David M. Zapata, President
David M. Zapata is an award-winning public affairs and public relations specialist. He has diverse government, political and agency experience. With his expertise in both business-to-government and government-to-business communications, he has advised such high profile clients as BankOne, the Department of Defense, the United States Treasury, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Throughout his career, Zapata has worked on dozens of federal, state and local political and issue campaigns across the United States. His creative approach to politics has been recognized in major newspapers throughout the United States. He has also served as aide to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Most recently, Zapata was Group Director, Public Relations at one of Chicago’s largest independent integrated marketing firms. He also served on the agency’s Board of Managers.

Zapata has been a frequent speaker on the subject of government marketing.

He is a graduate of Gettysburg College with a B.A. in Political Science and Latin American Studies.

Follow on Twitter @DavidMZapata

Mayra Bacik, Chief Financial Officer
Mayra Camara joined Zapwater Communications in April 2008 as the Chief Financial Officer. In this capacity, she will be responsible for strategic business planning, budgeting and forecasting, as well as daily account functions and assisting with the continued growth and expansion of the boutique firm. Mayra brings an extensive background in both accounting and financial services, as well as a wealth of employee management experience, to her new position.

Before joining the Zapwater team, Mayra was the Manager of Analytics and Assessments for Cohen Financial. Prior to that she served as the Vice President of Finance for Landmark Properties LLC where she supported relationships between the company, its lending institutions, financial consultants and joint venture partners. Mayra also spent six years working for General Growth Properties, Inc. where rose to Senior Manager of Financial Services. In this role, she was responsible for the hiring, training and project management of a department of fifteen analysts.

Mayra graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelors of Science in Accountancy.

Annie Neyman Block, Group Director - Hospitality
Annie Neyman joined Zapwater Communications in July 2006 as a Senior Publicist and was subsequently promoted to Group Director of Hospitality. She leads the hospitality division within the lifestyle practice at Zapwater and works on the agency's restaurant, hotel, nightlife and travel accounts. Annie currently handles publicity campaigns for all RA Sushi locations throughout the Chicagoland area, Twilight Traffic Control and their entertainment venues Bull & Bear and Public House and the dana hotel and spa. Since joining Zapwater, her work has been recognized with numerous awards including Bulldog Reporter's Best Travel & Hospitality Campaign and a Platinum Adrian Award from HSMAI.

Annie brings a strong background in the hospitality industry and big agency experience to Zapwater. Formerly employed by Weber Shandwick Worldwide/Chicago, she gained consumer experience working on accounts such as Milk, Kraft and Oscar Meyer. Prior to that, Annie worked at Wagstaff Worldwide/Chicago where she managed several high-end restaurant and nightlife clients such as The N9NE Group and Butter, for which she gained both local and national recognition, including Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurant issue.

Annie's area of expertise includes travel and hospitality. She focuses on new restaurant and hotel concepts and introduces them to the Chicago market, media and national press. She works closely with hospitality management and chefs to oversee media relations, grand openings and brand messaging campaigns for each unique venue. Annie is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and concentrations in both Business and French.

Follow on Twitter @ABlock26

Michael Corrigan, Publicist
Michael Corrigan joined Zapwater Communications in September of 2009 and currently holds the title of Publicist. Michael works with clients in both the lifestyle and hospitality practice areas of Zapwater. He collaborates on a number of accounts including HALO [FOR MEN] and Sebastien Grey Custom Clothiers, RA Sushi, Public House and Bull & Bear and TheTieBar.com

Michael began his public relations career out in Hollywood at both boutique agency ID/PR and later PMK/HBH. Although the knowledge gained was very beneficial, Michael decided his professional career was best suited away from the Los Angeles red carpets.

Michael graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and Communications.

Follow on Twitter @BillieHoligay

Deanne Daneck, Senior Publicist
Deanne Daneck joined Zapwater Communications in November 2009 as a Senior Publicist. With a strong background in media relations, brand marketing and event planning, she enjoys handling publicity for various hospitality and lifestyle clients including the Arboretum of South Barrington, ForYourParty and Mary Cook & Associates. She especially enjoys leading several of the agency's beauty accounts including spa at dana and HALO (FOR MEN).

Deanne began her public relations career at GolinHarris where she worked in the consumer practice group and was responsible for executing public Relations campaigns for clients such as BP North America, General Mills and Splenda Sweetener Products. After her time at GolinHarris, she was a member of the consumer team at Ogilvy Public Relations, where she helped coordinate timely and effective consumer and influencer programs for clients in the food industry, including Tropicana and Quaker..

Deanne graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Public Relations and minor in Business from Loras College.

Follow on Twitter @DeanneCD

Mary Doyle, Senior Publicist
Mary Doyle joined Zapwater Communications in March 2011 as a Senior Publicist. With a strong background in lifestyle and hospitality, she manages a variety of accounts, including Tricoci University, Twilight Traffic Control, Weddington Way, The Arboretum of South Barrington and GREATER > THAN.

