WASHINGTON, January 30, 2020 – Celebrating its 40th anniversary year, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), announced today its 2020 Board of Directors. The 2020 Board is as follows:
President: Sarah Beth Cloar, Edelman
Vice President: Christina Francisco, ASHP
Past President: Amanda Cate, American Society of Anesthesiologists
Treasurer: Susan Matthews Apgood, News Generation, Inc.
Emerging Leaders Awards Co-Chair: Sarah Beccio, Indigecomms
Membership Co-Chair: Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd, North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Membership Co-Chair: Stephanie Miceli, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Pro Bono Co-Chair: Zorie Valchev, Novartis
Pro Bono Co-Chair: Elynsey Price, Pearson
Professional Development Co-Chair: Stephanie Wight, The Reis Group
Professional Development Co-Chair: K. Kim Atterbury, Recording Industry Association of America
Woman of the Year Co-Chair: Jacqueline Wilson, Stratacomm
Woman of the Year Co-Chair: Hillarie Turner, Van Eperen
Cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential in the DC market and beyond, WWPR celebrates its 40th anniversary year in 2020. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking and the Board of Directors accomplishes this by leading the charge throughout all of its programming.
“The powerful connections and purposeful relationships made possible through WWPR over the years have been immeasurable,” said Sarah Beth Cloar, 2020 WWPR President. “Each of the women who will serve on this year’s Board bring such tremendous skill and commitment to the leadership and mentorship of women, which makes me excited to embark on 2020.”
The board induction meeting featured a keynote address by KayAnn Schoeneman, Senior Vice President and Practice Director of Curley Company’s corporate and public affairs group, and 2019 WWPR Woman of the Year Finalist.
Throughout the year, WWPR will continue to host its annual professional development and networking events for female communicators at every stage of their careers, including two signature events: the Emerging Leader Awards and the Woman of the Year Awards.
Learn more about WWPR and upcoming events at www.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 .
May Robinson, Director of Marketing of Mission Partners, WWPR Member
Meet May Robinson, Director of Marketing of Mission Partners
Background
May has more than a decade of experience in public relations, marketing, and event planning within both agencies and in-house for small businesses and large corporations. She is currently the Director of Marketing for Mission Partners, a woman-owned, women-led B Corporation that provides social impact strategic communications for purpose-driven organizations, including nonprofits, associations, boards and social enterprises. She leads their internal marketing strategy and works closely on the growth of leadership development events and programs to encourage people in their community to live and work through an equity lens.
Role at Mission Partners
May is excited about her current role at Mission Partners because it’s an opportunity to merge her marketing, strategic planning, and leadership skills with causes she is passionate about. She loves working toward racial equity and encouraging clients to view their communications through an equity lens. The biggest challenge is finding the time to execute on everything the organization would like to accomplish. As PR professionals, a challenge could be “turning off” work and finding the appropriate work-life balance. As a mom of twins, May simultaneously works on growing her career and her organization.
Why WWPR
May joined WWPR because she felt the need to join a community of like-minded professionals after returning to the D.C. area after 13 years. She wanted to continue to stay abreast of local and national PR and communications trends, seek professional development opportunities all while meeting new friends since she was “new again” to the area. She’s attended dozens of networking events throughout her career, but she found WWPR members to be immediately welcoming. She has already cultivated some genuine connections with people after attending just one event and has been referred to other useful community resources through a member. She’s excited to become more involved in WWPR in the year ahead.
Trends in PR
May keeps a pulse on trends through Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), WWPR professional development events, Social Media Marketing World Conference and LinkedIn articles. She knows there is a lot of intersection between PR, marketing, and advertising, and it’s become important for PR professionals to understand this and utilize digital marketing and social media as major tactics in their strategic planning. May started her career in traditional media relations then went to social media and digital marketing. She has seen the younger generations gain purchasing power and the way they consume messaging is important, therefore it’s important for organizations strategies to incorporate more concise content that is rich with photos and videos.
Community Involvement
May is an adjunct communications professor at her alma mater, Towson University. This role is important to her because as an undergrad, her favorite professors were those that taught from real-world, practical experiences in the field vs. those who only taught theory and from textbooks.
She plans to join Leadership Montgomery and the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence. Growing up and currently living in Montgomery County, May also plans to raise her children there. Leadership Montgomery is an excellent organization that will help her get a deeper understanding of her local community and where she can make a big impact. As a multiracial immigrant mother of two multiracial children, she values educational equity and wants to be part of the conversations the Black and Brown Coalition is having with local legislators and Montgomery County Public Schools on their plans for racial equity.
She is a current member of the Montgomery County Parents of Multiples, so she connects with other moms to schedule playdates with her children. Raising twins has been a unique experience, so connecting with other moms of multiples on their struggles and tips has been helpful.
