"Use of Social Networking by Polk County Sheriff's Office" May 14 FPRA Professional Development Topic

Monday, May 4

"The Use of Social Networking by the Polk County Sheriff's Office" will be the topic when the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) presents the latest in its series of professional development seminars on Thursday, May 14 at Webster University in downtown Lakeland.

Donna Wood, an FPRA member who serves as a Public Information Officer for the Polk County Sheriff's Office, will discuss the law enforcement agency's effective use of a wide range of social networking tools, including MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, in her role as guest speaker.

"Donna Wood has been involved in social networking with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for more than two years and will explain how it is currently being used and achieving great results for Polk County's largest law enforcement agency," said Jim Frankowiak of Coastal Public Relations, seminar chair.

Frankowiak said Wood also will discuss costs, issues and challenges associated with using social networking. "This presentation will attendees a chance to learn how a law enforcement agency has taken social networking from theory to practical application from someone who was involved from the very start," he said

Wood joined the Polk County Sheriff's Office in 1994 as a crime prevention specialist and served as a community liaison and crime prevention administrator before assuming her current position.

She earned her Certified Public Manager certification from Florida State University, a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication from the University of South Florida and a Masters Degree in Management from Troy University .

In addition to being an active member and director of the Dick Pope/Polk County FPRA chapter, Wood is a member of the National Information Officers Association.

FPRA members and others with an interest in PR and communications can register for this professional development session by sending an e-mail to Frankowiak at jim@cprg-web.com.

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