Local Public Relations Practitioner Earns Back to Back Professional Accreditation and Certification

The Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association is pleased to announce Whitney Lee recently earned two professional certifications in public relations and now has both designations of Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC).

Lee now joins the more than 4,300 active public relations professionals worldwide with their APR who represent an elite group of skilled professionals committed to practicing with high ethical standards. In addition, she is now included in the elite group of only 123 practitioners throughout the state with the CPRC designation who demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and advanced consultation skills in the practice of public relations.

To earn public relations accreditation (APR), candidates must pass an oral presentation and rigorous examination administered by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), which is an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations dedicated to furthering the field of public relations and the development of public relations professionals. FPRA is a member of the UAB.

To be eligible to sit for the daylong CPRC exam administered by FPRA, professionals must have already achieved professional accreditation (APR) through the Universal Accreditation Board ( www.praccreditation.org ) and have at least 10 years of experience in the field of public relations.

Whitney Lee, APR, CPRC, is the owner and founder of SocialLee, a social media and PR agency specializing in hospitality - including resorts, destinations and experiences. She earned a Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications from Florida State University and has been a resident of Destin, Florida, since 2008. 

Whitney has served on FPRA’s Northwest Florida Coast Chapter board since 2012 and was chapter president in 2015-16. She received the President’s Award in 2014 and has been named Communicator of the Year twice (2013 and 2019). She has served on the State Executive Committee of FPRA since 2019 and currently holds the position as VP of Student Services.

“Whitney has been an invaluable asset to the Northwest Florida Coast Chapter of FPRA as well as impacting FPRA on a state level,” said Shaye Smith, acting president of NWFL FPRA. She has built a business from the ground up, has been a leader in FPRA and has influenced our community through her strong and strategic PR and marketing skills and leadership.”