FPRA - Florida Public Relations Association Blog

The awards portion of the annual Presidents' Luncheon has just wrapped up in the main ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

FPRA State President Jessica Rye, APR took to the stage and recognized the outgoing president of each of FPRA's 15 chapters. They are as follows:

Vivian Myrtetus - Capital Chapter
Ton Nunan, APR - Central West Coast Chapter
Susan Clayton Black - Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter
Nickie Doria, APR - Gainesville Chapter
Reese Riggle - Jacksonville Chapter
Jessica Lambert - Nature Coast Chapter
Tracy Louthain, APR - Northwest Florida Coast Chapter
Emma Eldred - Ocala Chapter
Susan Ennis, APR - Orlando Area Chapter
Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC - Pensacola Chapter
Olivia Orth - Southwest Florida Chapter
Shanti Brasington - Space Coast Chapter
Dan McLean, APR - Tampa Bay Chapter
Karen Brown, APR - Treasure Coast Chapter
Joe Radcliffe, APR - Volusia County Chapter

Next, Jessica recognized the outgoing members of the outgoing 2006-07 Executive Committee:

Suzanne Sparling, APR - President-Elect
Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC - Immediate Past President
Melanie Mowry-Etters, APR, CPRC - VP of Accreditation/Certification
Erin McLeod - VP of Annual Conference
Lori Martini - VP of Chapter Services
Tina Haisman, APR - VP of Communications
Jay Wilson, APR - VP of Finance
April Herrle, APR, CPRC - VP of Golden Image
Rachel Smith, APR, CPRC - VP of Planning/Research
Paul Ramey, APR - VP of Professional Development
Jamie Melendez - VP of Public Relations
John McShaffrey, APR - Counselors' Network Chairman
Carol Savage, APR, CPRC - FPRE Foundation Chair

Melanie Mowry-Etters, APR, CPRC, Vice President of Accreditation/Certification was next on stage to recognize those individuals who received their APR (Accredited in Public Relations) and CPRC (Certified Public Relations Counselor) certification this past year. Congratulations to

APR
Tina Banner, APR
Betsy Couch, APR
Nickie Doria, APR
John E. Fleming, APR
Kenneth Ryan Gerds, APR
Darlene Goodwin, APR
Kathleen M. Hahn, APR
Tracy Louthain, APR
Stefanie Macfarlane, APR
Christine Martinez, APR
Heidi R. Otway, APR
Gordon A. Paulus, APR
Julie Ann Platt, APR
Clare Ulik, APR

CPRC
Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC

Florida Public Relations Education (FPRE) Foundation Chair Carole Savage, APR, CPRC took the stage and announced the creation of the Bob Davis Foundation Scholarship Award in honor of long-time FPRA member Dr. Bob Davis, APR, CPRC. Bob serves as a professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

The first-ever recipient of this award was Caitlin Murphy, a recent graduate of the University of Florida. Dr. Davis and Caitlin are pictured above.

Next, Jessica presented her much-anticipated President's Awards of Excellence for 2007. The following Chapters were recognized:

President's Award for Accreditation/Certification - Capital Chapter
President's Award for Chapter Administration - Ocala Chapter
President's Award for Communications - Gainesville Chapter
President's Award for Financial Management - Jacksonville Chapter
President's Award for Fundraising - Orlando Area Chapter
President's Award for Image Awards - Treasure Coast Chapter
President's Award for Leadership Development - Orlando Area Chapter
President's Award for Membership - Pensacola Chapter
President's Award for Professional Development - Central West Coast Chapter
President's Award for Senior Member Development - Gainesville Chapter
President's Award for Spirit of FPRA - Space Coast Chapter
President's Award of Student Development - (tie) Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter, Southwest Florida Chapter

Vice President of Communications Tina Haisman, APR came forward next to announce the winners of Best Chapter Newsletter and Best Chapter Web site.

Best Chapter Newsletter - Pensacola Chapter; Runner-up - Ocala Chapter

Best Chapter Web Site - Central West Coast Chapter; Runner-up - Orlando Area Chapter

And now.... the Dillin Dessert!