Favorite Things to Do
Outside of organizations, May enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, listening to podcasts, hiking, working out, trying new restaurants, traveling, going to the beach, and visiting friends and family in San Diego. For 2020, she is prioritizing self-care, family and non-work activities since she is a known workaholic. Being back in the area and “new again” she sees how much it has changed since she left. She is getting to know the area again through local family-friendly events at the Smithsonian museums, National Harbor, Pike and Rose, and the Rio. She enjoys D.C. brunches with girlfriends and exploring new restaurants. When it gets warmer, she’d love to explore more hikes around Great Falls and Rock Creek Park. Learn more about May on Mission Partner’s website and LinkedIn and be sure to welcome her back to the area.
Article written by Florence Sumaray, Digital & Marketing Communications Expert; WWPR Member
WWPR 2019 President, Senior Governmental and Political Outreach Associate Director, American Society of Anesthesiologists
December President’s Note
As my final President’s note, I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone for an incredibly successful 2019 and celebrate what we’ve achieved. I am tremendously grateful for each and every one of you who supported WWPR, helped develop our programming, celebrated one of our many anniversaries, or made thoughtful contributions at one of our events. Our membership is what makes this organization so wonderful.
Heading into 2020 and WWPR’s 40th anniversary, I am so proud of the strides we’ve made over the last year. Our sponsors are helping us flourish; our Board is more productive and creative than ever, and our membership has grown exponentially. But most of all, we’ve continued our tradition of providing a place for female communicators to connect, learn and grow. I am humbled by the dedication and support from every individual associated with WWPR.
As I sign-off as President, I also hope to stay in touch, so please do not hesitate to connect with me via email, Instagram or IRL as I ease into my new role as Past President.
Wishing all of you a joyous holiday season and see you in 202
WWPR recently hosted the 30th annual Woman of the Year awards luncheon on November 15, where we had the pleasure of Martha Boudreau, AARP’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, giving the keynote address.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of this signature award, the theme this year was Pearls of Wisdom – a nod to the pearl being the traditional symbol of the milestone of 30 years.
As part of her keynote address, Martha shared ten of her Pearls of Wisdom:
Teamwork is More Essential Than Ever Learn how to create teams and serve on teams. In other words, sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow. Be good at both. In this knowledge-based economy, being a sole contributor only gets you so far because the best work, ideas and innovations come from diverse experiences and points of view.
Give Credit Away The most satisfying successes are the ones we share with others. Help those around you be the best they can and recognize their efforts.
Be Courageous, Confident and Fearless This is essential in order to keep moving forward. Don’t let self-doubt paralyze you. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Be Kind – Especially in the Face of Mistakes or Differences You can be kind and immensely effective at the same time. A truly unique leader is a blend of kindness, power and integrity.
Constantly Learn – Never, Ever, Say “I Don’t Do That” Intellectual curiosity is a powerful accelerant in career development. You don’t have to be an expert in everything but you do need to be interested in understanding what is new and where intersections exist.
Have a Strong Ethical Compass Never take shortcuts or the easy way out in matters of ethics. Right is right and wrong should not stand. Acting ethically is the foundation of your personal and professional reputation. People will forgive you for skills deficiencies, but they will not forget or forgive ethical lapses.
Humility Great leaders have a sense of humility and know where their strengths and weaknesses lie. They celebrate differences and welcome everyone to the table. They believe the team is greater than themselves.
Make Time for Friends – Don’t Get Lost in Decades of Busyness Friends are essential for happiness at every stage in life. Don’t take friendships for granted or let them languish merely because your “to do list” is long. Friends steady us in rough times and make life’s successes sweeter. We all need real, vibrant friendships. Don’t neglect yours.
To Thine Own Self Be True Knowing who you are, listening to your inner voice and honoring your values creates the only compass you’ll ever need. Make sure you never lose your compass because jobs and titles come and go, but what matters most is emerging through life’s changes having been true to yourself.
Find Balance This is the central issue we all face as professionals, “How do we balance work and family?” We only have one life so it’s crucial to find a way to honor all your roles on a continual basis. Everyone has a different formula. The right formula is a blend of saying “yes” and “no” to professional events, projects, travel and other opportunities at the same time you are fulfilling personal obligations and passions. Find your own unique formula.
As 2019 comes to a close and we reflect on the past year and what is to come in 2020, we will keep Martha’s “pearls” top of mind to inspire and guide all we do at WWPR and beyond.
By: Shannon Bishop-Green, WWPR Pro Bono Committee Member
For many community-based nonprofits, partnerships enhance programming and provide a bridge to the working world. This model is embodied by Sitar Arts Center, WWPR’s 2018-2019 nonprofit pro bono client.Fourteen artistic partnerships support Sitar’s programming for more than 900 students annually, 80% of whom come from a household with low-income.
