WGR Announces 2022 Excellence in Advocacy Nominees

Women in Government Relations is pleased to announce the nominees for this year’s Excellence in Advocacy Awards. The intent of the awards is to put the spotlight on everyday advocates who dedicate themselves to representing their issue, cause or organization in the public policy arena and this year we have an amazing group of nominees!

Peer judges are reviewing the nominations. The finalists in each category will be announced the week of September 26. One awardee in each category will be revealed during the Excellence in Advocacy Awards Reception at the Professional Women in Advocacy Conference on Monday, October 3, 2022.

Interested in attending or supporting the awards program? Learn more here.

Here are the 2022 nominees by category:

Advocate of the Year

This award recognizes a mid-career advocacy professional for extraordinary work on behalf of her cause, industry or policy issue. Designed to recognize women with between 8-20 years of experience in the advocacy field who have achieved remarkable results for their career level.

• Kellie Adesina, Director of Federal Government Affairs, Bayer Crop Science
• Jenny Babcock, Senior Vice President for Medicaid Policy, Association for Community Affiliated Plans
• Stacey Brayboy, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs, March of Dimes
• Mary Ann Gómez Orta, President & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI)
• Erica Johnson Creamer, Senior Director Federal Government Affairs, Walmart
• Katie Jones, Senior Director of Federal Affairs, Alexion Pharmaceuticals
• Shanequa Levin, CEO & Founder, Women’s Diversity Network
• Regina Luzincourt, Senior Director of Government Relations & Public Policy, Navient
• Alea Nadeem, Major, United States Air Force
• Meredith Raimondi, Vice President of Public Policy, National Council Urban Indian Health
• Liesl Sheehan, Partner, Tremont Strategies Group
• Nina Verghese, Senior Director and Practice Lead, Campaigns and Advocacy, APCO Worldwide

Advocate on the Rise

This award recognizes the advocate for early achievements in her career and potential to be a successful contributor to the field over time. Designed to recognize women who have less than 8 years in the advocacy field.

• Adriana Bankston, Principal Legislative Analyst, University of California
• Lauren Bealore, Associate Director of State & Local Policy, Prosperity Now
• Emily Casey, Manager, Global Public Affairs, UPS
• Andrea Elizondo, Co-Founder, Texas Menstrual Equity Coalition
• Vanessa Garcia Polanco, Policy Campaigns Co-Director, National Young Farmers Coalition
• Kelsey Haag, Associate Director, Government Affairs, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
• Ryann Hill, Senior Policy Advisor, SCAN Health Plan
• Yasmin Nelson, Partner and Senior Principal, Bracewell LLP's Policy Resolution Group (PRG)
• Ivelisse Porroa-García, Director of Governmental Relations, Ferox Strategies
• Maryam Rayed, Founding Director, Afghanistan Women’s Think Tank
• Samantha Sliney, Department of the Air Force Women's Initiatives Team Co-Lead, United States Air Force

Federal Issue Campaign

This award recognizes an effort wherein the advocate(s) successfully impacted the outcome of a federal legislative or regulatory problem or opportunity on behalf of their cause, issue, client, organization or coalition.

• Adjoa B. Asamoah, Principal/CEO, ABA Consulting LLC
• Sarah Butts, Director of Public Policy, National Association of Social Workers
• Sarah Corcoran, Vice President, Government Relations, Guide Consulting Services
• Jessica Montoya, Director of Policy, FoodCorps
• Marianna Patterson, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon
• National Young Farmers Coalition, Team of Vanessa Garcia Polanco, Michelle Hughes, Holly Rippon Butler
• Rachel Stevenson, Director of Government Affairs, American Association of Colleges of Nursing

State Issue Campaign

This award recognizes an effort wherein the advocate(s) successfully impacted the outcome of a state or local legislative or regulatory problem or opportunity on behalf of their cause, issue, client, organization or coalition.

• Adjoa B. Asamoah, Principal/CEO, ABA Consulting LLC
• Advocacy & Communication Solutions, Team of Scarlett Bouder, Lori McClung, Nikki Reiss, JD
  
• Dawn Bauman, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Community Associations Institute
• Kathryn de Wit, Project Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Andrea Elizondo, Co-Founder, Texas Menstrual Equity Coalition
• Denise McGraw, Partner, Hill, Gosdeck & McGraw
• Julia Worcester, Director of State Government Relations, The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

Women Serving Women Campaign

This award recognizes an effort wherein women advocate(s) successfully impacted the outcome of a problem or opportunity on behalf of other women.

• Adjoa B. Asamoah, Principal/CEO, ABA Consulting LLC
• Andrea Elizondo, Policy & Advocacy Manager, AnitaB.org
• Yasmin Nelson, Partner and Senior Principal, Bracewell LLP
• Jennifer A Riley Collins, Owner and Principal Consultant, J Riley Collins Consulting LLC
• Kate Shanks, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• United States Air Force, Team of Megan Biles, Alea Nadeem, Noel “Christy” Nolta, Mary O’Brien, Jessica Ruttenber, Samantha Sliney

Controversial Issue Campaign

This award recognizes an effort wherein the advocate successfully impacted the outcome of a federal legislative or regulatory problem or opportunity on an issue that was controversial or not very popular.

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Team of Sarah Bogdan, Melissa Grigsby, Jessie Losch, Becca O’Connor, Riley Rogers, Sean Tipton
• Melissa Hemphill, Major, Instructor USAFA, Department of the Air Force
• Erin Jones, Director, Legislative and Strategic Counsel, March of Dimes
• ShaShrina Thomas, Senior Government Relations Director, Reynolds American
• Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, CEO & President, Environmental Grantmakers Association

NEW Campaign Using Innovation

This award recognizes an advocacy effort wherein the advocate(s) used technology and/or innovation to achieve a positive result. Examples would include new or novel uses of software, hardware, platforms, gadgets and devices. Does not include social media efforts.

• Eliza Hernandez, Chief of Staff, National 4-H Council
• Ashley Turney, Chief Innovation and Experience Officer (CIXO), City of Reno
• YMCA, Team of Kelly Kennai, Kelsey McKim, Derek Summerville

NEW Communications in an Advocacy Campaign

This award recognizes an advocacy effort that succeeded because of the communication strategy, tactics and implementation. What was the strategy, what were the metrics, and what did the campaign achieve? Includes social media.

• Orlana Darkins Drewery, President, The Shyne Network
• April Muller, Digital Advocacy Lead, Best Friends Animal Society
• Nicole Patton, Manager of State Government Relations, National Down Syndrome Society
• Pet Advocacy Network, Team of Gwyn Donohue, Lynne Taylor

NEW Volunteer Advocate

This award recognizes an advocacy effort wherein the advocate is a volunteer, not a career paid professional. The advocate turned their passion project into a formal advocacy effort that effected legislative, judicial or policy change in the subject matter area.

• Megan Biles, Major, Department of the U.S. Air Force Women's Initiatives Team
• Amy Liepert, Medical Director of Acute Care Surgery & Associate Professor, UC San Diego Health

Please help us congratulate these everyday advocates doing extraordinary things by sharing this news post on social media #EIA2022 @WGRDC.

Interested in supporting these incredible women and the Excellence in Advocacy Awards? Contact us.