Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

Provides assistance to the director in organizing and implementing a public information program to generate, disseminate, and promote where appropriate, information about the programs and services of the Board. Works with PGTV, as requested, to create, implement and produce programs that deliver key messages.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Writes, edits, designs, and arranges for printing various external publications and other materials informing the public of County government projects, programs, and activities.  Plans, prepares and maintains the development and updating of audio/visual presentation, promotional brochures, fact sheets, news releases, photographs, and other appropriate periodicals, newsletters and related reports. Create and maintain press kits and photo library.  Maintain clipping file of published articles pertaining to Polk County.  Develop and maintain media data base for area news contacts, state, national and international editors.  Maintain and help develop areas of website.

Assists in the coordination of an ongoing media relations program, including, but not limited to:  information preparation and distribution; monitoring; interviews; and special programs.  Review and evaluate information to insure clarity and consistency prior to dissemination and circulation.  Plan and make preparations for seminars, trade shows, lectures, appreciation dinners, speeches, and other functions as required.

Represents the Board in contacts with news media, community organizations, and other public contacts.  Responds to natural and man-made disasters and other events to represent the Board.  Maintain pertinent portions of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

Performs other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.  Ability to use desktop publishing and word processing programs such as InDesign, Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Excel and Access to create databases and prepare publications with information on a broad range of issues for a diverse audience, using all media sources.  Ability to use independent judgment, analyze information, and formulate policy recommendations regarding major issues. Ability to meet and deal effectively with media/community representatives, officials, and the public on county issues.  Knowledge of journalism, Internet, and marketing practices, techniques and methods.  Ability to identify necessary support services to provide technical assistance in expediting needs.  Ability to meet and deal effectively with the community, other employees, and officials both public and private.  Ability to speak publicly and act, upon request, as spokesperson for the Board. Ability to work nights, weekends and travel when required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate of an accredited four year college or university with major course work in public relations, marketing, journalism, or communications, and have a minimum of three (3) years of public relations, marketing, journalism, or related experience.

Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver=s license at the time of employment within this classification.

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

SPECIAL PREFERENCE

Accreditation in public relations (APR)

JOB LOCATION:  Communications, Bartow, FL

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

HIRING RATE:  $39,332.00 – $48,339.00 (Pay Grade 21)

Interested applicants and employees should apply by creating an application.  CLICK HERE for more detailed information on applying.

Apply no later than the closing date (02.21.12)

Develop and implement Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing’s public relations and media strategies and oversee the outdoor recreation segments (golf, fishing, ecotourism, water skiing, cycling) of the PCTSM strategic marketing plan and budget.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

• Develop sports communication strategies for the annual Marketing Plan by utilizing research to outline key strategies and tactics of the marketing plan.
• Develop and maintain tourism and sports marketing press kits and photo library.
• Develop and maintain media database for area news contacts, state, national and international sports editors, sports writers, free-lance writers and photographers.
• Maintain clipping file of published articles pertaining to Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing and calculate media value for articles placed.
• Respond to media and sports writer requests.
• Plan, promote and conduct press familiarization tours of Polk County.
• Write and disseminate tourism and sports related press releases, articles and feature stories.
• Actively participate in, and travel to, sports conventions, outdoor writer association conferences (Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Southeast Outdoor Press Association and Outdoor Writers of America Association) and trade shows.
• Develop an ongoing working relationship with the media, prepares various types of information on current and anticipated issues for publication, and provides specific information requested by the media.
• Develop and maintain active relationships with state tourism and sports PR representatives (VISIT FLORIDA, Florida Sports and various tourism and sports organizations).
• Manage the development and dissemination of story ideas promoting Polk County as a tourism and sports destination.
• Work with sales and marketing staff to develop media events/promotions to key decision makers in target markets.
• Work closely with Polk County’s private sector tourism industry partners on public relations initiatives to further the reach and effectiveness of the Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing message.
• Write and edit e-newsletters for local tourism and sports industry. Develop and maintain editorial copy for print and electronic advertising, promotions and sports web sites.
• Manage various Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing special events (Polk County All Sports Awards, Major League Scramble, etc.) and serve as the main contact with venues, participating organizations and corporate clients.
• Serves as a sales professional representing Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing at various conferences and conventions, such as International Pow Wow, Play Florida Golf shows, Florida Huddle, etc. as needed.
• Assists Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager with advertising agency projects, work orders and correspondence. Coordinates collateral production schedule. Monitors creative process and supplements production with advance copy, photos and creative layout.
• Manages and coordinates Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing’s weekly radio show, “Sports Central”. Including, but not limited to: scheduling guests, ensuring sponsor fulfillment, promotional fulfillment and maintain a close working relationship with radio station representatives.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Knowledge of journalism, graphic design, e-marketing and basic marketing practices, techniques and methods. Knowledge of advertising, graphic layout and production techniques. Ability to write copy for collateral and various publications.

