It’s Coming…
Banner Brunch 2023
Saturday, April 29th, 2023
at The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
More details coming soon.
Save the Date
Nominate someone for Banner Awards now!
2022 Banner Brunch wrapped with grand success!
2022 Theme: Deep Roots, Bright Blooms
Held on Saturday, April 23, 2022
at
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Austin, Texas
Guests joined more than 100 brilliant communications professionals for a day of celebration, connections, and networking. Attendees enjoyed food, drinks, and some extra-special surprises while celebrating award honorees and scholarship recipients.
The Silent Auction Raised $2350.00. Combined fundraising efforts resulted in approximately $5,000 toward scholarships.
The Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship
2022 Banner Award Winners
Liz Carpenter Lifetime
Achievement Award
Reenie Collins
About Reenie
Reenie Collins served as the Executive Director of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) for nearly a decade before she retired in January 2022 to her Round Top farm. During her tenure, HAAM experienced tremendous growth increasing membership by 40% as well as its services, beyond healthcare. Before HAAM, she worked for the Seton Foundation, raising
money for its formidable breast cancer center, and Seton Shoal Creek, where she helped create new partnerships for one of the few independent mental health hospitals in the community. Reenie is a seasoned executive and consultant with more than 25 years experience in healthcare administration, marketing and planning.
Outstanding Austin
Communicator Award
Brianna McKinney
About Brianna
Brianna McKinney is the Founder and CEO of Bloom Communications, a research-based, integrated communications agency helping mission-driven organizations grow and thrive since 2012. Her vision is to inspire and ignite people to action through powerful storytelling—creating healthier and more sustainable communities. In addition to building a financially stable agency, Brianna has built a mission-driven culture that puts its people first. Every day she works to prove that giving back and leading by example strengthens the communities and world we live in.
Outstanding Austin
Communicator Award
Katherine McLane
About Katherine
Katherine McLane is the Founder and CEO of The Mach 1 Group: a women-led communications, crisis, and public affairs firm based in Austin, Texas. Katherine is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with an outstanding history of leadership helping shape local, regional, and national narratives on education, healthcare and cancer, energy and sustainability, security, and medical marijuana legalization — to name just a few. Katherine has made it a personal and professional goal to help women advance in their careers.
Gene Barnwell Waugh
Mentor Award
Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz
About Fabiana
Fabiana is Account Manager for Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, and a seasoned public relations (PR) professional and strategic storyteller. Even as a seasoned public relations professional, Fabiana has never stepped away from her joy to mentor colleagues of all levels as she has progressed in more senior roles. Fabiana uses her expertise in the field of communications for good. She has been featured in multiple articles, podcasts and more, giving industry advice and a voice of mentorship to readers and leaders on topics ranging from how to advance in your career while working remotely to how you can amplify LatinaX voices.
Anne Durham Robinson
Creative Initiative Award
Kim & Mike Barnes
About Kim and Mike
Kim and Mike Barnes recognized a huge gap – a lack of resources, information and community for those caring for aging parents. With a personal mission to help close this gap and provide answers, advice, and a circle of support for the many people navigating the caregiving environment alone, they created the online community Parenting Aging Parents. Kim and Mike worked to create a forum for collaborative communication among those who need help. Like many other stigma topics over the years, aging and the process of aging has been in the shadows of conversation. Parenting Aging Parents is working to change that.
Gladys Whitley Hearst
Outstanding Member Award
Monique Carreon
About Monique
As VP of Career Services, Monique helped reimagine WCA career and mentoring-focused programming as we went virtual during a surprising pandemic shift. Her leadership went beyond her specific role. Monique rarely missed a board meeting over two years and always showed up early at our signature events to volunteer. She wasn’t afraid to speak up in Board meetings, digging into what the goals were and how it could benefit WCA members. Monique exemplifies collaboration, service and leadership.
Sponsors and Partners
Thank you so much to our annual sponsors and this year’s Banner Brunch sponsors and partners! If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or partner, please contact our VP of Development at development@wcaustin.org.
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 by February 1, 2022, to be considered for our Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship.
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!