Winner: Carolyn Tieger, Partner and Global Leader, Public Affairs, Porter Novelli
Follow-through and attention to detail are just two of many reasons for Carolyn Tieger's success. A warrior and advocate, she has won major battles for clients involving such
tension-laden topics as asbestos liability, chemical risk, legal reform, healthcare reform, and China trade. "Not being afraid to take risks has not only helped me in my own
career advancement, but I think it has become a leadership quality that has allowed me to challenge clients and encourage them to think 'outside of the box,'" Tieger notes. Her
fearlessness and creativity show.
Tieger is particularly proud of two events in 2005. "The first was the signing of the Class Action Fairness Act by President Bush in February of 2005," says Tieger. "After four
long years of an intense legislative battle, it was so rewarding to be at the White House to witness the signing ceremony firsthand. The event also signaled the culmination of the
communications campaign in support of the legislation, which I led for Porter Novelli on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform."
Her efforts generated a wealth of editorials in support of asbestos legislation, as well as orchestrating a media outreach effort that exposed rampant fraud among trial
lawyers, doctors and screening companies in diagnosing asbestos disease. Porter Novelli moved three West Coast offices under her control last year, and was named the "2005
Washington PR Woman of the Year" by the Washington Women in Public Relations. (Her second proud career moment in 2005.)
Tieger's staff members also have reason to appreciate her. Many of her executive assistants have achieved - with her help -positions of far more prestige. One heads
communications at Unilever, and another is President Bush's personal assistant. All of them are still friends of Tieger's. "Teaching people new things and helping them grow is a
real high for me," says Tieger.
In supporting her team members, Tieger is passing along lessons she learned early on. "Marvin Pitkin, an aerospace engineer by training and a natural born marketer, was a
mentor to me early in my government career when I was working with the maritime industry," she says.
Tieger sits on the board of the Accokeek Foundation, which helped build an educational center for disadvantaged students. She also is a senior advisor to George Washington
University's Graduate School of Political Management.
As Marvin Pitkin taught her, "a combination of substance and style and a good sense of humor can not only win business and grow it, but also keep the client happy."
Contact: carolyn.tieger@porternovelli.com
Honorable Mention
Kelly Cox faced some tremendous challenges last year, among them the earned media launch of PhRMA's Partnership for Prescription Assistance, the largest private-sector effort
to help patients in need gain access to required medicine. In her role as manager for APCO Worldwide, she was nominated by co-workers and won three "APCO A" awards for her crisis
simulation work, the media launch, and her efforts for a client during a difficult litigation.