Announcing the 2021 Excellence in Advocacy Awardees

 

Contact: Laura Ransone, lransone@wgr.org

Women in Government Relations Announces Awardees for the 2021 Excellence in Advocacy Awards

Washington, D.C. – October 19, 2021   Organizers of the Professional Women in Advocacy (PWIA) Conference are pleased to announce the awardees for the 2021 Excellence in Advocacy Awards. This is the only awards program that recognizes everyday women advocates. 

For more information on the nominees, the awards, and the conference please visit https://pwiaconference.org/awards

And the awardees are:

Advocate of the Year

Jessica Ruttenber, Lt Col, United States Air Force

Advocate on the Rise 

Ally Bernstein-Talcott, Principal, Step Up Advocacy

Federal Issue Campaign 

Hannah, Wesolowski, Director, Field Advocacy, NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness

For a campaign focused on using personal stories to share the impact the COVID crisis had on mental health and the importance of increased funding.

State Issue Campaign 

Ledy Vankavage, Senior Legislative Attorney, Best Friends Animal Society

For her work on legislation to ensure that residents of state-funded affordable housing are not unnecessarily separated from their pets

Women Serving Women Campaign
Catherine Beane, Vice President, Public Policy & Advocacy, YWCA USA
For the YWomenVote campaign focused on ensuring women’s voices were at the forefront of policy decisions as a priority leading into the 2020 elections.

Controversial Issue Campaign

Tara Mancini, Senior Manager of Public Policy, Power to Decide
For expanding contraceptive access through bipartisan state-level policies and an online toolkit to support policymakers, state officials, and advocates

Lifetime Achievement

Jody Thomas, Executive Director, National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL)

Jody was honored for all her work to empower women throughout her career and her dedication to be a mentor to innumerable women of all ages in government relations. Jody is known for being welcoming and inclusive in all of her work including increasing and promoting diversity within NFWL’s leadership. In her 30+ years of service, she has worked on presidential campaigns and for members of Congress, as a partner in Sagac Public Affairs and was appointed by President George W. Bush as Director of Public Liaison for the Office of Personnel Management.

About PWIA

The Professional Women in Advocacy Conference was founded in 2013 by LeeAnn Petersen and Emily Bardach on the belief that when women have a seat at the public policy table, everyone benefits. Earlier this year the Conference was acquired by Women in Government Relations.  For more information on the conference and the awards please visit www.pwiaconference.com.