FPRA - Florida Public Relations Association Blog

In the most recent edition of FPRA On Point I wrote an article seeking individuals interested in being part of the blog team for FPRA’s 70th Annual Conference in August. I am happy to report that we had some takers!

Throughout the three-day conference the members of this blog team will post their reactions to speakers, sessions and the conference in general. The blog will also feature podcasts as well as plenty of photographs... and maybe even a few surprises!

So without further adieu, let me introduce to you this year’s annual conference blog team:

SUZANNE DAMERON is a partner with Aspire Green Branding & Social Marketing, the first green PR & marketing firm in SW Florida. Suzanne has been a member of FPRA since 2004 and has served on the Central West Coast Chapter board for three years. As the first Director of Emerging Communications for her chapter, she recently created the 30 Days of Blogging social media initiative, cwcfprablog.typepad.com.

KELLY DONOVAN is a mass communication graduate student at the University of Florida and interns with the PR and marketing department at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Kelly has worked on advertising/public relations campaigns in community building, healthcare and youth risk prevention. She is excited to attend her first FPRA conference, thanks to a scholarship from the Gainesville chapter.

MELISSA FILIPKOWSKI is a public relations account executive at CAP, a full service marketing agency in Sarasota. She will be serving on the board of FPRA’s Central West Coast Chapter as Director of Administration this coming year. Filipkowski is new to the field, recently graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in public relations and a double master’s in management and international business.

AMANDA FORBES is an account executive for Fry Hammond Barr, a full-service advertising and public relations agency in Orlando, Fla. Amanda leads local and national public relations initiatives for clients in the government, residential and commercial real estate industries, to name a few. She has been an active member of FPRA since 2005 and currently serves as the Membership Chair for FPRA’s Orlando Area Chapter and has served on many of the Chapter's volunteer committees.

CHRIS GENT is vice president of corporate communications for Kissimmee Utility Authority. He has been a member of FPRA since 1994 and currently serves as the Webmaster of FPRA's Orlando Area Chapter. Chris has served five years on the FPRA State Board, including three years on the Executive Committee. He is a past president of the Orlando Area Chapter and winner of both the Doris Fleischman Award and the Dick Pope Grand All Golden Image Award.

DR. ALLEN MOORE, APR is the Public Information Officer for the Orange County Corrections Department in Orlando. As the primary spokesperson for one of the nation's largest jail systems, Allen handles media relations and acts as an advisor to the Chief of Corrections and the management team. Allen has 16 years of combined active duty and reserve military service in a public affairs capacity, as well as, private sector experience as a radio & TV news director, reporter and talk show host.

PAUL RAMEY, APR is assistant director in charge of marketing and public relations at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, where he has worked since 1999. He is a past president of FPRA's Gainesville Chapter and currently serves as Vice President of Technology on the FPRA Executive Committee. Ramey has more than 20 years of journalism, public relations and communications experience, including work in print, radio, healthcare and public schools.