Susan Davis International - Lifetime Achievement – Business

Company: Susan Davis International
Company Description: Susan Davis International (SDI), a woman-owned small business, has been recognized as one of the nation’s premier full-service communications and public affairs firms
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Lifetime Achievement – Business

Nomination Title: Judy Whittlesey

Judy Whittlesey, Executive Vice President of Susan Davis International (SDI), has led SDI teams for thirty-five years to help non-profits and government entities achieve their goals. With her early career experience in civil rights and education, and as an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation, Ms. Whittlesey brought a unique perspective to public relations in the nation's capital. She led campaigns where target audiences were as narrow as the region and far-reaching as the nation. Her work resulted in successful introductions and public recognition for national institutions that changed the face of the capital city and region. She helps non-profits, and government entities champion critical and neglected causes. At the same time, she generously gives her time and expertise to regional and national non-profits addressing causes including the arts, unemployment, historic preservation, and hunger, currently serving as Board Chairman of the leading national anti-hunger advocacy organization the Food Research and Action Center. Her professional work and community commitment have resulted in her selection to PRSA NCC's Hall of Fame, PR Week's inaugural class of Top Women in PR, Leadership Greater Washington, and leading SDI teams to win myriad awards for decades of exemplary work.

Whittlesey led the team working with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council to build support for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. She led the successful effort to create a national support network for a memorial to American military women, the groundbeakingn and dedication. With a growing success record helping organizations tell their stories to broad publics, Whittlesey continued being chosen for challenging assignments. She helped the National Japanese American Foundation build and dedicate a memorial on Capitol Hill to the patriotism of Japanese-American World War II veterans. Legislation for FDR’s Memorial lingered in Congress for decades. When it passed, and the memorial was completed, the Commission had limited resources for the public launch. Whittlesey led the design of a powerful communications campaign and dedication ceremony within the Commission's limitations. Other openings and dedications under her leadership include: the National Museum of the Marine Corps with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation; the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial with the Memorial Foundation, and the National Museum of the United States Army with the Army Historical Foundation. To her credit, these organizations remain clients years later. She is currently planning the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Martin Luther King Memorial. Other highlights have included innovative communications strategies for the Department of Defense program Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve promoting understanding between employers and often-deployed Guard and Reserve employees; and the development of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's program to recognize and support the nation's 5.5 millionmilitary and veteran caregivers.

Each of Ms. Whittlesey’s assignments was unique, significant and challenging. The focus of many projects has been unknown, misunderstood, had limited constituency, required overcoming negative attitudes and resource limitations, and some had all these challenges. Each required thoughtful strategic planning and sensitive, informed, insightful message development, preceded by complex audience analysis. Early surveys indicated opposition to the concept of a Holocaust museum in Washington, DC, yet additional surveys and focus groups helped point the way to messages that aided in overcoming negative attitudes. She drew on her experiences in public school education and her professional public relations expertise to change the narrative. The newly opened memorial museum quickly became one of the most popular sites in the National Mall corridor. The National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism had a limited constituency, and many Americans continued to harbor ill feelings toward the Japanese. Ms. Whittlesey led the SDI team in strategic storytelling for media campaigns, groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies that spotlighted patriotic Japanese Americans who left internment camps to serve in the U.S. military. Because the FDR Memorial wasn't authorized by Congress until decades after President Roosevelt's death, creating a sense of relevance and importance required a communications strategy to create significance and interest. SDI worked closely with the disability community, which had a particular vested interest in honoring an American president who exemplified their quest for life with no barriers or limitations. Because of design opposition from this important constituency, the communications challenges, while significant, were ultimately overcome.

The attached images are examples of the physical changes that took place with the opening and positioning of new important landmarks and memorials in the national capital region, as well as visual examples of programs with significant impact on American lives under Ms. Whittlesey’s leadership.