A Journalism graduate of the University of California Berkeley, Janis originally thought she would follow in the rich journalism tradition of many family members. She started her career at the Chicago Sun-Times, working as an assistant in their syndication group –-helping edit and distribute columns for the likes of Ann Landers, Sylvia Porter and Evans-Novak. She went on to edit a monthly business magazine, managed in-house corporate communications for a Fortune 500 company and worked for a national public affairs firm, whom she credits with giving her the experience and the confidence to start her own company.
Since founding MacKenzie Communications in 1983, Janis has spent more than three decades sharing her depth of experience, extensive community involvement and large professional network with clients ranging from countries, colleges and universities, multinational corporations, public agencies and major nonprofits. She also works with senior executives on expert positioning and career transitions and leads MacKenzie’s thought-leadership initiatives.
Deeply involved in the Bay Area business and philanthropic communities, Janis is the 2022-23 Board president of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, supporting excellence in patient care and innovation at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. She is a former chair and current Board member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and helped launch the Five Buckets Foundation, focused on financial literacy for youth and veterans. She has applied her leadership and relationships as a member of the Wells Fargo Community Advisory Board, Saint Francis Foundation, the British-American Business Council of Northern California, SPUR, SF Travel, United Way and the Fort Mason Foundation.
Janis has been named to the San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Women in Business for multiple years, and is a founding member of Women Supporting Leadership and Learning (WELL), an initiative of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. With a long-standing commitment to “doing well by doing good” both personally and professionally, Janis believes that helping others succeed is the most satisfying aspect of her career.
A Journalism graduate of the University of California Berkeley, Janis originally thought she would follow in the rich journalism tradition of many family members. She started her career at the Chicago Sun-Times, working as an assistant in their syndication group –-helping edit and distribute columns for the likes of Ann Landers, Sylvia Porter and Evans-Novak. She went on to edit a monthly business magazine, managed in-house corporate communications for a Fortune 500 company and worked for a national public affairs firm, whom she credits with giving her the experience and the confidence to start her own company.
Since founding MacKenzie Communications in 1983, Janis has spent more than three decades sharing her depth of experience, extensive community involvement and large professional network with clients ranging from countries, colleges and universities, multinational corporations, public agencies and major nonprofits. She also works with senior executives on expert positioning and career transitions and leads MacKenzie’s thought-leadership initiatives.
Deeply involved in the Bay Area business and philanthropic communities, Janis is the 2022-23 Board president of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, supporting excellence in patient care and innovation at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. She is a former chair and current Board member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and helped launch the Five Buckets Foundation, focused on financial literacy for youth and veterans. She has applied her leadership and relationships as a member of the Wells Fargo Community Advisory Board, Saint Francis Foundation, the British-American Business Council of Northern California, SPUR, SF Travel, United Way and the Fort Mason Foundation.
Janis has been named to the San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Women in Business for multiple years, and is a founding member of Women Supporting Leadership and Learning (WELL), an initiative of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. With a long-standing commitment to “doing well by doing good” both personally and professionally, Janis believes that helping others succeed is the most satisfying aspect of her career.
