At today’s President’s Luncheon at the 70th Annual FPRA state conference, the Space Coast Chapter was honored with 2 awards:

The President’s Award for Communications (a tie with the Central West Coast Chapter) for our Blog development, and the President’s Award for Senior Member Development for our Senior Forum programs this past year.

It was a nice surprise for our chapter and a great way to celebrate all that we did to enhance programs this past year. Be sure to check out the FPRA Blog for all the events happening at conference.

The Space Coast FPRA Board of Directors has named Natalie Sellers, APR, the 2008 PR Professional of the Year. A long-time member of FPRA and a 20-year veteran of public relations, Natalie is the Director of Communications & Service Excellence at Parrish Medical Center. She will be toasted during our Annual Roast and Toast event to be held on Sept. 12, 2008 at the Courtyard by Marriott.

Natalie has positioned her employer as a major healthcare player and provider in North Brevard County, and nationally. Under the direction of the PMC Board and President/CEO, George Mikitarian, Natalie’s communications, public relations and service excellence strategies have successfully positioned the medical center as America’s #1 Healing Hospital (2007 and 2008!) and as a global health care model.

She has been a featured speaker on both the local and national levels, and has earned a number of professional honors, including being named a “4 Under 40 Award” recipient from LEAD Brevard (2007); Florida Tech’s “Outstanding Graduate Student Award” (2001); FPRA’s “Glisch Award of Excellence” (2003); as well as earning numerous Image and Grand Image Awards from FPRA, Addy Awards from Space Coast AdFed, Healthcare Marketing Strategist awards, and many others.

Natalie is also civically involved: Chairman, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Brevard Council of Chambers; Brevard Insight Committee (LEAD Brevard program); American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; United Way of Brevard Board, the Florida Hospital Association; and the Florida Public Relations Association. Most recently Natalie was named – alongside her CEO – as one of the “100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Brevard County” in the April edition of Spacecoast Business.

The new Space Coast Chapter Board of Directors for next year is:

Amelia Woodbridge, President
McBride Woodbridge Marketing

Geo Ropert, President‐Elect
Ropert Communications Group

Mathew Haggar, VP of Membership
Parrish Medical Center

Katherine Sonn, Treasurer / Executive Vice President
Century Oaks

Alecia McCoy, Secretary
United Way of Brevard

Linda Herridge, Immediate Past President
In Dyne Inc

Andrea Farmer, Vice President‐Accreditation
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Doug Parker, Vice President ‐ Communications
Crosswinds Youth Services

Barry Eager, Vice President‐Resource Development
Phantom Productions

Ann Colchin, Vice President‐Community Relations
Independent Consultant

Jerry Stansfield, Historian
City of Cocoa Beach

Carey Beam, Member‐at‐Large
Craig Technologies

Anyone interested in the VP Awards & Recognition, please call Amelia Woodbridge at 837-1000.

Just a reminder that if you have not done so, please click here to participate in the FPRA Space Coast Chapter member survey. It has been a few years since we’ve surveyed our members, so your responses are extremely important.

Just a few minutes of your time will help our next slate of officers and board members to plan events, programs and professional development opportunities for the next year. You can remain anonymous if you prefer. Each and every response is very helpful! If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call Linda Herridge 321-867-4611.

Wow…a great forum today with Karen Breakell, APR, from Nemours. Terrific case study information and perspective from a senior level practitioner that all of us can take back to our respective jobs. Her summary of Nemours entry in the Orlando marketplace challenged her (and the entire communications team) with a wide range of issues demanding a wide range of strategies. Remember her critical points for us:

1. Make sure that your work is helping the leaders in your company fulfill their business goals.
2. Make sure that you establish solid relationships with key individuals such as legal counsel, who may be working on the same issue from another perspective.
3. If you work with vendors, make sure the relationship is one of true partnership: that you each are working hard to fulfill goals and EACH win credit for success or failure.
4. Use data to help you in both external and internal efforts to solidify your core messages and support your recommendations.

Thanks to all of you that dedicated time to your professional development today and supported this program. See you next time!

50 Years of Florida Tech History Ready Soon for Your Coffee Table

From it’s humble beginnings as the “night school for missile men” as it was dubbed by Time magazine, to one of the top Southeastern colleges, according to Princeton Review, Florida Institute of Technology celebrates its 50th birthday in 2008. To commemorate the occasion, the limited edition coffee table book, No Small Dreams: Florida Institute of Technology, 1958-2008, by Jay Wilson, is now available for
pre-order.

The chock-full-of-photos book takes readers from the university’s first donation: 37 cents in bar change, given to founder and first president Jerome P. Keuper, to what the vibrant, 130-acre Melbourne campus encompasses today. From early classes in rented spaces to an institution poised to expand facilities 20 percent in 2008-2009, Wilson tells the remarkable story of Florida Tech in crisp prose and archival photos.

Reservations are now being accepted for No Small Dreams, which will be ready for distribution this fall. The cost of $45 includes shipping and handling. For more information, contact the Office of University Communications at 321-984-2974 or visit the website at http://411.fit.edu/coffeetable.

Congrats to the Space Coast Chapter members who were listed among the 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Brevard County - featured in the May issue of Space Coast Business.

Kimberly Agee, Economic Development Council
Kimberly Eye, Economic Development Council
Mike McBride, McBride Woodbridge Marketing
Natalie Sellers, APR, Parrish Medical Center
State President Suzanne Sparling, APR, United Way of Brevard
David Waters, United Space Alliance

Also featured in the issue was an article on public relations by Geo Ropert, APR, President-Elect, and photo of member Alecia McCoy, United Way of Brevard, at a LEAD Brevard event.

It’s that time of year again to nominate fellow members of the Space Coast Chapter in recognition for their contributions to the chapter during this past year. Winners will be honored during the annual Roast & Toast event on September 12.

Download the form here that outlines the criteria and awards, and e-mail your completed form to Linda Herridge. For questions call 867-4611.