GREG BURNS

Award-winning persuasive communication

Gburnstribune@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-burns-5b496812/

224-221-6301

ALLSTATE CORPORATION — March, 2015-July, 2021

• Director, Financial Communications, Executive Media and Sustainability, 2017-July 2021
• Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, March, 2015-2017
• Responsible for Allstate financial communications, and Sustainability reporting and strategy
• Managed (and mentored) staff of professional communicators
• Worked one-on-one with C-level executives
• Published Annual Report, Sustainability Report and many news releases

CHICAGO TRIBUNE — 1997-2015

• Editorial Board, June 2010-2015. Wrote editorials, met with leading newsmakers and formulated public policy positions as a member of Tribune Editorial Board.  Hosted public events and made TV appearances.
• Business Columnist, 2008-2010. Wrote business columns, hosted public events and made TV appearances.
• Senior Correspondent, March 2002-2008. Wrote award-winning business stories, magazine covers and investigative projects for major metropolitan daily; Notable work includes series on the bankruptcy of United Airlines, Class Action lawsuits and 2003 Pulitzer finalist “The Fall of Andersen.” Appeared regularly on CLTV, WGN-TV, Chicago Tonight, CEO Exchange and other broadcasts; Formulated policy and wrote Tribune editorials during several months-long stints on Editorial Board. Mentored business editors and business-news staff members.
• Associate Managing Editor/Business, Dec. 1999-March 2002; Oct. 2004-March 2005. Supervised more than 50 writers, editors, designers and other journalists; Recruited more than a dozen new staff; Trained interns, reporters and editors, including successor as business editor; Oversaw Business News, Real Estate, Transportation and Personal Finance sections; Launched Cars, Workplace and eBusiness sections; Led business coverage of 9/11; Managed 2001 newspaper redesign; Responsible for annual $3 million budget; Developed Chicagotribune.com Web coverage on business topics; Conducted market research program for financial agate; Performed community outreach, including first-ever meetings between Tribune editorial staff and Chicago Network business-group for women executives; Honored in Society of American Business Editors and Writers “Best in Business;” Completed Tribune Leadership Development Program management training.
• Tribune Staff Writer, June 1997-Nov. 1999. Financial-markets writer covering stocks, bonds, options and futures and agriculture; Wrote features on all aspects of business; Served on business-news editing desk.

BUSINESS WEEK — 1994-1997

• Senior Correspondent in Chicago bureau. One of five journalists covering 12-state region for national newsmagazine. Specialized in finance. Wrote cover story on agribusiness titled, “The New Economics of Food.”

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES — 1985-1994

• Beat reporter and business columnist. Covered retailing, financial markets and marketing, including the FBI sting at the Chicago futures exchanges and the consolidating advertising industry. Wrote “Portfolio” personal-finance column and “Biz” column on the lighter side of business events.

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• Adjunct journalism instructor at Northwestern University. Taught graduate and undergraduate classes in news writing and business reporting.
• Contributing editor to London-based FOW magazine, a trade publication with a global circulation for the futures and options industry.
• Launched career at Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail daily newspaper.
• Board Member and Chair of Communications Committee at KodiakCare, a non-profit saving dogs; Sunday School Superintendent at St. James Armenian Church; Usher at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY MEDILL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

• Bachelor of Science in Journalism, 1983
• Master of Science in Journalism, 1984
• Sigma Delta Chi, Merit Scholarship

AWARDS AND HONORS

• Finalist, Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
• Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award
• National Headliner Award for business reporting
• Lead writer for SABEW Best in Business Award
• Tribune Beck Award; Headline Club Lisagor Award