About Pender Communications - Chicago's Executive Media Training Firm

Nancy Pender, Principal

Nancy Pender is a PR strategist, media coach, and an Emmy and Peabody award-winning former broadcast journalist who brings her unique background to Pender Communications. 

Having conducted hundreds of interviews and written and produced countless stories, Pender has seen messaging done effectively and terribly ineffectively. As a communications and media training consultant, she helps clients develop content that resonates with key audiences, understand the rules of engagement when working with journalists, navigate crises, and control their message and image with creative yet strategically produced videos.

Pender has parlayed 23 years of journalism experience into the launch of Pender Communications. She spent the latter part of her news career in Chicago, where she honed her journalistic skills as an anchor and reporter for Fox affiliate WFLD-TV. During her 13 years at WFLD, Pender covered everything from the Columbine massacre in Colorado to the beating death of Derrion Albert, a Chicago high school student whose horrific murder was captured in a cell phone video that went viral.

She is also well acquainted with Chicago's political landscape, having covered numerous scandals, campaigns and elections. Early in her career, she served as Deputy Press Secretary to Willie L. Brown, Jr., Speaker of the California Assembly.

Beyond journalism, Pender was a V.P. at a strategic communications firm based in Chicago. There, she counseled clients on messaging strategy, crisis management and media outreach. One of her most memorable challenges involved a family law client representing South Korea in an adoption dispute that generated intense media attention. At first, Pender's client declined interview requests and, therefore, the opportunity to balance the story. But, with a moderate amount of counsel and media coaching, her client developed the skills and confidence to face reporters.

Today, Nancy works with executives and communications teams across industries including healthcare, technology, finance, law, and professional services. Based in Chicago, she regularly travels nationwide for on-site engagements — and works with clients remotely across the country. Her approach is grounded in a fundamental truth: effective communication is not about performing — it's about connecting. Every coaching session draws on her journalist's instinct for what an audience actually needs to hear, and her strategist's discipline for making sure the right message lands.

Pender is also a member of the Chicago Better Business Bureau's Board of Directors and a featured speaker at the Chicago Small Business Entrepreneur Expo. Her public media engagement seminars regularly attract standing-room-only audiences. She's a past member of the Lurie Children's Hospital First Look for Charity Committee and the Women Everywhere Partners in Service Project. She is also a charter member of The Reporters Inc., an independent, not-for-profit journalistic production house, and is an accomplished voice over artist who records corporate and commercial projects out of her home-based studio.

Laird Crawford, Video Production

Laird is the founder and director of Ian Ryan Interactive, a Chicago-based video production house that has partnered with Pender Communications. Whether the assignment involves a crew of videographers for our media training programs or top-notched film and editing services, Laird and his crew of production professionals are committed to a quality outcome.

Laird brings more than forty years of film and video production experience to Pender Communications. We love working with him and happy to say, he feels the same about us!