The Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Capital Chapter hosted its networking trip in New York City, where 15 students visited multiple agencies and connected with professionals already in practice. These agencies include Madison Square Garden, Mbooth, MULTIPLY, J Public Relations, Paramount, Edelman, and FleishmanHillard. While students were on the trip, they were able to meet with alumni Katharina Muehlbauer from Mbooth, Savannah Gribbin from MULTIPLY, and Shannon McLellen.

FPRA is a professional organization that helps students gain hands-on experience to develop their future careers in public relations. This is a statewide organization of more than 1,200 public relations professionals that advances its members’ development.

President Savannah Cicerchia describes how she structured the group’s itinerary for the trip. Hearing from different agencies helped her know what to expect from life post-graduation. Other students felt similarly; student JK Pickford described how these professionals go about their daily lives, as he learned for future job opportunities and created connections that matter.

The agencies prepared not only resumes, but also business cards,” JK Pickford said. “My business cards contained a QR code to my LinkedIn, which allowed everyone I met to scan it easily and connect with me.”

​Beyond professional growth, the trip also gave the group the opportunity to develop friendships that will continue even after their return. Building community in a professional space also allows students like Pickford to make meaningful connections with peers who share similar career goals.

“I think this trip was important for bonding, as it allowed us to interact with each other outside of club meetings and events, which made us see each other in a different light,” Pickford said.

Students were exposed to multiple leaders in the industry, allowing them to speak with these individuals first-hand. One student in attendance, Kyela Zinati, describes how she challenged her imposter syndrome while she was speaking with Nickelodeon’s SVP of Public Affairs.

“Even if I hadn’t had an agency internship yet, it is the curiosity and drive employers want to see, not just the skills,” said Zinati. “I had to remind myself that I earned my spot on the trip like everyone else, and that, even though I was less experienced, this trip was a step in the right direction.”

Public relations is a career path that is constantly evolving, and giving students the chance to learn to adapt to their environment will provide them with valuable skills moving forward. Multiple students in attendance referenced how they were able to see how adaptable public relations is as a field and how they will utilize what they learned in the future.

“There are so many different paths within PR, and this trip helped highlight how important it is to not confine yourself to one niche of the business,” President Cicerchia said. “I learned that although this job is always changing, there will always be a place in the world for a PR professional.”