Ellen Toplin, president and founder of Toplin & Associates, Inc., a Fort Washington, Pa.-based marketing, public relations and advertising firm, was one of four people recognized this year as “inspiring individuals” and honored by the Women’s Center of Montgomery County for their dedication to community and leadership. Toplin was honored along with nationally-acclaimed author Jennifer Weiner, radio commentator Michael Smerconish and state Senator LeAnna Washington at an April 2 brunch held in celebration of the Women’s Center of Montgomery County’s 30th anniversary.
“To be recognized along side of these people was truly an honor for me,” said Toplin. “To be considered ‘inspiring’ by the Women’s Center, which does inspiring work every day by empowering women, is truly humbling. One of the most gratifying aspects of my more than 30 year career has been to support people and organizations like the Women’s Center.”
A strong leader and role model in the business community, and an advocate for women in business, Toplin was also named last year by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economics as one of the state’s Best 50 Women in Business. She was also the recipient of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s 2005 Athena Award, honoring business professionals who “affirm a values-based philosophy of leadership that celebrates relationships and service to the community.”
Active in other advocacy organizations, Toplin serves as a board member of The Forum of Executive Women, as well as a mentor in the Forum’s mentoring program. In addition to her dedication to advising women professionals, she is equally committed to serving as the second vice-chair of the board of the American Red Cross Blood Services-Penn Jersey Region, as co-chair of the organization’s donor services marketing committee and as a member of the board’s executive and nominating committees.
Toplin & Associates, Inc. represents a wide range of companies in the healthcare, law, financial services, education, communications and public service fields. Since 1982, Toplin & Associates has been a leader in the Delaware Valley public relations community, ranked among the area’s top public relations firms by O'Dwyer's, The Council of Public Relations Firms and the Philadelphia Business Journal. The firm has also been listed among the 2004 and 2005 Best Places to Work by the Philadelphia Business Journal.