Robert E. Libbey, head of digital and social communications for Pfizer, has been elected 2013 president of the New York chapter of the International Business Communicators Assn., succeeding Rob Drasin, president of Trident Communications.


Robert Libbey, Bob Becton and Rob Drasin
Also elected were Jessica Bruno as VP, membership; Eileen Gaughan as VP, programming, and Melissa Baratta and Felicia Carty as VP, publicity, co-chairs.
Going into the second year of their two-year terms are Charles Majors as VP, finance/secretary; Anne Edelson, university outreach, and at-large board members Marie Raperto and Bob Becton.

More than 50 members attended the Holiday party of the chapter last night at the 22nd top floor of the Yale Club.

Libbey and Drasin reviewed the benefits of chapter membership, which include monthly panels on current issues addressed by members from major companies and agencies; writing workshops led by veteran members; networking socials; a mentoring program that links veteran members with newcomers; outreach to communications, marketing and PR majors in local colleges, and job leads posted by chapter members.

Sheffer, Polansky at 'Mad Men' Panel



IABC-NY holiday party
The chapter’s Sept. 19 panel on “Mad Men vs. Crazy Clients” had as panelists Gary Sheffer, VP of communications and PA for General Electric; Andy Polansky, president, Shandwick; Richard Marshall, managing director, Korn/Ferry International, and Valerie De Maria, principal of The 10 Company.

Panelists in previous sessions have included those from IBM, Citigroup, JetBlue, Ogilvy, Pitney Bowes, Thomson Reuters, Time Warner Cable, Trip Advisor, and Wall Street Journal.

The chapter has more than 2,000 followers in the New York City area working in communications, marketing, PR and social media.