Two associations representing the lobbying and advocacy profession recognized their peers in separate awards announcements Tuesday.

Women in Government Relations unveiled award winners in several categories at its virtual Professional Women in Advocacy Conference. The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics also released its first-ever list of top lobbyists. The NILE roster includes 75 people, including lobbyists at 20 associations.

WGR said it received close to 100 nominations for the Excellence in Advocacy Awards, with the final round of judging conducted by the Bryce Harlow Foundation. Claiming the Advocate of the Year award: Kathryn Schubert for her work as chief advocacy officer at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. (Schubert was named CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research in April.)

The first Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Nancy LeaMond, chief advocacy and engagement officer at AARP. LeaMond has worked at AARP since 2001. The conference was founded in 2013 and was acquired by WGR earlier this year.

Other honorees include:

• Up and Coming practitioner—Victoria Palacio, Legal Action Center
• Excellence in a Federal Issue Campaign—Sarah Meek, American Network of Community Options & Resources
• Excellence in a State Issue Campaign—Kate O'Malley, founder of K.O. Strategies
• Excellence in Campaign for Women Serving Women—Iris Wilbur Glick, Greater Louisville Inc., The Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Excellence in Advocacy on a Controversial Issue—Roberta "Toni" Meyers, Legal Action Center

The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics received about 170 entries during the seven-week nomination period. The group used a blind judging process, redacting identifying information about the nominees. Honorees could not be members of the NILE board.

"During the pandemic, many leaders in our profession have done remarkable work to ensure that Washington, D.C., responded to the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19," said Tommy Goodwin, legislative and regulatory affairs lead at the Project Management Institute and NILE's volunteer president. "It is great to see NILE bring the lobbying community together to recognize our peers and colleagues who have gone above and beyond, both for those they serve and the profession more broadly."

The top lobbyists at associations announced by NILE:

• Brian Banks, American Counseling Association
• Chatrane Birbal, Society for Human Resource Management
• Chelsea Blake, National Indian Gaming Association
• Manuel Bonilla, American Society of Anesthesiologists
• Mary Kate Cunningham, American Society of Association Executives
• Quardricos Driskell, American Urological Association
• Kip Eideberg, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
• Roberto Fierro, BSA | The Software Alliance
• Nick Giordano, National Pork Producers Council
• Davon Gray, American Institute of Architects
• Ashley Harrington, Center for Responsible Lending
• Brendan Heiner, USTelecom—The Broadband Association
• Nancy LeaMond, AARP
• Shannon McGahn, National Association of Realtors
• Joyce Meyer, American Council of Life Insurers
• Linda Moore, TechNet
• Andy Polk, Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America
• Clifton Porter, American Health Care Association
• Alethea Predeoux, American Federation of Government Employees
• Nat Wienecke, American Property Casualty Insurance Association

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