Florida Public Relations Association

09/01/2026

We’re excited to introduce our speaker for tomorrow's webinar one Wednesday, September 2nd at 12:00 PM: Valerie Riley, VP of Marketing & Strategy at Unbounce & Insightly CRM!

Valerie is a seasoned tech marketing leader currently heading marketing for Unbounce (a 100% remote company based in Vancouver, BC). Her career includes steering marketing at ITProTV through its 2022 acquisition and leading product/content marketing at SharpSpring prior to its acquisition by Constant Contact.

A dedicated industry leader, she’s a FPRA Gainesville Past President (2002–2003) and a Leadership Gainesville 40 alum. When she isn't finding market blind spots, she’s managing two college-age kids, two pesky cats, and one lovable husband.

💡 In 5 Strategies for Standing Out in Competitive Categories, Val will show you how scrappy, agile teams can outsmart big-budget competitors without spending a fortune.

What you'll walk away with:

● Practical strategies to differentiate in crowded markets

● At least 2 low-cost, high-impact growth tactics

● A framework for continuous experimentation

🎟️ Don't wait, secure your spot today: https://fpra.glueup.com/event/5-strategies-for-standing-out-in-competitive-catebygories-192465/

09/01/2026

💙💚 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬!

As we close out another incredible year with the Florida Public Relations Association, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to the organizations, businesses and individuals who partnered with us throughout 2025–2026.

Your support helped make so much possible; from professional development and educational opportunities to statewide programs, events, recognition and meaningful connections among communications professionals across Florida.

Partnerships like these allow FPRA to continue investing in our members, strengthening our profession and creating opportunities for practitioners at every stage of their careers to learn, lead, connect and grow.

To each of our partners: thank you for believing in FPRA, supporting our mission and being an important part of our year. We are incredibly grateful to have you alongside us. 💙

Here’s to everything we accomplished together, and to continuing to Grow with FPRA! 🌱

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
Publix Super Markets
PodPitch
Sight & Sound Productions
Joseph Curley, APR, CPRC
Caldwell Trust Company
Florida Public Relations Education Foundation (FPREF)
SalterMitchell PR
Notified
Florida Power & Light
Visit Sarasota County
Palm Printing
Addition Financial Credit Union
Liquid Creative
Rollins College Master of Arts in Strategic Communications
Vacation Mexico Beach
Georgia-Pacific LLC
O'Dwyer's Public Relations News
Meltwater
Muck Rack
Levy Recognition
Podchaser
Leaders Uplifted
Central Florida Development Council
Bealls, Florida

08/26/2026

🌴✈️ 𝑪𝑶𝑺𝑻𝑨 𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑨 𝑰𝑺 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝑳𝑶𝑺𝑬𝑹! 🇨🇷🐒

If you’ve been saying, “𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔...” consider this your sign. 👀

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀 is heading to Costa Rica in 2027 for an unforgettable adventure and we want YOU along for the ride!

And remember! You don’t have to travel solo OR even be an FPRA member to join us! 🙌

🌺 Bring your spouse or partner
🌺 Grab your best friend
🌺 Refer a friend who needs a vacation
🌺 Make it a girls’ trip
🌺 Or come ready to make some brand-new friends!

This trip is 𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑵 𝑻𝑶 𝑨𝑳𝑳, so spread the word!

⏰ The deposit deadline is FAST approaching, and now is the time to stop thinking about it and start planning for it.

Adventure. Connections. Memories. Costa Rica.
What more do we need to say? 😎🌴

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀! ✈️💚

08/26/2026

FPRA joins our FPRA Gainesville Chapter in mourning the passing of 𝑫𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝑳. 𝒁𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝑨𝑷𝑹, 𝑪𝑷𝑹𝑪, a longtime member, accomplished communications professional, mentor and dedicated public servant.

Dorothy’s decades of service to the public relations profession; including her work with the University of Florida, Florida Sea Grant and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service; reflect a career built on informing, educating and serving others.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dorothy’s family, friends, colleagues and our fellow FPRA members in Gainesville. Her commitment to our profession and the impact she made throughout her career will be remembered.

Please join us in honoring Dorothy’s life and legacy. 💙

The Gainesville Chapter of FPRA is saddened by the passing of longtime member **Dorothy L. Zimmerman, APR, CPRC**, a respected communications professional, writer, mentor and public servant.

Dorothy was part of our Chapter for many years, with membership dating back to at least 1999 and continuing, with a brief break, through 2019. During her career, she earned both the APR and CPRC credentials, reflecting her commitment to excellence and professionalism in public relations.

Dorothy spent nearly three decades at the University of Florida, including many years leading communications for Florida Sea Grant and later serving as communications director for the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. Throughout her career, she used her talents as a communicator to inform, educate and inspire others.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dorothy’s family, friends, colleagues and the many people whose lives she touched. Her contributions to our profession and our community will be remembered. https://bobgrahamcenter.ufl.edu/in-memoriam-dorothy-l-zimmerman/

08/25/2026

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 ⚡𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈!

It’s easy to feel outmatched when giant competitors have massive budgets. But big budgets often come with big blind spots.

Join us on 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐄𝐒𝐓 for our next professional development webinar: 5 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 featuring 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 (VP of Marketing & Strategy at Unbounce & Insightly CRM).

In this interactive session, Valerie will share how scrappy, strategic brands go from
underdogs to market leaders, without breaking the bank.

