FPRA Board Member Heather Doane, APR, left, with Susan Bennett, the Life Time Achievement award winner.

The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association presented 15 awards for excellence in public relations programming and projects at the 2021 Local Image Awards celebration that was held April 15 at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. Four chapter members were also honored for their outstanding contributions to the PR profession and the organization.

FPRA hosted the ceremony outdoors this year and encouraged attendees to dress in their best “glamping” attire. The Local Image Awards competition is conducted annually by FPRA to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations.

Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design. The most prestigious award, the Grand Image Award, is given to the overall best entry in each category. Image Awards are given to entries that surpass expectations and objectives; awards of distinction are given to entries that meet judging expectations; and Judges’ Awards are given to entries that smartly budgeted or did more with less funding.

In Division A – Public Relations Programs:

* An Award of Distinction in the Public Relations Programs – Public Service category went to Lee County Solid Waste for Tackling Contamination.

Rising Star honoree Nina Barbero. (Photos provided)

* An Award of Distinction and Judges Award in the Public Relations Programs -Promotional and Marketing category went to Pushing the Envelope, Inc. and Tiffany Hernandez for Give the Gift of Angelina’s.

* An Award of Distinction and Judges Award in the Public Relations Programs – Integrated Marketing category went to Priority Marketing for Clips for Cancer.

* An Award of Distinction in the Public Relations Programs – Reputation Management category went to Pushing the Envelope, Inc. for The Dock IMO.

* An Award of Distinction in the Public Relations Programs – Virtual Special Event category went to CONRIC pr + marketing for Saving Estero Bay.

* An Award of Distinction in the Public Relations Programs – Other category went to Priority Marketing and Fort Myers Brewing Company for Adyn Strong.

In Division B – Collateral of Public Relations:

* A Grand Image Award and Image Award in the Collateral of Public Relations – Annual Report category for Guadalupe Center Annual Impact Report was awarded to Priority Marketing and Guadalupe Center.

* An Award of Distinction in the Collateral of Public Relations – News Release/Pitch category went to Jennifer J. Edwards and Trish Robertson, APR, CPRC for Vote-by-Mail Editorial Campaign.

* An Image Award in the Collateral of Public Relations – Other category went to Priority Marketing and Guadalupe Center for Guadalupe Center Circtacular Invitation.

In Division C – Digital Tools of Public Relations:

* An Image Award in the Digital Tools of Public Relations – Online Audience Engagement category for #SWFLStrong went to CONRIC pr + marketing.

* A Grand Image Award and Image Award in the Digital Tools of Public Relations – Video – Public Service category for Kids’ Minds Matter Secret Garden Gala Video went to Priority Marketing and Kids’ Minds Matter.

Chapter Awards

Each year, the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA also presents awards to recognize outstanding members of its chapter. This year’s winners include:

* Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC, President of Susan Bennett Marketing and Media, 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.

* Trish Robertson, APR, CPRC, Public Relations Officer, Collier County Supervisor of Elections, received the 2021 PR Professional of the Year Award, which honors a member who exemplifies the high standards of the public relations profession in Southwest Florida.

* Samantha Scott, APR, President of Pushing the Envelope, Inc., is the second recipient of the Friends of Janet Philanthropy Award. This award was established in memory of Janet Wilson, a true leader during her decade as a chapter member. She passed away unexpectedly in December 2019. Wilson never met a stranger and often joked about her worldwide network of “Friends of Janet.”

* Nina Barbero, APR, Marketing and Communications Manager, SWFL, Inc., received the 2021 Rising Star Award that is presented to an up-and-coming leader in the chapter who shows enthusiasm and passion for the PR profession.

* Mike Jackson, MBA, APR, Spokesperson and Public Relations Professional, and Josh Milton, Vice President of Media Relations at CONRIC pr + marketing, both received the 2021 Unsung Hero Award, which recognize the contributions of chapter members for their hard work and dedication to the chapter and the profession behind the scenes.

* Kaylee Zuidema, FPRA FGCU student chapter member, received the Pam Nulman Soaring Eagle PR Award that recognizes student leaders in public relations.

Three FPRA Annual Conference scholarship winners were selected by a committee. The 2021 recipients are:

* Jennifer Benton, APR, CPRC, Marketing Communications Specialist, TeleSpecialists.

* Ashley Loubier, Assistant Multimedia Producer and Project Manager, M&M Multimedia.

* Kelly Apfel, Marketing and Development Manager, Midwest Food Bank Florida.

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.