Since 1983, when Jones took on her first volunteer roles with the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and the Department of Veterans Affairs, two organizations closest to her heart, she has been (and in some cases, still is) a hands-on volunteer for nine organizations in her home state of North Carolina. In addition to the DAVA and DVA, she is mail call coordinator for Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area and active in Wilmington Central Rotary and Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a past volunteer for Wilmington Women of Purpose and several other organizations. “As a founding member of Wilmington Women of Purpose, she helped raise $24,800 to support five local nonprofits, demonstrating her ability to bring people together for meaningful impact,” says Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS+, CEO of Competitive Edge, and one of five previous WOA winners who nominated Jones for the honor or wrote letters of support. When Jones volunteers, it’s not just in name. She’s all in. Every time. Over the years, her work with the DAVA led to increasing responsibility, including heading the 250,000-member organization as national commander. “Renée is a pillar of civic engagement. Her work continues to open doors and creates opportunities for those most in need,” says nominator Joy Smith, MAS, owner of Joy of Advertising/AIA. Growing up near Charlotte, Jones started her career at a company that produced automotive brakes. The job paired duties as the president’s executive assistant with sales and marketing, including buying the company’s promotional merch. Little did she know another door was about to open. The owner of the distributor company she bought from repeatedly offered her a job, but Jones declined, concerned that the new job wouldn’t allow her enough time off to volunteer. When the owner promised Jones could write her own ticket on time off, she jumped at the chance. By summer 2001, she was working full-time at the distributor and preparing to take on the top DAVA volunteer position as national commander. It was imperative she be present at the National Veterans Day Foundation event in Birmingham, Alabama, but in a shocking reversal, her boss denied the time-off request. Jones knew nothing was going to keep her from taking the helm at that event, so she quit, unsure what to do next. But with pluck and tenacity, she decided to go into business for herself. Jones launched A Creative Touch before end of the year, determined to somehow make enough sales to pay her mortgage each month. “I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but I figured it out,” she says. In November 2026, the company will celebrate 25 years in business. Jones began volunteering in the promo industry when she found out involvement in a regional association was required to earn her MAS certification. She had already earned her CAS after hearing her closest competitor brag publicly about being the area’s only certified distributor. Jones wasn’t about to be outdone. After the MAS, her next pursuit was the MAS+. She checked that one off quickly and became the 15th person to earn the top designation. Over the years, Jones has given her time to the Carolinas Association of Advertising and Marketing Professionals and the PPEF Board of Directors, as well as PPAI’s Board of Directors and the Association’s professional development and certification committees, Women’s Leadership Conference work group, Legislative Education and Action Day and multiple other advisory groups. Brittany David, MAS, chief revenue officer at SnugZ USA, got to know Jones well when both served on the PPAI Board. “She was always able to juggle her business and professional life with both her industry volunteer work and her local volunteer responsibilities,” David says. “Renée is always When Jones volunteers, it’s not just in name. She’s all in. Every time. PPAI • JULY 2026 • 37 Woman of Achievement | Must Read
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