Donna Ritchey

Donna Ritchey, APR, joined GodwinGroup as a public relations assistant in 1989. Today, she serves as vice chairman and chief strategy officer of the 80-year-old, privately-held communications firm – the oldest and largest such firm in the South.      

Throughout her nearly 30-year tenure at GodwinGroup, she accepted increasingly responsible roles including environmental affairs coordinator supporting clients on environmental permitting, public policy and litigation matters, and as vice president and director of public relations. As senior vice president she also led GodwinGroup’s research division. Ritchey became an agency shareholder in 1995.      

Her planning and consultation specialties include energy, healthcare, manufacturing, education, banking, professional services, not-for-profits; and environmental, public and government affairs. GodwinGroup’s public relations practice has been recognized by O’Dwyer’s as: “2nd” Largest PR Unit within an Ad Agency;” the “12th largest PR Firm in the Southeast” and “12th in Environmental and Public Affairs.”      

Previously, Ritchey worked in public relations at Hinds General Hospital and as a student writer for the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). A 1987 graduate of Southern Miss, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in marketing.      

Ritchey earned her APR certification in 1993, was named one of Mississippi’s Top 40 under 40, and listed among the Top 50 Business Women in Mississippi. In 2009, she was inducted into the USM School of Mass Communications & Journalism’s Hall of Fame. Ritchey serves on advisory boards for Jackson State University’s Department of Journalism and Media Studies and for USM’s School of Mass Communication & Journalism.