FPRA Pensacola Chapter

🥳🌟 Congratulations to our own Andie Gibson on her selection in this year's 2026 Joe Curley APR, CPRC Rising Leader Class! Andie serves as the VP of Communications and Digital Media for FPRA Pensacola and has been a chapter member since 2021. Thank you for all you do for FPRA Pensacola and the public relations profession!

🌟𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐏𝐑, 𝐂𝐏𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬!🌟

FPRA is proud to recognize this outstanding group of emerging leaders who are making a meaningful impact within their chapters, communities and the public relations profession:

⭐ Jamie Gillespy - FPRA Capital Chapter
⭐ Muffy Lavens - Central West Coast Chapter of the FPRA
⭐ Gabriel Segarra-Colon, PIO - Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of FPRA
⭐ James Neville - FPRA Gainesville
⭐ Danielle Fitzpatrick - FPRA Volusia/Flagler
⭐ Altoria White - FPRA Jacksonville Chapter
⭐ Christine Westenhaver - FPRA - Treasure Coast Chapter
⭐ Gisselle Garcia - FPRA Orlando Area Chapter
⭐ Ashley McKnight - Tampa Bay Chapter of FPRA
⭐ Andrea Gibson - FPRA Pensacola Chapter
⭐ Meagan Happel - Space Coast FPRA
⭐ Jada Bigord - The Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA
⭐ Mark Kattoura - FPRA South Florida Chapter

The 2026 Joe Curley APR, CPRC Rising Leaders will be recognized during the Presidents’ Luncheon at the 2026 FPRA PR & COMMS SUMMIT. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments, leadership and continued contributions to FPRA!

The Joe Curley Rising Leader Program is made possible through the endowed Joe Curley Rising Leader Fund, held with the . The program is managed through the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation.

Please join us in congratulating the entire 2026 Rising Leader Class! 👏🎉

📢 Want to learn how to pivot in your career? Then you won't want to miss next week's chapter meeting!

We're excited to welcome Mike Nabors, CEO of Nabors Media Group an author of the acclaimed book "Don't Quit, Pivot" to our July Chapter Meeting! Mike will lead a discussion on "The Power of Pivoting" that will leave everyone feeling motivated to find maximum fulfillment in their careers.

📅 Thursday, July 16
📍 Gulf Coast Kid's House, 3401 N. 12th Ave.
⏰ 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

🎟️ RSVP via Eventbrite (Lunch is included with the cost of a ticket): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-lunch-learn-mike-nabors-tickets-1990973907553?aff=oddtdtcreator

💌 Questions? Send us a DM or email us at [email protected]

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Brian West, longtime Florida Public Relations Association member and past president of the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of FPRA. Brian was a treasured member of FPRA and his loss will be felt immensely.

From all of us at the FPRA Pensacola chapter, we send our heartfelt condolences to Brian’s family, friends, and fellow chapter members as they grieve this tremendous loss. Please continue to keep them in your prayers and join us in sending them love and support during this difficult time.

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Brian West, a longtime FPRA member, past president of the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of FPRA, and beloved member of our FPRA family.

Brian was a man of faith, service, kindness, and deep commitment to his family, his community, Publix and the public relations profession. Those who knew him knew the heart he brought into every room, every conversation, and every effort he supported.

Our hearts are with his wife Jennifer, their children, Brian’s family, friends, and our Dick Pope Polk County Chapter family as they grieve this tremendous loss.

Jennifer has shared that the family is grateful for the countless prayers, messages, and acts of kindness they have received. As they navigate these first days of grief, they have asked for a brief period of quiet and space as they focus on their family. Funeral and memorial service details have not yet been finalized and will be shared when available.

Please continue to keep Brian’s family in your thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks ahead. May we surround them with love, support, and the strength of our FPRA family.

As we learn more in the coming days about ways to support Brian’s family and the Dick Pope Polk County Chapter during this difficult time, we will share those opportunities with the FPRA community.

📢 This week: Join FPRA Pensacola for our June Lunch & Learn and learn how to use Digital Charisma to cut through the noise with best-selling author, speaker, small business consultant, and entrepreneur Eddy Hill.

