Honoring Outstanding Leaders in Communications
Celebrate the Excellence of Women in PR!
Washington Women in PR is proud to announce the finalists for the 2024 Woman of the Year awards! Join us for our annual luncheon on October 4th to celebrate honoring three extraordinary women who have shaped the landscape of public relations through leadership, vision, and impact. Get inspired by their stories and connect with some of the brightest minds in the industry.
Meet the 2024 Finalists
Debbi Jarvis – As a Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Debbi set a new course for creativity, strategy and execution at Washington Gas. Her visionary communications strategies and commitment to excellence created enormous positive exposure for the company’s role as an energy leader and community partner. The DMV knows Debbi by name from her days as a news anchor and reporter at NBC4, VP of Communications and company spokesperson at Pepco and as she has frequently represented Washington Gas at numerous community and philanthropic events and professional and nonprofit collaborations.
Linda Roth – Linda has transformed her career from an Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist into a purpose-driven communications expert who leads campaigns with tremendous geopolitical impact. Her work has resulted in more hungry people being fed, advanced the cause of peace, promoted the success of female world leaders and successfully advocated for women’s rights under authoritarian regimes. As Chief Communications Officer at World Central Kitchen, Linda works with humanitarians who strive to be the first to the frontlines providing fresh meals in crises.
Aba Blankson – Throughout her 25-year career, Aba Blankson has made significant contributions to public relations, all of which were distinguished by her creativity, management skills, and strategic leadership, and focused on driving organizational growth. As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the NAACP, Aba has been crucial in amplifying the voice of the nation’s largest civil rights organization, ensuring it remains a leading force in the modern civil rights movement.Aba’s creativity in public relations is evident in her ability to craft compelling narratives and innovative campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. Upon joining the NAACP seven years ago, she led a comprehensive brand evolution that strategically positioned the organization to address contemporary challenges while honoring its historic legacy.
Don’t Miss the Celebration!
This luncheon will not only recognize these outstanding women but will also offer an incredible networking opportunity.
Date: October 4th, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Salamander DC
Ticket sales are now closed for the 2024 Woman of the Year celebration. We hope to see you in 2025!
What a Day!
Thank you to everyone who made 2024’s Woman of the Year celebration so special. A huge congrats to all of our finalists, and especially to this year’s winner: Aba Blankson. Check out the full press release for more information.
- The nominee must be a professional woman with a minimum of 20 years of experience in the public relations field, at least five of which have been in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area (she must also currently reside in this area).
- The nominee does not have to be a member of WWPR.
- Nominations from previous years who were not named Woman of the Year are encouraged.
- Nominations must include (1) PDF resume (up to two pages) and (1) PDF recommendation (up to two pages) to be considered.
Nominations for 2024 are currently closed. Eligibility requirements and nomination instructions are detailed below.
For more information contact woy@wwpr.org by
- Nominee’s demonstrated abilities should include, but are not limited to, creativity, management skills and contributions to the growth of her organization, unique or prestigious job held, and major accomplishments.
- Nominee exemplifies true characteristics of a leader in PR — a visionary, standout representative of her company or organization, has the perseverance to face any challenge and can strategically link a program to lasting results.
- Nominees make it a priority to devote her time to community causes and activities.
- Nominee’s community contributions may include, but are not limited to, board positions, volunteer work, activities that promote professional advancement of women.
- Nominee is actively involved in leading industry membership associations and has greatly contributed to those associations through board leadership or mentoring.Nominee has received acknowledgement or previous awards for her contributions to the public relations industry or other related work.
More about WWPR Woman of the Year Awards
