NEWSLETTER: July 2012

In this issue: Emerging Leaders Awards PR Woman of the Year Technically Speaking Engaging Industry Pro Bono- Thrive DC Update Member Spotlight Articles of Interest Upcoming Events Jobs Membership News Sponsor Spotlight:JPA Message from the President Dear WWPR Members, As the weather warms-up DC is notorious for emptying out but I know many communicators stay plugged in at their desks in the district all summer long!  Join us this summer: WOW! There are some impressive public relations professionals in our D.C. community. Our recent call for ELA nominations received a record breaking number of highly qualified nominees. From inspirational newcomers to established leaders, our industry is ripe with experience and passion. As we prepare to showcase six rising stars and honor three of the top emerging leaders on July 17, we are also gearing up to announce a call for nominations for our annual Woman of the Year award. Year after year, WWPR honors our colleagues to highlight excellence and inspire others to learn from their journey. Join us at our signature events to network with these award-winning women; more information is below on both ELA and WOY. Cheers! Tina McCormack Beaty, WWPR President Emerging Leaders Awards 2012 Finalists WWPR received a record number of nominations for this year's Emerging Leaders Awards! Thank you to everyone who nominated a colleague. Each of these women have made a tremendous impact on the communications and public relations industry, which made it quite a challenge for our judges! The 2012 WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards finalists are:

• Liz Bryan, Spectrum (Twitter: @eebryan)
• Olivia Doherty, The Hatcher Group (Twitter: @homiegcheesefry)
• Laura Hornbuckle, Edelman Public Relations
• Jennifer Myers, StrategyOne (Twitter: @jennifermyersDC)
• Samantha Reho, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Department of the Army (Twitter: @SamanthaReho)
• Jess Stone, Gibraltar Associates (Twitter: @jstone6341)

Please join WWPR and keynote speaker NBC Washington's Angie Goff for a cocktail reception on Tuesday, July 17, at the National Press Club. We will honor the six finalists for their achievements and contributions to the public relations industry.  Three awardees from those finalists will be named at the award ceremony--based on not only their contributions thus far, but for their potential to contribute to the industry for many years to come, making them truly emerging leaders. We would like to extend a special "Thank You" to our judges:

• Patrick Brady, Senior Vice President, Stanton Communications
• Alana Hill, Media Relations Professional, IBM, and President, Black Public Relations Society -- Washington, D.C.
• Carrie Jones, Principal, Managing Director, JPA
• Melanie Jordan, Managing Director, PRofessional Solutions
• Kendra Kojcsich, Vice President, Porter Novelli (2011 Past President, WWPR)
• Rachel Querry, Senior Director of Communications, Humane Society of the United States
• Maria Rodriguez, President, Vanguard Communications

Congratulations to all and we look forward to seeing you on the 17th. Lauren Smith and Helen Mitternight WWPR ELA Co-Chairs PR Woman of the Year:  Call for Nominations The 23rd annual Washington PR Woman of the Year luncheon is on the horizon and WWPR is once again seeking nominations of women who have impacted the profession through their leadership abilities, integrity and creativity. The deadline for nominations is 12:00 AM (eastern) on Friday, August 31, 2012. The Woman of the Year ceremony is WWPR's signature event and serves as an annual celebration of women at the pinnacle of their careers who are leading our industry forward. Every year three semi-finalists are culled from the list of nominees and one is selected as PR Woman of the Year at the ceremony. Last year's winner was Heathere Evans-Keenan, founder and president of Keenan PR. Evans-Keenan was chosen from a slate of three finalists that included Christine Till, director of communications at Venable LLP, and Donna Vincent Roa, managing partner of Vincent Roa Group LLC. Eligibility requirements for the 2012 nominees:

• Exemplifies characteristics of a leader in the public relations field as a standout representative of a company or organization who strategically links programs and/or campaigns to meaningful results.
• Has a minimum of 10 years of experience in the public relations field, at least three of which have been in the DC metro area.
• Is currently a resident of the DC metro area.

To nominate a Woman of the Year candidate, please complete the nomination form. Email completed nominations to Woman of the Year Co-Chairs, Amy Malerba Hemingway and Susie Tappouni at woy@wwpr.org.

