LEADERSHIP

Noreen Heron

CEO / Founder

In 2000, Noreen founded and has built the award-winning Heron Agency into one of the nation’s leading lifestyle communications agencies, named one of the “Top 200 PR firms in the Country” by Forbes Magazine, “Top Social Media Agencies” by Expertise, and “Top B2B Agencies” by Clutch. Heron is a one stop shop offering services from Media Relations, Social Media, Crisis Communications, Advertising, Digital Marketing, Event Planning and more. An innovator of new communication and digital technologies, Noreen ensures that Heron Agency is always on the cutting-edge of the media industry and its trends. Her entrepreneurial mindset has garnered her dozens of prestigious industry awards, and her reputation for consistently delivering fully integrated marketing campaigns that improve a client’s bottom line and profitability is well established. 

Noreen has represented countless lifestyle clients including over 75 hotel brands; lifestyle brands including Orange Theory Fitness, EZ Breathe, National Marine Manufacturers Association, and Paper Source; spirits brands including Smirnoff, Bailey’s and BV Wines, and franchises including Jet’s Pizza and Massage Envy. Corporate clients have included campaigns with Luna Carpet, Darvin Furniture and Procter and Gamble. She has managed the communications for six National Tours for Broadway-quality productions handling both the PR and Advertising components.

In Chicago, she has represented over 1000 restaurants, pop ups and theater productions, as well as large-scale events including the Taste of Chicago, the Race to Mackinac, the Jeff Awards, the Grand Chefs Gala, the Randolph Street Market, the Highland Games, the Chicago Boat & RV Show, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the One of a Kind Show. She has represented celebrities in Chicago and around the country including Prince, Jerry Seinfeld, Dan Aykroyd, the Beach Boys, and Jewel, among others. Not one to “color within the lines”, the agency has also handled campaigns for medical practices, not-for-profit organizations and sports teams.

A self-made professional, Noreen never worked at an agency prior to owning one. She developed infrastructure and systems she knew that her clients would need from her time on property working for large, iconic hospitality clients. For 5 years, she served as the Director of Public Relations at Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hyatt’s largest property and Chicago’s biggest hotel, where she was a member of the Executive Committee. Prior to Hyatt, Noreen served as the Director of Public Relations for Candlelight Playhouse/Forum Theatre, the 1025-seat dinner theater venue where she started as an usher at 14 years old, moved up to House Manager, and eventually becoming the theater’s PR Director.

Noreen has served on numerous boards and planned dozens of charitable fundraisers, receiving many awards (listed below). Considered one of Chicago’s most networked individuals, she possesses strong relationships with media, politicians, and the city’s tastemakers. Noreen is a specialist at using her connections to the benefit of her clients, linking them to each other to build productive relationships. In 2021, she led a successful campaign calling on the Chicago Park District to install life rings and safety equipment along the city’s lakefront. She has taught classes on Communications at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Roosevelt University and Kendall College. Noreen lives in Lincoln Park and is the mother to Connor, a Senior at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, and Ava, a Freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She serves on the boards of the Chicago Loop Alliance and the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago.

Kathy Bryja

Senior Vice President 

Before joining the team at Heron, Kathy worked at a boutique PR agency, where she focused on lifestyle and restaurant clientele. During this time, she built relationships with local media, and secured press coverage with national outlets including The Travel Channel, Food Network, Town & Country, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, USA Today and Inside Edition. Kathy has now been at Heron Agency for 6 years, where she started as a Senior Publicist, then was promoted to Managing Director and now holds the position of Senior Vice President. Kathy has been able to garner national media and some of the hottest marketing brands for her rolodex of clients that range from the hottest hotels and restaurants to theatres and experiences in the city. One of her favorite accomplishments includes securing a Kendra Scott partnership for a local client that has now been incorporated as a national partner for their worldwide brand.

A daughter of two immigrant parents, Kathy grew up with the mentality that hard work and perseverance will help you achieve anything you set your mind to. Fluent in Polish, Kathy has and continues to maintain a close connection to her roots. She was a Polish folk dancer for over 12 years and performed around the city and country in various competitions and festivals. Kathy received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from DePaul University, and credits her favorite professor for making her first fall in love with the industry. Kathy has lived in various neighborhoods of Chicago over the past 10 years including Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, River North, and now currently resides in Streeterville. In her free time, she loves to rollerblade to the lakefront, try out the hottest new cocktail bars and spend time binging murder mystery documentaries. In another life, Kathy would have loved to try a career in forensics solving crimes.

Gianna Fontana

Vice President of Public Relations

Prior to joining the Heron Agency team, Gianna spent time on both the editorial team at Michigan Avenue Magazine and served as the Director of Marketing and Media for an upscale beauty boutique, overseeing it’s branding and operations as it launched in the fast-paced Chicago market. Gianna began as an Account Coordinator for the agency and over the years since has served on the team as a Publicist, Senior Publicist, Managing Director and now guides clients through their own openings, announcements and annual goals in her current role as Vice President of Public Relations. Gianna has been proud to represent a wide range of clients from National brands including Paper Source and Shake Shack to incredible restaurant concepts including Ocean Prime Chicago, Fulton Market Kitchen and Carnivale, major citywide events including the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Chicago Boat, RV & Sail Show and One of a Kind Show Chicago, hotels and retail destinations including Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop, Hotel EMC2 and the Roosevelt Collections Shops, among many others. Through her passion for developing and leveraging a well-crafted message to propel a business to new heights, Gianna has secured features for clients with The TODAY Show, Forbes, Bloomberg Business, Women’s Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Health, Good Housekeeping, as a prize offering on The Wheel of Fortune and more.  

Growing up as a competitive figure skater in a family filled with hockey players, it’s no surprise you can find Gianna cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks when she’s not in the office. Gianna received her Journalism degree with a Concentration in Magazine Writing and Editing from Columbia College Chicago and still loves to keep up with the happenings of the incredible staff and alumni there. She currently resides in the West Loop with her adorable Frenchie named Poppy and loves to spend good times over great pasta with her big (somewhat-crazy) Italian family.