3/18/26 - Beyond Marketing: When Strategic Communications Step In with Katie Bestenlehner and Jessica Forres

Katie Bestenlehner 

Katie is a Managing Director in the Strategic Communications segment of FTI Consulting in Chicago.  She specializes in reputation management, crisis counsel, strategic internal and external communications, and executive positioning for companies in the retail and consumer industry sector. She counsels companies and clients through comprehensive brand-building campaigns and change management programs. She works within the retail and consumer industry, with an emphasis on consumer products and services across retail, food, beverage, personal healthcare, home design, tech, automotive, travel, industry associations and commodity boards. Her clients include companies such as Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s and Old Navy.

Jessica Forres 

Jessica is an Executive Vice President at Top of Mind PR in Florida She is a public relations professional with experience managing media relations, marketing and social media initiatives for law firms, real estate companies, private equity funds, nonprofits and startups.  Prior to joining Top of Mind PR, she worked with Miami-based Schwartz Media Strategies and with a number of social and environmental international NGOs, such as Oxfam America. She began her career as a report for Washington, D.C.’s local NPR station and Public Education Center’s Natural Resources New Service.