| Laura Ansel, APR, CPRC Named President; New Board Installed During Annual Event |
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Guzzo
941-809-7401
media@cwcfpra.com
SARASOTA, FL – October 13, 2025 – The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) installed its 2025-2026 board of directors and recognized outstanding members during the Chapter Awards & Board Installation. Held recently at the Sarasota Yacht Club, the chapter continued the honored tradition of the passing of the gavel by former presidents of CWC-FPRA. The event was a celebration of the past year’s successes and a look toward opportunities for the upcoming year.
The following members were recognized with immediate past president Hunter Carpenter, MA, APR bestowing the awards during the program: Muffy Lavens was named Member of the Year; Sharon Kunkel, APR, CPRC received the Ginya Carnahan Promoting the Profession Award; Traci Willingham earned the Thomas Nunan Rising Star Award; Jennifer Linzy, APR, CPRC received the Ginnie Duffey Troyer Award of Professionalism; Alyssa Barnsley and Alyssa Holcomb received Chapter Enrichment Awards, and a special In Memoriam award was presented to Next-Mark, LLC in honor of Joe Grano, MBA.
Additionally, the four sponsors for the 2024-25 fiscal year, Caldwell Trust Company, Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, Sir Speedy Sarasota, and Visit Sarasota County, all received Awards of Appreciation for their support.
The new FPRA state president, Lindsay Hudock, APR, CPRC, installed the chapter’s 2025-2026 board of directors, who will each serve a one-year term.
“The Central West Coast Chapter of FPRA has always been more than a professional network – it’s a community built on mentorship, friendship, and shared purpose,” said Laura Ansel, APR, CPRC, president of CWC-FPRA. “As we celebrate 60 years of service, we’re focused on growing the next generation of communicators, strengthening leadership across our region, and continuing the legacy of connection and excellence that defines our network of PR and communication professionals.”
The CWC-FPRA 2025-2026 board of directors includes:
● President: Laura Ansel, APR, CPRC
● President-Elect: Andrea Knies, APR, CPRC
● Immediate Past President: Hunter Carpenter, MA, APR
● Finance Director: Jennifer Linzy, APR, CPRC
● Membership Director: Nicole Miller
● Community Liaison Director: Miranda Colavito
● Student Outreach Director: Traci Willingham
● Media Relations Director: Erin Guzzo
● Digital Communications Co-Directors: Alyssa Holcomb and Alyssa Barnsley
● Content Director: Muffy Lavens
● Creative Director: Christina Maksoud
● Credentialing Co-Directors: Sharon Kunkel, APR, CPRC, and Jennifer Moss Wilson, APR, CPRC
● Signature Events Director: Jennifer Hemmerdinger, APR
● Professional Events Director: Olivia Turpening
● STAR Student Board Liaison: Jeremy Hu
● At-Large (non-voting): Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, Erin Hoeffer, MA, APR, CPRC, Eleni Kouvatsos Gates, MBA, APR, and Kim Livengood, APR, CPRC.
● Committee members: Lydia Baxter, Ella Steffen, Connor Borden, Jodel Velarde, Ivey Young, Blair Bloomston, Taylor Escobar, Virgina Zimmerman, APR, Mandie Ferguson, Travis Cornwell, Meredith Dropkin, Kassidy Gardner, and Deju Johnson Davis.
The association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. Visit cwcfpra.com for more information.
CWC-FPRA is grateful to its annual sponsors: Caldwell Trust Company, Visit Sarasota County, Sir Speedy, and Joe Curley, APR, CPRC.
About the Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA)
The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association 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 its 50-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.