Board of Directors
built entirely of passionate volunteer leaders
The AWC National Board of Directors is built entirely of passionate volunteer leaders. Our board manages everything for the association, including:
- Online and in-person professional development and networking opportunities
- Membership drives, communications, and benefits
- Monthly communique newsletters
- A blog featuring AWC writers and thought leaders
- Our very own career center
- AWC social media and marketing efforts
- Sponsorship and Partnership opportunities to bring our members more value
- The health and continuity of the organization
Meet Your 2023 National Board of Directors
Anita K. Parran
Anita K. Parran, is the Chair of the Association for Women in Communications. Parran, a native of St. Louis, makes her home in Kansas City, MO where she is Principal for KK Charles Communications, LLC, a firm she founded in 1998. The firm specializes in public and media relations, professional writing and special projects management. It provides communications consultation services for a select clientele of non-profit and for-profit entities and has earned a number of APEX international awards for communications excellence.
Anita received a B.A. in Journalism from Stephens College and M.A. in Business Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, MO. She also earned the Certified Communications Professional (CCP) designation sanctioned by the University of Washington School Department of Communication.
Anita writes music and lyrics and has written scores of poems.
Term 2021-2023
Jo Grant Langston
Jo Langston is an associate professor of practice in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. She teaches undergraduate courses in public relations, including writing, special event management, media relations, PR campaigns and crisis communication. Before entering academia, Langston worked 35 years in hospital public relations and marketing. She began her career at Hendrick Medical Center, Abilene, Texas in 1982, with the AIDS crisis as her baptism by fire.
She graduated from TTU in 1974 with a degree in journalism. She completed her master’s degree in communications in 2003 from Angelo State University. In 2021, she was named to the Texas Tech University Teaching Academy.
She is an avid reader and her favorite author is Stephen King. “Reading fiction allows me to go to another place away from the stresses of my life and King’s places are like none other,” Jo says.
Term 2022-2024
Mitzie Zerr
Mitzie Zerr is the owner of Zerco Consulting, a management firm that oversees activities in an industrial park of 23 major employers in Springfield, Missouri. She began her business in 2018, after a lengthy career with City Utilities. Reading novels and researching family history are high priorities for her.
Mitzie spends hours in the kitchen trying new recipes, especially sweets, to share with her husband. She gladly hangs up the apron when she gets a chance to travel to see her 10-month-old grandson who lives nearly 1,000 miles away.
Term 2022
Cathy Wetter
Cathy Wetter is a Lead Associate for Booz Allen Hamilton with 15 years’ experience consulting for the federal government, primarily focusing on identifying strategic communication methods and tools for her clients. As a business consultant, Cathy serves as the Communication Liaison for the Pacific Northwest on one of the most significant government contracts, valued at $750 million, with the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Healthcare Records Modernization. She is a staff writer for the internal news source and provides technical writing expertise in creating After Action Reports, Standard Operating Procedures, templates, and stakeholder plans for the region.
Outside of work, Cathy is passionate about diversity and inclusion initiatives and serves as Board-at-Large for the Association for Women in Communications Seattle professional chapter. She is responsible for developing and executing a strategic slate of programs and events that provide value and increase the local chapter’s public awareness. She also is on the board at her alma mater, dedicating time to helping black, indigenous, and person of color (BIPOC) college students transition into the workplace with the Christopher Newport Multicultural Alumni Chapter.
She lives outside of Seattle with her husband of 11 years, Marc, and five-year-old son, Cameron. Cathy attended Christopher Newport University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, and West Virginia University for a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications.
Term 2022-2024
Judy Arent-Morency
Judy Arent-Morency first joined the AWC National Board in 2005 and has served as treasurer, secretary, and national chair. After a brief hiatus, Judy rejoined the national board in 2016 and is the current treasurer.
She is marketing director and project manager for Aftrade Global, Inc., an engineered equipment trading firm. Judy teaches journalism and technical writing classes online for University of Phoenix. She is also active in the AWC Tulsa Professional Chapter and in local nonprofits while continuing to do freelance technical and script writing. When Judy has a free minute, she enjoys gourmet cooking, sewing, and jewelry making.
Term 2021-2023