Who We Are:
A Strategic Public Relations Firm

Toni James, APR, began her career in public relations when she joined the brand new Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) in 1981. She brought to the work a bachelor of arts degree in English from Bucknell University located in Lewisburg, PA, minoring in business administration.

In 1995 she passed the rigorous FPRA exam to achieve APR – “accredited in public relations.” Accreditation is now recognized by PRSA and other national public relations professional associations as a universal accreditation.

Her work with United Way brought their fund-raising achievement from $300,000 in 1980 to $2.2 million in 2005 and an endowment of over $1.5 million. For five years Toni authored a bi-weekly column in the Star Banner on volunteerism. She retired in 2006 from United Way of Marion County, after a total of 30 years with the organization.

Work at United Way honed Toni’s public relations skills as she positioned the organization effectively as the successful organization it is today. She utilized branding, opinion research and issues management skills and established strong relationships with local media of all sizes and shapes. And she constantly used a “consequential thinking” approach to organizational strategies, anticipating how proposed actions would affect supporters and competitors alike.

Toni has served in numerous leadership roles in the community.

• President of the Ocala Women’s Network
• Founding member of the Marion County Children’s Alliance
• President of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, a position she currently holds
• Public Policy Institute of Marion County board member
• Success By 6 Leadership Council member
• Kids Central, Inc. board member
• Heart of Florida Health Center board member
• Ocala Rotary Club
  
  

Recent honors:

• Central Florida Community College’s prestigious “Distinguished Service” Award 2006
• United Way building dedicated in her honor 2007
• Ocala Rotary Club’s coveted “Service Above Self” Award 2007
• Florida Public Relations Association recipient of the Doris Fleischman Unsung Hero Award for her quiet work over many years to promote the organization and the profession 2009

Client List:

• Benefit Advisors
  
• Carmike Cinemas
  
• Gateway Bank of Central Florida
  
• George Mangan Insurance
  
• Hands of Mercy Everywhere (H.O.M.E.)
  
• Marion County Children’s Alliance
  
• Realty Executives/Glenn Stein
  
• United Way of Sarasota County