Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA)

The way you communicate through a crisis, both internally and externally, defines everything — the trust you have with your stakeholders, the culture within your organization and, ultimately, the quality of your brand equity. We are again partnering with Melissa Agnes, founder and CEO of Crisis Ready Institute, to share an opportunity with FPRA members that will support your crisis communication and leadership success. It’s a 10-week, 15-hour Crisis Ready® Course on Mastering the Art of Crisis Communication and Leadership — and it’s the first step in becoming Crisis Ready® Certified. This deep-dive into crisis comms teaches you the next-level skills required for communicating effectively through a crisis with ease, with efficiency, and with success. As a valued FPRA members, you get an exclusive 10% off the price of the course (equal to $115) using the promo code FPRA10 — AND, if you register 5 or more team members, you get an additional 10% off, on top of that! The course starts on September 10th, 2024, and runs every Tuesday via Zoom from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET until November 12th, 2024. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ePcTkwUS

August has been a busy month for the Association, and we couldn't have done it without our fearless leader, Wendy C., APR, CPRC who was #FocusFoward on many things such as membership, technology, revenue and efficiency. Join us in thanking Wendy for her leadership and vision this past year. #FocusForward

Congratulations to Gregory Davis for being recognized as the Rising Leader Recipient from the FPRA Ocala Chapter! Greg is currently serving as his chapter’s president-elect. Previously, he served as the 2022-2023 membership chair, and in 2021-2022 (his first year), he served as the chapter’s social media chair. Also, in his first year, he coined the chapter’s one-day professional development conference name – “COMMference: The Conference for Communicators” – and worked on the committee for that event. He also helped the chapter to review/rewrite chapter job descriptions and policies and procedures. Greg is a graduate of LeadershipFPRA Class VI. As the Joe Curley Rising Leader, Greg will receive a $500 cash award and a $1,000 FPRA state credit to be used for professional development. Also being recognized was Eric Marshall from the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of FPRA for being the APR Scholarship Recipient, Chelsea Kavanagh, APR, from the FPRA Jacksonville Chapter for being the CPRC Scholarship Recipient and Laura Ansel, APR, CPRC, from the Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) for being the LeadershipFPRA Tuition Scholarship recipient. Join us in congratulating all our Rising Leader recipients!

Congratulations to the members who received their Certification as a Public Relations Counselor this year! This one-of-a-kind credential offered only through the Florida Public Relations Association recognizes senior-level PR counselors with the knowledge, skills and abilities to handle crisis and high-stakes PR situations by thinking quickly and providing strategic PR counsel. Join us in congratulating their accomplishment. #FocusFoward

Kaylan Williams was the recipient of the Jay Rayburn, APR, CPRC Student Scholarship. She is entering her senior year at Florida State University and will graduate in May 2025 with a major in public relations and a minor in commercial entrepreneurship. When asked what the most valuable aspect of her education as a public relations student has been, Kaylan said that her internships helped her apply classroom knowledge and gain skills that traditional education alone could never provide. She held four different internships throughout her time in college. Her B2B marketing internship at Education Week taught her how to orchestrate diverse marketing efforts; her account management internship at Bowstern Marketing Communications focused on individual client projects. Her internal communications internship at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry highlighted her internal communications amongst 3,000 employees, and her social content internship at True Story Public Relations taught her how to use Meta Business Suite for social media engagement and scheduling. #FocusForward

Congratulations to all of our members who attained their Accreditation in Public Relations this year! The APR credential certifies PR practitioners' drive, professionalism, and principles, setting them apart from their peers and positioning them as a leader and mentor in the competitive, ever-evolving communications world. Join us in congratulating these members. #FocusForward

Congratulations to our Dr. Bob Davis, APR, CPRC Scholarship Winner, Jordan Bryant from the University of Florida and a member of the Chomp FPRA Student Chapter. Jordan is entering her senior year and is pursuing a major in public relations and a minor in sustainability. From her leadership role as head of new business in Alpha Productions Public Relations Firm to her role as public relations manager for the Caribbean Student Association, her public relations internship at the Food for Thought Foundation, and her self-created communications campaign through Hill + Knowlton Strategies, it is clear that Jordan takes every opportunity to immerse herself in the communications and public relations field. In fact, Jordan admits that her involvement with her local community and on campus was among her best decisions to understand the field better. Congratulations, Jordan! #FocusForward

The Dillin Award honors the spirit and dedication of FPRA’s first president and founder Lt. Col. John W. Dillin and his lifetime of service to and support of the Association. This year’s recipient is Marilyn Waters, APR, CPRC. Marilyn has been an active FPRA member for almost 40 years. She began her career in 1986 by opening a firm on the Space Coast called Watermark Strategic Communications. She led her agency for 14 years, serving clients like Cheerios, Florida Solar Energy Center, Kennedy Space Center Support Committee, Cape Canaveral Hospital and Indian River Hospital. Marilyn joined the Brevard County Chapter of FPRA and served as Program Chair. She was also an adjunct professor at the Florida Institute of Technology from 1988 to 1989, where she taught public relations. Marilyn earned her Accreditation in Public Relations in 1989, when there were only 100 APRs in the state and later earned her CPRC. She served as Space Coast FPRA Chapter President in 1990 followed by four years on FPRA’s Executive Committee and was the first member of the chapter to serve as FPRA’s State President. Marilyn was on the Executive Committee when FPRA became part of the national UAB accreditation making Florida the first state to begin accreditation in PR and setting the standard for other organizations. Marilyn joined The Walt Disney Company’s Public Affairs Office in 1998. She was an integral member of the team, helping to shape corporate culture in areas such as Pixar. Marilyn wrapped up her career at Walt Disney World Public Affairs in 2015 and immediately became involved with nonprofits and social justice organizations across the Space Coast leading a successful half-cent sales tax campaign for the Indian River Lagoon. Marilyn continues to be an active FPRA member serving as an Image Awards judge, an accreditation panel presentation reviewer and a mentor to aspiring PR pros in the area. This year she co-led a statewide committee to develop FPRA’s inaugural Pinnacle Awards program. Marilyn received FPRA’s Doris Fleischman Award in 2017 for her work as an unsung hero in the organization and now is a recipient of the John W. Dillin Award. Please congratulate Marilyn Waters, APR, CPRC. #FocusForward

TBT to FPRA's Golden Image Gala when we recognized Sachs Media for winning the Dick Pope All-Florida Golden Image for their Saving Social Media – Fighting for the First Amendment in the Digital Era Campaign. With shortsighted proposals threatening the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans, the Computer & Communications Industry Association partnered with Sachs Media to protect free speech and take its case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, elevating the issue across the country and generating over 20,000 outcomes. #FocusForward

Congratulations again to our Division B Collateral for Public Relations - Grand Golden Image Award winner, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), for their Largest Ship to Call JAXPORT campaign. The largest cargo ship to ever call the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) arrived in May 2023. Dozens of media, numerous port partners, and area residents visited spots along the St. Johns River to watch the ONE Stork’s historic 11-mile journey from the ocean to the port. #FocusForward