WASHINGTON, DC — AARP Foundation announced today that its president, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, has been named a 2016 Brava Award winner by Washington SmartCEO based on her leadership skills and business acumen. Ryerson, who will receive the award at a ceremony this Thursday, July 7, leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to deploying innovative solutions that serve low-income older adults to help them secure the essentials.

The Brava Awards celebrate the distinguished achievements of Greater Washington’s top women business leaders. Brava award winners combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community and are exemplary leaders in their companies and their communities. The winners will be profiled in the July/August issue of SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards ceremony on July 7, 2016, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

“Lisa combines her passion for AARP Foundation’s social mission with entrepreneurial skills that enable her to put the best solutions in place,” said Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP.   “That’s precisely why she is such an effective leader. All of us at AARP are pleased to see Lisa’s talents recognized with this award.”

“Brava winners possess the hallmark qualities of successful leaders — vision, passion, compassion, dedication, perseverance. Each winner in this year’s class exhibits these qualities in all facets of her life, from running her business to tending to her family and donating time and resources to philanthropic initiatives,” says Jaime Nespor-Zawmon, president of SmartCEO. “We are honored to recognize a group of women who are truly making a difference in the world.”

Ryerson joined AARP Foundation in November 2013 and has introduced new strategies that emphasize innovation and business rigor in the development of programs and cross-sector collaboration in their execution. Ryerson was previously the president of Wells College in Aurora, New York, for 18 years, during which time she launched an endowed Center for Business and Entrepreneurship and led revitalization of commercial properties in Aurora.

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About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, strengthen communities, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.

CONTACT:
AARP Media Relations, media@aarp.org, 202-434-2560, @AARPMedia