The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association marked a significant milestone Jan. 27 with a special 40th Anniversary Celebration, honoring four decades of the chapter’s success in advancing public relations and fostering professional growth in Southwest Florida and across the state.

Held at Ter-Tinis, the event brought together past and present members, chapter leaders and guests for an evening of recognition, reflection and celebration. Special guests included FPRA State President Julie Frey, APR, CPRC, who joined chapter leaders in highlighting the chapter’s legacy.

“As the 13th chapter chartered through the state, your impact is truly extraordinary,” said Frey. “The Southwest Florida Chapter has set a high standard for excellence in public relations.”

Founded in 1985, the Southwest Florida Chapter began with a vision to cultivate a strong network of public relations professionals in the area. Over the years, it has grown into a thriving organization committed to professional advancements. One of its significant achievements includes establishing a student chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University, fostering the next generation of public relations professionals.

The evening featured a special video presentation highlighting the chapter’s history, with past presidents sharing their reflections. The event also included a reading of the special anniversary proclamation from the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, officially recognizing the chapter’s contributions to the community and declaring Jan. 16 as PR and Communications Professionals’ Day in Lee County.

A highlight of the celebration was the presentation of two honors.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Lynn Schneider, APR, CPRC, received the prestigious award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to public relations and her decades-long dedication to FPRA. A past president at both the chapter and state levels, Schneider’s influence on the profession and her mentorship of countless professionals have left a lasting legacy.

Teri Hansen insPiRe Scholarship

In recognition of her enduring impact, founding member Teri Hansen, APR, founder and chief creative officer at Priority Marketing, was honored with the creation of the Teri Hansen insPiRe Scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a chapter member and will cover registration for FPRA’s PR & Communications Summit–a premier event for professional development in public relations. Hansen’s leadership and commitment to excellence have shaped the chapter and community, inspiring generations of professionals.

View the full video of past chapter presidents reflecting on the chapter’s history HERE.

For more information about the chapter, including upcoming events and how to become a member, please visit fpraswfl.org.