About
Gainesville Chapter
Founded in 1938, the Florida Public Relations Association is the nation’s oldest association of public relations professionals. Today, more than 1,200 FPRA members unite in the common cause of enhancing and promoting the public relations profession. FPRA provides a variety of services, benefits and opportunities. It is dedicated to programs and activities that support the success of the public relations professional:
- 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
- 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.
FPRA Gainesville was established in 1968, and today boasts one of the largest chapter memberships in the state. FPRA Gainesville has been awarded Chapter of the Year seven times: 1995, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2015!
FPRA Gainesville Annual Reports
- FPRA Gainesville 2023-24 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2022-23 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2021-22 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2020-21 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2019-20 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2018-19 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2017-18 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2014-15 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2013-14 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2012-13 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2011-12 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2010-2011 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2009-10 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2008-09 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2007-08 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2006-07 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2005-06 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2004-05 Annual Report
- FPRA Gainesville 2003-04 Annual Report
History
The Gainesville chapter was founded as the Osceola Chapter. Members came from Gainesville, Ocala and the surrounding areas and quickly established a tradition of personal and professional development, mentoring and community service. Today, the chapter numbers more than 65 professionals and students who work in corporate, educational, government and nonprofit settings. Click on the links below to read some first-person historical accounts of the chapter.
Chapter Awards
2024 - 2025
President
Angela Chan
Member of the Year
Amy Climenhage, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Lorraine McGill
Rising Star of the Year
Shelby Martin
2023 - 2024
President
Marbella Miller
Member of the Year
Joey Mazzafero
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Allison Downey, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Emily Mavrakis
2022 - 2023
President
Joey Martinez
Member of the Year
Angela Chan
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Amelia Bell, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Styliana Resvanis
2021 - 2022
President
Amy Azoulay, APR
Member of the Year
Kathy Richardson, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Mickey Nall, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Marbella Miller
2020 - 2021
President
Sarah Coulson, APR
Member of the Year
Allison Downey, APR, CPRC
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Spiro Kiousis, Ph.D., APR
Rising Star of the Year
Megan Kimmel MacPherson
2019 - 2020
President
Joey Mazzaferro
Member of the Year
Amelia Bell, APR, CPRC
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Julie Frey, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Angela Chan
2018 - 2019
President
Lindsey Robertson, APR
Member of the Year
Sarah Coulson
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Kevin Coulson, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Amy Azoulay
2017 - 2018
President
Allison Downey, APR, CPRC
Member of the Year
Patricia Vernon, APR, CPRC
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Steve Shepherd
Rising Star of the Year
Joey Martinez
2016 - 2017
President
Erin Morton, APR, CPRC
Member of the Year
MaryBeth Head
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Ben Tobias
Rising Star of the Year
Sarah Coulson
2015 - 2016
President
Kevin Coulson, APR
Member of the Year
Lindsey Robertson, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Devon Chestnut, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Joey Mazzaferro
2014 - 2015
President
Amelia Bell, APR, CPRC
Member of the Year
Scott Schroeder
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Denise Feiber, APR
Rising Star of the Year
Alisha Kinman
2013 - 2014
President
Julie Frey, APR, CPRC
Member of the Year
Rod Hemphill, APR, CPRC
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Linda Homewood, APR
Rising Star of the Year
Ginny Lawrimore
2012 - 2013
President
Devon Chestnut, APR
Member of the Year
Laura Aguiar, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Sarah Carey, APR
Rising Star of the Year
Allison Downey
2011 - 2012
President
Morgan Lee
Member of the Year
Amelia Bell, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Paul Ramey, APR
Rising Star of the Year
Lindsey Robertson, APR
2010 - 2011
President
Katie Weitekamp, APR
Member of the Year
Kevin Coulson
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Julie Frey, APR, CPRC
Rising Star of the Year
Kelly Donovan
2009 - 2010
President
Courtney Holmes
Member of the Year
Nickie Doria, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Valerie Riley, APR
2008 - 2009
President
Emily Speichert
Member of the Year
Emily Speichert
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Joe Hice, APR, CPRC
2007 - 2008
President
Sheila Zachow, APR
Member of the Year
Steve Shepherd
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Wendy Crites-Wacker, APR
2006 - 2007
President
Nickie Doria, APR
Member of the Year
David Greenberg
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Karen Smittle, APR
2005 - 2006
President
Paul E. Ramey, APR
Member of the Year
Julie Frey
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Dr. Peg Hall
2004 - 2005
President
Wendy Crites-Wacker, APR
Member of the Year
Dr. Peg Hall
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Dan Jesse
2003 - 2004
President
Karen Smittle, APR
Member of the Year
Paul E. Ramey, APR
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Arline Philips-Han, APR, CPRC
2002 - 2003
President
Valerie Incantalupo-Riley, APR
Member of the Year
Kaye Trammell
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Suzanne Bachus, APR
2001 - 2002
President
Nancy Dohn, APR
Member of the Year
Lorraine McGill
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Nancy Walsh, APR and Kathy Giery, APR, CPRC
2000 - 2001
President
Denise Feiber, APR
Member of the Year
Patti Darrigan
John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., APR, CPRC, Professional of the Year
Rod Hemphill, APR, CPRC
1999 - 2000
President
Leah Lytle
Member of the Year
Jennifer Porter, APR
Professional of the Year
Nancy Dohn, APR
1998 - 1999
President
Rod Hemphill, APR, CPRC
Member of the Year
Valerie Incantalupo-Riley, APR
Professional of the Year
Gail Baker
1997 - 1998
President
Nancy Walsh, APR
Member of the Year
Wendy Crites Wacker, APR
Professional of the Year
Mindy Underberger, APR
1996 - 1997
President
Peggy Prichard, APR
Member of the Year
John Bacon
Professional of the Year
Peggy Prichard
1995 - 1996
President
Mindy Underberger, APR
1994 - 1995
President
Debbie Amirin, APR
Member of the Year
Mindy Underberger, APR
Professional of the Year
Melanie Shore, APR
1993 - 1994
President
Sherry Gause
Member of the Year
Sherry Gause
Professional of the Year
Patricia A. Morris, APR
1992 - 1993
President
Priscilla Bennett, APR
1990 - 1991
President
Carole Oglesby
Member of the Year
Larry Lansford
Inaugural Professional of the Year
Spencer Mann and Sadie Darnell
1991 - 1992
President
Linda Mealiea
Member of the Year
Priscilla Bennett
Professional of the Year
Jack Detweiler
1989 - 1990
President
Patty Morris
Member of the Year
Ruth Smith
1988 - 1989
President
Larry Lansford, APR
Inaugural Member of the Year Award
Susan Williams