2012 WWPR Board of Directors
President – Tina McCormack Beaty, Porter Novelli
Vice President – Margie Newman, Pew Center on the States
Past President – Kendra Kojcsich, Porter Novelli
Treasurer – Sherri Core, Core Association Services, Inc.
Secretary – Veronica Brown, Gibraltar Assoc. LLC
Membership Chair – Leslie Rutledge, RedEgg
Pro Bono Co-Chair – Kate Barrett, NEA
Pro Bono Co-Chair – Maria Ibañez, NASHP
PR Woman of the Year Co-Chair – Susie Tappouni, ASCO
PR Woman of the Year Co-Chair – Amy Malerba Hemingway, Edelman
Emerging Leaders Award Co-Chair – Helen Mitternight, Vanguard Communications
Emerging Leaders Award Co-Chair – Lauren Smith, Jones Public Affairs
Sponsorship/Partnership Chair – Season Solorio, National Cattleman’s Beef Assoc.
Marketing Communications Co-Chair – Jennifer Dunn, Business Wire
Marketing Communications Co-Chair – Kristen Hostetter, Rock Recovery
Professional Development Chair – Kari Hudnell, CommunicationWorks
Website Chair – Janiré Hopkins, CareMetx
Bios and contact information for all 2012 board members are below, as well as a list of past WWPR presidents.
President – Tina McCormack Beaty, Porter Novelli
Tina McCormack Beaty brings a deep understanding of communications, branding, marketing, and public relations – strategically planning to achieve core business goals. Currently, she is an account supervisor in the Food/Beverage/Nutrition Group at Porter Novelli.
Beaty is also a frequent guest lecturer for the Miami Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at Miami University, is an advisory board member for Miami’s communication school, and is a food blogger for the Del Ray Patch where she now resides with her husband.
Previously, she was senior director of C.Fox Communications. C.Fox is woman-owned strategic communications agency serving mission-driven organizations. At C. Fox she lead consumer products, business innovators and nonprofit clients on strategy, branding, and tactics. Her clients included vivabox, Travalo, Cook’s, MRIS, RBI, CHF International, Sonamba and Massage Envy. Beaty was formerly the director of communications for Starlight Children’s Foundation MidAtlantic, a health focused nonprofit with a mission to bring joy to seriously ill children. There, she was responsible for developing communication strategy and tactics, launching a new brand for the organization, creating strategic partnerships, and producing million-dollar galas.
Before joining Starlight MidAtlantic, Beaty worked for the leading digital media company, FierceMarkets, playing an integral role in business-to-business events and sponsorships. She managed various executive events in the wireless, telecom, and healthcare industries across the country in conjunction with leading industry tradeshows. Beaty also spent several years working with high profile consumer brands, various Fortune 500 companies, and small start-ups consulting on PR tactics and event strategy.
Vice President – Margie Newman, Pew Center on the States
Margie Newman is a communications and media relations manager at The Pew Charitable Trusts, Pew Center on the States. Nights and weekends, she is a social media guinea pig and head cheerleader for the technologically curious. Margie doles out advice, pep talks and how-to’s via her monthly “Chic Geek” productivity and new media column for Her Nashville magazine.
A former press aide to Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, Newman began her career serving as assistant for communications to Bredesen after his 2002 election, and later, as communications director for the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, which developed Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in all 95 Tennessee counties.
In 2008, she was named among the PR News Top 15 to Watch, a national award honoring 15 budding PR leaders and creative practitioners age 30 and under. Later that year, Newman was profiled as a Nashville Business Journal “Rising Star.”
Newman is a graduate of Auburn University. While living in Nashville, Newman was a Junior Achievement volunteer, and served on the boards of the Nashville Adult Literacy Council and the Nashville Downtown Partnership.
A Nashville native, Newman now lives, works and wears cowboy boots in Washington, D.C. with her talented husband and tea cup poodle. A natural connector who never meets a stranger, she is the founder and organizer of the DC Flacks and Nashville Flacks happy hour and networking series through Meetup.com.
Past President – Kendra Kojcsich, Porter Novelli
Kendra Kojcsich is an account supervisor at Porter Novelli. She works with health and social marketing and food and nutrition clients to develop brand messages, design and write materials, create media relations strategies, plan and implement special events and successfully pitch top-tier print and broadcast media. Currently, she leads the American Lung Association’s Quitter in You Smoking Cessation and Christmas Seals Campaign, and works with SOYJOY on both their health professional and social media programs.
