PR & COMMS Summit in Tampa!
It’s a new name but the same great opportunity for learning, networking and celebrating with the best in the communications business! You won’t want to miss FPRA’s annual conference, now called the PR & COMMS Summit being held right here in Tampa August 4-7. For 85 years, FPRA has brought together public relations, marketing, advertising and communication professionals at all levels to stay on top of the latest communication trends while honing the comms skill set needed for success.
This year’s gathering of communications professionals will engage with captivating speakers on topics that will help them “summit” to the top of their game for the organizations they represent as they hear from communication leaders from leading brands such as Microsoft, Walt Disney World Resort, Paramount / MTV Studios and more.
View the speaker lineup and all the details you need here.
September Lunch and Learn
In this lunch and learn, we’ll examine the practical uses of Artificial Intelligence in your everyday work. Angel Hernandez, a public communications specialist certified in AI Fundamentals and Applications, will walk us through some of the available programs and technologies you could be using right now to enhance your communications products from news releases and social media to strategic communication plans and customer engagement. Learn how to be more efficient while also avoiding the pitfalls and ethical issues that come with this constantly changing digital frontier.
Angel is a first-generation graduate from the University of Florida. He has leveraged AI tools to streamline communications strategies and facilitate everyday workflows utilizing tools such as Chat GPT and CoPilot. Angel has created and led AI training courses, drafted ethical guidelines for AI tools and provided social media strategy to key clients, resulting in successful crisis responses and new client acquisitions.
A boxed lunch is included. You’ll select from the menu options when registering.
Visit Eventbrite to register. Ticket sales end Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 20
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | The EpiCenter (13805 58th St. N., Clearwater)
Past Events
July Networking Event
Wednesday, July 17 | 6-8 p.m.
World of Beer (5311 Avion Park Dr., Tampa, FL 33607)
May Professional Development: The Future of USF Athletics
Join USF Vice President and Athletic Director, Michael Kelly, to learn about the exciting future of USF Athletics and how that future will enhance USF’s reputation on a national level. Kelly will address the impact the new indoor practice facility will have on USF and discuss plans for a new 35,000-seat on-campus football stadium. Kelly will also discuss the new rules concerning how college athletes manage their Name, Image and Likeness and what to expect from USF.
Wednesday, May 15
Noon | University of South Florida (The event will be held in the reception area at the new $22 million Porter Family Performance Facility. The address is 12700 USF Sycamore Drive, Tampa, FL 33620.)
Spring Social and Service
Help FPRA Tampa Bay celebrate Earth Day on April 13 by giving back to our local community. Join us for a beach cleanup at Ben T. Davis Park followed by a networking lunch next door at Whiskey Joe’s.
Saturday, April 13
March Professional Development: Golden Image Awards Informational Session
Want to be recognized for the amazing work you do? Enter the Golden Image Awards! Participate in this information session to learn about the program and the new online submission form. The two-page entry summary has been replaced with a new online entry form where applicants will provide content in a text box for each category. Click here to learn more about the event and to register.
Tuesday, Mar. 26
Noon
February Professional Development: Navigating PR this Election Year
As communicators, it’s important we understand how to find the truth in the information we see and receive, understand the impact of social media on polarization and communication, and decipher that information to relay messages accurately. The Central West Coast and Tampa Bay FPRA chapters joined together to bring an engaging half-day program at The Poynter Institute — a global leader in journalism.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
8:45 a.m. – Noon
January Professional Development: Marketing and Metrics KPIs
Metrics can be complicated, but they don’t have to be with the tips you’ll learn from Mike Wells, chief marketing officer for GOLDLAW.
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Noon – 1 p.m. | Zoom
December Holiday Mixer
Wednesday, Dec. 6
6-8 p.m. | Coppertail Brewing Company (2601 E 2nd Ave., Tampa)
November Professional Development: Making a Multicultural Connection
How do you build your brand and your audience through compelling storytelling? Learn how the University of South Florida, one of the nation’s top 50 public universities and member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), engages students and alumni, donors and community members through strategic multi-media stories that excite, delight and touch hearts. Dan Caterinicchia, USF’s interim vice president and chief marketing officer, will share tips on elevating your organization with some lively storytelling of his own.
Thursday, Nov. 16
Noon – 1 p.m. | University of South Florida (USF Patel College of Global Sustainability – Conference Room; 11710 USF Genshaft Dr., Tampa, FL 33620)
October Professional Development: Build Your Brand Through Storytelling
Public relations practitioners should be integrating Hispanic cultural strategy in their everyday campaigns as the Latino population continues to climb and becomes a majority group in many areas. One major aspect of that work is to include Spanish-language media and their audiences in media relations outreach. Join us for a program with José Luis Dieppa, FPRA member and external communications manager at AdventHealth, on how to make a cultural connection and build relationship with Hispanic media.
Friday, Oct. 27
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | The EpiCenter (13805 58th St. N., Clearwater)
September Professional Development
Now What? Are These Public Relations Trends Headed to Your Workplace? Grab your coffee and join FPRA Tampa Bay to hear what trends in public relations may be coming to your workplace in the next year. We’ll discuss AI, economic instability, the social media shift, and more.
Wednesday, Sept. 27
8:30 a.m. | Zoom
“Ethics in Public Relations – Is it an Oxymoron?” August Lunch and Learn Event
Dr. Patricia Whalen will review key ethical concepts to help public relations professionals drive ethical behavior in their organizations. Using current examples from today’s headlines, she makes the case that poor ethical decision making drives most of today’s PR crises and demonstrates how public relations practitioners can guide an organization to do the right thing.