FPRA Ocala Chapter

08/12/2026

🏆 And the TOP AWARD goes to…!

Congratulations to Danielle Veenstra and Rachel Cote, APR with the College of Central Florida! Their “Take the Reins Quality Enhancement Plan” received the 2026 Dick Pope/All Florida Golden Image Award, the highest honor presented at the Golden Image Awards.

What an incredible moment for our members and the FPRA Ocala Chapter! 🌟🏆

08/12/2026

What an incredible showing for the FPRA Ocala Chapter at the 2026 FPRA State Summit! 🏆

Our Chapter was well represented at this year’s Golden Image and Pinnacle Awards, with Ocala Chapter members and organizations earning an impressive collection of honors for outstanding public relations work.

Congratulations to Creative Springs, which earned six Golden Image honors, including two Golden Image Awards, a Judges’ Award and three Awards of Distinction for work benefiting organizations throughout our community.

Our Chapter members at the City of Ocala - Government also took home honors, earning a Gold Pinnacle Award for Government Team of the Year.

And to cap off an incredible night, our Chapter members at the College of Central Florida earned a Judges’ Award and Golden Image Award for their Take the Reins Quality Enhancement Plan before receiving the evening’s highest honor — the 2026 Dick Pope/All Florida Golden Image Award! 🌟🏆

We couldn’t be more proud of all our Ocala Chapter winners and the outstanding work they are doing throughout Marion and Citrus counties.

Congratulations to everyone who represented FPRA Ocala at this year’s State Summit! 👏

07/16/2026

🙌 A big THANK YOU to Jessica McClain, founder of Old Florida Partners, for presenting to the Chapter today! 👏

👉 Jessica gave an excellent breakdown of Florida's legislative session and shared practical tips for communicating with your local representatives. It was a great opportunity for those who work on legislative initiatives to learn and ask questions about the process.

Thanks to everyone who joined us today! It's always nice to learn, connect and grow together. 🤝

07/14/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Chapter member Leah Taylor on her book, "Beating the Isolation Trap: A Must-Read for Caregivers."

The book is a heartfelt guide created to support dedicated caregivers who give so much of themselves to others. Drawing on years of experience and insight, the book offers encouragement, practical perspective and strategies to help caregivers overcome isolation, prevent burnout, reconnect with themselves and build the support they need to thrive.

To learn more, visit: @

I am beyond excited to announce the launch of my new book, Beating the Isolation Trap! This book is a heartfelt compilation of insights and experiences gathered over the years, all focused on one e…

07/14/2026

🎉 We have a WINNER! 🎉

💙 Thank you to everyone who completed our FPRA Ocala Chapter survey! Your feedback helps us improve and drive the Chapter forward! 🚀

Congratulations to Danielle Veenstra, our random-draw raffle winner! 🎉👏

07/11/2026

✨ ACES is Going Places! ✨

Join Heather Danenhower, APR, CPRC for an inside look at the people behind the power⚡️

We'll go behind the scenes with Duke Energy as the 2026 hurricane season nears and learn how trust is built with the residents of Marion and Citrus counties. Duke Energy serves 1.8 million customers across 35 Florida counties and their employees live and work in the communities they serve.

📅 Thursday, July 23
⏰ 8–9:15 a.m.
☕ Coffee and continental breakfast will be served
📍 Duke Energy’s Ocala Operations Center | 4359 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala

Are you a PR pro with 10+ years of experience, or have you earned APR or CPRC certification? Join ACES!

💬 RSVP to Carole Savage, APR, CPRC, ACES chair .[email protected]

07/09/2026

🎉Congratulations to Lauren Debick on being named one of Ocala Magazine’s 40 Under 40! 🎉

We’re proud to see Lauren recognized for her leadership, creativity and dedication in her work and life. Her commitment to elevating our profession and supporting our community makes this honor truly well deserved.

👏Congratulations, Lauren! Keep up the great work!



https://ocalamagazine.com/dayne-boudreau-albert-febo-nales-leighandra-gibbons-more-40-under-40/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS44r9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFVVDFYOUdHU1NrVFNDWExQc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHniGemlDNktixHBBrHzYWHDNg1N8Gn-yvJKusH6PHJcv-IRr-CnICzZm6Jg1_aem_CN21dVdCo7Xr-2hWrwQ4cw

Dayne Boudreau, Albert Febo Nales, Leighandra Gibbons, & more - 40 Under 40 - July 2, 2026 - Ocala's #1 Most award-winning city magazine.

07/04/2026

🎉Happy Fourth of July! 🎉

Today, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and honor our nation's rich history and enduring spirit!

From all of us at the FPRA Ocala Chapter, we wish you and your loved ones a safe, joyful and memorable Independence Day. ❤️🤍💙

06/24/2026

🌟 Join us for our July professional development meeting! 🌟

🎤 Jessica McClain presents: Decoding Tallahassee: Your Guide to the Florida Session

Curious how things really work in the Capitol and how decisions in Tallahassee can ripple across the state? Jessica breaks it all down with clarity and insight to help you navigate Florida’s legislative landscape with confidence.

Jessica is the founder of Old Florida Partners with more than 20 years of experience in Florida politics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in strategic public relations from The George Washington University.

👉 Perfect for anyone who interacts with government or wants a better understanding of Florida’s legislative process!

📅 Thursday, July 16 | 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
✍ Register ahead of time: ://www.fpraocala.org/events/

06/15/2026

🌟Happy Monday Everyone! 🌟

Just a friendly reminder to register for our June professional development meeting happening this week!

🎤 Devon Chestnut, APR, CPRC, presents: Say More With Less: The Smart Brevity® Advantage
In a world overflowing with words and shrinking attention spans, clarity isn’t just a skill — it’s a competitive advantage. Join us to learn how to craft crisp, compelling messages that break through the noise and truly stick.

Devon is the Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for Cox Communications, the largest private broadband provider in the U.S. She’s a past state president of FPRA, former chair of the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation and an active member of the FPRA Ocala Chapter.

👉 Perfect for communications professionals looking to sharpen their writing skills!

📅 Thursday, June 18 | 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
✍ Register ahead of time: https://www.fpraocala.org/events/