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Ocala, FL. (April 18, 2019) — The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association congratulates several local professionals for excellence in public relations and communications. In all, 17 Image awards were given to various professionals from MarionCounty, Lake County and the Volusia/Flagler area. Additionally, the 2019 Wilton F. Martin Communicators of the Year were named during the PRospecting for Gold event on Wednesday, April 18 at the Ocala Downtown Market.  Listed are the Image winners:

Chris Graham in the Community Relations category- Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award – Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program;

Sherri Owens and Diane Kornegay in the Public Service category – Image Award and Judges’ Award – Safety Tax Referendum: The Choice is Yours;

Tina Banner, APR, CPRC and Karen Donnelly in the Promotional Marketing category- Image Award – Big Hammock Race Series Season 3;

Wesley Wilcox and Starley Ard in the Public Affairs category – Grand All Image Award, Image Award and Judges’ Award – Supervisor of Elections Annual High School Voter Registration;

Elisha Pappacoda, Magdalena Zapata, and Bryan Baquiran in the Printed Tools: Poster and Calendar category – Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award – “Rescue Me” Charity Poster;

Tina Banner APR, CPRC, and the College of Central Florida in Online Audience Engagement category – Grand Image Award, Image Award and Judges’ Award – College of Central Florida Social Media Platforms;

Christy Jergens, APR, and the Florida Department of Health in Marion County in Online Newsletter category – Award of Distinction –Marion Pulse E-Newsletter;

Tina Banner, APR, CPRC and College of Central Florida in the Online Newsletter category – Image Award and Judges’ Award – College of Central Florida’s Insider Employee E-Newsletter.

Elisha Pappacoda, Magdalena Zapata, and Bryan Baquiran in the Video: Public Service category – Award of Distinction– A Spirit of Service Video;

Also recognized on Wednesday evening were the 2019 Wilton F. Martin Communicators of the Year.

 

Jacob Fields of JJ Fields won the Individual Communicator of the Year while

Heart of Florida Health Center, represented by CEO Jamie Ulmer, won the

Institutional Communicator of the Year.

            The 2019 FPRA Ocala Chapter Pacesetter award was given to Katie Hunnicutt of the City of Ocala.

FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners, who, through ethical

and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. FPRA is comprised of 15 professional and 12 student chapters throughout the state, providing professional development, networking and professional recognition opportunities.

The Ocala FPRA Chapter,www.fpraocala.org, was established in 1980.  Members and guests meet the third Friday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the College of Central Florida.

OCALA, Fl. (Feb. 11, 2019) – The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) invites local communications professionals to enter the 2019 Mid-Florida Local Image Awards.

The competition is open to FPRA members, nonmembers and students, and provides an opportunity for skilled PR practitioners to be recognized for outstanding public relations efforts. “The Image Awards program is a standard of public relations excellence, and winners demonstrate the best examples of innovation, planning and design,” said Lauren Debick, APR, the FPRA Ocala Chapter president.

The Mid-Florida Local Image Awards competition promotes the development of public relations professionalism by acknowledging exceptional public relation programs within the community. Entries must meet the highest standard of production, execution and evaluation, and include notable research and planning for a chance to win local awards. The entry fee for FPRA members is $45 per submission and $55 for nonmembers. Student fees are $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Some part of the entry must have taken place between January 1, 2018 and March 1, 2019. Entries for consideration must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 3 via the online portal at https://fpraimage.org/ocala-2/.

Complete entry rules are available at http://www.fpraocala.org/professional-development/2019-mid-florida-local-image-awards/.

Entries will fall into four divisions of categories: Printed Tools of Public Relations, Public Relation Programs, Audio/Visual Tools of Public Relations and Student Projects of Public Relations. Examples of entries can include: a company logo or name change, community relations efforts, electronic communications, employee building exercises and much more.

Recipients of this year’s Image Awards will be recognized at the “PRospecting for Gold” celebration on Wednesday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ocala Downtown Market. The event will also honor winners of the 2019 Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year Awards.

The Ocala Chapter will also hold an “Image Entry Swap” workshop Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8:00 a.m. at Symmetry Coffee and Crepes. This workshop gives participants the chance to let peers look over their work before the March 3 deadline.

FPRA is the nation’s oldest organization for public relations professionals. The Ocala Chapter of FPRA was founded in 1980 and members represent private industry, nonprofit, education and government sectors. The group meets on the third Friday of the month and hosts a variety of professional development, networking and community relations activities throughout the year.

To learn more about the Ocala Chapter of FPRA, visit www.fpraocala.org, or get connected via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FPRAOcala/ and/or Twitter https://twitter.com/OcalaFPRA.

 

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OCALA. Fla.– The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Associations will celebrate outstanding public relations during Conducting Communications Excellence on Tuesday, April 19, at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala.

Both the chapter’s Mid-Florida Image awards and the annual Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year awards will be presented during the evening.

