Washington Women In Public Relations Announces 2026 Emerging Leaders Finalists

WASHINGTON—Today, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a professional development and networking organization for female communicators in the nation’s capital, announced the finalists for its 16th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards (ELAs).

The ELAs honor outstanding professionals (ages 25–35) who are making a remarkable impact early in their PR careers. This year, WWPR is proud to spotlight trailblazing young women throughout the DC area who are leveraging innovation, elevating critical narratives, and navigating the evolving communications landscape with relentless creativity and conviction.

The 23 finalists are grouped into the following categories, Small/Boutique Agency, Mid-Size Agency, Large/Global Agency, Government, Non-Profit, Corporate, and Trade Association. One winner from each category will be revealed on Thursday, June 25 from 6-8PM at the AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Avenue NW, during an evening of networking, inspiration, and celebration.

This year’s finalists represent the top candidates in each of the seven categories, as determined by a distinguished panel of judges.  The 2026 ELA finalists are:

Small/Boutique Agency

• Natalie Gonzalez, Account Director | Beekeeper Group
• Chelsea Dade, Founder | Communicate For Health Justice LLC (CFHJ)
• Mariy Lieb, Director | Signal Group DC
  

Mid-Sized Agency

• Amanda Finney, Vice President, Reputation Management | Avoq
• Elizabeth Brown, Associate Vice President | Precision
• Hannah Rosichan, Senior Managing Director | PLUS Communications
• Isabella Victorio, Strategic Communications Manager | Narrative Strategies
  

Large/Global Agency

• Nia Page, Chief of Staff of National Geographic | National Geographic Content (Owned by the Walt Disney Company)
• Allison Beres, Vice President | Edelman
• Molly Mitzner, Vice President | Allison Worldwide
  

Government

• Casey Bell, US Air Force Public Affairs Officer/Education with Industry Fellow | US Air Force/Google
• Brianna Klipp, Proposal Specialist | Cision US inc.
• Jasmine Washington-Price, Media Relations & Internal Communications Coordinator | Alexandria City Public Schools
  

Nonprofit

• Aliza Bran, Director of Media Relations | International Spy Museum
• Paola Groom, VP, External Relations  | AARP
• Melissa Toufanian, Managing Director | Navigator Research
• Ariana Perez, Manager of Public Relations | Children's National Hospital
  

Corporate

• Meaghan Delaney, Manager, Corporate Affairs | KPMG US
• Victoria Vinall, Senior Policy Communications Manager | Aurora Innovation
• Shannon Casey, PR Manager for AI & Machine Learning at AWS | Amazon
  

Trade Association

• Dara Cohen, Senior Director, Strategic Communications & Media Relations | American Gaming Association
• Julie Hirschhorn, Manager, Public Relations | American Academy of Family Physicians
• Alexandria Kinsey, Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist | College of American Pathologists

“As a former recipient, the Emerging Leaders Awards is close to my heart both personally and professionally and remains a career highlight,” said Charmaine Riley, president, WWPR. “Now in its 16th year, the Emerging Leaders Awards continues to lift up DC’s brightest young PR professionals who are redefining excellence and shaping the future of our industry. We look forward to toasting to the 23 finalists and celebrating their incredible accomplishments.”

Julia Krieger, Head of U.S. Public Affairs at Coinbase, will serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s event. The awards celebration will be held at 601 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC, on June 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reserve your spot today.

Sponsorship opportunities can be found here or by contacting sponsorships@wwpr.org.

ABOUT WASHINGTON WOMEN IN PUBLIC RELATIONS

Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a member-based professional society cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential in the DC market and beyond. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking. Visit us at wwpr.org, connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @WWPR and on Instagram @WWPRDC.

For more information, Contact Emerging Leaders Awards Co-Chairs Janae Washington or Isabel Aldunate at ela@wwpr.org.