A Message From Our President
 

I love October. It’s one of my favorite months of the year—and not because it’s the month that PRSA traditionally holds ICON (though a happy coincidence)! The weather cools down just enough and the skies are often a clear, bright blue that you can’t help but be in a good mood no matter what you’re doing.

It’s also Diversity & Inclusion month for PRSA. PRSA Orlando hosted our fourth annual Dinner, Diversity and Dialogue event last week and focused our conversation on ageism in the workplace. It was such a treat to get together in person with other members and I can’t wait to read the white paper about our conversation. In addition, PRSA has some incredible programming scheduled this month, so be sure to check out upcoming webinars section below.

Speaking of upcoming events, we are hosting another PRSA Orlando Around Town Member Meetup on Wednesday, October 20 at the Tap Room at Dubsdread at 6:15 p.m. Space is limited, so if you would like to join us for this small, casual networking event, register today!

We’re also preparing for our first-ever Chapter Recognition Awards Gala and Annual Meeting to be held on Wednesday, November 10 from 6-8 p.m. at the Citrus Club. During the event, we’ll honor our recipients as well as enjoy a networking cocktail hour, dinner and keynote speaker Renita Hunt, the Executive Director of Dress for Success Greater Orlando. We will also hold our annual meeting, so be sure to review the nominees for our 2022 board of directors under the leadership of 2022 Chapter President Wendy J. Roundtree, APR...

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Nominees for the 2022 PRSA Orlando Board of Directors

It is our honor to present the following nominees for PRSA Orlando Regional Chapter’s 2022 board of directors. The following list has been reviewed and approved by a nominating committee consisting of chapter members Rich Donley, APR, Stefanie Macfarlane, APR, Wendy J. Roundtree, APR, Doreen Overstreet, APR and Shayla Cannady. It shall be presented for a vote during the annual meeting of the chapter, to be held during our November monthly program on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. If approved by the majority of members in attendance, the new board will serve a term beginning January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.  

Proposed 2022 Board Slate:

• President: Wendy J. Roundtree, APR 
• President-Elect: Laura Lord-Blackwell, APR
• Immediate Past President: Stefanie Macfarlane, APR
• VP, Finance/Treasurer: Ellie Hodgkins
• Assistant Treasurer: Veronica Figueroa Benitez
• VP, Administration: Alyssa List
• Co-VP, Programs: Jazmyn Reed
• Co-VP, Programs: Priscilla Lauture
• Co-VP, Accreditation: Kelda Senior, APR 
• Co-VP, Accreditation: Kimberly Devitt, APR
• Co-VP, Membership Recruitment: Jaylen Christie
• Co-VP, Membership Retention: Heather Wilson
• VP, Communications: Jed Dunstan, APR
• Social Media Chair: Kelly Ferris, APR 
• Website Chair: Katarina Dos Santos 
• Diversity & Inclusion Chair: Doragnes Bradshaw
• Scholarship/Student Relations Chair: Tory Moore
• Sponsorship Chair: Mimi Flatley, APR 
• Assembly Delegate: Heather Keroes, APR
• Assembly Delegate: Christina Morton, APR 

Join A PRSA Orlando Committee 

We offer a number of opportunities for members to both develop and share their skills while expanding their professional network. By getting involved, you can help shape the direction of PRSA Orlando. To learn more about our 2022 committees, click the button below. 

Join PRSA Orlando in Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion Month 

Celebrate D&I month with special content and programming from PRSA throughout October. Here are a few ways you can get involved: 

• Head to our D&I blog for advice on inclusive growth and collaboration. 
• Follow @PRSADiversity on Twitter for thoughtful content throughout the month.
• Check out PRSA’s 2020-2022 Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan. 
• Raise a glass on Oct. 18 during the ICON D&I Happy Hour from 4:-05–4:50 p.m. 
• Join the conversation with PRSSA for a D&I Twitter Chat on Oct.  25 at 9 p.m.
• Check out The State of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in PR and Communications on Oct. 20. This ICON general session featuring a panel of agency executives sharing their tips for ways the profession can better engage Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). 
• Tune in for a free webinar, Building Better Partnerships Within Corporate Citizenship and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, on Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. 

Member PRofile: Carolyn Reis

While October is predominantly known for celebrating Halloween and the promotion of wearing pink in honor of breast cancer, there are some other well-deserved recognitions that take place throughout the month. One of them is National Women’s Small Business month.

In the world of communications and public relations, it is very common for practitioners to venture out on their own as a consultant, with many starting their own firm/agency. In honor of National Women’s Small Business month, we are spotlighting Carolyn Reis in this month’s member profile. Carolyn’s firm, Reis Corporate Public Relations, has been going for 17 years strong. Continue reading to learn more about her experience and her words of advice for those who have aspirations to open their own firm one day.

PRSA Fellows Week

Next week, the College of Fellows will begin its first-ever Fellows Week, Oct. 10-17. This program of events will include both a virtual and in-person induction celebration, plus networking opportunities and professional development programming specially designed for members of the College of Fellows. Join us in celebrating all the PRSA Fellows, including our chapter's very own Fellow, Lisa Lochridge, APR and 2019 College of Fellows Chair, Geri Evans, APR. 

Bringing Diverse Sources to a Wider Audience 

Discover a groundbreaking new resource called Sources of Color, created as a direct response to a lack of representation of people of color in news stories. It was developed by KQ Communications, a full-service public relations firm, to offer journalists access to more diverse sources.

This Month's Free Webinars 

Learn from home with webinars from PRSA, FREE for members:

• Oct. 27: Diverse Dialogues: Building Better Partnerships Within Corporate Citizenship and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Nov. 11: Reach More Readers By Thinking Like a Reader