Florida Public Relations Association honors local members with awards
Compiled by Wayne T. Price
Local Florida Public Relations Association members wins state awards
The Space Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association took home major awards at the recent Florida Public Relations Association 84th-Annual Conference and 66th-Annual Golden Image Awards.
The Golden Image Awards represent a standard of public relations excellence, with winners demonstrating the best examples of innovation, planning and design.
Three Space Coast Chapter members received awards for their work:
- Carlee Mixon of Launch Credit Union took home an Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award for the Launch Credit Union Review Strategy.
- Abby Hemenway of the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization received an Award of Distinction for the SCTPO 2022 Annual Report.
- Nina Salvaggio-Wagner of Lockheed Martin won top honors in her category with a Golden Image Award, along with a Judges’ Award, for her work on Lockheed Martin Launches Inaugural Space Impact Week.
In addition, the chapter celebrated the following achievements at annual conference:
- Rachel Horst of Brevard County government, Mixon of Launch Credit Union and Sara Shell of Griffin Communications Group graduated from Leadership FPRA Class VII. The yearlong program is designed to provide members with the tools they need to become stronger leaders in their organizations, communities and FPRA.
- Tiffany Bonadio, city of Cocoa, was selected as a member of Leadership FPRA Class VIII.
Mixon was recognized as a member of the Joe Curley Rising Leader Class of 2023, which honors up-and-coming individual members who demonstrate emerging leadership traits, along with dedicated active involvement in chapter activities.
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Two members were inducted onto the 2023-2024 FPRA State Executive Committee: Melissa DiMaria, vice president, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and Samantha Senger, Leadership FPRA Chair.
The Space Coast chapter of FPRA meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking.
More information can be found online at www.spacecoastfpra.com.
Aerodyne honors employees at Kennedy Space Center
A quartet of Aerodyne Industries employees were honored in July with 2022 Annual Awards for their support to the Test and Operations Support Contract at the Kennedy Space Center.
Headlining the foursome was Kathy Saint, who received Aerodyne’s President’s Award, which is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the success of the company.
Other honorees included Richard Varn, Beyond Zero Safety Award; Joel Tomlin, Mentor Award; and Amy Unsworth, Volunteer Award.
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A software architect for the Launch Control System, Saint is responsible for several software systems integral to the successful launch of Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022.
Varn, an electrical engineer supporting the Hazardous Gas Leak Detection System, and teammate Tim Griffith of Jacobs earned the Beyond Zero Safety Award for contributing to the safety of personnel by providing critical early warnings of potential oxygen-deficient environment.
Tomlin, the department engineering lead for NASA’s International Space Station and Launch Services programs, was noted for providing “exceptional mentorship” to recent new hires within his department and earned the Mentor Award.
A Maximo data administrator, Unsworth earned the Volunteer Award by dedicating nearly every Saturday for many years working with the Valor Medical Service Dogs and Valor K9 Training organizations as a dog handler/trainer. This service provides medical service dogs for ex-military personnel who are in need. These service dogs are invaluable to a veteran who suffers from traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and amputations.
Eastern Florida names Rhodes as success adviser
Eastern Florida State College recently named Ana R. (Fernandez) Rhodes as its student success adviser.
She held previous positions at EFSC as an international adviser and learning specialist.
Rhodes has degrees from Barry University (bachelor’s in administration), University of Phoenix (master’s in business administration) and Nova Southeastern University (education specialist degree in education).
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