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CO-PRESIDENT’S NOTE: NOVEMBER 2018

Post date November 21, 2018
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Dani Veira, Co-President WWPR — Danielle Veira – WWPR 2018 President, Director of Communications & Engagement, A Better Chicago
Twitter: @DaniV7101

I’m just going to be cliche and say it: there is so much to be thankful for this year. Family, friends, fresh flowers, the upcoming food extravaganza that is Thanksgiving…I’m sure there are things that don’t start with “f” also, but I was on a roll. Honestly, I’m overwhelmed with the amount of things I’m grateful for, and I’d be lying if I said WWPR and the wealth of inspiration and fun it brings into my life isn’t one of those things.

I might be feeling particularly thankful for WWPR these days because I’m still riding the happiness high that our annual PR Woman of the Year luncheon gives me. If you missed this year’s event, you might not have gotten the full effect of the level of excellence that was in the room, or had a chance to celebrate with our awe-inspiring finalists Kate Perrin and Gloria Rodriguez, or witnessed the reveal of our 2018 Woman of the Year Wendy Hagen. It’s ok, though, we have a pretty awesome video recap for you.

We all know that once Thanksgiving hits, it feels like the year is basically over, but WWPR still has a few things for you to put on the calendar. Do you love us and want to get more involved? We’re accepting applications for the 2019 Board of Directors until November 30! Like cocktails, snacks and holiday socializing with cool people? Join us on December 18 at City Tap House in Dupont for our annual Holiday Party!

Finally, I speak for all of us on the WWPR Board when I say: we’re thankful for all of you. For our members, our sponsors and our partners who make the WWPR community what it is.

Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving,

Dani

Washington Women in Public Relations Names Wendy Hagen as 2018 PR Woman of the Year

Post date November 20, 2018
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 13, 2018) – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) named Wendy Hagen, president of hagen, inc., its 2018 PR Woman of the Year. Hagen received the award—which recognizes demonstrated ability in the communications field, contributions to the community and industry leadership qualities—at the 29th annual Washington PR Woman of the Year Award luncheon. The event was hosted in partnership with lead sponsor AARP on Friday, November 9 at the Fairmont Hotel and emceed by WJLA anchor Nancy Chen.

“Wendy embodies exactly who our Woman of the Year award was created for—a female communicator who is both an example of excellence in the profession and deeply committed to improving her community and uplifting fellow women in the industry,” said Danielle Veira, co-president of WWPR. “It is our pleasure to celebrate women like Wendy who are bringing to life WWPR’s mission of cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential.”

Hagen, along with finalists Kate Perrin, founder and chief executive officer of PRofessional Solutions, LLC, and Gloria Rodriguez, founder and chief executive officer of Comunicad, LLC, was honored by more than 200 of her peers at the annual event. This year’s theme was Communicate. Collaborate. Conquer.

“After many years working in agencies and nearly 10 years in business on my own, it’s such an honor to receive this award from WWPR,” said Hagen. “It was especially meaningful to be included among such accomplished fellow finalists, Gloria Rodriguez and Kate Perrin, who’ve given so much to the public relations community.”

WWPR, a professional society advancing women communicators in metropolitan Washington, established the Woman of the Year Award in 1990 to foster camaraderie among women in public relations and honor the most talented women in the field.

Keynote remarks were provided by Kirsten Suto Seckler, chief brand and communications officer of Special Olympics International and 2009 PR Woman of the Year finalist. During her keynote and fireside chat with Chen, Suto Seckler challenged attendees to advocate for equality and justice, while trusting their own power and being authentic leaders.

The event also highlighted WWPR’s commitment to serving the DC-area community with proceeds from the annual raffle going to the organization’s pro bono client, Sitar Arts Center, whose core mission is to provide high-quality after-school education and experiences in visual, digital and performing arts to children and youth from low-income families who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

The 29^th Annual PR Woman of the Year Award luncheon, co-chaired by Taylor Leaming of Ketchum and Christin Lewis of Hilton, was made possible by support from WWPR’s annual and event sponsors, raffle contributors and strategic partners.

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Member Spotlight: Meet Kandis Wallace, one of WWPR’s newest members!

Post date November 20, 2018
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She’s a PR strategist and writer with nearly five years’ experience in the industry.
Plus, she recently earned her Master’s in public relations
from Georgetown University. Kandis Wallace advice quote

Her Experience
Kandis’ current position is with Adventist HealthCare, where she executes communications strategies for their medical centers and offices in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. The variety of her role is what thrills her the most: one day she could be writing blog posts to help people understand medical conditions, and the next she could be organizing an event to raise breast cancer awareness. The variety has helped her learn more about her strengths and how to manage deadlines.

In addition to recently finishing her advanced degree, she’s also started to engage in some PR consulting for socially responsible organizations. Speaking of socially responsible, her first position was working in media relations at The Humane Society of the United States—just think of all the pets!

Her Involvement in WWPR
WWPR is the first professional organization Kandis has joined since starting her career (woo!). She first learned about WWPR in graduate school, which inspired her to join after hearing it was a positive experience for many of her peers. Through WWPR, she hopes to connect with other passionate women and honing her consulting skills by networking with other entrepreneurs.

She’s considering joining the Content and Pro Bono committees, which most align with her career interests, and looks forward to attending the mixers.

