Upcoming Events

Spotlight on Tampa Bay
A Panel Discussion on the Upcoming Republican National Convention

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Registration: 11:30 a.m.

The University Club
201 North Franklin St., #3800
Tampa, FL 33602

Join FPRA as we host a panel discussion on the upcoming 2012 Republican National Convention. This panel will focus on the public relations opportunities and positive economic development the event will bring to the Tampa Bay area.  As PR professionals it is important now more than ever to promote our Tampa Bay community to the nation.

Panelist include:
Ken Jones, President of the Tampa Bay Host Committee
Santiago Corrada, Chief of Staff for the City of Tampa
Adam Smith, Political Editor for the Tampa Bay Times

Moderated by Jack Harris, Radio Personality, Co-Host of A.M. Tampa Bay on 970 WFLA

Fast Facts on the RNC Event

  • With approximately 13,000 – 15,000 members of the media in attendance, the RNC is the single largest media event in the world except for the Olympic Games.
  • The Host Committee has more than 15,000 hotel rooms booked for each night of the Convention and more than 75 event venues under contract.
  • The direct spending impact for the Convention will total approximately $175 – $200 million.  This does not take into account the economic “multiplier” effect which can equate to 2.5 times the actual amount of hard dollars spent.
  • The amount of electricity, cabling and fiber connectivity will likely be the most ever utilized for any event in the state of Florida.
  • The last time a Presidential Nominating Convention was held in Florida was 1972. In that year, both the Republican and Democratic National Committees held their Presidential Nominating Conventions in Miami Beach, Florida.
  • Approximately 350 full-size charter buses and more than 500 private vehicles will be utilized during the week of the Convention.
  • The largest lighting assembly ever hung for any event in the world was at the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas.
  • In excess of 7,500 volunteers will be activated and deployed to assist during the week of the Convention.

Cost:
FPRA member: $25
Non-member: $35
Student: $25

Register here.

Media Roundtable: March 7, 2012

The Media Roundtable, one of the year’s most popular Tampa Bay area PR events, provides a unique opportunity to build relationships with and talk directly with local media contacts about how to work with them to generate press coverage. Jointly organized by the local chapters of PRSA and FPRA, the Media Roundtable is also a great chance to network with dozens of PR colleagues from both organizations.

The format is fast moving and high energy, and provides plenty of insight that public relations professionals can take back to the office and use in working with the media. Each roundtable will have a media contact, and attendees at a specific roundtable will have about 10 minutes to introduce themselves, ask questions and build relationships. There’s a reason it is such a popular program: For PR professionals, it provides solid value.

Confirmed media representatives include:

Mitch Perry, Creative Loafing
Jeff Harrington, Tampa Bay Times
Kelly Barfield, LNS
Chris Taylor, Patch
John Romano, Tampa Bay Times
Orlando Nieves, CENTRO
Steve Versnick, WFLA radio
Adrianne Pederson, WFLA TV
Margaret Cashill, Tampa Bay Business Journal
Rich Mullins, Tampa Tribune

Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Brio Tuscan Grill, Bay Street at International Plaza, 2223 N. West Shore Boulevard, Tampa
Registration/Breakfast: 7:30 – 8 a.m.
Program: 8 – 10 a.m.

Cost:
Through Friday, February 24:
PRSA or FPRA Members & Students: $40
Guests: $50

After February 24: $60 for All Attendees

Please RSVP by Friday, March 2nd to Tanya Meyers or register online here.

Proudly sponsored by:


Past Events

2012

January 2012
Behind the Scenes with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Krista Rosado, Director of Marketing and Advertising for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, shared how filming Dolphin Tale impacted the venue and the community, and how PR played a role in bringing attention to Winter’s story in 2006 – long before the movie was developed.

2011

November 2011
Public Relations on Ice: What’s Behind the Thunder?

FPRA Tampa Bay hosted a program with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the newly renovated St. Pete Times Forum and heard from the PR team on how insiders are inspiring Lightning fans to be the Thunder.

October 2011
Non-Profit Forum: Effective Public Relations and Media Practices

FPRA Tampa Bay & AR Public Affairs joined together to bring together charities from across the region to hear some of Tampa Bay’s most well-known media and public relations professionals speak on effectively working with the media to promote their organizations.

September 2011
Inside the FBI with Tampa Division spokesman Special Agent Dave Couvertier

For additional information on upcoming programs or to suggest a topic and/or speaker, please contact the programs committee.