Cheray Keyes-Shima Recognized with Highest Honor in FPRA
Keyes-Shima, APR, CPRC, is honored by statewide public relations association with the John Dillin Professional Award.
Sarasota, Fla. (August 11, 2017) – Sarasota resident Cheray Keyes-Shima, APR, CPRC, a member of the Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA), was recognized with the John Dillin Professional Award, the highest honor accorded by FPRA. The award was presented at a ceremony on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, at the association’s 79th annual conference at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.
The John Dillin Professional Award honors the spirit and dedication of FPRA’s first president and founder, Lt. Col. John W. Dillin, and his lifetime of service to, and support of, the association. Keyes-Shima was recognized for her sustained leadership in FPRA. She has been an active member of the local chapter and the state association for more than 18 years.
This is the second time in two years that a member of CWC-FPRA won the award; last year, Jennifer Moss, APR, CPRC, was the recipient.
“Cheray maintains a level of professionalism to which many can only aspire. In all of her actions and words, she instills a manner of confidence and affability—the mark of a true public relations professional,” says Mischa Kirby, president of CWC-FPRA. “Even while juggling the demands of 30+ state board members, hundreds of local chapter board members and thousands of association members, she remains poised and thoughtful. If life were like a schoolyard game, Cheray would be the person always picked first for every team.”
Keyes-Shima is a managing partner with the Sarasota-based KSC Advertising & Public Relations, a full-service, award-winning firm specializing in integrated marketing communications. She joined FPRA in 1990 as the treasurer of the Tallahassee student chapter at Florida State University. After serving as treasurer for the CWC-FPRA and earning her accreditation, Keyes-Shima became the chapter’s president in 1996.
When Keyes-Shima co-founded KSC Advertising & Public Relations in 1999, one of the agency’s first accounts was FPRA. Over the past 18 years, KSC has provided expert counsel to 19 FPRA state presidents and executive committees, offered guidance to innumerable state board members, and taken the lead on orchestrating quarterly state board meetings, Counselors’ Network meetings, and FPRA’s annual conferences.
Keyes-Shima takes a leadership role in supporting the community. In 2005, she was honored with Gulf Coast Business Review’s prestigious “40 Under 40” award. She is a graduate of Leadership Sarasota and continues to volunteer her time to that organization. Keyes-Shima is also active with the Florida Center for Early Childhood, an organization she has supported for more than 12 years and whose board she chaired for two years. She has also opened her company to mentor 20 or more interns, offering unique, real-world experiences that have led to many successful careers.
The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. Visit www.cwcfpra.com for the latest details.
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. The organization’s 16 professional and 12 student chapters provide professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for nearly 1,500 members across the state. FPRA is the nation’s oldest public relations organization, established by Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC in 1938. For more information, visit www.fpra.org.
