Wendi Strong

With more than 30 years of experience in public relations, communications and marketing, Wendi has spent her career advising senior executives and leading teams of professionals. She retired in 2016 from USAA, a Fortune 200 financial services company serving millions of current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. For 16 years, Wendi served as executive vice president for enterprise affairs, chief communications officer and a member of the senior leadership team directing the strategy and operations of the company.

During her tenure, Wendi was responsible for brand and reputation management, public relations, military affairs, employee engagement, marketing communications, social media, and corporate responsibility and philanthropy. As chief steward of USAA's reputation, Wendi led a companywide strategic initiative to define and leverage USAA's brand and corporate character, connecting USAA members, employees, the military community, and other stakeholders. Today, USAA is internationally recognized as one of the top global brands, regularly appearing on the leadership lists of Fortune's Most Admired Companies.

Prior to USAA, Wendi served in senior communications leadership positions at Associates First Capital Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. She started her career at public relations agencies Holt & Associates and Hill+Knowlton.

Wendi is a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations. She serves on the advisory board of the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, and is a member of the Accreditation Committee for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. She is a member and past board member of the Arthur W. Page Society, the premier global organization for chief communications officers. In 2017, Wendi received the Alexander Hamilton Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Public Relations from the Institute for Public Relations. She also is a recipient of the Jack Koten Award for mentoring from the Plank Center at the University of Alabama. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology and master's degree in journalism/communications from the University of North Texas.