Art Brauer has been selected 2016 Communicator of Achievement by the Illinois Woman’s Press Association.

This prestigious award is the highest honor given by the IWPA to members who have distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession.

Each year an award recipient, chosen from nominees selected by state affiliates is nationally recognized for exceptional achievement in the communications field, service to National Federation of Press Women and to the community. The COA Award winner and the runner-up are announced at the Communicator of Achievement Award Banquet scheduled during NFPW’s annual conference and awards banquet.

Art Brauer, Printer’s Row Lit Fest Coordinator for Illinois Woman’s Press Association and the 2016 COA.

During the 1990’s while supporting his family, Art Brauer became interested in computers, taking one course after another attempting to satisfy his curiosity and fascination with programming and everything to do with the Web. Since retiring in 2002 from the auto industry, Dreamers Tapestry, Inc’s business operations and doing what it takes to get the message out became Art’s passion, or at least one of them. He has worn, and continues to wear a number of hats from several areas of interest.

He and his wife Susan formed their company in 1999 with the original objective of using it as a base of operations for Susan’s outreach. As creative director, Art’s responsibilities include advertising, designing promotional materials, book layouts, web presence and generally taking care of the business end of the company.

While searching marketing venues for Just Keep Dancing which was the first book published by Dreamers Tapestry, Art discovered Illinois Woman’s Press Association (IWPA) and exhibited at their book fair held at the Chicago Cultural Center in 2005. “The Center was so impressive and while participating Susan and I met so many others who were also doing something they really loved. We found the IWPA to have such a rich tapestry of talent and experience–we were hooked.”

Then in 2006 after their participation in the Chicago Tribune’s Printer’s Row Lit Fest, Art became the point person for the IWPA’s author tent at Lit Fest and he has held that position until the present date.

As the IWPA’s website design manager from 2008 until 2014, Art helped provide a window for the world to become familiar with the IWPA, its functions, its rich history, and its people.

Art has provided, and continues to provide many of those “windows to and for the world” for Dreamers Tapestry, Inc.

Additional website design and management by Art includes:

Most recently, under Art’s professional and creative direction, Dreamers has published:

  • LEADERSHIP 1937-2013: The First Forty Presidents of the National Federation of Press Women by Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas (2013)
  • THE ANTHOLOGY of the Illinois Woman’s Press Association by Susan Brauer and Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas (2014) (1st Place NFPW 2015 Communications Contest)
  • Just One More Child: The Faith, Love and Compassion of Reverend Verent Mills by Dr. Chun-Wai Chan (2014)

Art also is responsible for managing personal appearances and creating the marketing materials showcasing Susan Brauer’s book Just Keep Dancing and engineering outreach programs which include:

  • Radio interviews and commercials
  • “Stop The Violence” Workshops conducted in High Schools and Colleges in both Illinois and Wisconsin (2006 to present day)
  • Women in Engineering Programs at Universities (University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana, Purdue, and Cornell) and various Engineering Conferences throughout the United States. (2000 to present)

And additionally, Art has dedicated himself to all forms of community service which included:

  • Little League coach/board member (14 yrs)
  • Cub ScoutLeader/Cub Master for (10 yrs)
  • Queen of Peace High School First Robotics Team mentor  (3 yrs)

IWPA is honored to have such a model communicator represent the organization at the National Federation of Press Women competition at the national conference in Kansas this September.