Florida Public Relations Association



Founded in 1938, the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) is the oldest public relations association in the United States. The statewide organization is composed of nearly 1,200 public relations professionals dedicated to:


 * Enhancing the professional development of its members,
 * Providing a forum for personal growth through interaction and resource exchange,
 * Serving as the "united voice" of the public relations profession in Florida,
 * Fostering the highest professional standards and ethics of its members, and
 * Gaining understanding and support for the performance of its members and the profession as a whole on behalf of all practitioners within the state of Florida.

Professional Chapters
With a network of 15 professional chapters and 13 student chapters located throughout the state of Florida, FPRA offers its members many opportunities for professional development and networking. Chapters meet regularly to hear speakers, discuss career experiences and conduct general business.
 * Capital Chapter
 * Central West Coast Chapter
 * Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter
 * Gainesville Chapter
 * Jacksonville Chapter
 * Lake County Chapter
 * Northwest Florida Coast Chapter
 * Ocala Chapter
 * Orlando Area Chapter
 * Pensacola Chapter
 * Space Coast Chapter
 * South Florida Chapter
 * Southwest Florida Chapter
 * Space Coast Chapter
 * Tampa Bay Chapter
 * Treasure Coast Chapter
 * Volusia/Flagler Chapter

Student Chapters

 * Barry University
 * Chomp Chapter at University of Florida
 * Communique Student Chapter at Rollins College
 * FGCU Student Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University
 * First Coast Student Chapter at Jacksonville University
 * Florida Tech Student Chapter at Florida Institute of Technology
 * Impact Student Chapter at Stetson University
 * Pensacola Student Chapter at University of West Florida
 * PRoMotion Student Chapter at Florida Southern College
 * Quotes Student Chapter at University of Central Florida
 * Student Chapter at Southeastern University
 * Student Chapter at University of Tampa
 * Tallahassee Student Chapter at Florida State University and Florida A&M University
 * Vision Student Chapter at Bethune-Cookman College

History
FPRA was founded in 1938 when Chamber of Commerce executives cut the subject out of their program at a statewide meeting in Jacksonville. John W. Dillin, publicity director of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, had made the trip to Jacksonville especially to participate in the program. On his return to South Florida, he stopped at Silver Springs to talk with Wilton Martin. They discussed forming an organization dealing with publicity and public relations. The owners of the attraction agreed to host those who would be interested. Invitations were extended to six others. Two meetings were held before calling an all-Florida meeting in Tampa where 45 attended. The group voted to form the Florida Association of Publicity Directors and elected Dillin to serve as president.

Executive meetings were held throughout the year and in several locations in the state prior to the first annual meeting in St. Augustine where Dillin had moved to take over a chamber of commerce management. The assembly drew representatives of attractions, chambers of commerce, newspaper and radio stations, advertising and display executives. It also was held simultaneously with the Florida Press Association and the Florida Junior Chamber of Commerce. Although Dillin wanted to develop a clinic for learning to do "publicity and public relations" better, it developed into a Florida promotional program.

In the second year, it was voted to change the name to the Florida Publicity and Public Relations Association, but before the meeting was concluded it was back to FAPD. The organization grew steadily until World War II when many members enlisted and were in service until 1946. Although it took time to refresh its activities, the association began to grow again. Finally, the name "publicity" was eliminated and adopted the "public relations" theme. Clinics were held in "learning to do the job" better, which was the objective in the first place.

University of Florida, University of Miami and Stetson University joined the learning program and written examinations were held at the conclusion of each clinic. After four years, Certificates of Attainment were issued. Chapters were formed throughout the state and the association grew to more than 1,000 members. Some of the universities formed student chapters. Those studying public relations were invited to state conferences and chapter seminars.

Today, there are student chapters at Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Rollins College, Bethune-Cookman College, Stetson University, Florida Southern College, Florida Tech, University of West Florida, as well as a student chapter in Jacksonville. 

Accreditation
FPRA participates in Universal Accreditation. Members can demonstrate their professional skills by sitting for the APR Accreditation in Public Relations exam. In addition, FPRA offers an even higher level of professional certification, giving members an opportunity to earn the title of Certified Public Relations Counselor.

