As one of the NRWA’s original founders, Vivian Belen was extraordinary. A dedicated volunteer, she helped build the NRWA from the ground up and firmly believed in our mission as a nonprofit, member-driven organization for resume writers.

To honor Vivian’s selfless commitment to the NRWA and recognize other volunteers who have followed in her footsteps, the NRWA created the Vivian Belen Award. Past Belen Award recipients exemplify everything she believed in:

• Adherence to the Code of Ethics she helped to create.
• Commitment to fairness and integrity.
• Advancement of the NRWA's mission to mentor and educate.

The winner of this year’s award, Virginia Franco, is no exception.

Under Virginia’s leadership as President, the NRWA grew in both numbers and in programs to help resume writing professionals advance their professional and business management skills. Driven by a desire to open up new opportunities to members, Virginia oversaw the first NRWA Conference at Sea and laid the groundwork for what is now the Best Business Practices Course. She was also instrumental in transforming the NRWA’s Resume Writing 101 course from a static, PDF-based program to an engaging interactive experience.

Virginia joined the NRWA’s Board of Directors in 2015 as a Director of Industry for Experienced Business Owners. She went on to serve as Education Chair and then as President in 2019.

In addition to the leadership roles she has taken on, Virginia has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to mentor members and support marketing, public relations, and operations.

- Lorraine Beaman, 2020 NRWA President