The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) announced three 2017 Fellows, including D.C.-based Brenda C. Siler. The IABC Fellows designation is the highest honor the organization confers upon its members and is awarded to communication professionals for exceptional leadership and service to IABC. In addition to Siler (left in photo), Cindy Schmieg and Lee Hornick were also honored.
“This year’s esteemed honorees exemplify the highest standards of our profession. We applaud our IABC Fellows for the positive impact they’ve made through their professional and personal contributions and achievement.” Said IABC Chair Dianne Chase, “Our global community is better because of their leadership and dedication to excellence in professional communication, and to our IABC. They drive communication as a force for good in business and society, and for that we are immensely grateful. They are an inspiration to us all.”
The 2017 IABC Fellows were inducted during the IABC International Conference held in Washington, DC, June 11-14, at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Organizational communicators from 34 countries attended the conference.
The Fellows nominations were held through an open call in which IABC peers elect potential candidates. Selection is often the validation of years of dedication and commitment to the communication profession and IABC. The nominees were considered based on: Outstanding contributions to the organizational communication field and profession; their body of work and career achievement; authorship, speaking and lecturing; and the impact they’ve had on IABC, whether global or specific to a region. The Fellows Committee has approved three, with validation from the IABC International Executive Board (IEB):
Siler is a communications/marketing/branding professional who has worked with national associations and nonprofits including AARP, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Council on Competitiveness, the American Red Cross, United Way, and UNCF-the United Negro College Fund. At UNCF, she oversaw the rebranding of America’s largest minority scholarship fund maintaining its iconic tagline “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”. Siler also worked on projects with the American Nurses Association, the Washington Teachers’ Union, the Council of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), Reach for College!, and National Center for Learning Disabilities. Siler is on the Board of Advisors of and a frequent contributor to PRNews. Most recently, she presented on the topic “Twitter Tactics that Build Relationships with Journalists” at a PRNews National Media Relations Conference. She has served in many IABC leadership roles. Siler was the first person of color to serve as international chairperson of IABC from 1998-99. She is a graduate of Spelman College.
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