October President’s PRoclaimer Message
By Sarah Kelliher, APR
If I had to describe the start of our new board year in one word, it would be energizing. While our Chapter President, Juliette Gebken-Mayi, APR, enjoys precious time away with her family and their beautiful new baby girl, our board members – several of whom are new to their roles this year – have jumped in seamlessly to keep things moving forward. I am so grateful for their teamwork and for the steady support of each of you.
That sense of momentum has been evident across the chapter. At the end of September, we hosted our first professional development program of the year at the UCF Downtown campus, featuring Eric Gray, founder and CEO of Maverick Content Studio. Eric shared actionable insights on leveraging social media storytelling to reach the next generation. It was a sold-out event that sparked new ideas and conversations about how we can all continue to evolve our communication strategies. Thank you to everyone who joined us! If you could not attend but would like to learn more, please reach out. I would love to grab coffee and share a few of the key takeaways from Eric’s conversation.
As we head into renewal season for many members, it was also wonderful to see some new faces at our September program who are considering joining our chapter for the first time. If you know a colleague or friend looking for connection, professional support, and opportunities to grow, please share your FPRA experience with them. Our chapter was the largest in the state last year, which I believe reflects the collaborative community we are working hard to build together.
Speaking of community, I am also looking forward to seeing many of you at our sold-out Membership Mixer at Moderne in the Mills 50 District on Tuesday, October 21. This event is always a highlight of the year and promises great conversation, laughter, and, of course, delicious food!
Last but certainly not least, I want to celebrate our student members in Quotes, the Ad/PR Club at UCF. Just last week, they hosted a record-breaking Intern Pursuit event with more than 333 students from 28 degree programs and five institutions — the largest since 2017! Congratulations to everyone involved for the tremendous effort that went into preparing fellow members through bootcamps and résumé reviews. You are our future, and that future is looking so bright!
Thank you all for the energy, heart, and trust that you continue to pour into our chapter. We are excited for the year ahead and to continue growing with FPRA!
Onward,
Sarah Kelliher, APR
President-Elect, FPRA Orlando Area Chapter
