About the Award

The Werner-VonderHaar-Bogart (WVB) Award is the highest honor that the Cincinnati PRSA Chapter can bestow upon a member. It is given to a member to recognize service to the Chapter, the community, the  profession and the Society.

The award is named after William Werner, Edward VonderHaar and Judith Bogart, three public relations leaders who served as presidents of the Cincinnati chapter and later served as PRSA national presidents.

Judges look for candidates who have demonstrated service to the chapter, the community, the society and the profession. Award recipients have demonstrated achievement in at least three of the four service areas.

The PRSA Cincinnati Chapter is excited to announce that Jill E. Dunne has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Werner-VonderHaar-Bogart (WVB) Award.

As the Chapter’s highest honor, the WVB Award recognizes a public relations professional who exemplifies excellence and impact across four pillars: service to the community, the chapter, the profession and PRSA. The WVB Award is the highest honor that the Cincinnati PRSA Chapter can bestow upon a member. 

A PRSA member since 2003, Jill E. Dunne has been a driving force within the Cincinnati Chapter for more than two decades. She has chaired the Membership Committee, managed the Job Bank, and served as a frequent Media Day panelist, mentor and speaker. She’s known for her genuine passion for helping others grow in their careers and for strengthening the local PR community through collaboration, creativity and connection.

Jill’s 25-year career spans nonprofit, agency, corporate and consulting roles, including leadership positions at the Cincinnati Art Museum, ArtWorks, Cincinnati Metro, Western & Southern and the Newport Aquarium. Her storytelling and strategic communication work have brought Cincinnati to national audiences through placements in The New York Times, USA Today  and Good Morning America.

Jill’s service extends beyond PRSA and the profession. She is deeply engaged in the community through her volunteer work with ArtsWave, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the WCPO Community Advisory Board, among many others. Jill has contributed to Greater Cincinnati not only through professional work itself, but also through volunteer service, arts advocacy and civic engagement. Her efforts have strengthened the community and reflect her ongoing dedication to helping the region thrive.

Her career, character and commitment to service embody the spirit of the WVB Award.  

WVB Nominations

Thanks for your interest in submitting a nomination for the WVB Award. Unfortunately, the nomination period is now closed.
Check back in late summer or early fall 2026, when we will open nominations for the 2026 WVB Award.

History of the Award

WVB Award Recipients

2025 - Jill E. Dunne

2024 - Robin Klaene, APR

2023 - Brandy L. Jones, APR

2022 - Shannan Boyer

2021 - Allison Schroeder, APR

2020 - Shara Clark, APR

2019 - Pamela Gilchrist Corson, MA, APR

2018 - Jonathan Kissell, APR

2017 - Lauren Doyle, APR

2016 - Carrie Phillippi, APR

2015 - Rob Pasquinucci, APR

2014 - Chris Kemper, APR

2013 - Debbie Copeland-Bloom, APR

2012 – Gail Myers, APR

2011 - Jackie Reau

2008 - Kevin Dugan

2006 - Mike Boehmer, APR

2005 - Debra DeCourcy, APR

2002 - Peter Hollister

2001 - Rick Miller, APR

2000 - Patricia Trubow,

1999 - Elizabeth Charlton, APR

1998 - Linnea Lose, APR

1997 - Claudia McKee

1996 - Lauren Green-Caldwell, APR

1995 - Tom Schick, APR, Fellow PRSA

1994 - Lauralee Sawyer

1991 - William Brewer, APR

1990 - Rick Pender, APR, Fellow PRSA

1989 - Daniel Ransohoff

1988 - Claudia Harrod

1987 - Lyla Haggard

1986 - Lee Oberlag, APR

1985 - Elizabeth Stilz Mills

1984 - Pat KellIson

1983 - Mary Bates

1981 - Betty Blake

1980 - Ted Bushelman

1979 - Ronald Lustick

1978 - Daniel Pinger, APR, Fellow PRSA

1977 - Charles Carey

1976 - Judith Bogart, APR, Fellow PRSA

1975 - Bruce Stoecklin

1974 - Robert Stewart