Article written by Melinda Tolliver,
WWPR Member,
Manager, Digital Media, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Her Out-of-Office Hours
Outside the office, Kandis’ favorite activities allow her to be creative, eat great food and unwind. She especially enjoys paint bars and food and drink festivals with her friends and fiancé, as well as nature hikes and reading. She also owns a two-year-old spaniel mix!

Tags Member Stories

How WWPR’s Woman of the Year Event Celebrates Creativity at Every Turn

Post date October 30, 2018
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In an unsuspecting building in Adams Morgan, beaming parents and grandparents gather in the lobby. An elementary school girl confidently takes the stage, violin in tow. After her, a middle schooler serenades the crowd in Spanish – thanks to hours of conversation practice with his peers. Down the hall, you’ll hear the pattering of feet in an improv class – if the 3D printer doesn’t lure you first! WWPR’s 2018-2019 pro bono client, Sitar Arts Center, has many stories like this – and we’re proud to be their partner in ensuring no great story goes untold.

One of Sitar’s biggest challenges is dispelling the notion that the arts are an “add-on” or a “nice-to-have.” When you see their programs in action, it’s clear the nearly 900 students they serve each year aren’t only mastering new instruments or even languages. They’re cultivating fundamental qualities and life skills, like collaboration, accountability, creativity, and a passion for continuous learning.

Undeniably, Washington Women in Public Relations’ (WWPR) members and Woman of the Year nominees embody those very qualities. And daily, many of them courageously take on the challenge of communicating the value of PR – emphasizing it’s not an add-on, but an imperative part of business strategy and brand identity. Look no further than keynote speaker Kirsten Suto Seckler, who orchestrated Special Olympics’ brand transformation from a sports organization to an international public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

You’ll have the chance to hear from Kirsten and other visionary communicators at WWPR’s Woman of the Year luncheon on Friday, November 9, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.. The signature WWPR event celebrates women who have achieved excellence in their careers, while championing other women communicators along the way.

As WWPR’s pro-bono client partner, Sitar will also be featured prominently at this year’s event. Sitar students will generously share their talents by designing the program cover and performing musical acts. They are also contributing their works of art to the silent auction, from which all proceeds will go towards Sitar’s out-of-school arts programming.

Over the years, the Woman of the Year luncheon has fostered an environment of welcome, learning, and creativity. It’s a place where you can connect with your peers, exchange ideas, and even glean inspiration from unexpected places. WWPR’s partnership with Sitar only enhances that.

If you haven’t yet registered, you can do so here – and get to know our keynote speaker!

WWPR MEDIA ROUNDTABLE 2018 RECAP: TIPS STRAIGHT FROM THE EXPERTS

Post date October 26, 2018
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Kelly Mack
Past President, WWPR

Skilled moderator Lisa Matthews (@LisaNMatthews), Assignment Manager for the Associated Press in DC, returned to guide an insightful panel discussion with four reporters at WWPR’s Annual Media Roundtable lunch on October 22. The American Chemical Society hosted this sellout event.

Panelists Tim Homan (@timothyrhoman), News Editor for The Hill; Jen Judson (@JenJudson), Reporter for Defense News; Andrea McCarren (@andreamccarren), Reporter for WUSA9; and Scarlette Whyte, (@ScarletteWhyte), Senior Producer for The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN provided feedback on how to contact them, how best to pitch them, how to cultivate productive media relationships, and much more.

Starting with when to pitch and how much lead time to provide on a story, the panelists all had different answers. Some of these differences are due to their schedules and work style, while others are due to print vs television. For example, Jen Judson frequently travels internationally to cover stories, so often is not available for pitches. For print, more lead time helps the reporters research a story. However, TV coverage is planned very quickly so short lead times are expected.

They all agreed that they are overwhelmed by email so a pitch must be very alluring to make it through to even be read. “You have three or four words to hook me,” explained Andrea McCarren. A targeted subject line can help attract attention, according to Jen Judson. This means it speaks to issues she is covering or provides compelling news.

Do you want to beat the odds? Tim Homan explained that “less than 5% of pitches actually end up as stories.” It helps to do your research on reporters and follow their social media accounts. This will give you more information on what they are reporting on and when they may be interested in information or experts for stories. Focus on a news hook when you pitch and why the story is relevant to the reporter you are contacting.

When you’re pitching, have everything ready. Know your spokeperson’s availability for interviews. Provide materials (such as data or infographics) right up front. Consider it a package that needs to be ready the instant a reporter may respond. Many reporters also like a human connection to a story or a “real person” who can be interviewed about the issue or impact on their lives.

One good tip is to consider pitching during down times, like August, weekends, or over the holidays. Outlets may be looking for content and providing a good story to them when they need it will be remembered. Scarlette Whyte also noted that her show likes anniversary stories for reflecting on milestone moments.

All of the panelists are open to cultivating relationships with public relations professionals. Andrea McCarren schedules many meetings per week to get to know communicators, research possible stories, and build her contacts. She noted: “You need to befriend us when you don’t need anything.”

Perhaps the best advice came from Nigel, the service dog Andrea McCarren is training for a military veteran, as he demonstrated quiet patience sitting beside her throughout the discussion. Looking dapper in a tuxedo tie, he showcased how PR pros need to patiently persist in their media outreach.

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