FPRA Capital Chapter Recognized as Chapter of the Year at the FPRA PR & Comms Summit
During the FPRA PR & Comms Summit held earlier this month in Tampa, the FPRA Chapital Chapter walked away with four President’s Awards including the coveted Chapter of the Year.
In her remarks, Wendy Crites Wacker, APR, CPRC, outgoing president of FPRA, noted that the chapter earned this prestigious award because it “made great impacts across all categories.” She also cited our successful pivot from the local Image Awards to the creation of a new set of recognition and honors for the chapter that resonates with local members; our efforts to collaborate with other organizations and FPRA chapters; our robust support for those seeking credentialing; the professional chapter’s work to network and support PR and communications students; the chapter’s annual ER for PR program for area nonprofits; our responsible fiscal decisions; and, most of all, making sure that we are providing value for our members.
It is because of its members that we earned Chapter of the Year honors – thank you for being a member!
Our members also won big in Tampa clinching 16 Golden Image Awards. Special recognition goes to Sachs Media, who received the Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award for their campaign Saving Social Media – Fighting for the First Amendment in the Digital Era.
Amanda Handley, APR, CPRC, project director with AtkinsRéalis, was recognized as Member of the Year. Mandy is a past president of the FPRA Capital Chapter and this year served on the state executive committee as the VP of Membership. In this role she pulled together a committee and went to work making sure members throughout the state felt engaged and valued in FPRA. There were regular new member orientations, virtual member mixers, and Mandy even formed a card committee that sent more than 100 handwritten notes to members experiencing important moments in their lives. For some chapters that did not have the ability to personally reach out to unrenewed members, she volunteered her and her committee’s time to help them out. When she encountered a chapter that was having issues large or small, Mandy stepped up to the plate and did what she could to help them. She unabashedly wears her passion for FPRA on her sleeve and always finds a way to be involved and support others. Congratulations, Mandy!
The following members also graduated from LeadershipFPRA: Nipa Eason, Leah Justice and Claudia Machado.
Golden Image Award Winners
Division A – Public Relations Programs
- Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award: Saving Social Media – Fighting for the First Amendment in the Digital Era, Sachs Media
- Division A2 – Public Service
- Award of Distinction & Judges’ Award for Creativity: No Kid Hungry Florida Campaign, SalterMitchell PR, No Kid Hungry Florida
- Award of Distinction & Judges’ Award for Creativity: FAMU Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Campaign, SalterMitchell PR, FAMU Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative
- Award of Distinction: Keeping Florida Golden: Protecting Florida’s Seniors, Sachs Media
- Division A7 Promotional/Marketing
- Award of Distinction: I-4 Express Launch Campaign, Global-5
- Division A8 – Public Affairs
- Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award, & Judges’ Award for Creativity: Saving Social Media – Fighting for the First Amendment in the Digital Era, Sachs Media
- Division A9 – Integrated Marketing
- Award of Distinction: Fort Mose Groundbreaking Ceremony Campaign, Sachs Media & Fort Mose Historical Society
- Division A11 – Special Event
- Award of Distinction: Rhythms of Panama, Leon County Government
- Award of Distinction: 2023 Leon Works Expo, Leon County Government
Division B – Collateral Tools of Public Relations
- Division B1 – Annual Report
- Golden Image Award: FAMU Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Quarterly Report, SalterMitchell PR, Florida A&M University Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative
- Award of Distinction: 2023 Leon County Annual Report, Leon County Government
- Division B3 – Magazine
- Award of Distinction: Leon County 2023 Summer Courier, Leon County Government
Division C – Digital Tools of Public Relations
- Division C7 – Video – Institutional
- Award of Distinction: 20 Years of Exceptional Emergency Medical Services, Leon County Government
- Division C9 – Other
- Award of Distinction: “Leading the Way” Leon County History Kiosk, Leon County Government