Fay Ferguson

Fay Ferguson is both an excellent marketer and leader, who is frequently sought after for her deep knowledge of multicultural consumers. As Co-CEO and Co-Owner of Burrell Communications Group, a privately-held advertising and marketing solutions company, Fay is responsible for the vision, direction and health of the organization. She led the successful buy-out from the founder, transitioning the agency from one with a sole focus on African Americans to a trendsetting, transcultural marketing solutions company that communicates effectively with all audiences.

Under her leadership, Burrell has consistently ranked among the top-performing multicultural agencies, attracting Fortune 100 companies such as Toyota, McDonald’s, Comcast XFINITY, Procter & Gamble, Walmart, AARP and others.

Previously, Fay held positions at Leo Burnett and Bozell & Jacobs, two general market agencies where she honed her skills on CPG brands such as Kellogg’s, Pillsbury and Alberto Culver before joining Burrell Communications Group. Never looking back, she became a fierce advocate for ethnic consumers, always leading by example.

Fay holds an MBA from Indiana University and a BA from Concordia College. She is the founder of Allies of Innocence, an organization dedicated to providing grief and trauma counseling free of charge to survivors of gun violence in Chicago. Her awards include, Chicago Advertising Woman of the Year, the Chicago Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award, Advertising Working Mother of the Year, and she was inducted into the History Makers, an honor awarded to individuals who have achieved lifetime recognition for work in their fields. Fay established an endowment scholarship for diverse students at her alma mater, Concordia College, and a Navy Supply Corps Foundation Scholarship in honor of her late son, Eric who served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.