FPRA’s local Image Awards and state Golden Image competition have become the standard of public relations excellence throughout Florida.

Now in its 12th year, the Communicator of the Year recognition was renamed in 2011 in honor of Wilton F. Martin, an Ocala native and former publicity director of Silver Springs who was instrumental in creation of the state Association.

FPRA, founded in 1938, is the oldest professional association of public relations practitioners in the nation.

FPRA/Ocala Chapter President Barbra Hernández, APR, notes that this year the chapter received 12 nominations for Individual and Institutional Communicator of the Year recognition.

“Twelve nominees for our 12th, you couldn’t orchestrate that better if you tried,” Hernández said.

This year’s nominees for Individual Communicator of the Year are Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC; Dr. Manal Fakhoury; Beth McCall; Marc Rice; Dave Schlenker; and Maclyn Walker. Institutional nominees are the City of Ocala; Coates Golf; Digital Fury Productions; the Public Education Foundation of Marion County; Measure Up Marion; and the Silver Springs International Film Festival. For information on these nominees, visit: http://www.fpraocala.org/COTY-Nominees-2016/.

“I think we struck just the right note with this year’s nominees,” Hernández said. “These individuals and organizations are well respected for their efforts to improve the quality of life in our community. Each is truly remarkable and a winner in their own right.”

In addition to the Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year awards, the FPRA Ocala Chapter will hold its Mid-Florida Image Awards honoring the very best in public relations innovation, planning and design. Contestants often go on to compete in the state Golden Image Awards which will be held during the Association’s 78th annual conference in August.

The awards gala begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes appetizers, cash bar and catered dinner. Guest tickets are available for $45 and reservations may be made by visiting www.fpraocala.org/Image/ or calling 352-671-4161.

Conducting Communications Excellence is sponsored by Cox Communications, NetSource Technologies, Webster University, JJ Fields, Gourmet Today, Floral Architecture, Ocala Style magazine and the Reilly Arts Center.

Tickets to attend the gala may be purchased online. For more information, contact FPRA Ocala’s Image/Communicator Awards Chair Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC, at 352-816-1264.

 

Communicating during crisis and tragedy while the nation watches on television is a scenario leaders hope not to face, but would you be ready if necessary? On May 4, professionals can hear firsthand accounts from communicators who navigated high-profile crises and practice skills through a hands-on workshop at the Florida Public Relations Association Ocala Chapter’s “Toolkit for Success” seminar. The seminar will run from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the College of Central Florida’s Ewers Century Center. Cost is $45 for FPRA members and $55 for non-members, and includes breakfast, lunch and all sessions and materials.

Featured presenters and topics include Public Information Officer David Northway of the Tallahassee Police Department speaking on the FSU Strozier Library shooting and Director of Public Affairs Heather Smith of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office discussing communications during the George Zimmerman trial. Additionally, Roger Pynn, APR, CPRC, of Orlando’s Curley and Pynn PR and Marketing Communications agency and this year’s FPRA President will delve into what a crisis is and how to plan for it. He will also facilitate a mock crisis that attendees will participate in.

Registration deadline is April 22. For more information or to register visit http://www.fpraocala.org/toolkit-2016. For questions about the seminar, contact FPRA-Ocala Chapter Professional Development Chair, Beth McCall.

Networking doesn’t have to be painful, and it’s certainly more than simply handing out business cards. Beth Ramsay, expert in creating meaningful connections, is here to show you the ropes of successful networking in an upcoming workshop.

On March 18, communications professionals, marketers, non-profit managers, entrepreneurs and business owners – extroverts and introverts like – will learn networking best practices from Ramsay, author, professional speaker and expert for Networking University (Ocala-Marion Chamber and Economic Partnership). Ramsay will present at the monthly Florida Public Relations Association Ocala Chapter’s professional development luncheon, set for noon-1 p.m., (networking begins at 11:30 a.m.) at the Marion County Growth Services Training Room (2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala).

Ramsay is CEO and founder of the Brilliance NetworkTM, a company that propels purpose-driven entrepreneurs to unleash their brilliance and achieve the highest level of business and lifestyle success. She is the author of the book “Love to Lead” and teaches impactful lessons through her funny and popular workshops, online courses, and powerful, life-changing retreats.

The meeting is not limited to members; guests and non-members are welcome to attend with payment and RSVP to [email protected] by March 15, 2016. The registration fee includes lunch; $20 for members and $25 for guests and for members who pay at the door. Visit http://www.fpraocala.org/event-registration/ to register and pay online.

Media Contact: Elaine DeIorio McClain, Communications Director
Phone: 352-438-2300 Email: [email protected]

The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association builds better public relations practitioners and communicators through professional development, networking opportunities and ethical practices. Formed in 1980, the chapter boasts a strong membership representing nearly every industry in the area, including: government, associations, nonprofit, education, healthcare, corporate, retail, agencies and small business. Members are committed not only to the betterment of the profession, but also to the community through a number of community service projects held each year.