Shannon is a bold and transformative leader, driving strategic and creative excellence as President of Gatesman. Known for her authenticity, collaboration and enduring commitment, she challenges where it matters and supports where it counts, ensuring the agency thrives through innovation, culture, and client impact. Under her leadership, Gatesman has significantly expanded its capabilities, specializations, and client roster, redefining what’s possible in marketing and communications.
With two decades of experience spanning agencies and journalism, she brings a broad industry perspective. She partners with clients nationwide, building powerful relationships, mentoring talent, and curating high-performance, diverse teams that deliver cutting-edge solutions—faster, smarter, and more effectively.
A passionate advocate for equity in the industry, Shannon has been instrumental in breaking gender and diversity barriers. She has intentionally built a senior leadership team that is over 70% female, aligning with the influence of the female consumer, setting a new standard for workplace excellence, equitable culture and driving the agency’s top-tier Gallup employee engagement scores. Her relentless focus on inclusivity and empowerment is a hallmark of her leadership.
Shannon’s impact extends far beyond Gatesman. She is a nationally recognized thought leader, keynote speaker, and award-winning executive, with accolades including induction into the 2025 American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement, PRNews Platinum Award and Chief Marketer's Person of the Year, PRSA Pittsburgh Hall of Fame and the City & State Above and Beyond Award for distinguished women in Pennsylvania. She was appointed to the 2026 NFL Draft Communications Committee and was recently featured in Forbes. She has earned prestigious honors such as Top Women in Business by the American Business Journals, Most Influential Women in Business in Pittsburgh, and Smart 50’s Mid-Atlantic’s Top Executives. Twice nominated for the ATHENA Award, she has also been recognized as one of the region’s top C-suite leaders at the Fox Rothschild Outstanding CEOs and Top Executives awards and she is an active member of CHIEF.
Beyond her professional achievements, Shannon channels her boundless energy into community leadership and mentorship. She serves as the first female Chairman of the Board for Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Vice Chair of VisitPittsburgh’s Executive Board, and a Director for the American Advertising Federation – Pittsburgh. A dedicated wife, mom and relentless Peloton enthusiast, she also coaches youth basketball, embodying her passion for mentorship, role-modeling and developing the next generation of leaders in all aspects of life.
