Debra Chipman

Debra Chipman, born on May 9, 1959, is a businesswoman in the conference and marketing industry. She is best known as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States division of the Institute for International Research. Debra has worked with the Institute since 1986, when she joined as a Conference Producer.

Debra has been married to Steven Polachi since 1984. Steven is the owner of CCM Marketing, a New York based advertising agency. She has three children, Alexa, Ryan and Dylan Polachi.

Early Life
Debra was born in Madison, Wisconsin. She is the daughter of Betty Chipman (née Getchell) and Kenneth Chipman, an electrical engineer. She has one younger brother, David. As a child, Debra's family moved around the country often, and she ultimately attended six different elementary schools before settling in Mendham, New Jersey. Debra attended West Morris Mendham High School.

Education and Career
Debra graduated from Pennsylvania State University with degrees in marketing and advertising in June of 1981. She joined Grey Global Group in the fall of 1981 as a Creative Group Assistant, before leaving to join the Institute for International Research in 1986. Debra became the President and CEO of the Institute in 2005, a position which she continues to hold today.

Personal Life
When she is not managing the Institute, Debra is an avid fan of running and equestrianism. She is also a philanthropist, donating to both charitable causes and her alma mater. She frequently vacations with her family in Nantucket, Anguilla, Cabo San Lucas, and Palm Beach, Florida.