PR Professional of the Year for Second Time

Kate Gooderham, APR, CPRC

Kate Gooderham, APR, CPRC

Recognized as the 2011 PR PRofessional of the Year for Second Time

Each year the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association honors a member who exemplifies the highest standards of the public relations profession in Southwest Florida. The recipients of this award are nominated by the chapter membership in recognition of their commitment and support of FPRA and the Southwest Florida chapter, our local community and public relations profession as a whole.

The honoree of this prestigious award displays a professional attitude and exercises professional conduct in all of his or her activities. They are supportive of fellow public relations professionals and constantly strive to raise the professional standing of FPRA and our industry in all their endeavors.

Kate Gooderham, APR, CPRC is this year’s PR Professional of the year, marking the second time in the 25-year history of the chapter that this honor has been bestowed on the same member twice.

A member of the Southwest Florida Chapter since 1997, Kate has served in numerous positions on the board of directors and if you’ve had the pleasure of serving on the board with her there’s one thing you learn very quickly – she’s an Expert in keeping order (that’s Roberts Rules of Order) and making sure we do everything by the book as a chapter.

The other thing you recognize right off the bat about Kate is that in a world where many people are looking for quick answers and quick fixes, she is truly a thinker, a problem solver and someone you can depend on to give a well thought out response to any question or issue. And, she’s never afraid to speak her mind – even when it comes to tough issues.

Kate has served at the state board level and she served as our chapter president in 2001 – 2002. Today, she continues to serve our chapter as Vice President of Professional Development.

She is a passionate advocate of continuous learning for our membership and is dedicated to helping our emerging PR professionals in launching their careers. She’s also game to try anything fun and has been a frequent star in chapter videos over the years.

Kate is president of Gooderham & Associates, Inc., a Fort Myers, Florida consulting firm established in 1986. The firm specializes in issues management, public information campaigns, grassroots organizing, governmental lobbying and monitoring, coastal permitting and strategic planning.

Believing it’s never too late to learn something new and continue to grow in your profession, Kate recently became president of Southwest Florida Events Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation dedicated to combining fun, fitness and support for local charities through multisport events. The organization’s first event, a sprint triathlon, will be held September 17 & 18 on Captiva Island.