Who

Peggy Conlon is president and CEO of the Ad Council, the organization that oversees the creation and distribution of all those public service campaigns you see on TV promoting everything from driver safety to environmental protection.

Backstory

The eldest of 15 children, the California native began her communications career as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve before landing a job as director of communications for EEOC Inc. in Santa Ana, Calif. She headed east a few years later and entered the New York media world, joining Broadcasting & Cable magazine as publisher when it was still just Broadcasting (part of her mandate was to add the "& Cable"). Conlon was responsible for doubling the magazine's ad revenue during her tenure. She left in 1999 after being recruited for the top job at the Ad Council.

Of note

As head of the Ad Council, Conlon's responsible for creating public service announcements for non-profits like the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, and the National Urban League, as well as federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. Founded in the 1940s, the agency has created taglines like "Take a bite out of crime," "A mind is a terrible thing to waste," and "Friends don't let friends drive drunk," thanks to $1.7 billion a year in media outlet donations. Conlon was personally responsible for getting a $120 million donation, the largest donation in the council's history, from Clear Channel in 2004.

Namedrop

The board of the AdCouncil includes many of the media world's most notable execs like Hearst's Cathie Black, ESPN's George Bodenheimer, Chuck Brymer, GE's Beth Comstock, Richard Edelman, Irwin Gotlieb, Jim Heekin of Grey Worldwide, Judy McGrath, Jon Nesvig, Times digital guru Martin Nisenholtz, Andrew Robertson, Linda Kaplan Thaler, David Kenny of Digitas, and David Verklin of Carat.

Personal

Conlon and her husband, Robert Reale, live in an East 56th Street apartment. They also own a condo near the beach in Miami.