Mary-Jane Atwater is president and founder of Atwater Communications. Since 1996, Mary-Jane has helped nonprofit organizations, associations, government agencies and businesses solve their marketing and communications challenges through strategic communications, savvy public relations counseling and creative collateral development. She works with a small group of talented colleagues, who are all independent consultants, to develop communications programs tailored to each client's objectives and resources. Much of her work has addressed public relations challenges for local governments and nonprofit organizations, especially in the environmental arena. She has won two prestigious Thoth awards for public relations excellence.

Prior to launching Atwater Communications in 1996, Mary-Jane managed public relations and communications accounts at Mitchell Petersen, Inc. Earlier in her career, as a rehabilitation counselor for drug abusers and offenders, she honed her listening and analytical skills — skills she uses daily in working with clients.

Mary-Jane has more than 25 years experience in public relations and marketing. She holds both an M.B.A in marketing and market research and an M.A. in Education from The George Washington University. She received her B.A. cum laude from Connecticut College. Mary-Jane is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and has served on the board and as both secretary and vice president of PRSA's National Capital Chapter. Mary-Jane is a founding member of the Independent Public Relations Alliance and was IPRA chair in 2004. She has served as a guest lecturer at Howard University and The George Washington University, and she is often called on to speak on public relations topics at regional and national conferences and meetings.