"A Sneak Peek at the Royal Princess"
September 17
As a professional communicator, you can’t succeed or prove your success without measurement. Measurement not
only improves your content and channels, but it also gives you the insights to be more strategic, earn credibility with leaders, and make better decisions with fewer resources.
Take the Mystery Out of Measurement
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: Noon
Cost: Free/IABC members, $20/guests
Presenter: Cindy Crescenzo, Pres., Crescenzo Communications
In this fast-paced, practical session, Cindy Crescenzo, President of Crescenzo Communications, will break measurement down to the essentials:
- The Basics: The easiest ways to gather meaningful data through quick surveys, focus groups, and leader interviews ... even on a limited budget.
- Driving Change with Data: How to package results into compelling presentations that influence leaders and elevate communications from “order taker” to strategic partner.
- AI-Powered Analysis: How AI can help you analyze results faster, spot patterns, and translate data into stories leaders will pay attention to.
- From Numbers to Narrative: Build dashboards that make your data clear, compelling, and impossible for leaders to ignore.
You’ll leave with practical tools to start measuring smarter right away, and the confidence to use data to drive strategy and change inside your organization.
Past Events
"A Sneak Peek at the Royal Princess"
September 17
About 30 members and guests of IABC Florida got a sneak peek on September 17 of the Royal Princess, a new 125-foot yacht that began charter cruises in Downtown Jacksonville the following week.
At a truly unique event, Jax Yacht Charter owner Lezlee Bellanich told a great story about the challenges of moving to Jacksonville so her husband Rob Bellanich could receive an organ transplant at Mayo Clinic, buying a yacht, reburbishing it, and beginning a business.
As communications professionals, the group enjoyed the elements of the Bellanich's incredible journey as Lezlee Bellanich gave the group a tour of the yacht’s four decks.
Guests enjoyed beautiful early-evening weather, drinks and hors d’oeuvres aboard the yacht as it docked along the Southbank.
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"Maximizing Your IABC Florida Relationship"
April 29
Maximizing Your IABC Relationship" was a session that showed existing and prospective members ho
w to get the most value from an IABC Florida relationship.
They learned about volunteer opportunities, networking benefits, professional development opportunities, and exclusive resources that can elevate their career and expand their professional impact.
Whether you're a prospective, new, or longtime member, this free session should have helped you optimize your involvement and get the greatest return on your membership or meeting investment.
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"Body Language for Leaders: The Nonverbal Advantage"
April 3
More than 20 attendees listened and ask questions as Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., explained how, as a business leader, your ability to communicate effectively extends far beyond words alone.
2024
"Creating a Deep Connection in Communication"
October 23, noon
Presenter and author John Chappelear hosts a session based on his "Changing the Focus" program to help communicators develop tools needed in the profession.
Chappelear, author of "The Daily Six" and recipient of a Presidential Letter of Commendation, will spend the hour covering key communications imperatives:
- Setting clear intentions and determining audience takeaways
- Speaking from the heart
- Simple trust-building skills
- Power of stories to build a connection
Chappelear has published more than 100 articles and is a monthly contributor to American Cities Business Journals' 23 national publications that reach 2.6 million readers.
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"Unleashing the Power of Generative AI"
Transforming Your Communications Workflows
August 26, noon
IABC Fellow Shel Holtz discussed how to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI) into your communications workflows to be more effective and stay ahead of the curve.
Holtz, a top presenter at IABC's recent world conference in Chicago, helped illustrate the power of generative AI by using a virtual assistant to help him conduct his presentation for the nearly 30 attendees.
Through other examples, those at the session saw Holtz use applications to assist in creating text and art Holtz explained these new software products help untap the potential of synthetic media. Attendees learned ways to harness its power to create compelling text and visual content, streamline processes, and capture audiences.
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"A Few Words About Words:
A common-sense look at writing and grammar"
April 30, noon
It was a session about writing and grammar, led by a guy who admits he's bad at grammar.
Joe Diorio has been a writer all his life. As a high school student, he was a stringer for a local weekly newspaper. Later, he worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer, corporate speechwriter, and as a public relations professional for agencies and colleges.
Joe's likeable presentation covered everything from whether "irregardless" is a word to the best ways to break writers' block. (Hint: START WRITING!).
He left attendees with the confidence that (1) writing is not natural, but (2) it isn’t impossible to do it well.
See for yourself by downloading a recording of the session or watching it online.
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"How PR and Comms Pros are Using AI - and You Can, Too!"
March 7, noon - 1p.m.
We were thrilled top PR pro Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, hosted a session for IABC Flo
rida members and guests to discuss how PR and communications professionals are using artificial intelligence (AI)' in their jobs.
Mudd, whom the World Communications Forum named North America's top PR leader in 2023, talked about how communications professionals are using today's AI tools - and how you can, too!
This virtual session covered:
- How to start using AI
- AI ethics
- Setting, communicating and enforcing AI policies
- AI tools, opportunities and challenges, and
- Recommended AI resources.
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"New Year - New Ideas!"
Janunary 30
The event featured IABC workdwide leaders asking for your feedback on building a better organization while showcasing the existing benefits of being an IABC member.
Among the presenters: IABC Global Board Chair Maliha Aqeel, who heard your thoughts and shared IABC's valuable offerings, such as its accreditation program, online resources, and World Conference in Chicago in June.
You also heard from IABC Southern Region Chair Linda Wesley and board members of IABC Florida, which recently completed a consolidation of state chapters into a single, more robust, and active entity.