Mary began her public relations career at Skirt PR where she gained experience working on various fashion, beauty and lifestyle accounts. As an Account Executive, Mary expanded her knowledge of event planning and execution on the local, regional and national levels with clients such as Lucky Magazine, Kenneth Cole New York, KN Karen Neuburger, SUSHISAMBA and District Bar. Most recently, Mary was on the marketing team at Chicago magazine where she worked on signature and advertiser events, coordinated sponsorships, and was responsible for both Chicago magazine and Chicago Home + Garden PR efforts.

Follow on Twitter @DoyleMK

Jenn Lake, Creative Director
Jenn Lake joined Zapwater Communications in March 2010 as Creative Director.

With a strong background in fashion, lifestyle, and business development, Jenn leads the agency's lifestyle division featuring fashion, retail, accessories, interior design, and beauty/wellness accounts. She also manages the agency's lifestyle new business development and creative strategy for the agency and accounts. In the past year alone, the lifestyle division has won several major public relations awards including a PCC Golden Trumpet award for the work on the American School of Flower Design. The lifestyle division balances a mix of local, regional, national and international companies including Ted Baker London, TheTieBar.com, Weddington Way, Mary Cook & Associates, HALO for Men salons, and more.

Prior to joining Zapwater, Jenn carefully crafted her skills in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries at a Chicago boutique agency, where she served as Vice President. While there, she managed various accounts including GQ, Lucky, Gourmet and WIRED Magazines, Louis Vuitton, Cynthia Rowley, and more. She gained local and national recognition including three Oprah magazine and show placements in three months, Country Living's Annual Entrepreneur Issue, and multi-page features in USA Today, Marie Claire and Martha Stewart Living to name a few. She also has extensive celebrity seeding experience securing celebrity fans for clients including Leighton Meester, Blake Lively, Mariska Hargitay, Courtney Cox Arquette, Anne Hathaway, Katy Perry, and more.

She began her career at Murphy Knott Public Relations, working on several high-profile lifestyle and consumer accounts including General Growth Properties, SEE Eyewear Boutiques, Horween Leather Company, Lake Erie Land Company, and Vidal Sassoon. She interned at Murphy Knott during college and was offered full-time position the first semester of her senior year.  Jenn is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and English (Creative Writing).

Follow on Twitter @JenniferLake

Brigid Parr, Assistant Publicist
Brigid Parr joined Zapwater as an intern in February 2011 and was hired on as an assistant publicist in June 2011. Prior to Zapwater, Brigid worked in the Bloomingdale’s Public Relations department on Michigan Avenue and interned at two Chicago boutique PR agencies. Brigid offers support in Zapwater’s lifestyle division, working with clients including Funky Junque, Shrine Haberdashers, Andy Biggs, Gura Gear and Paul Schulman Design.

She graduated from DePaul University in June 2010, with degrees in Public Relations/Advertising and Communication Studies.

Follow on Twitter @brigpa

Stephanie Poquette, Assistant Publicist
Stephanie Poquette joined Zapwater Communications in October 2010 as an Assistant Publicist. Within this role, Stephanie supports Zapwater’s corporate and hospitality teams, helping with the development of social media and networking strategy, and collaborating on media relations and event planning/marketing. She enjoys assisting on a number of accounts, including Rasmussen College, mobile app platform Red Foundry, all three Chicagoland RA Sushi locations, and innovative marketing agency Suite Partners Inc.

Prior to joining Zapwater, Stephanie gained valuable experience assisting with media relations and event planning endeavors within several fields, including science, technology and fashion, through her internships at the Institute of Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and with Chicagoland designer Marisa Swystun.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in News-Editorial Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Follow on Twitter @spif_po

Stephanie Reay, Assistant Publicist
Stephanie Reay joined Zapwater Communications in 2010. Stephanie started her career with the agency as an intern, providing account assistance for a variety of lifestyle and hospitality clients. In her current position, Stephanie assists clients in lifestyle, corporate and hospitality practice areas of Zapwater. She collaborates on a number of accounts including Protein Bar, Tricoci University, the American Schools of Flower Design and award-winning photographer Andy Biggs.

Stephanie is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Communication, specializing in Public Relations, with a minor in Marketing.

Follow on Twitter @StephanieReay

Jillian Wagner, Publicist
Jillian Wagner joined Zapwater in August 2011 as a Publicist. Jillian works with clients in the corporate, lifestyle and hospitality practices and brings a strong media relations, event planning and digital background to her teams. She works on a number of accounts including Blue Plate Catering, Paul Schulman Design and Suite Partners.

Prior to Zapwater, Jillian worked at Porter Novelli where she successfully executed events, coordinated media relations, helped develop strategic balanced, active lifestyle initiative partnerships, and served as the social media community manager for McDonald’s of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Before joining Porter Novelli, Jillian gained valuable skills at Cramer-Krasselt and Dig Communications on accounts such as AirTran Airways, P.F. Chang’s and Wrigley and as well as serving as a public relations liaison in the Prime Minister of Ireland’s office in Dublin, Ireland.

Jillian earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Political Science at DePaul University.

Follow on Twitter @JillianLindsay