County Community Information Specialists earn Chapter's top Honors

DAYTONA BEACH-Shelley Szafraniec, a community information specialist for Volusia County Government,
was named 2009 Great Communicator by the Volusia/Flagler Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) during its annual awards luncheon April 14.
Szafraniec was honored for her "composure under fire and excellence in disaster communications," said Chapter President Melissa Sheets.

Szafraniec, the chapter’s 10th honoree, has worked for Volusia County since 2004. Previously, she was the public affairs director for the local chapter of the American Red Cross and a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Air Force.

The Great Communicator Award is the highest honor given by the Volusia/Flagler Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association. Previous winners have included John E. Evans, David Byron, Jackie Kersh, Mike Jiloty, Bob Davis, Mary Harowski, Black Crow Broadcasting, Al Tolley and Kate Holcomb.

The Chapter Member of the Year award went to Pat Kuehn, also a community information specialist for Volusia County Government. Kuehn chaired two committees in 2009 and won the state FPRA's "Most Improved Chapter" award as 2008 Chapter President.

The chapter also announced winners of its Image Awards competition, which honors programs that incorporate sound public relations research and planning. Entries were judged by the Dick Pope/Polk County FPRA Chapter.

Top honors, including the Grand Image awards in the print and public relations divisions, went to Flagler County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands Campaign. The entry was submitted by Sheets, Special Projects Coordinator for Flagler County.
Other winners included:
• Bethune-Cookman University students Xavyance Handfield, Tiffany McCain and Haquikah Petersonm who  swept the student category, winning three awards for their Florida Classic public relations and marketing campaign;
• Stetson University's Office of Public Relations and Communications, which won an Image Award for its special event celebrating the selection of Dr. Wendy Libby as the university's ninth president in November;
• The Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach, which received an Award of Distinction for its showerhead exchange program; and
• Mary Dorn, communications consultant, who won a Judge's Award for her FPRA member orientation DVD.

Halifax Health sponsored the luncheon and ceremony.