PRSA Puget Sound Leaders Honored at National 2026 PRSA Women of Impact Awards
PRSA Puget Sound is proud to announce that two of its distinguished leaders, Jennifer Hawton, APR (left), and Mary Deming Barber, APR, Fellow PRSA (right), were officially named winners at the 2026 PRSA Strategies & Tactics Women of Impact Awards on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the Union League Club of Chicago.
About the PRSA Strategies & Tactics Women of Impact Awards
The national awards program recognizes PRSA members whose leadership, results, and integrity elevate the communications profession across two primary categories: Sector Impact and Leadership & Expertise Impact. Having two chapter leaders recognized on the national stage highlights the exceptional depth of expertise and commitment within the Pacific Northwest communications community.
Meet the Award Winners
Jennifer Hawton, APR
Winner: Brand Storyteller Category
Jennifer Hawton, Public Relations Manager at PEMCO Mutual Insurance, received top honors in the Brand Storyteller category for her exceptional work in driving corporate narrative and executive communications.
Jennifer oversees corporate PR for the largest local personal-lines insurer in the Pacific Northwest, earning regional and international recognition for her innovative storytelling and internal communications strategies. In addition to her corporate leadership, she serves on the PRSA Puget Sound Board of Directors and educates the next generation of communicators as an adjunct faculty member at Gonzaga University’s School of Leadership Studies.
Mary Deming Barber, APR, Fellow PRSA
Winner: Public Affairs & Government Category
Mary Deming Barber, who currently serves as the Mayor of the City of Gig Harbor, was honored for her outstanding achievements in Public Affairs & Government.
With more than 40 years of strategic communications expertise, Mary has seamlessly blended high-level campaign strategy with civic governance and public service. A former PRSA national board member and recipient of the prestigious Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service, her work continues to shape public policy, foster transparency, and build community trust.
Elevating the Communications Profession
The Women of Impact Summit and Awards bring together industry trailblazers from across the United States to celebrate women shaping the future of strategic communications.
PRSA Puget Sound congratulates both Mary and Jennifer on their well-deserved national recognition, thanking them for their continued guidance, leadership, and exemplary representation of our local chapter.
View the entire list of the 2026 PRSA Strategies & Tactics Women of Impact Awards Recipients.