Ability to conceive, design, formulate and prepare brochures, flyers, promotional materials and reports. Ability to use independent judgment, analyze information and formulate recommendations. Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees, officials, business representatives and the public. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. Ability to make public speaking presentations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate of an accredited four (4) year college/university and have a minimum of three (3) years public relations, marketing, journalism, computer or business related experience as required for the work effort which applicant is to be employed. Must have a valid driver’s license or be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at the time of employment.

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

SPECIAL PREFERENCE

Prefer applicants have prior experience in the tourism and sports marketing industry.

JOB LOCATION:  Tourism/Sports Marketing, Auburndale, FL

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

HIRING RATE:  $39, 332.00 – $48,339.00 (Pay Grade 21)

Interested applicants should apply by creating an application HERE

Apply no later than the closing date (02.15.12)

Our February 15 meeting will feature Jim DeGennaro, Senior Marketing Manager for Central Florida Development Council. He will be speaking on the use of hand written notes to creative personal gifts.

Jim will offer PR professional numerous ideas to creatively impress clients. Jim uses his background from his three decades as a leading economic development professional to provide stories on how projects have been won by ensuring clients have been made to feel more comfortable and wanted in Polk County than other communities in their search for land or buildings.

Jim has been married to the former Merita Bridges of Lakeland for 37 years.  He has 3 grown children and 6 grandbabies.   He used to be a skinny, liberal hippie writer for The Tampa Tribune and The Ledger but has since reformed himself on all counts.  When he was younger, Jim rode a bareback bronco in a rodeo, parachuted from a perfectly good airplane and bungee jumped stone cold sober from a 200-foot tall tower crane on Daytona Beach.  Today he is careful to hold the handrail when walking down the stairs.  He has been with Polk County and the Central Florida Development Council for 31 years.

His hobbies include dining at fine restaurants like Peebles Barbecue and eating in the living room while watching Sandra Lee on the Food Network.   He also likes to read when he can stay awake.

Drawing on more than a dozen years of theme park experience, Jackie’s brings a unique vision and innovative approach to public relations. Jackie spent nearly a decade with SeaWorld & Busch Gardens, most recently as the consumer promotions Account Manager.  Previously, she was a member of the SeaWorld Orlando media relations team that opened Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark and several headlining shows. This combination of promotions and media relations experience lends a distinctive creativity to Jackie’s approach to creating brand awareness for LEGOLAND Florida and has led to a familiarity with a variety of media channels and messaging approaches.

Jackie sits on the Marketing Committee for Visit Orlando and is a graduate of the University of Central Florida Nicholson School of Communication with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations.

Lorri Shaban is CEO of Thompson Wesley Wolfe, an integrated marketing and public relations firm specializing in strategic planning, brand positioning, media relations, issues management and creative design.  A strong business writer with an innate understanding of consumer behavior and motivation, Shaban brings value to clients in a wide range of industries, from banking and healthcare to hospitality and real estate development.  She is known as a roll-up-your-sleeves, forward-thinking leader able to rapidly understand and connect concepts, and create ways to leverage opportunities and outcomes.

Shaban’s 20-year career includes considerable experience in corporate, agency and not-for-profit organizations.  She has served in senior leadership roles with some of Central Florida’s largest and most prestigious companies.  As vice president of marketing communications for $23 billion CNL Financial Group, Shaban directed all marketing and public relations initiatives for the company’s residential and commercial real estate efforts.  She served as vice president of Curley & Pynn Public Relations and supervised the firm’s most high-profile clients, including Universal Orlando, General Motors, Kmart and Nextel Communications.  Shaban also served as principal spokesperson and communications director for Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development organization.

A graduate of Florida State University, Shaban is professionally accredited by the Public Relations Society of America.  Since moving to Central Florida in 1992, she has been involved in her community in a number of ways, including her current position on the marketing advisory committee for Heart of Florida United Way.

Please Click Here to read the write up from Kyle Kennedy at The Ledger

The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association will present Sip Sip Hooray, an FPRA PRowl, on Thursday, February 16 at the Lake Morton Bed and Breakfast. Complimentary cheese, crackers and fruit will be served starting at 6 p.m. The event is free, but please bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share. The Lake Morton Bed and Breakfast is located at 817 South Boulevard in Lakeland. Parking is available across the street in front of Saint Joseph’s Academy.

