Gerry Chiaro

Gerry Chiaro joined the Medill faculty in 2009 and is currently assistant professor and director of the Immersion Quarter Program.

He currently teaches Brand Communication Decisions and advises graduate student teams during Immersion Quarter. In the IMC Certificate Program, Chiaro teaches IMC Strategy. He also has an appointment in the School of Professional Studies and teaches an Intro to IMC course.

Chiaro's career progressed through these four chapters. He learned and mastered marketing skills while contributing to outstanding growth for great CPG food and beverage and chain restaurant brands: Frito Lay, Pepsi Bottling Group, Gatorade, Pizza Hut and McDonald's. He served in senior executive marketing and strategic development leadership roles in venture capital-backed internet marketing technology start-ups and small companies working in fast-paced environments with talented entrepreneurs and visionaries. He started his consulting business in 2003 and developing a blue chip client base and a service delivery team. Key clients include: TGI Fridays, Pick Up Stix, Travelocity, Anheuser-Busch, United Airlines, Coke, Organic Valley and others. Then, in January 2009, he began teaching Integrated Marketing Communications at Medill as an adjunct. This chapter is still being written.

Chiaro and his wife, Mare Chiaro (Comm83, MSA84), have three kids. Son Michael served in Senegal for the Peace Corps after graduating as a biochemistry major from DePauw University where he also captained the conference champion baseball team. Daughter Genna is a Ph.D. student studying geology at Vanderbilt University, and son Matthew is working as an assistant manager for Discount Tire and taking a gap year before he begins college. They reside in Darien, Illinois.

Chiaro has volunteered as a travel baseball coach, youth sports director and a board member for Make-A-Wish Kansas.

Education