Events
PR Paid Forward Orlando 2024
The Orlando Area Chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Orlando) and the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA Orlando) are excited to host PR Paid Forward Orlando 2024, on March 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Rollins College Rice Family Pavilion. This half-day event offers a unique opportunity for Central Florida nonprofits to receive pro-bono strategic communications counsel from local public relations professionals.
General Session - Wednesday, March 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Program Description:
Join the Orlando chapters of the Florida Public Relations Association and Public Relations Society of America for an informative presentation by Rebecca Emery, APR that will help nonprofits unlock the power of artificial intelligence (AI) for PR and marketing communications management. Discover how AI tools, such as Pie AI, ChatGPT, Canva and copy.ai, can cost-effectively automate and accelerate content generation for grant writing, media relations, spokesperson preparedness, social media and blog copywriting, video/image generation and more. Gain insights for structuring and saving prompts, using plugins and workflow automation, and understanding the effect AI-powered web browsing will have on SEO moving forward. You will leave with a deeper understanding of generative AI from a PR and communications perspective and the confidence to work strategically, responsibly and more efficiently with AI.
Please contact Juliette Gebken-Mayi with any questions at juliette@jgmpublicrelations.com.
Continually Unfolding Story: Central Florida’s Black History
In celebration of Black History Month, join us this month for an evening of networking and history at the Orange County History Center.
Learn from Pamela Schwartz, the center’s executive director, how the center has been working for several years to decolonize their collections to share a narrative more reflective of the entire community’s experience. From the earliest origins of enslavement on Florida’s coast to events unfolding locally every day, you’ll hear an overview of more than 500 years of Black history and gain insights on the exciting things your local museum has in store.
After the presentation, attendees can enjoy the museum on their own, which offers four floors of exhibits exploring 12,000 years of Central Florida’s rich heritage and it’s a Smithsonian affiliate. You’ll also have the option to stay and experience the popular Downtown Orlando’s Third Thursday event, featuring free entrance to City Arts Orlando (note - this portion is optional and not part of the FPRA event).
Light refreshments, wine and soft drinks will be provided.
Parking: The most convenient parking is at the Library Garage (112 East Central Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32801). You can see other parking options in downtown Orlando here: https://www.orlando.gov/Parking-Transportation/Parking/Parking-Garages-and-Lots
Speaker Bio
Pamela Schwartz, Executive Director
Pamela Schwartz is a national award-winning museum executive and curator who currently serves as executive director of the Orange County Regional History Center and the Historical Society of Central Florida.
Working within the museum industry since 2002, Schwartz joined the History Center in 2016 as its chief curator and senior program manager. In her role as chief curator, she helped increase diversity and inclusion in collections and exhibitions and exponentially grew the museum’s oral history collection toward centering community voices.
Shortly after the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, Schwartz was the architect of the urgent-response One Orlando Collection Initiative, which includes over 14,000 artifacts, photographs, archives, and oral histories documenting the memory of the event. She has become a national authority on historical collecting after community tragedy and has assisted other sites globally from Parkland, FL to New Zealand. She was also the chief curator of the landmark, globally-covered Yesterday, This Was Home: The Ocoee Massacre of 1920 exhibition. For these and other efforts she and the staff have been honored with more than twenty-five national or regional awards in just seven years, including the 2019 Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal, the nation’s highest honor in the field, as well as other prestigious awards from the American Alliance of Museums, the American Association for State and Local History, and the Society of American Archivists.
Schwartz was designated as one of Orlando Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40, Orlando Magazine’s 2020 Women of the Year and 2021 Ones to Watch, as well as Watermark’s (Florida’s largest LGBTQ Media Group) 2017 Most Remarkable People in Central Florida.
Schwartz received her Master of Arts in Museum Professions from Seton Hall, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.
Member-Only Coffee Chat
Kickstart the new year and your Friday with a cup of coffee and valuable insights at our member-only “Percolate & Connect: FPRA Orlando's Coffee Chat” from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Foxtail SoDo North, 1101 S Orange Ave. in Orlando.
This casual event offers our members the chance to connect with fellow communications professionals, enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee, and get some work done in a relaxed setting. And that’s not all – we have an exciting opportunity for you to engage with Jessica Bohlman, APR, Vice President of Credentialing for FPRA Orlando. She will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential. This spring, study sessions will be offered by the Orlando FPRA and PRSA chapters, so this is a perfect opportunity to learn more.
Here's what you can look forward to:
Ask the VP of Credentialing your burning questions about the APR credential.
Enjoy a free drip coffee and 25% off the rest of the Foxtail menu.
Bring your laptop (or not) and catch up on work.
Socialize and expand your professional network by meeting new friends in the community.
Don’t miss out on this exclusive member-only event – it's one of the many benefits of being part of our dynamic Orlando chapter.
Register to reserve your spot here.
“Reel” PR Insights from the Pink Carpet: Lessons from a Film Publicist
Want to take a peek behind the scenes at what it takes to plan and execute global PR campaigns for blockbuster films? Join us at this fun virtual program with María Cecilia Toro, a veteran film publicist who has worked with Warner Bros. Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. María Cecilia will share lessons from leading public relations initiatives for many hit films, including Barbie - the first female-led film to cross $1 billion - DC Comic’s latest film Blue Beetle, and more.
About María Cecilia Toro
Maria Cecilia Toro is a public relations executive, entrepreneur, and storyteller. She is the owner and principal of GUAPA Public Relations, a boutique consultancy connecting people to brands at the intersection of culture and media. Based in Los Angeles, Calif., the firm currently represents, leads and develops strategic marketing objectives for theatrical films, tv shows, series, and social impact causes.
