Fay Ferguson
Advertising chief executive Fay Ferguson graduated magna cum laude with her B.A. degree in English, speech, and drama from Concordia College in Minnesota in 1973. She then received her M.B.A. degree from Indiana University in 1978
After graduation, from 1974 to 1976, Ferguson taught eighth grade English for two years in Michigan City, Indiana. She began her advertising career in 1978 at the Leo Burnett Company and progressed from an account management trainee to account executive. While there, Ferguson coordinated marketing and advertising campaigns for several Pillsbury Company products, including the refrigerated dinner rolls, the sweet rolls, the turnovers, and the slice’n bake cookies. Ferguson then served as senior account executive at Bozell & Jacobs, Inc. where she managed the Alberto Culver account and oversaw the national rollout of their premier line, Mrs. Dash and Alberto Mousse. In March of 1984, Ferguson joined Burrell Communications Group as an account supervisor. She was promoted to vice president in 1986 and became an account director in 1988. After being promoted to management supervisor in 1992, Ferguson was named client service director in 1993 and managed the company’s accounts with the Procter & Gamble Company and the McDonalds Corporation. In addition, she served as co-chair of the new business committee for Burrell Communications Group. In November of 1997, Ferguson became the managing partner of account management and operations. Later, Ferguson was appointed as co-CEO of Burrell Communications Group.
Ferguson has been active on several boards, including the Perspectives Charter School, the Chicago Advertising Federation, The Chicago Network, the North Shore Chapter of the Links, Inc., the American Association of Advertising Agencies – Purple Forum, and the Economic Club of Chicago. She was appointed to the advisory board at Turner Patterson, LLC. In addition, she co-chaired the advertising book benefit for the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.
Ferguson has received numerous awards, including the “Advertising Working Mother of the Year, Trailblazer Mom” award from Working Mother magazine, and the Target Market News “Advertising Executive of the Year MAAX” award. She was also recognized the “Most Influential Woman” award from the Women’s Leadership Federation; the “Outstanding Women in Marketing Communications” award from Ebony magazine; and the “Advertising Woman of the Year Award” from The Women’s Advertising Club of Chicago and the Chicago Advertising Federation.
Fay Ferguson was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on August 27, 2013.
A2013.247
Female
8/27/2013
Ferguson
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Grade School
Central Junior High School
La Porte High School
Concordia College
Indiana University
Fay
La Porte
FER04
Summer
Indiana
Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, California
If You Don't Have Anything Positive To Say, Keep Quiet.

Illinois
12/6/1951
Chicago
USA
Cake (Chocolate)
Advertising chief executive Fay Ferguson (1951 - ) served as an account executive with the Leo Burnett Company and went on to become co-chief executive officer of Burrell Communications Group.
Burrell Communications Group
Lee King & Partners/Bozell & Jacobs
Leo Burnett Company, Inc.
Michigan City Elston Junior High School
Green
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636360">Tape: 1 Slating of Fay Ferguson's interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636361">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson lists her favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636362">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson describes her mother's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636363">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson talks about her maternal grandfather's adoption</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636364">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson describes her father's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636365">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson describes her earliest childhood memory</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636366">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson remembers St. John's Lutheran School in La Porte, Indiana</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636367">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson recalls her experiences at the majority-white St. John's Lutheran School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636368">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson lists her siblings</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636369">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson talks about her early interest in athletics</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636370">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson talks about her parents' divorce</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636371">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson talks about the role of religion in her childhood</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636372">Tape: 1 Fay Ferguson remembers Sunday afternoons after church</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636373">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson describes her community in La Porte, Indiana</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636374">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson recalls her transition to public schooling</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636375">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson remembers LaPorte High School in La Porte, Indiana</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636376">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson remembers enrolling at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636377">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson talks about the development of her racial identity</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636378">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson remembers teaching at Elston Middle School in Michigan City, Indiana</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636379">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson talks about her experiences as a teacher</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636380">Tape: 2 Fay Ferguson recalls the Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington, Indiana</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636381">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson recalls her transition to the marketing industry</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636382">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson remembers joining the Leo Burnett Company Inc.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636383">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson describes her responsibilities at the Leo Burnett Company Inc.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636384">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson remembers her first marketing presentation</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636385">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson talks about the advertising industry</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636386">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson remembers her transition to Bozell and Jacobs, Inc.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636387">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson describes the account executive's role at an advertising shoot</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636388">Tape: 3 Fay Ferguson recalls being recruited by Thomas J. Burrell</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636389">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson remembers Thomas J. Burrell</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636390">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson talks about marketing to the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636391">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson remembers her clients at the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636392">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson talks about the growth of the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636393">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson describes her role as the director of client services at the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636394">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson talks about the work environment at the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636395">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson remembers Thomas J. Burrell's retirement from the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636396">Tape: 4 Fay Ferguson recalls becoming co-CEO of the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636397">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson talks about her family</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636398">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson talks about marketing to the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636399">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson talks about black women in executive positions</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636400">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson talks about the downfall of prominent advertising agencies</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636401">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson talks about digital marketing</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636402">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson describes the structure of the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636403">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson reflects upon the marketing industry</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636404">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson reflects on her legacy at the Burrell Communications Group</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636405">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson reflects upon her life</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636406">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/636407">Tape: 5 Fay Ferguson talks about the importance of healthy living</a>
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