Michelle Flowers

Michelle Flowers Welch (MSA82) is a member of the inaugural class of the Medill Hall of Achievement of 1997.

Flowers is president and CEO of Flowers Communications Group, a Chicago-based public relations firm founded in 1991. Her company specializes in target market programs, specifically those affecting the African-American consumer market. Its national client base American Honda Motor Co., AT&T, Brown-Forman Corporation, Chicago Park District, the City of Chicago, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Lottery, McDonald's, and MillerCoors.

Prior to starting the agency, Flowers was a senior vice president for Burrell Public Relations Inc. She joined Burrell in 1986 as assistant vice president. In August 1987 she was named the vice president, with responsibility for new business development, agency administration, and account management. After two years, Flowers became senior vice president and supervised major accounts like Kraft General Foods, Procter & Gamble and Quaker Oats. Earlier in her career, Flowers was an account supervisor for Golin/Harris Communications in Chicago. She also held several public relations positions at the Chicago Urban League.

She has received the Publicity Club of Chicago’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Black Public Relations Society's Founders Award and was named one of Chicago’s “Top 100 Black Business and Professional Women.” Flowers Welch’s work at FCG alone has garnered more than 100 industry awards for campaigns created for such blue-chip brands as McDonald's, Mary Kay, MillerCoors, Unilever, Sears/Kmart, Wells Fargo, and Honda.

Flowers graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University.