Quote from Gary Goodfriend
Gary Goodfriend

Why PR? “I love to write and I’m a media junkie. PR fits the bill!”

Gary Goodfriend
Executive Vice President

With 35 years of experience in the Chicago PR industry, Gary is an extremely respected practitioner known for his creative thinking and excellent writing skills. He currently manages a variety of business-to-business and consumer accounts for LCWA and serves as the agency’s writing “guru.”

Job Highlights

  • Communicating the benefits of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s “Revive Wacker Drive” reconstruction project
  • Working with the best media spokesperson you can have — the “Helpful Hardware Man” Lou Manfredini, for Ace Hardware
  • Seeing young people he’s mentored over the years succeed in the industry — at LCWA and beyond

Before LCWA
Gary began his career as a newspaper reporter before turning his skills to public relations, where he has served a diverse mix of clients at some of the industry’s top agencies. In 1985, he co-founded the agency DeFrancesco/Goodfriend Public Relations, which merged with LCWA in 2001.

Involvement
Gary is the co-author of the book, “The Common Sense Guide to Publicity.” He has lectured on public relations at Northwestern, the University of Chicago, DePaul University and Columbia College, and before a number of business groups. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC). Gary has won numerous awards from the PCC, Public Relations Society of America and International Association of Business Communicators. In addition, a community relations initiative he managed for Ace Hardware won the most creative program of the year award from the PCC, and he received the organization’s Platinum “Best in Show” Award for the Chicago Department of Transportation “Revive Wacker Drive” program.

Education
Gary is a lifelong Chicago-area resident with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.

Fun Fact
Gary is an avid horseracing fan — he even owned two harness racing horses before his two daughters came along. Now his favorite pastime is going on cruises with his wife, Carole.