Please RSVP to Danny Kushmer at danny.kushmer@watermatters.org or Daniel Jimenez at Daniel.Jimenez@uwcf.org

Are you a member of FPRA and never had the opportunity to attend a New Member Orientation?

Are you a seasoned member of FPRA and would like to brush up on what is new and exciting within the organization?

If you fall under any of these categories then we have the perfect event for you!

New Member Orientation (Not just for new members)

Tuesday, February 28th
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Southwest Florida Water Management District Office
170 Century Blvd
Bartow, FL 33830

Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to jlawson@lovemyspca.com no later than Monday, February 27th.

His great public relations and marketing skills are used to motivate his sales team and other employees and to grow his business which has ranked as the Number One Minority Owned Business in the Tampa Bay area for the fourth straight year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, with $100 million in annual sales.

Oscar J. Horton became president of Sun State International in January 2000.  With more than 25 years of experience at International Truck & Engine Corp., Horton has a proven record of managing organizational change and improving business efficiencies.

Sun State International Trucks, LLC is a full service medium and heavy duty truck dealership with 5 locations in West Central Florida. In addition to the dealerships, Sun State owns an aftermarket business providing repair services, fabrication and installation of truck bodies. The business also installs air conditioners and safety equipment such as, wheelchair lifts and security cameras in school buses. Sun State owns a rental and leasing company that offers full service leasing and rentals, contract maintenance programs and fuel service. Sun State’s 2010 revenue exceeded $100 million dollars ranking it the #1 Minority Owned Business in Tampa Bay area for the fourth year, by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1974, Oscar began his career as a sales representative for International Truck & Engine’s Financial Corporation.  He rose to various positions throughout the International organization. In his final role, Oscar served as Vice President and General Manager of International’s Foundry Business; a multi million dollar business with approximately 1500 employees.  In this role, he was responsible for the business’ overall profitability, as well as all business aspects, including manufacturing, sales and marketing, finance, engineering, human resources, quality and information technology.  After a 25 year career with International, Oscar left to become the President of Sun State International Trucks, LLC.

Since his Presidency at Sun State International, the company has tripled its revenue, as well as, improved its profitability, employee morale and customer satisfaction.  In addition to performance improvements, the company has improved its visibility by working in the community.

Oscar serves on the board of directors for The Bank of Tampa, Academy Prep Center, the University of South Florida Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, Goodwill Industries-Suncoast and The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta – Jacksonville Branch. In addition, Sun State supports the following organizations through donations of cash and gifts in kind.

• Academy Prep Center
• USF Business Center
• American Heart Association
• United Negro College Fund
• Brandon Church of the Nazarene
• Florida Sheriffs Association
• Abe Brown Ministries

The company has received a number of awards and recognitions in the last several years such as:

• Oscar Horton was elected to the 2010 Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame hosted by the Florida Council on Economic Education
• Interview with Geoff Simon of the Suncoast Business Forum on WEDU in October 2009
• 2009 PepsiCo Golden Glove Supplier of the Year Award
• American Truck Dealers, Finalist for Truck Dealer of Year 2008
• Hosted John Snow, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury on a visit to Sun State in February 2004.
• Article in the Minority Business News USA January 2007 issue.
• Article in Smart Business Tampa Bay March 2007 issue.
• Cover story in the October 2006 Florida Trend Magazine.
• Cover story in the May 5^th 2006 Gulf Coast Business Review.
• Ranked in the top 50; of the Top 100 Industrial Companies by Black Enterprise Magazine since 2005.

This meeting is sponsored by

The “fill-a-bag” items, which consist of basic living necessities for homeless children, have been generously donated by individuals and organizations throughout the county, to include Publix Supermarkets, Inc. and CenterState Bank.  This community outreach event is part of a year-long partnership with Project Hearth and the Polk Education Foundation, and this is the third consecutive year the DP/PC FPRA chapter has had the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile effort.

This networking and community service PRowl will take place at Beef O’Brady’s, located at 4810 S. Florida Avenue, within the Lake Miriam shopping center in Lakeland. For those who would like to make plans to dine together in advance, please arrive at 5:30 p.m., as we will begin filling bags immediately after (approximately 6:15 p.m). If you are planning to join us for dinner, please RSVP to Katy Martin at 863.608.1050.

• Pam Crain, public information officer, Polk County Health Department
• Callie Neslund, public affairs manager, The Mosaic Company
• Marybeth Soderstrom, community outreach coordinator, Polk Works

“These members have been voted by the DP/PC FPRA board of directors to hold active membership.  Like all of our members, they are expected to exhibit the best principles of public relations professionals in adhering to high ethical standards and our code of conduct in their respective business careers,” said Jessica Lawson, SPCA, Inc., Director of Community Relations and DP/PC FPRA membership director.