The FPRA Ocala Chapter bestows and receives recognition for excellence in advancing the profession of public relations.
Chapter Recognition
Each year at FPRA Annual Conference, the association president presents chapter and individual awards. The FPRA Ocala Chapter and individual members have received the following accolades in recent years:
Year Honor
2023 Chapter Challenge Winner – Membership Retention @98%
2023 Chapter Challenge Winner – Membership Growth @30%
2023 State President’s Award for Membership Retention
2023 State President’s Award for Special Events
2023 State President’s Award for Financial Management
2023 Joe Curley Rising Star APR Scholarship: Rachel Cote
2022 State President’s Award for Programs
2022 State President’s Award for Awards and Recognition
2022 Chapter Challenge winner for Membership
2021 John W. Dillin Award, FPRA’s highest honor: Carole Savage-Hagans, APR, CPRC
2021 State President’s Award for Membership
2020 State President’s Award for Community Involvement
2019 State President’s Award for Smart, Engaged, Fun
2018 State President’s Award for Chapter of the Year with Lisa Varner, APR, CPRC as president
2018 State President’s Award for Promoting the Professional and FPRA
2018 Doris Fleischman Unsung Hero Award: Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC
2017 State Member of the Year: Ryan Gerds, APR, CPRC
2017 State President’s Award for Financial Management
2016 State President’s Award for Chapter of the Year with Barbra Hernandez, APR, CPRC, as president
2015 State President’s Award for Financial Management
2014 State Member of the Year: Tina Banner, APR, CPRC
2014 State President’s Award for Communications
2013 State President’s Award for Professional Development
2012 State President’s Award for Accreditation and Credentials
2012 Florida Public Relations Foundation Hall of Fame Philanthropy Award
2011 State President’s Award for Member Services
2010 State President’s Award for Member Services
2009 Doris Fleischman Unsung Hero Award: Toni James, APR, CPRC
2009 FPRA’s Most Improved Chapter
2009 State President’s Award for Membership
2008 Past President’s Award: Carole Savage, APR, CPRC
Mid-Florida Image Awards
The FPRA Image Awards recognize the best in research, strategy, implementation and execution in the public relations profession. Since 2011, the FPRA Ocala Chapter has hosted the Mid-Florida Image Awards competition annually organizing and conducting workshops to assist participants from a five-county area with preparing the best possible entries. The entries are submitted to another partnering chapter for judging. The process culminates with a celebration revealing the winners and bestowing the awards. This process is excellent preparation for the state association’s Golden Image Awards competition; results are received in time to improve entries to compete at the state level.
Wilton F. Martin, Sr. Communicators of the Year
Established in 2005 and renamed in 2011, the Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year awards recognize individuals and institutions who have demonstrated excellence in strategic communications to improve the quality of life in Marion or Citrus county.
Candidates do not have to be members of FPRA, but must exemplify the highest professional standards in the communications field. Candidates may include journalists, educators, community/civic leaders and professionals from allied fields, including advertising and marketing. The institutional recognition honors the institution/media outlet that has exemplified communications excellence to provide timely, accurate and critical information to the community.
Learn about Communicator of the Year
Toni James, APR, CPRC, PACEsetter Awards
Established during the 2004-2005 chapter year in honor of that year’s FPRA theme “Set the PACE (professional and career enhancement)” – and renamed after Toni James, APR, CPRC, in 2022 – the Toni James, APR, CPRC, PACEsetter Award was developed to recognize a member who has demonstrated excellence and helped advance the chapter’s and state association’s mission. The chapter president chooses the recipient(s) and usually presents the recognition during the August professional development meeting.
Joe Curley Rising Leader Award
The Joe Curley Rising Leader Award identifies and honors up-and-coming individual FPRA members who demonstrate emerging leadership traits and dedicated active involvement in FPRA chapter activities, programs and events.
The goal of the award is to recognize personal dedication and engagement of members with two to five years of service and to help build a healthy leadership stream at the local chapter level.