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Ria Marie Carlson is corporate vice president of strategy and communications for Ingram Micro Inc., the world's leading technology distributor. In this role, Carlson serves as the company's chief strategy and communications officer, responsible for strategic planning and market development, internal and external communications, and investor and public relations. Carlson is also a member of Ingram Micro's worldwide executive team.
Prior to becoming corporate vice president of strategy and communications in April 2005, Carlson was vice president, corporate communications and investor relations for Ingram Micro. In this role, she served as the worldwide chief communications officer, leading all internal and external communications, community relations and shareowner services, and was the company's spokesperson for the media and financial markets.
Carlson joined Ingram Micro in March 2001, and immediately set out to develop global strategic communication plans that ushered the company through a period of significant organizational change. She is responsible for enhancing the company's profile with the investment community and national media, which has resulted in increased analyst coverage and international business media exposure. In 2005, Ingram Micro was ranked 76 on the Fortune 500.
A senior communications executive with more than 20 years of corporate, agency, media and non-profit experience, Carlson has been a corporate chief communications officer for more than eight years. Before joining Ingram Micro, she served as vice president, communications and investor relations for Equity Marketing, Inc., an international toy and promotions company, where she helped the organization transform from a manufacturer to a marketing services agency.
Prior to Equity, Carlson held executive positions in the healthcare industry. She served as vice president, public and investor relations for Sierra Health Services, Inc., where she led communication efforts for acquisitions, political programs, organizational changes and subsidiary start-ups. Carlson also served as associate vice president corporate communications for FHP International Corporation, a Fortune 500 health care organization, where she oversaw communication efforts for an acquisition that doubled the size of the company and helped launch a new subsidiary.
Before beginning her corporate career, Carlson was a news producer with a network-owned television station and led public relations efforts at two prestigious arts organizations.
Carlson is based at Ingram Micro's corporate headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif. She earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Southern California and holds certificates in management and health care management from the University of California, Irvine. | 