Ellen Toplin, president and founder of Toplin & Associates, Inc. – a Fort Washington, Pa.-based public relations, advertising and marketing firm – recently received the 2005 Athena Award for her leadership, community commitment and business acumen. The award, given by The MONTCO Chamber of Commerce, honors outstanding leaders who have inspired excellence and leadership among women. The ATHENA Award is sponsored by the Athena Foundation and hosted locally by Chambers of Commerce worldwide. It was presented to Toplin on Tuesday, May 24, 2005.
“The fact that I am being recognized for doing what I consider to be my purpose in life is both an honor and a humbling experience for me,” said Toplin. “I have spent my career doing what I believe is right for people, whether that is through the consultative and outreach services I provide for my clients, the mentoring advice, counsel and caring friendship I try to provide to my colleagues and staff, or the guidance I offer and work I do for the community through my board and volunteer work,” she said.
Toplin was recently elected to serve as 2005-2006 second vice-chair of the board of directors for the American Red Cross Blood Services, Penn Jersey Region for which she served as board secretary during 2004 and 2005. She also chairs the organization’s marketing communications committee and has been instrumental in spearheading marketing and research initiatives to increase the region’s blood supply.
Active in other advocacy organizations, Toplin has also served as the chair of the strategic marketing and communications committee for The Forum of Executive Women and on that group’s board of directors. She is a member of the marketing committee of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, a member of the ad-hoc image enhancement committee for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania and a board member of the Public Relations Society of America’s Philadelphia Chapter, as well as an advisory board member to Philadelphia-based business advisory and accounting firm Goldenberg Rosenthal and a women’s advisory board member to Mass Mutual.
Toplin, a resident of Dresher, Pa., is a graduate of Temple University (B.S.W., cum laude, 1973) and Antioch College (M.Ed., 1977).