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Each year, the Public Affairs Council recognizes an individual from a member organization who has made an outstanding contribution not only to our association but to the public affairs profession.
The Council staff will annually nominate candidates (excluding board members) and present a short list to the Council’s Executive Committee, who will then vote for the winner. The Volunteer of the Year will win an all-expenses-paid trip to the fall board meeting, where he or she will receive the award before senior-level executives and peers.
In creating the short list of nominees, Council staff are looking for members with a consistent record of involvement at the Council. Ideal candidates would have taken part in many of the following activities:
• Joining one or more of our networks–Political Involvement, International, Corporate Social Responsibility, State Government Relations, or Association.
• Participating in conferences — as a speaker, attendee, advisory committee member and/or advocate for others participating
• Donating resources to our virtual resource library in Council Connect.
• Participating in surveys and encouraging others to take part
• Providing advice and counsel to other members
• Assisting with member recruitment and retention
Nominations for the next Volunteer of the Year will begin in June.
Volunteer of the Year winners to date are as follows:
2022 — Bethany Nadeau Dame, Vice President, Political Engagement & Grassroots, American Property Casualty Insurance Association & Adrienne Marks, PAC Director, Visa Inc.
2019 — Sarah Yi, Director, External Affairs, CTIA – The Wireless Association
2018 — Jennifer Brooks, Manager of Government Relations & PAC manager, Northrop Grumman
2017 — Brandy Stacks, Director, Government Affairs, Prudential Financial, Inc.
2016 — Patti Murphy, Manager, Federal Government Affairs, BNSF Railway
2015 — Susan Francis, PAC and grassroots manager, Duke Energy
2014 — Heidi Ann Ecker, director of government affairs and grassroots programs, National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)
2013 — Kate Fry, associate director of political affairs, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
2012 — Heather Cutler, director of federal and political advocacy, CVS Caremark Corp.
2011 — Corey Henry, vice president, communications, American Frozen Food Institute
2010 — Molly Nichelson, senior specialist, grassroots outreach, American College of Cardiology
2009 — Shannon Bearinger, senior business information analyst, Nationwide Insurance
2008 — Ellie Shaw, director of federal government affairs, American Express
For more information about the award, contact the membership team.