AWC DETROIT

Elevating the role of women in communications with opportunities for learning and making connections

President’s Welcome Letter
6/29/26

Dear AWC Detroit Members and Friends,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 programming year! As your incoming president, I take pride in introducing our new board of directors:

● Laura Oliveto, Past President and Event Marketing Chair;
● Kim Walsh, Secretary;
● Deniella Ortiz-Lalain, Treasurer;
● Tarana (Ronnie) Hammond, PhD, Membership Engagement Chair;
● Sherri Kolade, Membership Recruitment Chair;
● Emma Ramsey, Social Media Marketing Chair; and
● Board Members-at-Large: Sally Ann Brown, Christine D’Angela, Karen Stewart Spica, and Eileen Wunderlich.

Thank you all for being willing to serve our organization.

To our outgoing board members, Lisa Becker-Campbell and RoseAnn Nicolai, immense gratitude for your years of service and significant contributions.

What’s on the agenda for the year? Important, and I trust, welcome changes:
● Revamped membership structure and fees to make it easier to join and maintain your active membership.
● Name change to reflect the new focus of AWC Detroit – an active network of professional women supporting aspiring and already professional women communicators.
● New mission, vision, core values, and deliverables that we call our value proposition.
● Robust program calendar covering important topics of concern to the communications profession, kicking off on Thursday, September 17 th, with Dr. Jackie Stavros, Distinguished Professor of Business at Lawrence Technological University, guiding us on “Communicating in A Polarized World.”

More to come.

This organization was born of the guts and temerity of women journalism students in 1909 who wanted to help women advance in the profession. It grew over more than a century with that same goal in mind for all women in communications fields…from journalism, public relations, event planning, broadcast, marketing, and advertising. AWC Detroit carries on that legacy with renewed fervor.

We’re growing. Come grow with us!
Renée