Shoreline resident elected as chapter leader for Women in Communications

Tina Christiansen

New leaders are taking the reins at the Seattle professional chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC). AWC is dedicated to women helping women build and sustain their communications careers.

New 2015-16 board members are:

President: Sandy Martin of Seattle/Fremont, a communications professional who has held leadership roles as executive director and consultant in corporate and non-profit sectors.

VP Finance/Treasurer: Tina Christiansen of Shoreline, a communications consultant and copywriter who leads her own company, Write as Rain Communications.

VP/Board Secretary: Connie Mennie of Stanwood, who leads the editorial content team as Customer Communications Supervisor at Sound Transit in Seattle.

VP Programs / Events: Lauri Hennessey of Vashon Island, a Vice President for Corporate & Public Affairs at Edelman in Seattle.

VP Membership: Kristene Sarmiento of Everett/Mill Creek, a Budget/Fiscal Analyst for the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington in Seattle.

VP Marketing / Communications: Jaimy McCarthy of Seattle, the Digital & Social Media Manager at Gage Academy of Art and founder of a social media consulting organization, McCarthy Communications.

VP Student Affairs: Ishwarya Rajendran of Olympia, a student studying Communications and International Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Immediate Past President: Dana Van Nest of Seattle/Wedgwood, Associate Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations at Henry Art Gallery on the University of Washington campus.

Historian (ex-officio): Cathy Stevens of Bothell, an AWC member since 1967 and retired marketing/advertising professional.

AWC also has student chapters at the University of Washington and Washington State University. Information about the local professional chapter, here.

Founded in 1909 as Theta Sigma Phi at the University of Washington, AWC today is a recognized leader in the communications industry with more than 2,000 members in professional and student chapters throughout the country. AWC champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of evolving communications. National organization information here.