The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association’s COMMference Conference for Communicators takes place Friday, May 20 from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn at 120 E. Silver Springs Boulevard in downtown Ocala.
COMMference offers the opportunity to hear from a selection of Florida’s top public relations professionals as they share their experience and strategies in dealing with the world’s leading communications challenges.
The conference is open to the public as well as FPRA members. The cost to attend for nonmembers is $65 for half-day sessions to $105 for the full day. The members’ rate ranges from $50 for a half-day option, either morning or afternoon, to $95 for the full day. A $20 rate is also available for students enrolled in a communications program.
Morning sessions include breakfast, lunch is included with the afternoon sessions, and both meals are included for the full day.
Featured presenters are:
- Dr. Nathan Crock, director of NewSci Labs, with an examination of the current state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact in public relations;
- Ashley Jeffery, senior manager of media communication for the West Florida Division of AdventHealth, who will take a deep dive into managing crisis and communications for a large corporation with a small team and best practices for communicating fast-changing information and integrating social media into successful media opportunities;
- Tina Banner, APR, CPRC, assistant director of social media and digital communities for the University of Florida Office of University Advancement, who will explore best practices for communicating on social media with relevant and engaging content; and
- Tammy Gantt, associate vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, who will highlight the communicators’ role in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
There will also be a media panel moderated by Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, public relations director for Marion County Public Schools, as well as networking opportunities.
COMMference is sponsored by the Hilton Garden Inn Ocala Downtown and Duke Energy. To register, or for more information, go to bit.ly/COMMference2022.
FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. Today there are more than 1,000 professional, at-large and student members throughout the state and country. The FPRA Ocala Chapter was established in 1980. For more information about the chapter, go to www.fpraocala.org.