Entrepreneur of the Year category. Also in 2018, Michelle and Mekky Media were selected to be part of the Forbes Agency Council, a prestigious organization for owners and executives of PR, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. In 2019, Michelle was named a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Entrepreneur, and Mekky Media was honored with two Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Awards, in the categories of Advocacy (for its work with Komen Chicago) and Media Relations (for its work with Abt Electronics). The agency also was named a PR News Agency Elite Award Finalist for Media Relations in 2019.

Michelle, a cancer survivor, is a member of the Board of Directors of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit that provides education on practical and legal issues that impact individuals diagnosed with cancer as well as their caregivers. Michelle blogs about leadership lessons and PR for Forbes and is a motivational speaker, talking to groups about her journey, entrepreneurship, media training and public speaking. Mekky Media recently launched its first Masterclass, a transformative workshop that provides professionals with skills and tools to become dynamic public speakers, network with confidence and conduct powerful media interviews. Mekky Media has received a Women’s Business Enterprise Certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).