Washington Women in Public Relations named AARP’s chief communications and marketing officer, Martha Boudreau, the 2016 PR Woman of the Year at their annual awards luncheon this past Friday at the Fairmount Hotel in Washington, D.C.

WWPR PR Woman of the Year finalists Martha Boudreau, Sharon Reis and Maria Rodriguez(L to R) Maria Rodriguez, Martha Boudreau and Sharon Reis.

photo: WWPR

Boudreau was one of three finalists that included Sharon Reis, principal at The Reis Group, and Maria Rodriguez, president at Vanguard Communications.

“Every year this event serves as a major platform for recognizing women at all levels who are using the power of communications to inform, educate and create change,” Bourdreau said. “I'd also like to congratulate Maria Rodriguez and Sharon Reis for their many successes. Washington, D.C. is one of the top markets for communications globally and I am thrilled to be recognized by this leading organization.”

Keynote speaker Deirdre Latour, chief communications officer at General Electric explained her time at the conglomerate taught her that every action, or failure to take action, shapes the way an organization is viewed by the public.

WWPR offers leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship and industry networking to female communicators in the D.C. area. Find out more at www.wwpr.org.