Member PRofile: Kimberly Allen
Title and company: Manager of PR and Communications at Seminole State College of Florida
Give a brief explanation of your job: I lead a small but mighty communications team in telling Seminole State’s stories, building brand awareness, promoting student recruitment, retention and success, and supporting employee and alumni engagement. Together, we manage the college’s social media, media relations, digital signage, web content and online Newsroom. I also serve as a PIO on Seminole State’s Emergency Response Team.
How long have you been a member of FPRA and why did you join? I’ve been a member of FPRA since 2009. I joined because I wanted to take full advantage of opportunities for professional development in my field, and I knew it would be beneficial to connect with and learn from my PR peers. I’m grateful that Seminole State supports professional development for its employees, including membership in professional organizations like FPRA.
What has been your favorite FPRA event or experience so far? My favorite is the annual Media Mashup. The media landscape is always evolving so it’s great to meet with members of our local media face to face all in one place to learn which topics grab their attention and how we can best help them tell our stories.
Tell us about an exciting achievement (personal or professional): Professionally, being promoted to Manager of PR and Communications is a highlight for me. I started as a communications specialist, gained many new skills throughout my years on the job and worked my way up to this leadership position. It was wonderful to see my efforts recognized with a promotion to this role, which now allows me to support career advancement for my team.
What was your first job? I had a summer job in college as an assistant to one of the administrative assistants at St. Johns River Water Management District. I planned travel for the employees, completed authorization forms, maintained files and performed other clerical tasks. Helping with administrative duties allowed me to build my communication skills in a corporate environment and gave me valuable experience in the “real world” of work.
What's one fun fact about you? I grew up as a proud “military brat.” I lived in Germany for 10 years when my dad was serving in the Air Force. And before you ask, sadly, no, I don’t speak German. But it was a wonderful childhood experience with fond memories that I’m still grateful for.
