- Washington Business Journal announced its “2008 Women Who Mean Business” awards and among the winners are Eva Neumann, ENC Marketing & Communications, and Elizabeth Shea, SpeakerBox Communications. Among the “2008 Rising Stars” isPum Lefebure, Design Army. The award ceremony will take place Nov. 20 at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC.
- Dr. Rochelle L. Ford, APR, received the 2008 D. Parke Gibson Pioneer Award from the Public Relations Society of America. This award is PRSA's highest individual award presented to a PR professional who has contributed to the increased awareness of PR within multicultural communities and participated in the promotion of issues that meet the unique needs of these diverse communities.
- Raul E. Cisneros has been selected to serve as chief of the Decennial Media Relations Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau. He will be responsible for public affairs and media relations activities supporting the upcoming 2010 Census. Prior to joining the Census Bureau, Cisneros served in a number of capacities at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) between 2001 and 2008. Most recently, he was deputy associate administrator in the Office of Field Operations and deputy chief of staff. From 2001 to 2006, he served in the SBA’s Office of Communications and Public Liaison and headed that office from 2004 to 2006.
-The Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) announced its 2009 officers, board of directors and assembly delegates. This team of PRSA-NCC members oversees the chapter’s more than 50 annual professional development and awards programs designed to advance professionalism and career growth.
“As the largest PRSA chapter in the nation with more than 1,400 members, PRSA-NCC is the leading organization connecting PR practitioners in the Washington, DC region,” said Barbara Burfeind, APR, 2009 NCC president, and strategic communication director of Defense Visual Information, U.S. Department of Defense. “I’m excited about working with the new board to organize programs that will enable our members to succeed in their professional endeavors, grow as PR professionals and highlight best practices in their work.”
Burfeind is joined by 12 newly elected members of the board of directors and three new assembly delegates, as well as three returning directors who are serving two-year terms, and 11 returning assembly delegates. The chapter’s leadership team comprises the president and the executive officers of the board:
President: Barbara Burfeind, APR, strategic communication director, Defense Visual Information, U.S. Department of Defense
President-Elect: Jeff Ghannam, vice president, communications and membership, Biotechnology Institute
Treasurer: Aaron Cohen, vice president, media relations, MS&L Washington DC
Secretary: Rita Mhley, president,Mhley/Davis & Associates, Inc.
Vice Presidents:
Kristina Messner Chalf, vice president, public relations, Focused Image
Robert Udowitz, public relations consultant
Fred Whiting, APR, associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
Immediate Past President: Heathere Evans-Keenan, APR, founder and president, Keenan PR, Inc.
Two-Year Directors:
Amie Hornbaker, APR,director of public relations, American Podiatric Medical Association (term expires 2009)
Michelle Hudgins, APR, senior press officer, National Education Association (term expires 2010)
Brigitte Johnson, APR, director of communications and executive editor, American Forest Foundation (term expires 2009)
Fred Lash, APR, senior advisor to the deputy secretary of defense (joint communication) (term expires 2009)
Phil Simon, APR, managing director, communications and marketing, American Institute of Architects (term expires 2010)
Gwyn Walcoff, APR, owner,CCG, LLC Public Relations (term expires 2010)
One-Year Directors (term expires end of 2009):
Deborah A. Deal, APR, president, Saint Blackwell, Inc.
Suzanne Holroyd, Ph.D., APR,associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
Amy Robinson, APR, vice president, communications & media relations, Direct Selling Association
Assembly Delegates (term expires in parentheses):
Rebecca Andersen, APR, corporate communications manager, Opnext, Inc. (10)
Kathleen Bergeron, APR, marketing specialist, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (09)
Ivonne Couret, public affairs officer, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (09)
Aaron Ellis, APR, communications director, American Association of Port Authorities (10)
Steven Grant, APR, manager, public relations,National Education Association (10)
Tia Mason Howard, APR, director of communications, Erickson Retirement Communities (10)
Brigitte Johnson, APR, director of communications and executive editor, American Forest Foundation (11)
David Kinsman, APR, senior associate, public affairs, American of Physicians (09) College
Fred Lash, APR, senior advisor to the deputy secretary of defense (joint communication) (09)
Nancy Mayes, APR, president, Mayes Communications, Inc. (09)
Kristina Messner Chalf, vice president, public relations, Focused Image (09)
Phil Simon, APR, managing director, communications and marketing, American Institute of Architects (11)
Mike C. Sheward, APR, president, Management Communications Strategies (11)
Gwyn Walcoff, APR, principal,CCG, LLC Public Relations (09)