Southwest Florida Public Relations Professionals Win Image Awards

Fort Myers, FL April 26, 2019 — The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) presented 26 awards for excellence in public relations programming and projects at the 2019 Local Image Awards dinner that was held at the historic Burroughs Home & Gardens on April 18. Among the winners and awards were:
Jennifer J. Edwards, Supervisor of Elections, Heather Doane, APR, Voter Education Coordinator, and Trish Robertson, APR, CPRC, Public Relations Officer for the Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office received an Award of Distinction and Judges Award for their public service campaign, Millennial Votes Matter. They also received a Judges Award and the Grand All Image Award in Division A for their integrated marketing campaign, Collier Votes Local.
SPIRO & Associates, Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Brand Architecture received an Award of Distinction for the community relations campaign Sustainable Outreach Society-Goodness To-Go and the public information campaign, Fort Myers Doughnut Operations Grand Opening. They also received an Award of Distinction and Judges Award for the public service campaign Lee BIA Impact Fee Campaign.
CONRIC PR & Marketing received an Award of Distinction and Judges Award for the public service campaign, Faces of Hope at Work. They also received an Image Award and Judges Award for the public affairs campaign, City of Cape Coral GO Bond, and a Judges Award for the public relations program, Madisen’s Match.
Albert Arguelles, Vice President and Randy Mitchelson, APR, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at iPartnerMedia received an Image Award and Judges Award for the public service campaign, the Southwest Florida Challenge (#SWFLchallenge).
The Lee Health Strategic Communications & Public Relations Department received a Judges Award for the public information campaign, Lee Health Coconut Point Media Tour.
Priority Marketing and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida received an Image Award, Judges Award and the Grand Image Award in Division C for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Magic Under the Mangroves 2018 Fund-A-Need Video.
Priority Marketing and The School District of Lee County received an Award of Distinction and Judges Award for the public affairs campaign, Change for Change: It’s About Kids, Not Numbers.
Priority Marketing and the Guadalupe Center received an Award of Distinction for the Guadalupe Center Video Brochure with Printed Insert.
Kirsten O’Donnell, Director of Communications for the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida received an Image Award and Grand Image Award in Division B for the Area Agency on Aging’s 40th Anniversary Milestone News Release.
The Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) and SPIRO & Associates received a Judges Award for the LCEC Website project.
For student projects in public relations, Fabiano Solano, former Communications Director for the FPRA FGCU student chapter, received an Award of Distinction and Judges Award for the public relations campaign, A New Chapter in FGCU Pages.
 
Each year, the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA also presents awards to recognize outstanding members of its chapter. This year’s winners include:
Krista Kihlander, past president of the FPRA FGCU student chapter, received the inaugural Pam Nulman Soaring Eagle PR Award that recognizes student leaders in PR.
Niki Mann, Business Development Manager for Safilo and Public Relations Intern for American Shore & Beach Preservation Association, received the 2019 Rising Star Award that is presented to an up and coming leader in the chapter who shows enthusiasm and passion for the PR profession.
Victoria Moreland, Director of Communications & Marketing for the Lee County Port Authority received the 2019 Unsung Hero Award, which recognize the contributions of a chapter member for their hard work and dedication to the chapter and the profession ‘behind the scenes.’
Tiffany Esposito, MBA, APR, President & CEO of the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, received the 2019 PR Professional of the Year Award, which honors a member who exemplifies the high standards of the public relations profession in Southwest Florida.
Trish Robertson, APR, CPRC, Public Relations Officer for the Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office and Jaimie Miller, APR, VP of Marketing for CONRIC PR & Marketing, each won the 2019 Member of the Year Award.  This award recognizes members who go above and beyond in their commitment of time and energy to ensure the success of the chapter.
Pam Nulman, APR, CPRC, recently retired FGCU professor, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is reserved for public relations professionals who have dedicated their career to the profession and the advancement of it. This award is only given when there is someone eligible.
The Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. The organization’s 15 professional and 12 student chapters provide professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for nearly 1,500 members across the state. FPRA is the nation’s oldest public relations organization, established by Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC in 1938. For more information, visit www.fpra.org.