The Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) announced its 2016 Board of Directors and national assembly delegates. The PRSA-NCC Board oversees the chapter’s more than 50 annual professional development and awards programs designed to advance professionalism and support career growth. The assembly delegates represent the chapter at the annual PRSA National Assembly.

“I am so honored to serve as our chapter’s president on behalf of the public relations community, not only throughout the Washington, D.C., area, but our entire nation,” said Sultana Ali, APR, president of PRSA-NCC and pictured above. “The individuals who comprise the chapter’s 2016 leadership team have solid track records in our profession, and I look forward to working with them this year to advance our mission. Our members remain our highest priority as we position PRSA-NCC as a leading resource in the PR industry.”

“Sultana is an outstanding advocate for the profession and a leader in every sense,” said Mitch Marovitz, APR, PRSA-NCC immediate past president. “I look forward to supporting her and the 2016 Board of Directors as we usher the chapter into another year of success.”

The Chapter’s 2016 leadership team includes:

President:
Sultana Ali, APR, communications officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts

President-Elect:
Laura Bynum, North American Communications/media relations manager, American Public Works Association, Canadian Public Works Association and Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure

Vice Presidents:
Williams (B.J.) Talley, professorial lecturer, School of Communications, American University
Robert Udowitz, principal, RFP Associates, LLC
Danny Selnick, senior vice president, strategic markets, Business Wire

Treasurer:
Sabrina Kidwai, APR, CAE, senior manager, public relations, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

Secretary:
Anup Samanta, technology public affairs consultant, SiloSmashers

Immediate Past President:
Mitch Marovitz, PhD, APR, chair, public relations program and collegiate professor, University of Maryland University College

Two-Year Directors:
Stacy Hope, communications director, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Antonice Jackson, digital marketing associate, Reingold, Inc.
Leah McConnell, director of communications, SMC Business Group
Myra Oppel, APR, regional communications vice president, Pepco Holdings Inc.
Ellen Pollack, APR, Fellow PRSA, public affairs specialist, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

One-Year Directors
Lauren Lawson-Zilai, director of public relations and national spokesperson, Goodwill Industries International
Erin Wendel-Ritter, APR, senior media relations specialist, American Physical Therapy Association
Pamela Mooring, APR, communications manager, DC Water

2016 National Assembly Delegates:
Jackie Allder, APR, director, public relations and communications, The Long and Foster Companies
Rebecca Andersen, APR, director of public relations, The Optical Society (OSA)
Jennifer Bemisderfer, APR, principal, jB Communications
Barbara Burfeind, APR+M, Fellow PRSA, director, external affairs, Department of Defense
Aaron Ellis, APR, public affairs director, American Association of Port Authorities
Steven Grant, APR, associate director, editorial and creative services, National Education Association
Suzanne Holroyd, APR+M, Fellow PRSA, senior prevention advisor, U.S. Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
Brigitte Johnson, APR, adjunct professor, Marymount University
Ann Knabe, PhD, dean of students, associate professor and reserve component chair, National Defense University
Lauren Lawson-Zilai, director of public relations and national spokesperson, Goodwill Industries International
Mitch Marovitz, PhD, APR, chair, public relations program and collegiate professor, University of Maryland University College
Samantha Villegas, APR, president, SaVi PR, LLC
Tracy Schario, APR, chief, external relations, The Optical Society (OSA)
Erin Wendel-Ritter, APR, senior media relations specialist, American Physical Therapy Association
Katelynn Wiggins, assistant director, staff initiatives, American Psychological Association

The National Capital Chapter of PRSA (PRSA-NCC) is a professional public relations association of more than 1,300 members in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region.