MELBOURNE, Fla. – July 29, 2103 – The Space Coast Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association will honor its Public Relations Professional of the Year, Geo A. Ropert, APR, at its annual dinner on Tuesday, August 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Duran Golf Club’s Tradewinds Restaurant – 7032 Stadium Parkway, in Viera. The event will also include chapter awards for service excellence as well as the installation of the chapter’s 2013-2014 board of directors.

The PR Professional of the Year award is the chapter’s highest honor and is presented to a senior member of the organization who has had significant Public Relations achievements in the community in the past year. Ropert has been a member of the Space Coast Chapter of the FPRA for 12 years and has served six of those as a member of the board of directors as chapter president, treasurer, vice president of accreditation and certification, and vice president of membership.

Ropert currently serves as the director of communications at Brevard Family Partnership, Brevard County’s lead agency for child welfare. He supports the agency’s mission and vision by providing strategic marketing and communication expertise that has earned the organization recognition and accolades, both locally and nationally for its innovative work in child and family safety. Ropert also oversees BFP’s legislative affairs, working with local and state elected officials to craft legislation that helps to better serve abused and neglected children and their families.

A Michigan native, Ropert moved to Brevard County in 1982. During his career on the Space Coast, he has held senior management and executive level positions in sales, marketing and public relations. He received his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2007, joining an elite group of highly skilled public relations professionals throughout the U.S. who are committed practitioners with exemplary ethical standards. He volunteers his services as a frequent keynote, guest speaker and master of ceremonies for organizations and events throughout the Brevard community. Ropert has served on the board of directors of LEAD Brevard and the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, served as vice president of Brevard Tomorrow and Chairman of the Space Coast Growth Management Coalition, and currently is a member of the Brevard Advisory Committee for Eckerd.

A reception and cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and program at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person for FPRA members and $35 for non-members, and includes a three course meal with a choice of chicken piccatta, pork tenderloin or a vegetarian option.

For more information and to make reservations, visit www.spacecoastfpra.com.