For more than 20 years, Mari Pat Varga has supported businesses and individuals in building organizational culture and robust communications practices that engage people, customers, and community while delivering profitable results.

Mari Pat's perspective and practice is derived from her varied professional background. With her career roots in radio and television broadcasting, she offers communications expertise for leaders in diverse settings. She has been an internal collaborator, working with airlines and the banking industry, as well as a consultant in varied corporate and not-for-profit organizations.

Most recently as the Head of Communication & Leadership for Banco Popular North America (BPNA), Mari Pat was responsible for all internal and external communications, along with overseeing the Banco Popular Foundation and community outreach efforts for the bank. Her team developed and implemented all strategic communications that supported the bank in meeting the goals around its four pillars - Performance, Customers, People, and Community. Mari Pat and her team were instrumental in supporting BPNA as it achieved such prestigious honors as the 2005 FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For and the 2006 USA Today Make A Difference Day Award for Community Service, along with being named an honoree for the 2007 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Corporate Stewardship Award. Communication & Leadership's monthly newsletter, Popular People, was honored in 2006 and 2007 with the Inspire Award's recognition as one of the nation's top 50 company newsletters. Her team also led BPNA's Customer Service Vision initiative that introduced a bank-wide strategic plan, including process alignment and people engagement, designed to create a culture of superior customer service.

From both inside and outside these organizations, Mari Pat has provided expertise as a culture builder and communication consultant, coach, educator, speaker, and trainer. With her guidance, individuals and businesses have increased their leadership acumen, customer loyalty, and employee collaboration through excellent communications and culture-building practices.

Mari Pat has also served as a visiting faculty member of both Columbia College and DePaul University in Chicago. Mari Pat serves on the Board of A Silver Lining Foundation and is a member of the Executive Club of Chicago. She is the author of two books (Great Openings and Closings and The Presenter's Journal) and has authored a number of articles on communication excellence. Mari Pat received her B.A. in Communication from the University of Dayton.