Experts share motivational wisdom for PR and communications professionals
during half-day seminar
SARASOTA – June, 2019 – The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) will host a half-day seminar, titled “PR University.” The seminar takes place at FCCI Insurance Group (6300 University Parkway) on Wednesday, June 19, from 7:30 a.m. to noon. During this program, a sports psychologist, spoken-word poet, healthcare professional, and game designer will offer inspiration and motivational wisdom that can be applied to your professional practice (and beyond). These experts in their fields will address topics that touch on the core of PR, communications and marketing, and discuss how attendees can stay engaged, smart and collaborative in an ever-evolving field while having fun doing it.
PR University features keynote speaker Tim Walsh of The Playmakers; attendees can choose two of three available breakout sessions presented by Cedric Hameed of Visible Men Academy, Monica Yadav of Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, and Coach Raj Singh of Sarasota Metropolis FC.
“We are very much looking forward to this year’s half-day seminar, which will touch on topics including media training, collaboration, finding your voice, and supercharging your creativity,” said CWC-FPRA president Rhonda Leiberick, APR. “Our annual seminars go well beyond providing interesting and useful information, though – they also offer a wonderful opportunity for professionals to network and inspire one another.”
This event, which is sponsored by Next-Mark, is open to all interested public relations, marketing and communications professionals. Tickets, which include continental breakfast, are $45/CWC-FPRA members, $55/guests. Registration is available online at www.cwcfpra.com.
About Tim Walsh
Tim Walsh is a professional speaker, author, game designer and filmmaker. He has three highly-praised books: Timeless Toys (Andrews-McMeel, 2005), WHAM-O Super-Book (Chronicle Books, 2008) and Right Brain Red: 7 Ideas for Creative Success, which was written with designer and super-entrepreneur Reyn Guyer. He is a 28-year veteran of the toy industry. As VP of Product Development & Marketing at Patch Products (now PlayMonster), he was instrumental in taking the company from $3 million in sales to over $23 million in just seven years. His designs and co-designs of games have sold over 7 million copies in 13 countries and include the games TriBond, Blurt, Mad Gab, Link ‘Em and many others. He’s appeared on numerous TV and radio shows including CBS’s The Early Show, NPR’s All Things Considered, This Way Up (New Zealand), Top 100 Toys (BBC), and CNBC’s The Big Idea, among many others.
Cedric Hameed, Visible Men Academy
Cedric Hameed is a fierce arts advocate who believes that local, national, and global change can be accomplished through self-expression. Evidence of his philosophy can be seen in the students and parent voices of Visible Men Academy, an elementary and middle school in Manatee County that provides boys with strong academic, character, and social education. A native of Schenectady, N.Y, Cedric grew accustomed to using words as an escape from his harsh realities and creating the blueprint for developing a life-changing platform.
Monica Yadav, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
Monica Yadav is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota. For 15 years, she was a TV news anchor and investigative reporter at network affiliates in Arizona, Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida. After TV news, she was the Manager of External Relations at Direct Energy, responsible for media relations and crisis communications for franchise owners across the country. At Doctors Hospital, she oversees all marketing, public relations, events and external communications.
Raj Singh, Sarasota Metropolis FC
Coach Raj Singh was born in Bedford, UK and moved to Houston on a soccer scholarship in 2011. He went on to graduate with degrees in accounting and finance. Currently a financial planner with Northwestern Mutual and coach at Sarasota Metropolis FC Blue Dragons, he oversees 26 young professionals in pursuit of becoming champions in United Soccer League.
The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. Visit www.cwcfpra.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
PHOTO ID: Keynote speaker Tim Walsh – professional speaker, author, game designer and filmmaker. Photo credit Bill Erlacher.
About CWC-FPRA
Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) is a network of communications professionals from Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto counties who come together for professional development and to build a network within the communications field. An active part of the oldest statewide public relations organization in the country, CWC-FPRA takes pride in its more than 50-year history of stimulating programs and the professional growth of its members. The mission of 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, go to cwcfpra.com.