Ragan Communications Top Women in Communications: Class of 2023
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Ragan Communications and PR Daily celebrated all of this year’s Top Women in Communications Awards honorees at an awards luncheon at City Winery in New York City. This prestigious group of women represents the female communications leaders who are mentors to future generations, who hold truth to power when necessary and are newcomers excited to make their mark.
I was honored to be among these amazing women, making the list of the Top Women in Communications for the class of 2023. My recognition was in the Bridge Builder category, one that my team at RTI International nominated me for as a complete surprise. The endorsement from my team, and that they think of me as a bridge builder is everything. I am humbled and grateful.
Read the RTI International press release about the award here.
The Ragan Top Women in Communications profile is available here and included in its entirety below.
RTI International’s Kami Spangenberg drives global scientific and research impact
Kami Spangenberg leads initiatives that share nonprofit research institute RTI International’s mission to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. She’s a Bridge Builder honoree in Ragan’s Top Women in Communications Awards.
It seems apropos that Kami Spangenberg would be among the honorees in the Bridge Builder category. Among her accomplishments, RTI’s senior vice president of Corporate Communications, Scientific Stature Services and Community Affairs, launched a new digital experience on the RTI intranet aptly named “The Bridge,” which links staff to the impact of the institute’s global work, fostering greater connections across hybrid work experiences and equipping staff to be brand ambassadors. The site launched as Spangenberg and her team helped the institute fully reopen its facilities and implement initiatives to continue providing staff a great place to work.
She has led her team in achieving increased engagement on RTI.org among target accounts and clients, in publishing more than 1,000 important pieces of scientific literature, and in creating and pitching approximately 150 news announcements and press releases to international, national, local and trade publications.
Bridging internal and external stakeholders, Spangenberg facilitated RTI’s CEO transition by implementing a communication plan that included staff engagement through messages, meetings and events, and an executive thought leadership engagement strategy — media training, message development and media interviews. As part of her crisis communications and issues response portfolio, Kami also led the development of a social issues response framework and guidance for the institute, to help guide executive leadership decision-making. Last year overall, under Kami’s direction, RTI donated approximately $1M USD to nonprofits worldwide through Community Affairs, which has grown from two to seven key programs annually. She also serves as executive sponsor of RTI’s VALoR employee resource group serving Veterans and allies.
Congrats to Kami Spangenberg.