Kojcsich has also led media relations for key clients such as the American Heart Association’s trans fats consumer education campaign. She also lead all media relations efforts for the launch of the first ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americas for the Centers for Disease Control and Health and Human Services and most recently assisted in media relations for Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living Campaign which included PSA’s featuring first lady Michelle Obama and Disney Stars such as Nick Jonas.
Kojcsich graduated with honors from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with concentrations in public relations, health communication and organizational communication and a minor in Political Science.
Treasurer-Sherri Core, Core Association Services, Inc.
Sherri Core is the founder and president of Core Association Services, Inc., a Fairfax, VA-based association management firm, which specializes in providing services for nonprofit associations.
She is also director of administration for the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC/Washington) chapter. In addition, her firm manages the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club, the largest bicycle club on the east coast, and works with RMK Productions in managing the day-to-day activities of Women in Technology.
Prior to forming Core Association Services in 2000, Core co-owned Mayerhofer & Associates, Inc., where she was in charge of the association management division. Before that, she was administrative chief at High Frontier, which is the nation’s leading non-government authority on missile defense issues. She has also worked on documentary films, primarily as a script writer, and has participated in other research projects.
Core graduated with honors from International Business College in Fort Wayne, IN, where she majored in accounting.
Secretary – Veronica Brown, Gibraltar and Associates, LLC
Veronica Brown is a vice president at Gibraltar Associates (GA), where she specializes in public awareness campaigns, scientific and technical communications, health care communications and social media. Her knack for translating complex scientific and technical information into compelling messages and materials that resonate with policymakers, the public and other key audiences has been imperative in helping her clients achieve their strategic objectives. Currently, she leads projects for clients such as Gilead Sciences and the Food Allergy Initiative.
Prior to joining GA, Brown was a manager at Burson-Marsteller, where she led three outreach initiatives for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For VA’s Caregiver Support Program, she guided branding, strategy and the development of a new website and outreach materials to make VA more accessible to family caregivers of veterans and ensure complex health conditions and benefits were easy to understand. She also guided the development of a multiyear strategic communications and outreach plan for VA’s Five-Year Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans.
Previously, Brown was a vice president at TheWadeGroup, Inc. There she served as the account lead for the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), guiding all of the NCRG’s strategic communications efforts. This included managing the release of a groundbreaking national report on college mental health issues, creating the organization’s blog and social media presence, developing strategic partnerships, and producing an annual, multi-city Road Tour to educate health care providers, government officials, the media and other key stakeholders about the latest research on gambling addiction.
Brown also has provided strategic counsel and developed and implemented communications programs for clients including CVS/Caremark, the National Lipid Association, the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Shell Oil and the Shell Foundation, Homes for Working Families, ISO New England, the American Gaming Association, and a major food manufacturer, for whom she helped develop media, stakeholder and employee communications surrounding a multibillion-dollar merger.
Brown is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and assistant organizer of the D.C. PR Flacks Meetup group. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received her degree in American literature & culture and public policy.
Membership Chair- Leslie Rutledge, RedEgg Solutions
Leslie Rutledge is a senior account manager at RedEgg Solutions/MyMediaInfo, the premiere source for media data in North America. She is responsible for new account development, support and management for a client base that includes PR agencies, Fortune 100 companies, solo practitioners, colleges/universities, and nonprofit, and government organizations. She prides herself in finding cost-effective solutions that surpass organizational objectives.
Prior to joining MyMediaInfo, Rutledge spent 8 years at Cision US (formerly Bacon’s Information, Inc) working her way up the ranks as an account manager, senior account manager and senior business development manager in the company’s media database sales and news clipping teams. While managing sales teams in two office locations, Rutledge established a track record of transforming stagnant opportunities into some of the highest revenue producers in the company’s history. Her work at Cision earned her top sales honors for six consecutive years.
Pro Bono Co-Chair – Kate Barrett, New Enterprise Associates
Kate Barrett is director of communications and marketing for New Enterprise Associates (NEA), a leading global venture capital firm. In this role she leads the development and execution of NEA’s global communications strategy and initiatives, including corporate marketing, public and media relations, and portfolio company communications support. Recent areas of particular focus include the firm’s website redesign and a series of sector-focused videos featuring NEA portfolio companies. She is also actively involved in the firm’s limited partner relations and internal communications initiatives.
