Betsy Sales

Amid the hustle and bustle of Chicago's business community and insider politics, nobody is more at home than Betsy Sales. Whether in the city's South or West side, her own 42nd Ward, or in the corridors of City Hall, Betsy is passionate about making Chicago a better place to live and work for everyone. 

She successfully traverses the interconnecting worlds of business and politics at the highest levels in one of North America's most complex and sophisticated cities. She is an artist at developing cross-promotional opportunities to benefit all - she is, in short, an ambassador of mutual understanding.

Since joining the Serafin team in 1991 as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Betsy has spearheaded some of the most ambitious, innovative and successful public affairs campaigns that this city has ever seen. Most recently, Betsy designed and executed the marketing program that enabled the world's largest retailer to build and operate a store on Chicago's West Side - the company's first store in a major metropolitan community. 

While at the Chicago Tribune's WGN Radio, she also initiated, developed and executed many joint sports marketing ventures with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and DePaul University that are still in evidence today - the most famous being the "Harry for a Day" program where celebrities such as Bill Murray, George Wendt and Jim Belushi filled in for Harry Caray during his recuperation from a stroke.

Betsy worked closely with the state's premier horse racing track, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Chicago and Illinois tourism officials to develop a promotional and marketing program for the 2002 Breeders' Cup held at the track. The program resulted in substantially increased awareness for this exciting international event.

At Serafin & Associates, Inc., Betsy is responsible for handling some of the most complex accounts.

Before joining the Serafin team, Betsy sharpened her reputation in the industry as a promotional guru serving as marketing director for WGN Radio. She helped coordinate all public and media relations, marketing, promotional, philanthropic and advertising outreach efforts for the station and worked closely with city and state officials to inform listeners of public programs and events.

In Chicago's business and political worlds, Betsy is appreciated for her candor and can-do attitude, having been involved in a variety of issues and philanthropic endeavors. She is a graduate of the University of the Pacific (Stockton, Calif.) and she lives with her husband, Tom, in Chicago.