Suzi Istvan named June Jaz Janie

Every month, Dixon Schwabl + Company honors an outstanding employee with the coveted Jaz Janie Award, created to commemorate Public Relations Vice President Jane “Janie” Argenta, who passed away in September 2009. Jane was a fun-loving, compassionate and hardworking professional who touched the lives of many.

This month’s Jaz Janie winner is New Client Partnership Specialist Suzi Istvan. Since day one, Suzi has embodied our core values of community, curiosity and courage. She questions norms, defies old ways, invites new perspectives, and drives meaningful progress for our clients, our agency and our community. This is her status quo.

Anyone who works with Suzi knows she doesn’t just say yes. She says yes AND at 110% and with a smile.

Her commitment to delivering impact with a positive attitude is evident every day, whether tackling RFPs or leading innovative strategies for new business and ensuring the integrity of our operational process. No matter the ask, she will give you all she has. And she is a champion of everything DS+CO. Just look at her LinkedIn activity.

Suzi’s commitment to continuous learning and innovation is also inspiring. She leverages her learnings, experiences and perspectives to enhance the quality of our work every day. Recently, she took the initiative to complete certification in Vanderbilt’s Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT course, a testament to her proactivity. Now, she’s leveraging those skills to elevate our client engagement strategies and sharing with anyone willing to learn, including super helpful tips at our all-agency meetings.

Beyond her responsibilities within these walls, Suzi actively contributes to our community through United Way's Women United Leadership Giving Network and her role as chair of this year's Professional Women of the Finger Lakes’ Women of Distinction Awards. She’s fostering valuable connections for our agency while championing recognition, scholarships and mentorship opportunities for the community.

Suzi, your contributions are deeply appreciated and truly make a difference. Congratulations, Jaz Janie!