Featured PRU Speaker, Barry Epstein, APR, CCE, C.I.D

Barry Epstein, President and CEO of barry r. epstein associates, inc., opened his public relations, marketing, association management and political consulting firm in July 1979, with Irv Cowan, President of the Diplomat Hotel, as his first client. For eight years prior, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and then as Executive Vice-President/COO of the Orlando Area Chamber. Subsequently, he was elected President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Executives and named to the Board of Directors of the Florida Chamber.

            Noted for his extensive network of contacts, including media and business leaders throughout the country, he frequently “open doors” for the top echelon needs of his clients, who include international, high tech, medical, consumer, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment, political and non-profit entities.

            Mr. Epstein served as Director of Corporate Communications and then promoted to Director of Corporate and Public Affairs for former Governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown, Jr., CEO of Roasters Corp. d/b/a Kenny Rogers Roasters; developing several innovative PR/ marketing/promotions programs for corporate and franchise sites, “Kenny Visits”, Crisis Communications, etc., and responsible for promoting and assisting in opening stores for the then fastest growing international rotisserie chicken chain in the world, with more than 250 locations in 35 states, Washington, D.C., and six countries.  

            In l985, MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA MAGAZINE named him as one of 100 outstanding community leaders in South Florida, including Gov. Reuben Askew, James Blosser, Frank Borman, etc. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University, has done extensive post-graduate work, and is certified in the fields of Economic Development (CED) and Chamber/Association Management (CCE).

            Accredited (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America, Mr. Epstein has been active in many professional, civic and charitable organizations, and was appointed to the City of Hollywood Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals by its City Commission. He served as Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the Boca Del Mar Improvement Association Board of Directors and as a committee member, is Founder and Consultant to TAG (Together Against Gangs), co-founded and served as Executive Director of DErail the Bullet Train (DEBT, and provided pro bono services to the Youth Activity Center, the Haven, The Alliance of Delray Residential Association, (ADRA), Progressive Residents of Delray (PROD), Stand Among Friends (SAF) Foundation, and the East Boynton Beach Little League World Champions.         

            He was the Founding Executive Director of the Gold Coast Forum, Boca Forum, Broward Forum, and the Florida Limousine Association and represented all the state and regional limousine associations on the Board of the National Limousine Association.

            He is currently President of the www.luxurychamber.com, Founder and former President of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce (www.westbocachamber.com, Founder and President of the West Boca Leaders (www.westbocaleaders.com) networking group, Founder and former President of the Boca Raton Roundtable (www.bocaratonroundtable.com), Co-Founder and Past President of the Gold Coast Public Relations Council (www.goldcoastpublicrelationscouncil.com), and won the 2004 Bernays (“Bernie”) Award for the best public relations program by a public relations firm; the 2005 Bernays (”Bernie”) Award for the best public relations program from a non-profit organization (TAG); Founder of FAU Football, appointed to the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission (former member), American Cancer Society Board of Directors (former member), and the American Jewish Committee Governance Committee and chair of the AJC Public Relations Committee (former member). He was also the Founding President of the Parkland Chamber of Commerce and served on the Loggers Run Master Homeowners Board of Governors.

            Mr. Epstein was also the Chairman of the Coalition of South Florida Associations (CSFA); Vice-President/Communications of the ISES (International Special Events Society), South Florida/Caribbean chapter; and contributed to many winning political campaigns in Broward County, He worked on the initial successful campaigns of Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson and State Senator Ted Deutch, among others, & the Broward County Florida campaign for Casino Gambling (the ONLY County in favor).

            He has his own worldwide internet television show. “barry epstein live” on www.vimeo.com, www.bocatribune.com and www.barryepstein.com, with each show archived also on his site. He also wrote a blog on www.sun-sentinel.com/opinions and writes a weekly blog for the Sun-Sentinel Jewish Journal http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com/ as well as in and on the Boca Raton Tribune (www.bocatribune.com).

            Mr. Epstein is married and has a son and two adorable grandsons. He frequently writes travel, entertainment and movie reviews for several South Florida publications and media outlets including the Plantation Journal and Broward Informer. Call 561.852.0000 or 561.702.0000 for a personal consultation.

His e-mail address is: pr@publicrelations.nu and the web site is: www.publicrelations.nu.

His motto: “PUBLIC RELATIONS IS THE ENEMY OF ANONYMITY!”

Featured PRU Speaker, Connie Ramos-Williams

Connie Ramos-Williams is the President and CEO of CONRIC PR & Marketing and CONRIC Publishing, divisions of Conric Holdings, LLC, a full service agency serving the Southwest Florida business and professional community. The company, Founded by Connie Ramos-Williams in 2007, provides creative writing, design and promotions in all areas of marketing, public relations, advertising and publishing. The firm currently serves clients in many different industries including banking, legal, medical, not-for-profit, restaurant, salon & spas, manufacturers, builders, developers and political campaigns. Clients include Encore Bank, Cre8 Salon & Spa, Harry Chapin Food Bank, FGCU, Florida State Representative Heather Fitzenhagen and Mayor Randy Henderson. She is the Founder of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine and is the past Niche Advertising Director for the News-Press. 

Connie sits on the board of directors for several community non-profit organizations such as Dress for Success SW Florida and Multicultural Centre of SWFL, and is an active member of the Tiger Bay Club of Southwest Florida, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Above Board Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Florida Manufacturers Association, Rotary Club of South Fort Myers, Impact Initiative and serves on the 20th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee for the Florida Bar Association.