Prior to joining NEA in 2007, Barrett managed public relations for MedImmune (now a subsidiary of AstraZeneca PLC), with a focus on corporate branding communications and activities such as the company’s annual report and corporate website. Previously, she served in a variety of communications and website development roles at The Kroger Co. and The E. W. Scripps Company. She began her career as a community correspondent for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Barrett earned her bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism at Miami University.
Pro Bono Co-Chair – Maria Ibañez, NASHP
Maria Ibañez joined NASHP in April 2009. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in communications and public relations, and was most recently the director of communications and community outreach for the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (DC OSSE). In addition, Ibañez has performed communications and public relations functions for the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ibañez has also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland and Trinity University. Ibañez holds a BA in journalism from the University of the District of Columbia, and MA in public communications from American University.
PR Women of the Year Co-Chair – Amy Malerba Hemingway, Edelman
Amy Malerba Hemingway joined Edelman’s Washington, D.C. office in April 2006. She is a senior vice president and group head in the Energy Practice.
Since 2006, Amy has managed multiple aspects of a national public affairs campaign for the American Petroleum Institute (API), the largest trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. Amy’s primary work is overseeing the multi-faceted communications program, which focuses on educating and engaging important audiences on key energy and policy issues.
In addition to API, Amy serves as strategic counselor to the third largest integrated energy company in the United States and previously advised the energy institute in the world’s largest business federation. Prior to joining the Energy Practice, she worked on food policy issues.
Amy has helped grow several internal public affairs capabilities for Edelman. She developed Edelman’s initial field network, a nationwide list of contacts to facilitate clients’ advocacy initiatives at the most local level. She integrated the Edelman Connector, a proprietary, online database management system, into the Washington, D.C. office and into clients’ influencer outreach campaigns. Amy is an expert on developing media partnerships and leveraging advertising dollars on behalf of clients. And she has facilitated communications among Edelman’s global public affairs network.
Amy came to Edelman with unique experience in communications, event planning, relationship management, sponsorship development and political campaign fundraising, and an educational background in government and public policy. Prior to Edelman, she was the government relations director for the United States participation in the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan. She generated both public affairs and economic development opportunities in Japan for U.S. governors and their states. Previously, she served as finance director for Joe Torsella, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 13th District. Early in her career, Amy planned numerous events in Philadelphia under former Mayor Ed Rendell including the grand opening of the National Constitution Center on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall, the city’s 18-month millennium celebration, Operation Sail 2000 and the 2000 Republican National Convention.
Amy has a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
PR Women of the Year Co-Chair – Susie Tappouni, American Society of Clinical Oncology
Susie Tappouni is Assistant Director of Science Writing at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In her role, she specializes in communicating emerging medical breakthroughs in cancer care to media and key publics for the Society, including medical professionals, advocates and patients. She brings a range of experience to her work from strategic and crisis communications, to media planning and event management.
Prior to joining ASCO in 2010, Tappouni served as a Vice President at Spectrum, a Washington-DC based healthcare communications firm. While at Spectrum, Susie provided strategic communications counsel to a range of pharmaceutical, biotech and health advocacy organizations. Namely, her work focused on preparing the marketplace for new drug approvals and broadening awareness of such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, autoimmune disorders and the use and misuse of pain management drugs.
Prior to Spectrum, Tappouni worked in New York in the healthcare practice for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide on behalf of such notable pharmaceutical clients as Pfizer and Merck. Prior to her work at Ogilvy, she worked at Lippe Taylor Marketing Communications supporting communications efforts for premier New York City-based physician practices.
Tappouni is a graduate of Virginia Tech where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication. She is also currently pursuing her Master’s Degree from Georgetown University with a focus in Corporate Communications and Public Relations.
Emerging Leaders Award Co-Chair – Helen Mitternight, Vanguard Communications
Helen Mitternight is associate director at Vanguard Communications. In addition to being part of the senior management team for the firm, she serves as deputy project director for the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s “Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign.” In this role, she directs technical assistance on social marketing for SAMHSA grantees, and produces National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, a national event in D.C. that is complemented by grassroots events in more than 1,100 communities across the country.