Maria Cecilia most recently worked as Director of Multicultural Marketing and Publicity at Warner Bros. Pictures in Burbank, Calif. where she led national and field multicultural publicity campaigns for many films, to include Barbie, the first female-led film to cross $1 billion, DC Comic’s latest film Blue Beetle, and the six-time Oscar winning film Dune, among others.
Before her tenure at Warner Bros. Discovery, Maria Cecilia was the Director of Multicultural Publicity for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in Burbank, Calif., where she led public relations campaigns for theatrical films, as well as select films and series for Disney+ She previously worked on the campaigns for the $1.3 billion-grossing Marvel movie Black Panther, Coco – the first Pixar film to feature a Latino protagonist and celebrate Latine traditions, and LucasFilm’s highest-grossing film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Prior to her work in film and television, Maria Cecilia held various Public Relations roles at Disney Parks in Orlando, Fla. where she led U.S. Hispanic public relations for the destination, press engagement for Disney Dreamers Academy, and publicity efforts across Spanish-speaking Latin America and Brazil.
Born in Texas and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Maria Cecilia started her career working for Major League Soccer and several public relations agencies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of South Florida in Tampa and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She lives in Pasadena, Calif. with her husband, her twin 5-year-old daughters and her Weimaraner, Pippen.
FPRA Career Panel: How to Pitch Yourself in Today’s Marketplace
Since the career landscape is constantly evolving, it’s clear that Communications and PR professionals need to adapt quickly. No matter where you are on your career journey, at the very beginning, pursuing a promotion or a new role, pondering the switch between corporate and agency life, or a seasoned professional seeking something new and meaningful, you will benefit from this lively discussion and advice from our top-notch panelists.
How can you use LinkedIn and other social media tools to your advantage? How do you build your personal brand? What is the best way to network with a recruiter?
PR professionals are experts at pitching stories on behalf of our clients. How can we shine the best light on our own accomplishments and career goals?
Lunch and networking begin at 11:30 am. The panel begins at 12:00 pm.
Panelist and moderator names coming soon. Save the date!
APR Prep Course: Communication Models, Theories & PR History
Orlando FPRA & PRSA Chapters’ APR Prep Course Series
Sessions: Sept. 7 to Nov. 9, 2023
Textbook: Cutlip & Center’s Effective Public Relations, 11th edition
Study Guide: https://www.praccreditation.org/
Email Jessica Bohlman, APR at Jessica.Bohlman@travelandleisure.com if interested in attending.
APR Prep Course: Leading the PR Function
Orlando FPRA & PRSA Chapters’ APR Prep Course Series
Sessions: Sept. 7 to Nov. 9, 2023
Textbook: Cutlip & Center’s Effective Public Relations, 11th edition
Study Guide: https://www.praccreditation.org/
Email Jessica Bohlman, APR at Jessica.Bohlman@travelandleisure.com if interested in attending.
FPRA Orlando Membership Mixer
The FPRA Orlando Area Chapter is hosting a networking happy hour event on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Broken Strings Brewery in Orlando.
Our board members will be available to answer your questions about FPRA membership and why they love being a part of this statewide network of communications professionals.
This event is free to attend and is open to new, returning and prospective FPRA members. All attendees will receive one (1) complimentary beverage courtesy of FPRA Orlando.
We can't wait to see you there!
APR Prep Course: Managing Relationships
Orlando FPRA & PRSA Chapters’ APR Prep Course Series
Sessions: Sept. 7 to Nov. 9, 2023
Textbook: Cutlip & Center’s Effective Public Relations, 11th edition
Study Guide: https://www.praccreditation.org/
Email Jessica Bohlman, APR at Jessica.Bohlman@travelandleisure.com if interested in attending.
APR Prep Course: Managing Issues & Crisis Communication
Orlando FPRA & PRSA Chapters’ APR Prep Course Series
Sessions: Sept. 7 to Nov. 9, 2023
Textbook: Cutlip & Center’s Effective Public Relations, 11th edition
Study Guide: https://www.praccreditation.org/
Email Jessica Bohlman, APR at Jessica.Bohlman@travelandleisure.com if interested in attending.
APR Prep Course: RACE/RPIE - Part 2
Orlando FPRA & PRSA Chapters’ APR Prep Course Series
Sessions: Sept. 7 to Nov. 9, 2023
Textbook: Cutlip & Center’s Effective Public Relations, 11th edition
Study Guide: https://www.praccreditation.org/
Email Jessica Bohlman, APR at Jessica.Bohlman@travelandleisure.com if interested in attending.
APR Prep Course: RACE/RPIE - Part 1
Orlando FPRA & PRSA Chapters’ APR Prep Course Series
Sessions: Sept. 7 to Nov. 9, 2023
Textbook: Cutlip & Center’s Effective Public Relations, 11th edition
Study Guide: https://www.praccreditation.org/
Email Jessica Bohlman, APR at Jessica.Bohlman@travelandleisure.com if interested in attending.
Investor Relations 101
Investor Relations 101
Today’s public relations professionals wear many hats and are often asked to lead other disciplines for their companies. One such discipline is Investor Relations, which involves publicly traded companies communicating with investors, shareholders, government authorities and the financial community. Unlike regular public relations practices, investor relations practices have significantly more regulatory requirements than standard public relations, with potential legal and financial impacts.
Join FPRA Orlando to learn the basics of investor relations from the leaders of this discipline at Darden Restaurants.