WWPR History
In 1980, a group of women headed by Mila Albertson, Tacy Telego, Mary Dyess, and Ellen Werther placed an ad in a local trade publication seeking participants to form a network for women working in communications and related fields in the Washington, DC, area. Thirty-five women responded, and they held their first meeting at the old YMCA in downtown, on a hot summer day without air conditioning. Six years later, WWPR became a nonprofit corporation.
WWPR Presidents
Where we are today is a testament to our influential leaders and board members.
2010s
- 2019Amanda Cate
- 2018Danielle Veira
- 2017Kelly Mack
- 2016Mara Vandlik
- 2015Avelyn Austin
- 2014Lauren Smith Dyer
- 2013Tina McCormack Beaty & Kendra Kojcsich
- 2012Tina McCormack Beaty
- 2011Kendra Kojcsich
- 2010Debbie Friez
2000s
- 2009Lauren Lawson-Zilai
- 2008Lisa Kelley McCluskey
- 2007Lisa Kelley McCluskey
- 2006Lindsay Keller
- 2005Tourang Nazari
- 2004Tammy Lemley
- 2003Hillarie Turner (Fogel)
- 2002Hillarie Turner (Fogel)
- 2001Katherine Hutt
- 2000Elizabeth Chester
1990s
- 1999Elizabeth Chester
- 1998Ashley Burt
- 1997Lorri Lee Ragan
- 1996Jacquie Marquis
- 1995Cathy Del Colle
- 1994Evelyn Frazier
- 1993Pam Jenkins
- 1992Kate Perrin
- 1991Sheri Singer
- 1990Adrienne Bush
1980s
- 1989Ellen Werther
- 1988Ellen Werther
- 1987Mary Dyess
- 1986WWPR adopted bylaws and was incorporated as a nonprofit corporations in the District of Columbia
Emerging Leaders Awards Honorees
- 2022
- Casey Dell’Isola, REQ
Cailin Jason, Hager Sharp
Ashley Lewis, Edelman
Charmaine Riley, A/B Partners - 2021
- Stefani Alexander, Curley Company
Rosemary Girard, Edelman
Maggie McClain, Food Allergy Research & Education
Emily Newman, National Association of Realtors®
Rachel Stephens, U.S. House of Representatives - 2019
- Thy-Ann Nguyen, CURA Strategies
- Jennifer Heilman, Stratacomm
- Jackeline Stewart, Edelman
- Courtney Cochran, Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Jackie Marks, Marine Stewardship Council
- Laura Ransone, Interel US- Women in Government Relations
- 2018
- Elise Castelli, Society of Interventional Radiology
- Kristin Chapdelaine, GolinDC
- Mercy Chikowore, Washington Area Women’s Foundation
- Shelby Giles, Vanguard Communications
- Tiph Turpin, Mars, Incorporated
- Tara Goodin Rabin, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- 2017
- Jenna Boyer, Marriott International
- Amanda Byrd, Economic Innovation Grou
- Antonice Jackson, Founder and CEO, Audacious Publicity and Management Group
- Tamara Moore, the Reis Group
- Alex Thompson, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
- Jessica Zetzman, the Case Foundation
- 2016
- KC Sledd, Atlantic Media Strategies
- Sarah Hubbart, Michael Torrey Associates, LLC
- Melissa Zuckerman, JPA Health Communications
- 2015
- Sarah Coppersmith, Scott Circle
- Emily Rasowsky, Social Driver
- Shannon Toher, The Yu Crew LLC
- 2014
- Alexandra Dickinson, Beekeeper Group, LLC
- Danielle Hagen, Vice President at Nahigian Strategies
- Sara Neumann, C.Fox Communications
- 2013
- Nell Callahan, SKDKnickerbocker
- Rachel Glaws, RGI Events & Public Relations
- Lauren Wesley Wilson, MSL Group
- 2012
- Olivia Doherty, The Hatcher Group
- Laura Hornbuckle, Edelman Public Relations
- Jennifer Myers, Strategy One
- 2011
- Jennifer Mastin Giglio, Ogilvy Washington
- Judy Lubin, Public Square Communications
- Tara Silver, Silver Strategy
- 2010
- Stefanie Pidgeon, U.S. Army
- Lauren Musiol, GYMR
- Carrie Fox, C.Fox Communications
Washington PR Woman of the Year Honorees
- 2021Susan Waldman
- 2020Jennifer Curley
- 2019Maura Corbett
- 2018Wendy Hagen
- 2017Amy DeMaria
- 2016Martha Boudreau
- 2015Christina Nicols
- 2014Laura Monica
- 2013Pam Jenkins
- 2012Stephenie Fu
- 2011Heathere Keenan
- 2010Debra Silimeo
- 2009Sarah Temple
- 2008Marilynn Deane
- 2007Jennifer Wayman
- 2006Margery Kraus
- 2005Carolyn Tieger
- 2004Susan Hager
- 2003Lisa Osborne Ross
- 2002Denise Graveline
- 2001Elizabeth Shea
- 2000Mary Yerrick
- 1999Gloria Dittus
- 1998Pattie Yu Hussein
- 1997Susan Morris
- 1996Beverly Silverberg
- 1995Joan Cole
- 1994Katherine Hutt
- 1993Pat Wheeler
- 1992Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow
- 1991Myra Peabody
- 1990Marcia Sharp