Now Accepting Nominations for FPRA Orlando Awards

Following tradition, we are excited to mark the beginning of a new year by accepting nominations for the Central Florida Public Relations Professional of the Year for Career Excellence — the most prestigious honor bestowed by our chapter — which honors a local professional for a lifetime of leadership and outstanding contributions to the field of public relations.

This year, we also are thrilled to introduce the ImPRess Award for Professional Achievement, intended to celebrate a trailblazer who has achieved an unprecedented or extraordinary milestone in their career, or has left a lasting mark or impression on the Central Florida community.

Winners will be recognized at our Image Awards program in April.

Guidance for Award Nominations

Ideal candidates for the Central Florida Public Relations Professional of the Year for Career Excellence award demonstrate:

• Experience and leadership in the public relations profession spanning 20 years or more;

• Extraordinary contributions to advocate for and/or advance the reputation of the profession;

• Extraordinary contributions to support the community and charitable organizations;

• Lifetime achievement, service and awards;

• Senior-level public relations knowledge, skills and abilities; and

• Continued pursuit of professional development by obtaining their APR, CPRC, master's degree or other relevant achievement.

In recent years, the award has honored professionals who expertly managed high-profile crises, profoundly impacted next-generation professionals, transformed their organizations with trailblazing campaigns and reached significant milestones in their careers. The full list of past recipients is available on our website.

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Ideal candidates for the ImPRess Award for Professional Achievement demonstrate:

• Emerging leadership in the public relations profession spanning a post-graduate career of at least two years;

• Unprecedented or extraordinary career achievement, relative to their age or years of experience;

• Contributions to support the community and charitable organizations; 

• Entry- to mid-level public relations knowledge, skills and abilities; and

• Continued pursuit of professional development, such as involvement in LeadershipFPRA, board membership, mentorship or other relevant activities.

Submit Your Nominations

To nominate a professional worthy of either recognition, please send a link to their LinkedIn profile or online resume, and a short essay explaining their qualifications to the chapter’s immediate past president, Kacie Escobar, APR at kescobar@thestrategicfirm.com.

Essays should address how this nominee demonstrates the qualities of an ideal candidate, as outlined above.

Nominations are due no later than Monday, Jan. 31, 2022.

Award Selection Committee

Chaired by the immediate past president, the Award Selection Committee also includes at least two former recipients of the award*, one chapter board member and a general member of the chapter. Members of the Award Selection Committee are not eligible to be nominated for either award.  

The 2021-2022 Award Selection Committee includes:

• Kacie Escobar, APR – Immediate Past President, Committee Chair

• Ann Marie Varga, APR, MHR – Past Award Recipient

• Lindsay Hudock, APR – Past Award Recipient

• Pam Nulman, APR, CPRC – Current Board Member

• Michael Lawrence, APR – General Chapter Member

• Alyson Sologaistoa, APR, CPRC

*Because the ImPRess Award for Professional Excellence is new, we will rely on the same committee to select honorees for both awards.