Meet the Gladys Whitley Hearst Outstanding Member Award Winners

Written by Riley West.

At Banner Brunch on May 2, we will honor Ginny Murphy & LuAnn Glowitz as well as Michele Chan Santos & Christy Wylie with the Gladys Whitley Hearst Outstanding Member Award. Recipients of the award are dedicated to the success of WCA, are respected leaders in the field of communications, and best represent the most desirable qualities of WCA membership.

Get to know our four award winners a little better below.

Ginny Murphy

Ginny is a brand strategist who works closely with clients to define their brand, and strategize how to implement it across available channels in a consistent and purposeful way. She also helps clients efficiently allocate budget and resources with a vision for long term sustainability. Outside of work, Ginny serves on the Executive Board of Drive a Senior – Southwest Austin, a nonprofit organization that give seniors the opportunity to age in place and remain active, involved and connected.

Q: What are you most passionate about professionally?
A: I think it is so important to define a brand, whether personal or company, based on core values…why you do what you do and why that matters. Coming up with creative solutions that actually work is fun to me. I like to strategize, put the pieces together (people, vendors, resources) and make things happen on-time, on-budget, and beyond expectations.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in Austin?
A: I am a big fan of the hike and bike trail in downtown Austin. I also like to discover new restaurants with friends. Austin has some pretty great places!

Q: How long have you been a WCA member? What roles have you served in WCA over the course of your membership?
A: I originally joined the organization many years ago, but let my membership lapse. I rejoined in 2011. I have been a member of Freelance Austin since 2006. I have been active in Freelance Austin at various times (currently serving as Co-Chair) and have provided graphic design support for the WCA Get Smart conference a couple of times. I joined the WCA Board in June 2014.

Q: What has kept you an active member of WCA? What do you love most?
A: I love the people in this organization. It is a group of fun and dynamic professionals. They energize me and make me smile.

Q: How has WCA benefitted you the most?
A: WCA has given me an opportunity to move forward the perception of freelancers as independent contract professionals who have expertise and value.

 

LuAnn Glowacz

LuAnn is an executive ghostwriter and editor who works directly with CEOs and business owners to help them develop their thought leadership. She has spent years as a public relations practitioner getting to do things such as help a local TV station film a child’s bone marrow transplant and talk to Money Magazine and The New York Times about the value of writing a will.

LuAnn has also served as a guest speaker and panelist for several organizations and events including SXSWi, BlogathonATX, Austin Content Marketing Tweetup, GetSmart, IABC Brazos Valley, Social Media Breakfast, and Texas State University’s PRSSA and Mass Communications Week, and has been a guest speaker/lecturer at Concordia University and St. Edward’s University.

Q: Tell us a little about what you’re working on these days.
A: These days I’m an independent contractor splitting my time between business ghost writing and book editing. I’m lucky enough to subcontract with some of my favorite PR colleagues, now solely as their writer. Highlights of my current work include writing for The HT Group (one of Austin’s fastest growing companies for several years now) and serving as the editor for The Future of Nonprofits’ Randal C. Moss and David J. Neff on their sophomore book to be released later this year.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
A: My husband Mark and two children Danny (8 years old) and Tyler (6 years old) all keep me busy. And then there’s Freelance Austin, which I’ve had the honor of co-chairing with Ginny Murphy. It’s been an honor taking the reigns of this special interest group from a long line of amazing women, beginning with Patti DeNucci who had the vision to start it two decades ago. I’m also a choir geek, currently singing in a chamber group and for anyone lucky enough to be parked next to me in Mopac traffic.

Q: How long have you been a WCA member? How do you feel participation has contributed to your professional and personal growth?
A: I’ve been a WCA member for more than 5 years (I think). These ladies are more than my colleagues, they’re my friends. And they happen to be my best source of referrals and my best source of help when clients need extra hands.

Q: What do you love most about WCA?
A: I adore the opportunity to get involved in WCA’s niche groups like Freelance Austin and Careers Over Coffee. That’s where the relationships are formed and the plans for world-domination are schemed.

Christy Wylie

Owner of Mantra Marketing Services, Christy is a marketing and public relations consultant with a focus in the real estate, retirement, and healthcare industries. Christy’s passion is writing and storytelling. She specializes in biographies and success stories, and is a contributing writer to Moxie Magazine and Austin Woman Magazine. Christy holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from Texas State University.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
A: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends and with my husband and 13 year old daughter, traveling, and always learning.

Q: Are you involved with any other professional or volunteer organizations?
A: I also belong to Freelance Austin and I volunteer working with the elderly at retirement communities.

Q: How long have you been a WCA member? What roles have you served in WCA over the course of your membership?
A: I have been a WCA member for 6 ½ years. I served on the Get Smart 2010 planning committee, and then co-chaired Get Smart as co-VP of Professional Development in 2011 and 2012. Since 2012 or so, I have been co-chairing Careers Over Coffee South, first with Christine Cox Reinauer, and for the last few years with Michele Chan Santos.

Q: What do you love most about WCA?
A: Being a WCA member has been a very important part of my life, both professionally and personally. The network of strong communicators, the professional development opportunities, and the mentors I have met along the way are the things I love the most about the organization. On a personal level, I have met some of my dearest friends through WCA.

Q: What advice can you give others about making the most of their WCA membership?
A: Attend the high quality professional development and educational events. Get involved on a committee or on the board to get to know the members. Reach out to some of those amazing members—for insights on specific subjects about which you have questions, or for general support. They can open new doors for you.

Michele Chan Santos

As a freelance journalist and copy editor, Michelle, reports, writes and copy edits for different companies, including newspapers, magazines, news services and corporations. She has been a member and served in many roles in WCA for the last 8 years, but she currently co-chairs Careers Over Coffee South with Christy Wylie.

Q: What are you most passionate about professionally?
A: I enjoy interviewing people and learning about their lives. Whether it’s talking to a homeowner about the historic home they remodeled for an Austin HOME Magazine article, or interviewing a physician about a new procedure or medication, I love learning what other people are passionate about.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?
A: I volunteer a lot for my sons’ schools. My older son Tommy is a freshman at Austin High and belongs to the marching band, so I’m a “band mom” and volunteer at their events. My younger son Sam is a 7th grader at O. Henry Middle School. My friend Karen and I run the school store there, which is fun. I also enjoy yoga, and I read a lot.

Q: What made you decide to join WCA?
A: Freelancing and working from a home office can be isolating, so I joined WCA to make new friends and keep up with the communications industry.

Q: How has WCA benefitted you the most?
A: I’ve really enjoyed all the good friends I’ve made through WCA. WCA gave me a lot of confidence as a freelancer and has taught me a lot about the industry as it continues to evolve. The women in this organization are supportive, kind and have a great sense of humor!

Q: Do you have any advice to people regarding finding a career they’re passionate about?
A: I think it’s important to trust yourself and your instincts. You can feel when something is a good fit.

Join WCA on May 2, 2015 at our 42^nd Annual Banner Brunch to celebrate these four amazing women and our other award winners. Learn more and get your tickets here.