Banner Brunch 2025
Saturday, May 3, Austin Central Library
Be curious(er).
Curiosity is at the heart of communication – and let’s face it, we’re all feeling a bit mad these days. What better excuse to stop time for a little while and come together in celebration of our signature WCA event: Banner Brunch.
Join us at the Central Library in downtown Austin on Saturday, May 3rd from 10am-1pm as we eat, drink, and be madly merry in honor of central Texas communicators. We’ll mix, mingle, and hand out awards and scholarships when not furiously (but quietly) outbidding one another at the silent auction. Don’t feel obligated to wear a waistcoat, but your most dashing hat is, as always, encouraged. The spirit of Julie Tereshchuk endures at the WCA, through the scholarship named after her and in every fabulous hat worn.
Tickets on sale now!
Meet our 2025 Banner Award Winners
Liz Carpenter Lifetime
Achievement Award
Christy Carpenter
About Christy
Christy Carpenter, Liz Carpenter’s daughter & biographer, has extensive experience in media as EVP & COO of the Paley Center for Media in NYC, Vice Chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and board member of Austin PBS and KCET (LA). She also has several decades of experience as a cable TV, trade association, and marketing executive.
Her documentary, created with Abby Ginzberg, called Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter, premiered at SXSW in March 2024 to much acclaim. Since SXSW, the film has been an official selection of nine other festivals, winning awards from two.
On making this doc, Christy said, “This was a chance to give people an understanding of the full spectrum of her (Liz Carpenter’s) career through the women’s movement. Some people are not even that aware how active she was, and certainly didn’t know about the journalist period, so this is giving a multi-dimensional story of a woman who had an impact all along the way, from the very beginning up until the end and our goal is to inspire people to go on and shake things up in whatever way they want to shake them up.”
Outstanding Austin
Communicator Award
Debra Davis
Debra Davis Productions
About Debra
Emmy Award Winning and Grammy Nominated, Debra Davis is a storyteller who creates engaging television series, live streams, live music events, award shows, branded content, events, corporate entertainment, and meetings. As founder of Debra Davis Productions, she leads a full-service production company whose highly experienced management, creative, and technical teams include the most innovative and accomplished leaders in the industry.
Debra Davis Productions has been an industry leader, producing and transmitting live streams to a global audience for some of the world’s largest live events including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits,and Bonnaroo, just to name a few.
Throughout her decades-long career, Debra Davis has perfected managing every aspect of a production from initial conceptualization to final execution. Austin based, Debra Davis is a two-time Austin Chronicle Austin Music Industry Hall of Fame nominee, a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys), member of Producers Guild of America, a certified HUB business, and a dog mom.
Anne Durrum Robinson
Creative Initiative Award
Nancy Thompson
Mothers Against Greg Abbott
About Nancy
Nancy Thompson’s visionary project began with a solitary act of protest—a handwritten sign opposing Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s policies—and quickly evolved into a groundbreaking movement that reimagined political activism. As the founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott, Nancy harnessed the power of personal storytelling and grassroots mobilization to spark change in Texas and beyond.
Her creative achievement lies in transforming a single, emotionally charged moment into multi-faceted campaigns across multiple organizations that span strategic communications, multimedia storytelling, and civic education that has evolved and grown since its inception in August 2021.
Gene Barnwell Waugh
Mentor Award
Dr. Judy Oskam
Texas State University
About Judy
Dr. Judy Oskam is professor and director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University. She has served as Director since 2012 and works to provide faculty with the support and resources they need to impact student success. Judy teaches undergraduate classes in public relations and media communications and a graduate class about creative problem solving. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is one of the largest, ACEJMC accredited programs in the nation with more than 2,000 undergraduate students majoring in Advertising, Digital Media Innovation, Electronic Media, Journalism, Mass Communication and Public Relations. Before joining Texas State University, Oskam was an associate professor at Texas Tech University.
Dr. Oskam supports professional development for faculty and students. An award-winning educator, she is passionate about providing opportunities for students and faculty to experience the changing media industry beyond the classroom. Under her leadership, the school has established education abroad and study-in-America programs to: the UK/Europe, Spain, Japan, Scotland, New York, Washington and California. She is also working to offer a program in Querétaro, Mexico. Oskam is an Honorary Professor of International Studies.
Gene Barnwell Waugh Mentor Award
Genevieve “Vivvi” Britton
Precision AQ
About Vivvi
Vivvi is a strategic communications leader specializing in healthcare and medtech, with expertise in public relations. She has worked with more than 40 pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics brands, shaping industry narratives, building reputations, and driving tangible results.
Vivvi has served on the WCA board several times, but she found her niche in fall 2024 as the Peer Mentor Chair. Since taking on the role, she has worked diligently to revitalize the program and bring meaningful support to our members and community. Furthermore, she was instrumental in developing and launching a pilot program to welcome non-members to be mentees, a move that has significantly fueled the program’s growth. She also co-hosts Careers Over Coffee North, a monthly meetup for women in communications to connect, collaborate, and grow.
Leadership Award
Amy Carr
Amy Carr Communications
About Amy
Amy Carr bio coming soon.
Gladys Whitley Hearst Outstanding Member
Caitlyn Macaluso
FVF Law
About Caitlyn
Caitlyn Macaluso bio coming soon.
President’s Award
Roberta Coffin
Scripta Communications
About Roberta
Roberta Coffin bio coming soon.
2025 Scholarship Winners
The Julie Tereshchuk Scholarship
Khanh Nguyen
The Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship
Marisela Perez Maita
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 EVENT SPONSORS!
Thank you so much to this year’s Banner Brunch sponsors and partners! If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or partner for future events, please contact development@wcaustin.org.
Premium Sponsors
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Nominate
Recognize the outstanding Austin communicators, distinguished lifetime achievements, and amazing mentors in the Austin community.
Apply
Currently pursuing an education in the field of communications? Apply to be considered for our scholarships (deadlines apply each year).
Volunteer
Assist with the selection for awards and scholarships, organize the event, and ensure guests have a fantastic time at Banner Brunch.
Sponsor & Donate
Place your organization at the forefront of one of Austin’s most celebrated communications events. Sponsor, donate, or contribute raffle items!