Originally a reporter for the Associated Press, Mitternight has run her own communications firm, and has headed public relations for national nonprofit organizations, including the American Society for Training & Development and The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization. She considers herself fortunate to have spent most of her career giving a voice to the underserved, the under-represented, and the underdog.
Emerging Leaders Award Co-Chair – Lauren E. Smith, Jones Public Affairs
Lauren Smith is a dedicated communications professional specializing in strategic planning, issue advocacy and media relations with a background in healthcare reform, long-term care and the healthcare supply chain. Smith uses her experience with traditional and digital media landscapes to help her clients navigate complex communication challenges.
In her role at Jones Public Affairs, Lauren works to raise the visibility of life-changing health issues and research through innovative and effective strategic communications strategies. Smith helps her clients develop and leverage relationships with patient advocacy groups and target members of the healthcare media. Her clients include the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (NACH).
Prior to joining JPA, Lauren supported a Fortune 50 biopharmaceutical company as it began to incorporate various health reform provisions into its operations. In this role, Smith provided counsel on the implementation of new regulations on both the grassroots and national levels. Crucial to this effort was the regular drumbeat of communication to patients and key stakeholders about the expected impact of the new legislation. Prior to that role, she worked to build consumer and policymaker awareness of long-term care systems during the heart of the national healthcare reform debate.
A Washington, D.C. native, Smith graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Communications and Media Studies.
Sponsorship/ Partnership Chair – Season Solorio, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Season Solorio began her career with Porter Novelli, a leading strategic communications agency, where she executed consumer communications and healthcare professional educational programs for major food clients, including the Almond Board of California and the National Cancer Institute’s 9 A Day Campaign, as well as leading food brands, such as Safeway, Perdue Chicken and Campbell’s Soup. While at Porter Novelli, Solorio also worked with the Abundant Forests Alliance to develop environmental issues advocacy programs, including producing a children’s book called The Tree Farmer, which received a number of public relations and media awards.
Solorio’s passion for issues management led her to be the senior director, public relations for The Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade association representing the vitamin and dietary supplement industry. There she developed and led issues response and healthcare professional educational programs on behalf of major members such as NatureMade, Centrum and Bayer One A Day.
Currently, Solorio serves as the senior director, issues management for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and is based in the Washington, D.C. office, where she leads issues response strategy for the beef industry on behalf of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers.
Solorio’s enthusiasm for food and deep sense of respect for those who raise our food was instilled in her at a young age—she grew up surrounded by corn and soybean fields in a small, rural town in central Illinois. After graduating from Miami University in Oxford, OH with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, she worked as an on-air radio host for a short time and then moved to Washington, D.C. Season lives in Arlington, VA with her foodie-loving boyfriend. In her spare time, Season enjoys rowing crew on the Potomac River and volunteering for Cardinal Point Winery and Vineyard, a local Virginia vineyard. Her favorite cut of lean beef is a good NY Strip Steak.
Marketing Communications Co-Chair – Jennifer Dunn, BusinessWire
Jennifer Dunn has spent 11+ years in the public relations and communications industry providing communications outreach, counseling and strategic communications plans to various organizations in both the non-profit and corporate sectors. Dunn currently is an account executive at Business Wire, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and the global market leader in commercial press release distribution where she is responsible for new account development, support and management for a client base that includes PR agencies, consulting firms, solo practitioners, colleges/universities, nonprofits, associations and government organizations.
Prior to becoming Account Executive, Dunn was the communications manager at SureScripts, the nation’s largest health information network which supports the most comprehensive ecosystem of healthcare organizations nationwide. In her role at SureScripts Dunn led all communications in support of the company’s GoldRx program, managed SureScripts’ membership program by developing a communications plan and membership drive, and was managing editor of SureScripts’ quarterly newsletters. Dunn managed SureScripts’ speakers bureau where she landed speaking opportunities for the company at World Congress’ flagship conference, World Congress Forum on Executive Rx Management and National Health IT Week all which featured high-level congressional figures and C-level executives from leading health IT players around the country.
Previously, Dunn spent six years at the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading trade association representing the global information and communications technology (ICT) industries through standards development, government affairs, business opportunities, market intelligence, certification and world-wide environmental regulatory compliance, where she started her career as a communications coordinator progressing to communications manager. At TIA Dunn led the organization’s media relations efforts; was the lead editor for TIA’s monthly newsletter and email bulletin; and contributed to the organization’s input and positions on policy, market analysis and communications issues related to the global communications industry. Dunn also played a pivotal role in the launch of TIA’s trade show GLOBALCOMM 2006.
