Huma Gruaz
President/CEO, Since 2004

- Named the 2010 Brand Marketer of the Year by PR News
- Named a finalist for “PR Professional of the Year” by PR News in 2011
- Named a finalist for “Brand Marketer of the Year” by PR News in 2008
- Speaker for 2011 Digital PR Summit
- Frequently featured in PR Week, PR News and Chicago Tribune as an expert in digital media and PR
- With over 15 years of experience, has been instrumental in developing new product categories in consumer goods and business-to-business industries
- Consistently secures stories for her clients in top-tier U.S. media such as TIME, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Parade as well as on major television programs including CNN, CNBC, The TODAY Show and Good Morning America
- Huma’s work includes consulting on strategic marketing and PR initiatives with major worldwide corporations and multi-national brands such as Logitech, Euro-Pro Corporation, Hoover Company, Spice Islands, Shell, Unilever and Philips Electronics
- Holds an Executive MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. The global Kellogg Executive MBA program has been ranked No. 1 by BusinessWeek for over a decade, recruiting only the top executives from elite corporations worldwide
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bryn Mawr College with a double major in Economics and Fine Arts. Huma's artistic passion and creativity give her PR and marketing strategies an extra edge
- Received her Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Rotterdam Art Academy in the Netherlands and has exhibited her work in both Europe and the United States
- Fluent in four languages: English, French, Turkish and Dutch
- Award recipient: Daughters of Ataturk Award, life-time achievement award in 2003
- Former national swimming champion, national team member, record holder and all-star athlete
- Former PR Committee Chair for the Chicago Chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners)

Caroline Sherman
Vice President, Since 2004

- Published expert contributed articles by PR News including, “How To…Make a Slippery Media Pitch Stick”
- Areas of expertise include brand marketing and media relations
- Oversees the strategic direction and implementation of marketing and public relations initiatives for Alpaytac accounts
- Established an array of editorial contacts in top-tier media, garnering placements with outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, BusinessWeek (Cover Story), Newsweek (Cover Story), Family Circle, Men’s Health, Entrepreneur, etc.
- Led and contributed to client campaigns of companies including Altec Lansing (since acquired by Plantronics) and Power Sentry (a Fiskars brand, since acquired by Philips), among others
- Spearheaded the PR and marketing initiatives for Ultimate Ears from the early stages of the company, which contributed to the acquisition of the company by Logitech for $34 million in August 2008. Despite having internal teams, Logitech made the atypical decision to continue to retain Alpaytac as their PR/marketing agency of record due to the outstanding results we achieved for the brand
- Manages media relations, new product launches, marketing communications development and trade show publicity. Also has a strong track record of securing speaking engagements at relevant trade shows and conferences, as well as submitting and securing award recognition for clients’ products/services
- Graduate of Indiana University’s Honors College with high distinction, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology as well as a specialized Business Certificate with a focus on Marketing
- Sits on the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Medical Research Junior Board Foundation of Children’s Memorial Hospital as PR Committee Chair; successfully publicized numerous fundraisers, which contribute $200,000 plus to pediatric research annually