She has been the project director for the BIG Backpack Event for more than 13 years now. The event serves more than 2,000 school age children with free backpacks and school supplies each year. Ramos-Williams also volunteers her time to empower women in business and budding entrepreneurs as part of the Goodwill Entrepreneur Programs and Dress for Success Entrepreneurial Spirit Program. She lives by the Rotarian motto – Service Above Self.

Connie has been nominated for numerous awards and recognitions including the prestigious APEX Award and Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. CONRIC PR & Marketing was voted and selected as one of the Top 3 PR firms serving Southwest Florida in the 2013 Gulfshore Business magazine’s “Best of Business” competition.

Connie is a native Floridian originally from Miami.  She and her husband, Rick Williams have four grown children. 

Featured PRU Speaker, Cyndee Woolley, APR

Woolley holds an Accredited Public Relations professional (APR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and has over a decade of experience in marketing and public relations. She has a demonstrated track record campaigns get noticed and generate results. Woolley was a key team member in a public awareness campaign that resulted in the successful negotiation of a contract valued at $210 million dollars for Waste Management.

Woolley is a consultant in public relations, social media, and community outreach strategies. She recently released her first book called Building Brand [You], which is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBook.

She has led training initiatives in social media and public relations training programs through: The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, Marco Island Chamber of Commerce,American Business Women's Association Vistage, Collier County Republican Executive Committee, Miromar Design Center, Naples Area Board of Realtors, HR Collier and for over 80 non-profit organizations at Thinking Outside the Box seminar. Woolley spoke at the 2011 PRSA International Conference in October 2011, the PRSA Sunshine District Conference in 2012 and the PRSA Western District in 2013. Additionally, she was a featured presenter for Full Sail University's online alumni webinar series and Hodges University alumni association.

Woolley believes in giving back to the community by taking an active role in professional and civic organizations. Through a proactive crisis communication strategy, Woolley assisted the Naples Equestrian Challenge achieve multiple media placements after a lightning strike caused $10,000 in damage. The media coverage generated nearly $15,000 in donations from residents who had seen the story. She is the 2013 PRSA Sunshine District Chair where she is also past Secretary for 2011 and a past president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of PRSA. She is also a past president of the Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising Association of Collier County. She also served on marketing and branding committees for The Shelter for Abused Women and Children of Collier County, the Naples Equestrian College and the Leadership Collier Foundation. In 2010, she helped raise $25,000 toward providing 2 myoelectric arms for an 8 year-old boy by coordinating the 2nd Annual Miracle Limbs Courage in Motion Bike Ride.

Woolley is the immediate past-Chair of the Farm City BBQ, a local tradition that attracts 1,000 representatives annually from Collier County’s business and agricultural communities. Woolley also volunteered on the PR committee for the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, a tribute to Vietnam Veterans that attracted 30,000 visitors. In addition, Woolley is a graduate of the 2009 class of Leadership Bonita and the 2012 class of Leadership Collier.

Consistently visible at the forefront of her specialization, in 2009, Cyndee created the social media strategy for the first Tweet Town Hall in Naples, FL. To demonstrate the speed of social media, the event was organized in 14 days and attracted over 7,000 participants in South Florida and made headlines on the front page of the Naples Daily News as well as publications across the state. The Tweet Town Hall campaign was recognized with an Image Award from the Florida Public Relations Association as well as a Platinum Hermes Award from the American Marketing Association.

For her leadership and community involvement, Woolley was named among the 2012 40 Under 40 by Gulfshore Business Magazine as well as the 2011 40 Under 40 for Gulf Coast Business Review.

She has a beautiful young daughter. When she isn't running her daughter to violin lessons, gymnastics or ballet, they are seeking adventure and fun with day trips throughout South Florida.

PRU Speaker - Erik Stafford, Internet Marketing Guru

Erik Stafford comes from an advertising and design background and have won numerous awards over the past fifteen years, including several AAF-ADDY Awards and some other ones with equally important sounding names.

As Creative Director at ISOOSI Marketing Agency, Erik has worked with a wide range of companies around the globe, and he has consulted "behind the scenes" on several high-profile launches and marketing campaigns, providing his expertise to increase responsiveness and conversions.

Erik is widely recognized as an Internet Marketing expert, and his direct response design and conversion tactics have been responsible for millions in sales.

Erik and his family live in the small town of Cape Coral, Florida. When he's not working, he can usually be found reading, cooking vegan meals, or sleeping on the beach.

Congratulations, Kate Walter, APR!!!

Kate Walter, APR, of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) recently earned professional public relations accreditation, and received the designation of Accredited in Public Relations (APR).

Walter joins the more than 4,300 active public relations professionals worldwide who represent an elite group of highly skilled professionals committed to practicing with exemplary ethical standards, including 30 in southwest Florida.

Walter serves as the marketing and public relations manager at PKE Marketing & PR Solutions in Fort Myers. A graduate from the University of Florida, Walter received a master’s degree in international communication, a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication and a bachelor’s degree in political science. She is an active member of the Junior League of Fort Myers, the Florida Public Relations Association and is the communications chair for the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals.

To earn accreditation, candidates must pass an oral presentation and rigorous written examination administered by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), which is an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations dedicated to furthering the field of public relations and the development of public relations professionals. FPRA is a member of the UAB.

The Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida.  For more information on the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, visit www.fpraswfl.org.