Save the Date:

Thursday, November 15, 2012

11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Grand Hyatt Washington

1000 H Street, NW.

 

Technically Speaking: The Social Media Sales Club By Tabatha Thompson "Technically Speaking" is a column written by Tabatha Thompson which explores the intersection of technology and public relations I have a good friend whose Facebook friend list is only 30-people long. How does she fend off the countless inquiries from old junior high lab partners and former suitors? One simple rule: If she would invite you to her house for dinner, she'll be your friend on Facebook. Sure, her standards are tougher than most, but for consumers from the coveted age and income bracket, true brand engagement via social media requires more than showing up on a page. Companies have to be worthy of connecting offline, so that the virtual relationship is an extension of the real one we can touch and feel. Worthy dinner companions, if you will. When General Motors pulled its $10 million ad account from Facebook just days before the social site's IPO, it created quite the unintentional buzz. GM downplayed the remark and made it clear that it would continue to engage customers via Facebook, but the decision surely had plenty of corporate marketing people second-guessing their own paid social media efforts. GM said its decision came down to lack of proof that the paid ads work. Ford smartly jumped on the opportunity to posit another reason, also echoed in this Forbes.com analysis. READ MORE Engaging Industry By Karin Bloomquist Engaging Industry is a monthly column written by Karin Bloomquist covering the impact of public relations in the corporate, education, government and non-profit sectors, industry trends and issues related to the development of public relations professionals We have always known the importance of public relations methods, but many business schools are just catching on to the idea of incorporating them into their curriculum. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has been pushing for a collaborative MBA Business Initiative led by Anthony D'Angelo, co-chair of the effort, with funding from MWW Group, a well-known public relations firm. The initiative attempts to advocate the use of strategic communication and reputation management in MBA programs across the United States and emphasize the importance of these skills in business leadership. However, lest we not forget that it is equally important to acknowledge that the public relations industry may also need a refresher in developing a better understanding of their business program counterparts. According to a survey conducted by PRSA in 2011, the practice of communication is a vital skill for successful business leaders in the modern world. Future business professionals who have a better understanding of PR, and PR professionals who better understand the fundamentals of business administration and strategy will ultimately make better decisions at the executive level. This overhaul is sorely needed as the results from the survey suggest that approximately 98 percent of business executives deem corporate communications and reputation management as essential to business strategy, and noted that 40 percent of newly hired MBA graduates are not as skilled as they could be in protecting company image and credibility. In addition, only 16 percent of MBA programs in the United States had taken courses related to the use of public relations, crisis communication, and brand management skills. READ MORE  

Pro Bono: Thrive DC Updates—Photo Exhibit Thrive DC will host a photo exhibit showcasing the creative work of men and women experiencing homelessness and poverty in Washington, DC.  The exhibit, Vision of the Phoenix, will be held on Tuesday, July 24 at 5:30 pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Library located at 901 G Street, NW.  The nearest Metro is Gallery Place.  For more information and to RSVP, please contact Emily Flanagan at emily@thrivedc.org. WWPR Partners with Arizona State University WWPR has partnered with the popular Arizona State University's Cronkite School New Media Academy in Washington, D.C. to offer discounted new media training for communication professionals. The small, hands-on classes are scheduled on Saturdays throughout the summer in the Dupont Circle offices.  Classes are for professionals who want to brush up on their skills or expand their abilities for work or just for fun.  WWPR members enjoy a discounted rate on all the classes. Register now using the discount code "WWPR" at checkout for a discounted registration of $50 for any of the classes, which include:

• Photo: The Visual Language, July 14 and 21, with former Dallas Morning News photo editor John Davidson.
• Twitter and the Beat Reporter, Reporting with Social Media, Aug. 4, with National Journal's Glen Justice.
• iPhone Studio: Shooting, Editing and Reporting with Smart Devices, Aug. 4 and 11, with NPR's Jamie McIntyre.
• Database Basics on the Beat, Building and Working with Data, Aug. 18, with National Journal's Glen Justice.

