Honoring Excellence and Diversity on K Street

The Washington Government Relations Group, the nation’s oldest organization for African-American government-relations professionals, honored leaders in the government-affairs community at its fifth annual Tin Cup Awards Dinner at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on July 30. Award recipients included Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), the Congressional Black Caucus, Roland Martin of NewsOne Now and former U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk.

USTR Alumni Association

Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Tiffany Moore; Ambassador Ronald Kirk, recipient of the Tin Cup President’s Award; and The Root’s Washington, D.C., insider, Nicole Venable. All three worked together at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to secure passage of trade agreements during Kirk’s term as U.S. trade representative.

Your Hosts for the Evening

WGRG members Dontai Smalls, of UPS, and Alethia Jackson, of Walgreens, served as the dinner’s co-chairs.

Award for Lifetime Achievement

WGRG member Celeste “Clete” Boykin, of DuPont, was awarded the Reginald “Reg” Gilliam Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is pictured here with Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.).

Straight Out of Brooklyn

Former Congressional Black Caucus Executive Director Angela Rye with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his chief of staff, Cedric Grant.

World of Wonder

WGRG member Carmencita Whonder, of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; Obama-administration politico Jewel James, assistant U.S. trade representative for intergovernmental affairs; and Doug Thornell, of SKDKnickerbocker.

Press Professionals

The only African-American press secretaries in the Senate: Monique Waters, press secretary to Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Sean Conner, press secretary to Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

Palmetto Proud

South Carolina’s Sen. Tim Scott with WGRG dinner-committee member Nicole Venable. Scott received the Adam Clayton Powell Award for Leadership in Diversity at the evening’s event.

New York State of Mind

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) with WGRG member Nate Yohannes, of the Money Management Institute.

Tar Heel Salute

Nicole Venable with North Carolina’s Rep. G.K. Butterfield, who received the Adam Clayton Powell Award for Leadership in Diversity at the dinner.

Three Kings

WGRG member Ed Hubbard, of the Renewable Fuels Association, with two previous Tin Cup Award winners: Yebbie Watkins, chief of staff to Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), and Howlie Davis, of CH2M Hill.

President’s Prerogative

WGRG President Marcus Mason, of the Madison Group, and NewsOne Now’s Roland Martin, who received the Lucile Harris Bluford Spotlight Award for Journalism.

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