Sitar partners with organizations ranging from DC Jazz Fest and The Washington Ballet, all of which are united in fostering personal and artistic growth through the arts via afterschool, weekend, and summer learning experiences. Sitar’s artistic partners provide students and the greater community with an opportunity to experience a wide variety of art forms at a professional level, an opportunity many otherwise would not have. Some partners—including American University – Music Program, Young Playwrights’ Theater, The Washington Ballet, Washington Improv Theater, Swaliga Foundation, Meridian Hill Pictures, DC Jazz Festival, ICIC Inner City – Inner Child—offer the time and talents of artists who collectively teach more than 100 classes and 100 private music lessons each week in the visual arts, digital arts, dance, creative writing, drama, and music. Others—like the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Performing Arts, and DC Jazz Festival—provide students with an opportunity to see professional artists showcase their work to the greater community on their very own Sitar stage.
These partnerships are so central to Sitar’s mission that they are reflected explicitly in theorganization’s values: “We deeply value and highly prioritize our relationships with our faculty, artistic, philanthropic and community partners, and recognize these partnerships as the root of Sitar’s mission and programs.”
Lorraine Robinson, Sitar’s Senior Director of Artistic Programs and Strategic Partnerships, emphasizes the importance of each and every partnership, saying, “Our passionate partners make a lasting impact on our students’ lives. Without these organizations, we would not be able to offer the breadth and depth of arts programming to students from across the District of Columbia. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and commitment of our many partners.”
Featured Partner: Meridian Hill Pictures
Alumni of Sitar’s year-long Youth Documentary Program can add “award-winning filmmaker” to their résumé, thanks to Sitar’s partnership withMeridian Hill Pictures.
Co-founders Lance (Executive Director) and Brandon Kramer (Artistic Director) and their staff serve as creative advisors and mentors for Sitar students through planning, producing, and promoting a documentary that highlights social change through storytelling. Since the program’s inception in 2010, Sitar students have worked collaboratively with professionals on four documentaries: “Life as a Collage,” “Doing It For Me,” “In the Path of My Father,” and “I Am, We Are.”
The documentaries have received local and national acclaim. The inaugural documentary produced through this partnership, “Life as a Collage,”was named as an Official Selection at the San Francisco International Film Festival and the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle, Washington; won the award for best student documentary in Washington, DC by Our City Film Festival (Washington, DC); and was recognized by American Film Institute’s School Docs Festival (Silver Spring, Maryland). Similar accolades followed for the subsequent documentaries.
Beyond developing the digital skills needed to film and edit the documentaries, students develop their public speaking skills talking on impactful community issues related to the community during film festival discussions or community panels. The program is so impactful that Sitar alumni who have completed the course have been inspired to study film at the college level and returned to Sitar as faculty, sharing their gifts and talents with new Sitar students.
The Partner Perspective
“The overwhelming power of the students’ creativity, voice and strength of Sitar’s sense of community surpassed our wildest expectations for the project.” – Lance Kramer, Executive Director/Co-Founder, Meridian Hill Pictures
The Student Perspective
“I learned how to deal with death, I learned much more about emotions, who I am as a person, how I deal with death.” – Forrest Penrod, 2011 Student Director of “Doing It For Me”
Featured Partner: DC Jazz Festival
In partnership with theDC Jazz Festival, students in Sitar’sJazzin’ AfterSchool class gather weekly for instrument training and jazz history sessions from Herman Burney, a renowned jazz bassist and former Associate Professor of Bass and Jazz Combo Director at The George Washington University. Beyond the gift of music understanding and appreciation, students strengthen their self-identity as young people and build confidence in their artistic skills which then propel them to the next level of musicianship.
The class culminates in an end-of-semester concert at Sitar Arts Center for fellow students, teachers, families and the community. Students also have the opportunity to perform at off-site events and fundraisers, such as the DC Jazz Festival’s Jazz ‘N Family Fun Days event, and showcase the maturity, professionalism, and other life skills fostered by the course.
For some Sitar students, such asMichael Ventura (vocalist/saxophonist), the DC Jazz Festival partnership has opened the door for further study at schools such as Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The Partner Perspective
“It is a blessing for me to be Artist-in-Residence from the DC Jazz Festival at Sitar Arts Center working with some amazing students from the Jazzin’ Afterschool Class. The partnership, the support, the facility, the parents, the staff, and especially the kids are all first class! Again, it is a great blessing for me to do my best to help kids exceed their fullest potential through music.” – Professor Herman Burney
The Student Perspective
“The Jazzin’ class is a great way to find other musicians and learn how to play with them. If I didn’t have Jazzin’, I wouldn’t know Herman Burney and I wouldn’t have made so many (musical) connections!” – John Wood (Jazz Bass Student) To learn more about Sitar Arts Center and community outreach partners, click here.
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