📝 Using his practical C.H.A.R.I.S.M.A. Framework, Eddy will teach an 8-step system for improving every digital asset, including websites, social media profiles, landing pages, media kits, bios, press releases, and campaign content. Attendees will learn how to turn attention into trust, trust into engagement, and engagement into into verifiable results.

📅 Thursday, June 18
📍 Gulf Coast Kid's House, 3401 N. 12th Ave.
⏰ 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

🎫 RSVP via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/june-lunch-learn-eddy-hill-tickets-1991387391294?aff=oddtdtcreator

📧 Questions? Email us at [email protected]

📝 Applications are open for our FPRA Pensacola 2026-2027 Board of Directors!

This is a great opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, grow your professional network, and give back to our industry and community. Open positions include:

🌟 President-elect/VP of Membership
🌟 VP of Professional Development
🌟 VP of Networking
🌟 VP of Accreditation and Certification
🌟 VP of Finance
🌟 VP of Communication and Digital Media
🌟 VP of Sponsorships and Fundraising
🌟 Secretary
🌟 At-Large

ℹ️ Complete the board interest survey by Friday, June 19: https://forms.gle/Th1Q38YqULM9syXu8

💌 Questions? Contact FPRA Pensacola Chapter President Rachel Smith at [email protected]

Florida Public Relations Association

🥂 Don't miss out on our June networking event! Come hang out with us at Bar, Justa in Downtown Pensacola, and enjoy an evening of networking with your fellow FPRA members and industry professionals.

📅 Wednesday, June 10
📍 118 S. Baylen St.
⏰ 5:30-7 p.m.

No RSVP required for this casual happy hour event, so drop in any time! We hope to see you there!

📅 Our summer schedule is filling up! Save the dates for our upcoming chapter events, including the highly anticipated Florida Public Relations Association Annual PR & Comms Summit in August! Where will we see you next?

📢 Don't forget, our annual Crisis Communications Panel is this week! Tickets are going fast, and you won't want to miss the chance to learn from local industry experts on what to do when your organization faces a crisis.

Everyone is welcome at our chapter meetings, so bring a friend (or two) and enjoy an afternoon of networking and learning.

📅 Thursday, May 21
📍 Gulf Coast Kid's House, 3401 N. 12th Ave.
⏰ 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

🎫 RSVP via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-lunch-learn-crisis-communications-panel-tickets-1988832817495?aff=oddtdtcreator

⚾ Calling all baseball fans: next week's chapter meeting is for you!

Ever wondered what goes into making the Pensacola Blue Wahoos an award-winning organization? We're excited to welcome the team behind the Blue Wahoos to our April Lunch & Learn to discuss "The Wahoos Way." Learn more about the strategies for promotion, engagement, marketing, and everything that goes into Pensacola's tremendously successful minor league baseball team.

📆 Thursday, April 16
⏰ 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 Gulf Coast Kid's House, 3401 N. 12th Ave.

🎟 RSVP via Eventbrite (Lunch is included with the cost of a ticket): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/april-lunch-learn-blue-wahoos-tickets-1986776192073?aff=oddtdtcreator

📧 Questions? Send us a DM or email us at [email protected]

📢 Calling all current and emerging leaders: our March Lunch & Learn session is for you!

Join FPRA Pensacola for our March Lunch & Learn where we'll be discussing "From Awkward to Awesome: Turning Difficult Conversations into Breakthrough Moments" with Rachael Gillette, President and Founder, VMG Solutions.

Difficult conversations are an inevitable part of leadership and teamwork, yet many people avoid them because they feel uncomfortable or risky. In this interactive lunch-and-learn, participants will explore why these conversations matter and how avoiding them can quietly erode trust, performance, and relationships.

🎟 You won't want to miss this! RSVP via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-lunch-learn-rachael-gillette-tickets-1985445121806?aff=oddtdtcreator

📆 Thursday, March 26
📍 Gulf Coast Kid's House, 3401 N. 12th Ave.
⏰ 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

📧 Questions? Send us a message or email us at [email protected]