FPRA Gainesville

June Membership Luncheon

Getting the Brand off the Ground
Matt Holliday, VP Marketing & Sales
Silver Airways

About one year ago, Victory Park Capital acquired select assets out of the bankruptcy of the former Gulfstream International Airlines. In one of the toughest economic climates for the travel industry, they took on the challenge of crafting something new, Silver Airways.

It takes more than an attractive logo to create a brand that will build a business. As Silver Airways establishes itself in Gainesville and beyond, take a look at how the new airline is steering a course for brand success.

Matthew Holliday has more than 15 years’ experience in sales, planning and distribution in senior management with airlines, tour operators and online travel agencies. Prior to joining the Silver Airways team, Holliday helped build the case for Destin/Fort Walton Beach as the focus destination of air service development, leading to the airline’s 20-city service announcement.

Get Involved with the Board of Directors

Nomination forms for the 2012-2013 FPRA Gainesville board of directors are now available. Please consider nominating someone whose talents and skills would be an asset to our chapter.  Self nominations are also encouraged!

Nominations are due Wednesday, May 30 to Katie Weitekamp, APR at (fax) (352) 334-3498 or weitekampkj@gru.com.

Congratulations to our Gainesville Image Award Winners

Division A (Public Relations Programs), Category 2, Public Service

National Donate Life Month 2011 - Kathy Giery, APR, CPRC and LifeQuest Organ Recovery – Award of Distinction

Category 6, Internal 

I Am North Florida - Pamela Rittenhouse, APR, James Metlicka and Lauren Gajda – Award of Distinction

Category 7, Promotional/Marketing

Florida Cattle Ranching and Florida Cowboys Exhibits - Paul Ramey, APR, Leeann Bright and Logan Gerber – Award of Distinction

The Mind’s Eye, 50 Years of Photography by Jerry Uelsmann - Tami Wroath, Amelia Bell, APR and Kathryn Rush – Judges’ Award and Image Award

Category 9, Special Events

Gator Aid Disaster Response Drive Helping Our Neighbors in Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Sandy Cory, Karen Smittle, APR, CPRC, and Bill McElroy – Judges’ Award and Image Award

Division C (Audio/Visual/Online Tools of Public Relations), Category 11, Website

MyDonorServices.org - RTI Donor Services Communications Team – Award of Distinction

Division D (Student Projects in Public Relations), Category 5, Public Relations Campaigns

Giggle in Gear! - University of Florida Bateman Team – Judges’ Award and Image Award

Grand All Image Award

The Mind’s Eye, 50 Years of Photography by Jerry Uelsmann - Tami Wroath, Amelia Bell, APR and Kathryn Rush – Judges’ Award and Image Award

Thank you to our event sponsors, Renaissance Printing and Thump Smack Graphic Design, and to the Southwest Florida Chapter for their assistance with judging our entries!

Also, don’t forget that if you entered our Local Image Award competition this year, you should take the feedback you received and submit your entry to the Golden Image Awards competition at the state level. Entries are due May 18.

Click here to view the 2012 Golden Image Awards Call for Entries.

Gainesville Media Breakfast

Take a vacation from your work week and sign up for a guided tour of the media world!

Join the Gainesville Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association on June 28 from 7:30 – 9 a.m. at the new GRU Eastside Operations Center (4747 N. Main St., Gainesville, 32609) for this year’s Media Breakfast. Hear from our panel of local media
industry experts, including representatives from TV20, The Gainesville Sun, Cox Communications, GTN and many more, and learn the best ways to pitch and publicize your organization’s events and happenings. Breakfast is provided.

Pre-registration is mandatory and the last day to register is June 22. The cost is:

$20 FPRA Member or non-profit organization

$25 FPRA Non-member

$10 FPRA Student Member

$15 FPRA Student Non-member

To register, click here.

Email any questions to Allison Downey, adowney@rtix.com.

Annual Conference

Save the date for FPRA’s 74th Annual Conference, Aug. 5-8, 2012 in St. Augustine, Fla.

More details to follow!

Congratulations Pamela Rittenhouse, APR!

Congratulations to FPRA Gainesville member Pamela Rittenhouse, APR, director of marketing at North Florida Regional Medical Center, who is our chapter’s newest Accredited in Public Relations professional.

The APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. They are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment.

You can send Pamela a congratulatory note here. If you are interested in becoming accredited and sitting for the APR exam, please contact Erin Morton, APR at emorton@rtix.com.

Congratulations to the 2011 Chapter Award Winners

 As part of the festivities at last week’s holiday party, three individual awards were given.

The John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC Professional of the Year Award was presented to Paul Ramey, APR. This award is given to an individual who demonstrates the highest standards of ethics, performance and service to the public relations profession.

Member of the Year was Amelia Bell, APR. Member of the Year recognizes an individual whose commitment of time, energy, enthusiasm and skill contributed significantly to the success of Gainesville Chapter above and beyond typical expectations.

Lindsey Robertson, APR was named the Rising Star of the Year. This award recognizes one member with less than five years of membership who has demonstrated emerging leadership traits along with dedicated, active involvement in chapter activities throughout the year.

Congratulations to Paul, Amelia and Lindsey and thank you for your commitment to public relations.

Congratulations 2011-12 scholarship recipients!

Congratulations to our two FPRA membership scholarship recipients! Melissa Tyrone with Girls Place was selected to receive the FPRA Membership Grant, given to a qualified professional at a local non-profit. Kelly Donovan with Naylor Publications was selected to receive the James Terhune Membership Scholarship, given to a public relations professional who graduated from the University of Florida within the last five years.

Thank you to the members of the Community Relations Committee and members of the chapter’s Board of Directors who served on the grant and scholarship selection committees.

Congrats to Melissa and Kelly!