What you'll learn:
✅How to differentiate in oversaturated markets
✅2+ low-cost, high-impact tactics to implement right away
✅How to build a continuous experimentation framework

Don't let your Summit momentum fade. Level up your marketing strategy!

🔗 Register here: https://fpra.glueup.com/event/5-strategies-for-standing-out-in-competitive-categories-192465/

08/22/2026

𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀 is officially on the move! 💙💛

Incoming FPRA State President April Salter, APR, CPRC has spent the past week traveling across Florida, connecting with members and helping welcome a new year of chapter leadership.

📍 Capital Chapter
📍 Gainesville Chapter
📍 Orlando Chapter

At every stop, it’s a reminder of what makes FPRA so special: strong leaders, engaged members and chapters across the state working together as 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬.

We’re excited to see these new leadership teams step into their roles and can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the year ahead!

Now the big question is...

✈️ 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕? 😄

08/22/2026

🌴✈️ 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑭𝑷𝑹𝑨 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒚… 𝒔𝒂𝒚, 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐀 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀? 🇨🇷

𝑷𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕: volcano views 🌋, rainforest adventures 🌈, hanging bridges 👣, wildlife 🐒, Costa Rican culture 🤝 and nine days of making memories with some of your favorite FPRA people.

Yep. We’re really doing this. 😎

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐚
📅 March 3-11, 2027
🌎 9 days of adventure
💰 $600 deposit reserves your spot
🔑 Booking Code: 223825

And right now, we have one important mission:

🎯 Reach 20 registered travelers by September 3 so this adventure can remain exclusive to the FPRA group!

Once we reach 20, the fun doesn’t stop! Additional travelers can still sign up.

So… who are you rooming with? 👀
Who’s your hanging-bridge buddy?
And who’s absolutely going to be the first person to spot a sloth? 🦥😂

Tag your Costa Rica travel crew below and start packing those imaginary suitcases. 🌋🌿✈️

08/20/2026

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐌. 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫 (𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐀𝐏𝐑, 𝐂𝐏𝐑𝐂) 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟖𝟖. 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟖, 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚, 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚

FPRA mourns the passing of 𝑮𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒚 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒓, 𝑨𝑷𝑹, 𝑪𝑷𝑹𝑪, a respected leader, trailblazer and longtime champion of the public relations profession.

𝑬𝒙𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚. 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅. 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅. These are words often used to describe Ginnie, and each reflects the professionalism, leadership and grace she brought to FPRA throughout her years of service.

One of the first members of FPRA’s Central West Coast Chapter of the FPRA to earn her APR accreditation in 1988, Ginnie went on to serve in numerous leadership roles throughout the Association. She was named Chapter President of the Year in 1991 and, in 1995, became the first Central West Coast Chapter member to serve as FPRA State President.

Bob Gernert, APR, CPRC, who served as FPRA’s Executive Director during Ginnie’s term as State President, remembered her as a leader who was “𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑,” adding that she carried a presence that naturally earned the respect of members and inspired many young professionals beginning their careers.

Her leadership was also marked by a deep commitment to FPRA itself. During her presidency Ginnie strongly believed FPRA should retain its own identity. She even coined the memorable phrase “𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀 ‘𝐑’ 𝐔𝐬” to reinforce that belief.

Bob summed up her legacy simply and beautifully: “𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 - 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑮𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒚 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒓.”

Her commitment to FPRA and the public relations profession continued well beyond her presidency. Ginnie later served as Counselors’ Network Chair and, in 2000, received the John W. Dillin Award, FPRA’s highest and most prestigious honor, recognizing her lifetime of service and dedication to the Association.

Perhaps one of the most meaningful reflections of her legacy can still be seen today through the Central West Coast Chapter’s 𝑮𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒚 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒓, 𝑨𝑷𝑹, 𝑪𝑷𝑹𝑪, 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎. Named in her honor, the award is presented to a member who displays the highest level of professionalism in the public relations field.

For generations of FPRA members who may not have had the opportunity to know Ginnie personally, her name continues to represent leadership, professionalism, service and a commitment to elevating others.

FPRA extends its deepest condolences to Ginnie’s family, friends, colleagues and the members of the Central West Coast Chapter who knew and loved her.

We are grateful for the path she helped pave, the standard she set and the lasting mark she leaves on FPRA.

𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝑮𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒄𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏.

08/19/2026

𝕊𝕋𝕆ℙ 𝕊ℂℝ𝕆𝕃𝕃𝕀ℕ𝔾!🌴 𝑰𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒖𝒏… 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑬 𝑫𝑨𝒀𝑺 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝑶𝑺𝑻𝑨 𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑨! 🇨🇷✈️

We’re taking the energy, friendships and unforgettable moments from the 2026 PR & Comms Summit and going international with the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐏𝐑𝐀 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞!

But we need YOUR help to make it happen.

🎯 𝑭𝑷𝑹𝑨 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 20 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝑬𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑴𝑩𝑬𝑹 3 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑.

Your Costa Rica adventure includes nine incredible days exploring rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife, local culture and so much more alongside FPRA members, family and friends.

📅 March 3–11, 2027
💰 Reserve your spot with a $𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭
🔑 Booking Code: 𝟐𝟐𝟑𝟖𝟐𝟓
⏰ Help us reach 20 travelers by 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑!

And remember: September 3 isn’t the end of registration. Reaching 20 by then simply means we can keep this adventure 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝑭𝑷𝑹𝑨!

Who’s ready to trade the conference room for the rainforest? 🌋🌿🦥