Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005
Debora Foster, a 1974 Westminster College graduate, and vice president of corporate communications for H.J. Heinz Co., will receive the Pittsburgh chapter of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) 2005 Business Communicator of the Year Award Thursday, Oct. 27, at the 26th annual Golden Triangle Awards program at the Rivers Club in Pittsburgh.
"This is truly a unique honor," Foster said. "I am delighted to be selected Communicator of the Year by IABC and feel that this award also pays tribute to Heinz's entire Global Communications Team."
The Business Communicator of the Year Award was created in 2004 to recognize an individual for outstanding contributions in practicing, promoting, and enhancing professional business communications in Western Pennsylvania.
"Today, business communications is more than the distribution of information," said Martin Giglio, co-president of the local Pittsburgh chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. "It is a strategic process critical to improving organizational performance."
In addition to her duties at Heinz, Foster is active in a number of organizations. She has been a trustee of Westminster College since 1998 and is currently vice chair of the Westminster College Board of Trustees. Foster is also a trustee for the Eden Hall Foundation, which provides financial support to education, charitable causes and cultural activities in Western Pennsylvania. She is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, and served as its president in 1980; she is a director of the International Food Information Council (IFC) and the IFC Foundation; she served on the board of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania; she is a member of the communication councils for the National food Processors Association and the Grocery Manufacturers of America.
A member of the selection committee stated, "Debbie Foster's dynamic approach to business communications enables Heinz to successfully implement multifaceted strategic programming. From the rigors of international public relations activities, to promoting the health benefits of lycopene, to solidly positioning the Heinz brands no matter who is running for president '57 Varieties sounds more like Debbie's to-do list.
"It is Debbie Foster's energetic leadership that keeps it all on track. Her work and her reputation exemplify the highest possible professional standards, and her personal generosity toward her internal and external communications teams set an example for us all. She is as gracious as she is tenacious a rare combination."
Foster resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, William. They have one son, Jared, who is currently a sophomore public relations major at Westminster College.
