Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE: Area Public Relations and Communications Professionals Win Awards
Ocala, FL. (April 18, 2019) — The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association congratulates several local professionals for excellence in public relations and communications. In all, 17 Image awards were given to various professionals from Marion County, Lake County and the Volusia/Flagler area. Additionally, the 2019 Wilton F. Martin Communicators of the Year were named during the PRospecting for Gold event on Wednesday, April 18 at the Ocala Downtown Market. Listed are the Image winners:
Chris Graham in the Community Relations category- Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award – Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program;
Sherri Owens and Diane Kornegay in the Public Service category – Image Award and Judges’ Award – Safety Tax Referendum: The Choice is Yours;
Tina Banner, APR, CPRC and Karen Donnelly in the Promotional Marketing category- Image Award – Big Hammock Race Series Season 3;
Wesley Wilcox and Starley Ard in the Public Affairs category – Grand All Image Award, Image Award and Judges’ Award –Supervisor of Elections Annual High School Voter Registration;
Elisha Pappacoda, Magdalena Zapata, and Bryan Baquiran in the Printed Tools: Poster and Calendar category – Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award – “Rescue Me” Charity Poster;
Tina Banner APR, CPRC, and the College of Central Florida in Online Audience Engagement category – Grand Image Award, Image Award and Judges’ Award – College of Central Florida Social Media Platforms;
Christy Jergens, APR, and the Florida Department of Health in Marion County in Online Newsletter category – Award of Distinction – Marion Pulse E-Newsletter;
Tina Banner, APR, CPRC and College of Central Florida in the Online Newsletter category – Image Award and Judges’ Award –College of Central Florida’s Insider Employee E-Newsletter.
Elisha Pappacoda, Magdalena Zapata, and Bryan Baquiran in the Video: Public Service category – Award of Distinction– A Spirit of Service Video;
Also recognized on Wednesday evening were the 2019 Wilton F. Martin Communicators of the Year. Jacob Fields of JJ Fields won the Individual Communicator of the Year while Heart of Florida Health Center, represented by CEO Jamie Ulmer, won the Institutional Communicator of the Year.
The 2019 FPRA Ocala Chapter Pacesetter award was given to Katie Hunnicutt of the City of Ocala.
FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners, who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. FPRA is comprised of 15 professional and 12 student chapters throughout the state, providing professional development, networking and professional recognition opportunities.
The Ocala FPRA Chapter,www.fpraocala.org, was established in 1980. Members and guests meet the third Friday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the College of Central Florida.