Jill Allread, APR, is a principal at PCI and has extensive communications and public affairs experience in areas including conservation, environmental and health care issues management, not-for-profit communications, public affairs strategies, and crisis management counseling. Her 28 years in communications includes 13 years writing and editing for daily newspapers and directing public affairs for a nationally recognized zoo.

As one of PCI’s three owners, Jill has managed numerous strategic communications programs for conservation clients, including the Lincoln Park Zoo, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Morton Arboretum, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Chicago Zoological Society, Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Chicago Wilderness, Virginia Marine Science Museum, Center for Humans and Nature, Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Network, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanic Garden and Calgary Zoo.
 
She has also provided communications counsel to Zimmer Inc., Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc., the Museum of Science and Industry, The Care of Trees, Museums in the Park, Women Employed, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Newberry Library, Grace College, University of Chicago Press, V3 Consulting, Francis W. Parker School, Lambs Farm, and Rogers Park Montessori School.

Prior to joining PCI, Jill was metropolitan editor for The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. Her reporting earned several awards from Hoosier State Press Association, Inland Press Association and Women in Communications for breaking news stories and feature writing. She also worked three years as assistant sports editor at The Journal-Gazette.
For nearly three years, Jill served as Director of Public Affairs and Public Relations at Brookfield Zoo. She managed county and state government relations and all external communications. Her work for the zoo, and later at PCI, has included international conservation and issues management programs for IUCN-The World Conservation Union, the Species Survival Commission.

She has earned several national public relations awards, including three PRSA Silver Anvil awards (government relations 2005; special events 2004; and community relations 1993); a national Silver Sabre Award for Shedd Aquarium's Wild Reef opening in 2003; and a national Creativity in Public Relations Award (CIPRA) in 1997 for crisis management when she assisted Brookfield Zoo after a child fell into its gorilla enclosure. In 2005 she received the Publicity Club of Chicago’s Edwin J. Shaughnessy Quality of Life Award for “Saving Illinois Parks and Wildlife.”

Also from PCC, she received the prestigious 2001 Platinum Award for the Museum of Science and Industry's “Titanic” exhibit, and has won numerous Chicago PRSA Skyline and Golden Trumpet awards for public affairs and cultural institution exhibit events and programs, such as opening the U-505 Submarine; Seastar Quest, Wolf Woods; Seahorses and Grossology; and national programs such as the International Ape Conference, Chicago's Museum Campus opening and the launching of Chicago Wilderness.  

A volunteer in several community, environmental and civic organizations, Jill is a commissioner and past chair of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, a citizens’ board responsible for oversight of the state’s 325 nature preserves. She is secretary and executive committee member of Openlands board of directors; former chair and board member of Girls in the Game, a non-profit helping girls ages 7-17 build self esteem through fitness and sports; advisory board member for Cabrini Connections tutoring program; member of the League of Women Voters, and an accredited member of Public Relations Society of America.