PR & Comms Summit
Every year the Florida Public Relations Association hosts a professional conference for professionals in public relations and related fields in Florida. For the 2024 iteration of the conference, the FPRA underwent a conference rebranding to the PR & Comms Summit (Presented by FPRA).

The 2024 PR & Comms Summit will be hosted at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa Bay, Florida between August 4 and August 7, 2024. The conference will feature speakers from "...leading brands such as Microsoft, Walt Disney World Resort, Royal Caribbean Group, Paramount/MTV Studios and more."

2023-2024 Executive Committee
The executive committee is the central governing body of the Florida Public Relations Association. Executive Committee members start and end their terms at FPRA's Annual Conference.

Past State Presidents
1938 – John W. Dillin, APR, CPRC 1939 – Wilton Martin 1940 – Milton Bacon 1941 – Ray Billings 1942-46 – MacDonald Bryan 1947 – Frank Wright, APR 1948 – Russell Kay 1949 – William Rolleston 1950 – William Wells 1951 – Robert Eastman 1952 – Allen O. Skaggs Jr. 1953 – John W. Dillin, APR, CPRC 1954 – Walter J. Page 1955 – Edward D. Whittlesey, APR 1956 – Wm S. Chambers Jr., APR 1957 – J. Blanford Taylor 1958 – Albert R. McFadyen 1959 – Royce R. Powell 1960 – Cliff D. Davenport 1961 – Jack Shoemaker 1962 – J.S. (Jack) Peters 1963 – Alan B. Fields Jr. 1964 – Philip E. DeBerard Jr. 1965 – Robert E. Philips 1966 – Stirling Turner 1967 – James Hunter 1968 – Robert A. Dahne 1969 – Grover Jones 1970 – James Turner 1971 – Doris Wilkes 1972 – Vernon E. Bradford 1973 – L. John Wachtel 1974 – A. Royce Godshall 1975 – Robert G. Jones 1976 – Bea Quigg 1977 – Roy C. Anderson, APR 1978 – William D. Hunter, APR 1979 – J. Donald Turk, APR 1980 – Wm. V. Fenton Jr., APR 1981 – Dick Whalley 1982 – Joseph J. Curley, APR, CPRC 1983 – Kay Bartholomew, APR 1984 – Patricia Trubow, APR, CPRC 1985 – Bob E. Gernert Jr., APR, CPRC 1986 – Mary A. O’Reilly, APR, CPRC 1987 – Cathlean Coleman, APR 1988 – Bob Davis, Ph.D., APR, CPRC 1989 – Mickey G. Nall, APR, CPRC 1990 – C. Del Galloway, APR, CPRC 1991 – Karen Plunkett, APR 1992 – Donna Z. Davis, APR, CPRC 1993 – Marilyn Waters, APR, CPRC 1994 – Jay Rayburn, II, Ph.D., APR, CPRC 1995 – Virginia Troyer, APR, CPRC 1996 – Janet T. Dennis, APR, CPRC 1997 – Frank Polito, APR, CPRC 1998 – Carol Trivett, APR, CPRC 1999 – Lynn Schneider, APR, CPRC 2000 – Rick Oppenheim, APR, CPRC 2001 – Kathleen M. Giery, APR, CPRC 2002 – Tricia Ridgway-Kapustka, APR, CPRC 2003 – John McShaffrey, APR 2004 – Carole Savage, APR, CPRC 2005 – Leah Lauderdale, APR, CPRC 2006 – Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC 2007 – Jessica Rye, APR, CPRC 2008 – Suzanne Sparling, APR, CPRC 2009 – Lanette Hart, APR, CPRC 2010 – Sheridan Becht, APR, CPRC 2011 – Jennifer Moss, APR, CPRC 2012 – Melanie Mowry Etters, APR, CPRC 2013 – Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC 2014 – Chris M. Gent, APR, CPRC 2015 – Rachel Smith, APR, CPRC 2016 – Roger Pynn, APR, CPRC 2017 – Terri L. Behling, APR, CPRC 2018 – Ryan Gerds, APR, CPRC 2019 – Gordon Paulus, APR, CPRC 2020-21 – Alyson Gernert, APR, CPRC 2022 – Devon Chestnut, APR, CPRC 2023 – Jay Morgan-Schleuning, APR, CPRC