For more information, contact Cronkite Washington bureau director Steve Crane at steve.crane@asu.edu or 202.684.2398.   Member Spotlight By Beth StewartThis month's Member Spotlight takes you behind the scenes of the Marketing Communications Committee to learn more about each member and her contributions to both WWPR and the marketing communications industry as a whole. Co-chaired by Jennifer Dunn and Kristen Hostetter, the Marketing Communications committee relies heavily on its committee members to help carry out WWPR's communications goals and increase visibility of the organization.  This is done via various mediums including WWPR's monthly e-newsletter, social media, events, news releases and more.  Committee members include Lauren Anderson (social media -- Twitter, Facebook), Tabatha Thompson (Technically Speaking column, e-newsletter), Beth Stewart (Member Spotlight/articles of interest, e-newsletter), Ana Buling (social media, LinkedIn) and Karin Bloomquist (Engaging Industry column, e-newsletter). READ MORE Top   Articles of Interest

• How Journalists Work: 9 Perspectives From Around the Globe (PR News)
• The Art of the Polish: Seven Steps to Making Your PR Writing Shine (PR News)
• 25 guidelines for great visual communication (Ragan's PR Daily)

Top   Upcoming Events For the latest information about our exciting events and programs, please visit our Events page. WWPR members receive member rates for PRSA-NCC and AWC events.

• 7/17/2012 -- 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards
• 7/23/2012 -- 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: DC PR Flacks July Happy Hour
• 7/24/2012 -- 5:30 p.m-8:30 p.m..: Thrive DC -- Photography Exhibit: Vision of the Phoenix
• 7/24/2012 -- 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: July Cocktails & Networking with WDC Women's Weekly
• 7/25/2012 -- 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m.: PRSA-NCC 20+ LeaderPack luncheon: Working with the Next Generation Gordon-Biersch

Top WWPR Job Board In the market for a new job? Visit the WWPR job board to help you find your dream position!

• Director of Communications -- American Society of Interior Designers
• Account Executive -- Howard Consulting Group
• Senior Media Relations Specialist -- American College of Cardiology
• Associate Account Executive -- Susan Davis International
• Director of Strategic Communication -- The Nature Conservancy
• Account Coordinator -- BRG Communications, Inc.
• Account Manager -- BRG Communications, Inc.
• Vice President, Pre-K 12 Practice -- Widmeyer Communications
• Managing Editor (Communications) -- Bread for the World
• Account Director -- Jones Public Affairs

View More Positions To post an open position for free visit wwpr.org/jobs. Contact web@wwpr.org with questions. Top   Membership News June New Members:

Amanda Sawney- Software & Information Industry Association, FISD

Veronica O'Connor- The Pew Charitable Trusts

Pamela Mooring- DC Water

Rachel Cagan- American College of Cardiology

Jess Stone- Gibraltar Associates

Ellen Field- The Cadmus Group, Inc.

Rachel Metscher- Hobsons

Tricia Barba- The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel & Art and Soul

Lauren Smith- JPA

Brynne Cochran- University of Miami

June Member Renewals:

Lisa Newman- Independent Media Consultant

Michelle Cragle- National Museum of Women in the Arts

Carrie Fox- C. Fox Communications

Joan Carrese Sineni- Zcomm

Kate Barrett- New Enterprise Associates

Amy Martin- National Center for Responsible Gaming

Shannon Andrea- National Parks Conservation Association

Jennifer Scungio- Financial Services Forum

Interested in joining or renewed your membership? Simply complete the online membership form. To learn more, please contact Leslie Rutledge, Membership Chair, at membership@wwpr.org. Top   Sponsor Spotlight JPA - Washington, Boston, Paris As one of the fastest growing health communications companies, JPA applies the power of influencer relations to reach the stakeholders who drive change for non-profit, pharmaceutical, biotech and government clients. JPA is dedicated to understanding the health industry from global trends to exclusive issues. It is through meaningful communication and solid relationships between industry and stakeholders that they are able to design and implement fresh and innovative health communication programs with an impact. JPA is a highly knowledgeable, experienced and talented group of health communication experts who understand the value of influencer relations, as well as the science behind the health clients they serve. Their well-rounded account teams - which include senior strategists, mid- and junior-level account support and specialists - have a proven track record for creative planning, successful implementation and excellent budget stewardship. JPA is always looking for new and top talent, including a current opening for an Account Director in Washington, D.C. To learn more about opportunities with JPA, visit http://www.jpa.com/about/careers. Top