Company: VSE Corporation, Alexandria, VA
Company Description: VSE Corporation has 50 years of providing diversified professional services utilizing cutting-edge core competencies to assist all federal and civil agencies. In 2008 and 2009, VSE was named the #1 One Government Contractor (small) in the U.S. In 2010 VSE was named the #1 Growth Company (Large) by ACG Capital and 2009 Washington Post.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Communications Professional of the Year

Nomination Title: Sylvia Gethicker, Corporate Communications

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2011 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

While serving as Communications Director during 2011, the operational tempo for federal contractor VSE Corporation increased significantly but the government recession axed all other personnel in her department at the beginning of the year. A one-person communications department is extremely rare in the industry, especially for a company that earned more than $619 million during 2011. This includes no outside PR or Web agencies contracted to assist in any capacity. Not only is she responsible for administering all the communication endeavors for VSE Corporation, this also includes 80-100% of the communication initiatives for wholly owned subsidiaries Energetics, Inc.; ICRC; G&B Solutions, Inc.; Akimeka, LLC; and the newest subsidiary that arrived on scene.

in June 2011, Wheeler Brothers, Inc. Her day-to-day responsibilities include strategic communication development and implementation; media relations/ external communications/press releases. She also manages information on multiple VSE websites as well as a robust internal intranet site that serves employees at more than 100 locations worldwide. In January 2011, she put her crisis management skills to work and was on the main crisis team that extracted more than 150 employees and families out of a volatile political situation in Egypt.

Sylvia produces the 20-page corporate magazine six times annually (most companies produce quarterly); Annual Report, and this year coordinated a 60-page special book highlighting all corporate and subsidiary leadership. She is in charge of coordinating the annual leaders meeting to include all logistics for 100 managers for three days, as well as the quarterly meetings. Her marketing and publicity endeavors during 2011 included initiating several brochures, publicity campaigns, posters, tradeshow and conference logistics to include production of all premium items for business development and recruiting efforts; as well as maintaining/selling the VSE clothing and merchandise, a responsibility normally accomplished by HR Departments. She also coordinates a new endeavor, videotaped CEO Town Halls. She is the working chair for the VSE Employer of Choice Council and the chairperson for the 7-member VSE Communications Coalition that initiated a robust Safety Campaign that has resulted in a steady decline in OSHA reportable accidents. She serves as advisor for the Employee Morale Committee; and chairperson for the VSE Photo Contest in which she initiated and single-handedly produced the first VSE wall calendar which she suggested the company mail out instead of the standard Christmas Card. She is also a member of the VSE Leadership Council Progressive Engagement Working Group.

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Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:

Sylvia Gethicker assumed the position of Communications Director for VSE Corporation headquartered in Alexandria, Va., in February 2007. She began her communications career as a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent in 1977. She subsequently served in the Marine Corps for 20 years in positions as base newspaper editor, press chief, media relation chief, Navy/Marine/Coast Guard Hometown News Center Chief and base spokesperson. While in the Marines she received Thomas Jefferson Awards as the top sports writer (1980) and editorial writer (1990). She is currently President of the Washington DC Chapter of the Marine Corps Combat Correspondence Association.