Dunn earned a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in media studies from George Mason University.
Marketing Communications Co-Chair – Kristen Hostetter, Rock Recovery
Kristen Hostetter, a DC area native, graduated from East Carolina University in 2006 with a BA in Communication, and focus in Public Relations. She started her professional career in 2007 with digital B2B publishers, FierceMarkets. For two years, she worked in marketing account management for event companies and trade associations, eventually transitioning into developing digital strategy for the company’s Life Science group.
During her 4 years with FierceMarkets, Hostetter worked with her accounts to create online branding, lead-generation, and thought leadership campaigns. She planned year-long strategy by assessing goals, industry targets, budget, and time frame. Through analyzing results and consultation with her clients, she determined ways to optimize campaigns through adjusting strategy and copy.
After leaving FierceMarkets in 2011, Hostetter began working for a local non-profit, Rock Recovery, as their PR and Marketing Manager. She has started to develop their communication strategy, and has taken the lead in creating events and strategic partnerships with other non-profits and organizations.
In her free time, Hostetter enjoys cooking, yoga, and running, and is currently training to run in 2 half marathons in 2012.
Professional Development Chair – Kari Hudnell, CommunicationWorks, LLC
Kari Hudnell is the media and marketing manager at CommunicationWorks, LLC, a public affairs firm focusing on education and youth development. She manages media campaigns, oversees report productions, writes new business proposals, and develops press, marketing, Web and branding materials.
Hudnell led the award-winning media team which released The Nation’s Report Card from 2007 to 2009 and has directed media outreach efforts for Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup, MetLife, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. In addition to managing media campaigns, she has planned numerous high profile events and written and edited reports for Stanford University and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
An active member of Phi Mu Fraternity, Hudnell serves as an adviser to the American University chapter and as the fundraising chair for the Washington, D.C.-area alumnae chapter. She recently led the Phi Mu team of the inaugural DC Dance Marathon benefiting Children’s National Medical Center, raising more than $5,000 – the highest amount of any team.
Prior to joining CommunicationWorks as a media associate, Hudnell interned at C. Fox Communications and Witeck-Combs Communications. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Communications and Political Science from American University.
Website Chair – Janiré Hopkins, CareMetx
Janiré Hopkins is a former newspaper reporter, turned political spin doctor, turned web goddess extraordinaire. She is a rare breed of techie who can translate geek speak into plain English. She is currently a User Interface Designer/Developer, and was previously a producer for the award winning Education Week website. In that role, she produced all editorial and commercial webinars, and served as developer and producer for the organization’s event site.
Hopkins began her career as a newspaper reporter and wrote for The Bay State Banner, The Boston Globe, and The Connecticut Post, before becoming press director to the first African American woman elected to the Massachusetts State Senate.
She returned to her journalism roots in 1997 by joining Boston.com, the digital arm for The Boston Globe. While there, she was selected as a New Media Fellow by the Newspaper Association of America. Hopkins later moved to the Metro DC area, where she worked for several non-profit organizations, National Public Radio, and a web agency, where she was a producer on several award-winning websites.
Hopkins is the chief geek at Chic Geek Style, a blog that works to spread good taste throughout the land.
Past WWPR Presidents
2011 Kendra Kojcsich
2010 Debbie Friez
2009 Lauren Lawson
2008 Lisa Kelley McCluskey
2007 Lisa Kelley McCluskey
2006 Lindsay Keller
2005 Tourang Nazari
2004 Tammy Lemley
2003 Hillarie Turner (Fogel)
2002 Hillarie Turner (Fogel)
2001 Katherine Hutt
2000 Elizabeth Chester
1999 Elizabeth Chester
1998 Ashley Burt
1997 Lorri Lee
1996 Jacqui Marquis
1995 Cathy Del Colle
1994 Evelyn Frazier
1993 Pam Jenkins
1992 Kate Perrin
1991 Sheri Singer
1990 Adrienne Bush
1989 Ellen Werther
1988 Ellen Werther
1987 Mary Dyess
1986 WWPR adopted bylaws and was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia
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