Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Florida Public Relations Association’s (FPRA) PR & Comms Summit, an annual event that brings together public relations, marketing, advertising, and communication professionals. Networking and learning from innovators and leaders in the communications industry was amazing.

There were so many incredible speakers but two stand out as I reflect on this experience: Emily Taffel-Cohen and Juliette Gebken-Mayi.

Emily’s presentation on the use of mixed reality innovations to increase social media engagement was extremely enlightening. She introduced hyper-personalized AI that can create unique and immersive environments for each attendee at an event, increasing interaction. Juliette presented the importance of a tailored approach when engaging Florida’s Hispanic community. She dove into individualized messaging and campaigns that speak to the Hispanic audience. 

Both speakers expanded my knowledge in communications which is exactly what Summit is all about. 

As the first few days wrapped up, I was most excited to attend the Golden Image and Pinnacle Awards Gala, a glamorous event celebrating exceptional work in our industry. 

This night marked the debut of the association’s Pinnacle Awards, which serve to recognize sole practitioners, agencies, corporate teams, non-profit organizations, and government agencies going above and beyond for Florida’s future.

Seeing the incredible campaigns executed by talented PR practitioners in the state and celebrating one another throughout the evening was a perfect finale to Summit. However, nothing can compare to the experience of joining my team, SalterMitchell PR as they accepted many awards including Small Agency of the Year Award.

Watching our team win eight awards was remarkable and I was honored to join them on the stage for a few campaigns I contributed to. As a new project assistant with the firm, the specialty of this moment was not lost on me.

Thank you to the FPRA Capital Chapter for sponsoring my attendance at this year’s PR & Comms Summit. The experience was invaluable. Reflecting on the week, I am rejuvenated to keep learning, absorbing every moment, and supporting the team as we continue the legacy of helping good causes and our clients win.