GreenMarkers are devoted to supporting awareness of the country’s many green spaces, places and issues. From weekend hobbies to volunteer initiatives in our communities, we bring passion to our green work in and away from the office. Our desire to dig in and spread the word serves as our catalyst, yielding great work for our clients and growing good results for our society. That’s why we get up every morning - to make our green mark, too.

Get to know us more... contact us today to discuss how GreenMark can grow results for your business!

Sue Markgraf

Founder & President

Sue Markgraf is an award-winning reporter, editor and media relations practitioner with more than 30 years in media and corporate communications, including for the horticulture and agriculture industries. She has extensive experience in strategic team leadership, media communications and lifestyle reporting, issues and reputation management and media training for education, not-for-profit, corporate and agency businesses.

Because green is all GreenMark does, Sue's passion for her work and the sustainable industry forges alliances among the firm’s clients that yield above-and-beyond results, including in industry leadership capacities, higher-profile visibility and reputation enhancement. She is on the cutting edge of new media, guiding the firm’s direction on Internet opportunities for clients that are in addition to traditional marketing communications strategies. With her team, success yields award-winning results for clients through new and traditional media relations, marketing communications, social and electronic exposure. That success directly impacts the financial bottom-line of the firm's clients.

Prior to co-founding GreenMark in 2006, Sue led the public relations team at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where she created and managed proactive, full-scale communications and reputation management programs. Her work delivered millions of consumer impressions that increased visibility, drove attendance and provided tangible results that contributed to a successful re-brand initiative and capital campaign launch. Under her direction, coverage of the garden and its work in science, education and leadership grew from minimal to international in just five years. Sue's background also includes big-agency experience with the Chicago office of Fleishman-Hillard and corporate communications direction with Dairy Management, Inc., representing the dairy farmers of America.

As a media relations professional, Sue's work includes broadcast in front of and behind the camera as segment coordinator, producer, director and spokesperson. A lifelong journalist, she worked for more than a decade as a newspaper reporter and editor, and then as editor of two agriculture industry trade publications. She has written articles for leading newspapers and national publications, contributed to a best-selling author's book and has guest-taught editing and writing to teens and adults. With one foot also in the professional development side of media relations, Sue is past president of the Publicity Club of Chicago - the nation's largest public relations membership organization.

Read more about Sue in the Chicago Tribune

“Great results are achieved through compassionate teamwork and a passionate drive to reach a common goal. When this happens, results are consistent – and they are amazing.”  – Sue Markgraf

Email Sue at smarkgraf@greenmarkpr.com

Lynn Petrak

Executive Director, Media Relations

Good things start gradually, from blooms to legumes. For Lynn Petrak, living an earth-friendly life was also a gradual process, starting with the simple recyclable grocery tote and evolving to the embrace of natural and organic foods and the choice of green household elements.

Lynn comes by her interest in wholesome products naturally: she has specialized in food, nutrition, home and health communications for 20 years. Her work has appeared in several consumer and trade publications, from Parenting magazine to the Chicago Tribune to Chicago Home & Garden and many others.

Her farm-to-table food chain knowledge was gleaned from extensive experience as a writer and contributing editor for food and agriculture industry magazines. One of her essays appeared in the bestselling book, “Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul,” and she is the author of a children’s book, “Goodbye Lake.”

Through the years, Lynn has complemented her editorial writing with media relations and marketing communications for a variety of companies and agencies, as both a team member and leader. She offers a perfect blend of media and public relations experience and knowledge of media markets in transition to GreenMark’s clients as Media Relations Director.

When not furiously tapping away at the keyboard, she recharges – and gets some of her best brainstorms – in the great outdoors, sometimes in her kayak but usually when walking along the Illinois Prairie Path.

“We’re the new news bureau. It’s our job and our joy to find captivating, relevant information and share that news on both a local and national level, whether it’s about everyday living or long-term strategies to protect the earth and its resources.” – Lynn Petrak

Email Lynn at lpetrak@greenmarkpr.com

Matt Markgraf

Digital Media Manager

Since hearing William McDonough’s TED speech on “Cradle to Cradle Living” Matt Markgraf has been interested to learn more and become part of a sustainable global future through green issues and a green lifestyle.

As an Associated Press award-winning digital media manager, Matt provides website and new media counsel to GreenMark, and guides the firm in website development.

His professional experience includes broadcast communications and digital media development at NPR affiliate WKMS since January 2007. Matt's attention to detail, creative execution and writing has earned numerous honors in the Kentucky Associated Press Awards. He has a Master's in creative writing from Murray State University.

“In science fiction, the future is often painted gray: cold and barren. The reality is, our clients are the ones painting it green: playful and full of life.”  – Matt Markgraf

Email Matt at mmarkgraf@greenmarkpr.com

Sharon Hentsch

Chief Financial Officer

Sharon Hentsch has 30+ years of accounting experience and is expert in accounting functions, including accounts receivable and payable, payroll and general ledger.

Experience with companies of various sizes and scope has given her tremendous insight into the need for small business profitability forecasts, as well as job cost estimating and budgeting.

Sharon administers financial communications with clients and the team. This includes budgeting and bookkeeping, tracking/projecting, client billing and financial communications management, expense management, time reporting/tracking and budget forecasting.

“No business can prosper without great communication between themselves and their clients. GreenMark prides itself on that philosophy, which makes conversations and communications top notch.” - Sharon Hentsch

Email Sharon at shentsch@greenmarkpr.com