SARASOTA, Fla. – The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) recently honored two longtime members who have distinguished themselves with an impressive record of leadership and service. Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, has reached the 50-year mark and Colleen Thayer, MA, APR, CPRC has reached the 25-year mark with the Florida Public Relations Association.
Curley – the co-founder and former president of one of Florida’s oldest and largest PR firms, Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management – joined the Orlando Area chapter in 1973 and served as that chapter’s president from 1978-1979. He then served as state president from 1981-1982 and as Counselors’ Network Chair from 2010-2011. He moved to the Sarasota/Manatee area in the early 2000s and became a Central West Coast chapter member, serving as a board member since 2016. In 2022, Curley founded the CWC Past Presidents Advisory Panel to serve as a PR counsel sounding board and to assist chapter members as needed.
During his long membership in the association, Curley has mentored many FPRA members. His passion for developing future leaders led him in 2010 to endow the Joe Curley Rising Leader program, which annually identifies and honors up-and-coming FPRA leaders with cash rewards and professional development scholarships. He also endowed the Dr. Jay Rayburn, APR, CPRC annual scholarship to support the professional development of students studying to enter the public relations profession.
Over the years, Curley has been awarded each of the top four FPRA state awards for exemplary service: the John W. Dillin Award, the Doris Fleischman Award, Member of the Year, and the Past President’s Award.
Thayer – who currently serves as the executive director for NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties – quickly rose to leadership after joining the Central West Coast chapter, serving as treasurer, vice president and president, in addition to assisting members with earning their Accreditation/Certification and judging the Image Awards. She went on to serve on the FPRA state board in roles including chapter services, professional development, Counselors Network chair and FPRA Foundation chair.
“My membership has been a very valuable resource for me for many years,” said Thayer. “I am not able to do as much as I used to, but know that I can always count on the friendships and relationships built over the years and can walk into a chapter meeting or conference and gain so much to further my professional development.”
“It gives us such great pleasure to recognize Joe and Colleen for their service and commitment to FPRA over their many years of membership,” added chapter president Sheryl Vieira. “They have contributed so much to the organization and to the professional growth of their peers as well as to the practice of public relations. They continue to serve as inspiration and role models to all of us!”
CWC-FPRA meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. These events are designed to expose attendees to current public relations practices and developments in the communications industry. Visit cwcfpra.com for more information.
About The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association
The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) is a network of public relations, marketing and communications professionals from Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties who come together for professional development and to build a network of peers. As an active part of the oldest statewide public relations organization in our country, CWC-FPRA takes pride in being the largest chapter in the state and in having a 56-plus-year history of presenting stimulating programs and advancing the professional growth of its members. 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 about CWC-FPRA, visit cwcfpra.com.