Published on March 31, 2023

Meet Kim Loehr: VPC’s 2023 Communicator of Achievement

By Bonnie Atwood

I don’t remember exactly the first time I met Kim. We were both members of Virginia Press Women (now Virginia Professional Communicators) and we spoke to each other briefly at meetings.

I do remember this: We went out to dinner at Mekong Restaurant, a popular Vietnamese eatery in Richmond. Kim knew all about “pho,” which was new to me. I kept visualizing the word as “faux.” I was impressed by her worldliness.

But that was just one thing that impressed me.

Kim was so kind and so interesting. We talked for hours. We both survived serious health problems, ex-husbands and complicated families. We both loved working at our craft and reading Nancy Drew.

Kim’s story is fascinating. She had done many things. What interested me the most was her work in her family lightning protection business. Who in the world does lightning protection? Kim does. Her career has given her business experience. We are both Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) certified. Through Loehr Lightning Protection Co., she’s also gained writing and marketing experience, public relations initiative and oceans of creativity, with some politics thrown in.

She understands social media. I don’t know a Twitter from a TikTok. We talked a lot about our work. What gets attention, what doesn’t. How men are paid more than women. How to keep a business sustainable.

Kim and I have done so many things together, I’ve lost track – planned conferences and VPW parties. Nominated and judged newsmakers and COAs. Attended her St. Gertrude High School bazaar, funerals, art shows, fundraisers and NFPW conferences.

There is no one that I admire more than Kim, either personally or professionally. Thank you for making her your COA.

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Kim will be honored as VPC’s Communicator of Achievement at our spring conference on May 5. Her award package has been submitted to the National Federation of Women contest for national COA. The national winner will be named in late June.