Michelle Schafer heads up Merritt Group’s AI and Security Practice Groups, where she applies over two decades of hands-on PR-related experience spanning every discipline. She is known for creating and implementing strategic communications campaigns that drive results for clients such as IOActive, ISC2, CrowdStrike, Tenable, Fortify Software, and SentinelOne. Michelle provides strategy and positioning guidance […]

Tiffanie Rosier is a People & Culture professional and Program Manager at Hotwire and ROI·DNA, where she focuses on recruiting diverse talent, global employee recognition, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives. With a background in higher education, events, and communications, she brings extensive experience in recruiting, training, and presenting across the U.S. Tiffanie holds […]

By: Allison Gross, associate director, Vanguard Communications Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to speak about artificial intelligence (AI) in communications at the National Disability Rights Network Annual Conference. In a Zoom room filled with advocates, attorneys and communicators, the questions were less about the technology itself and more about its purpose. How can […]

The Woman of the Year awards recognize women who have shaped the communications industry through leadership, innovation, and impact Washington, D.C., October 6, 2025 – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a professional development and networking organization for female communicators in the nation’s capital, recognized Natalie Adler, Vice President, Public Impact and Resilience Communications at […]

By Elisa OHalloran Jennifer Curley is currently the Founder and CEO of Curley Company, a strategic communications and public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C.  She was honored to receive the WWPR Woman of the Year award in 2020. Jennifer said, “The award came at a pivotal moment – 2020 was the first year of […]

by Elisa O’Halloran Wendy Hagen was honored as WWPR’s Woman of the Year in 2018 when she was running her own branding consultancy, which she founded in 2009. Wendy continued to lead her work until 2024, when she stepped into retirement.  Wendy’s Career  Wendy’s career spanned over 45 years. She moved from Washington, D.C. to […]

Alisa Valudes Whyte, CEO, Senior Partner at Merritt Group, was named WWPR’s Woman of the Year in 2023. The award gave her a new avenue to connect with amazing women who are communications leaders. “The annual dinner for past Woman of the Year winners and Board members is a unique and rewarding experience to connect […]

by Elisa OHalloran For Gemma Puglisi, Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at American University and Director of Teaching in the Center for Faculty Excellence, receiving the WWPR Woman of the Year Award in 2022 was a professional milestone. A native Washingtonian and daughter of Italian immigrants, Gemma’s father worked as a barber at […]

Three finalists represent exceptional local women who have shaped the communications industry through leadership, innovation and impact Washington, D.C., September 18, 2025 – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a professional development and networking organization for female communicators in the nation’s capital, today announces the three finalists for the 36th annual Woman of the Year […]