Member Spotlight November 2013 - Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC, is the president and owner of Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C., a full service public relations and marketing firm serving Southwest Florida businesses and non-profit organizations.  She is one of Florida’s most honored public relations professionals with more than 200 awards for her work, including all three state-wide Grand Image Awards from the Florida Public Relations Association, and special commendations from former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter for her national newspaper campaign to free American hostages held in Iran.  She has more than 35 years experience in media and marketing, having spent the better part of her career as a news and marketing executive with Gannett Co.

In her current role, Susan works with businesses, both large and small, as well as non-profit organizations to help them accomplish their marketing goals through innovative, creative solutions.  For example, she created the Grande Dames Tea for the PACE Center for Girls, the Edison-Ford Gala for the Edison-Ford Winter Estates Foundation, and is one of the organizers of the annual Community Easter Sunrise Service at City of Palms Park, the annual Community Prayer Breakfast for 1,400 community leaders on the National Day of Prayer, and several annual events for CCMI presented by Sam Galloway, Jr.

Prior to opening her public relations firm 1991, Susan served on the launch team of USA TODAY while working simultaneously as Marketing Director of The News-Press in Fort Myers.  During her USA TODAY tenure, she orchestrated the USA TODAY launch party on the White House lawn for 8,000 guests, including the President of the United States and the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. She also was part of the Blue Ribbon Panel that opened the first 15 markets for USA TODAY.

In the area of civic involvement, Susan is a Trustee Emeritus and past Chairman of the Board of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, an Advisory Board member of Grandeur Magazine and the Above Board Chamber of Florida, an inaugural member of the Impact Initiative of the Golisano Children’s Hospital, and a charter member of the Tiger Bay Club, among many other civic organizations.

Susan has earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in mass communications from the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she continues to be involved as a Distinguished Member of the President’s Council.

“Be good, do good, and goodness will follow,” is her life-long motto.