Upcoming Programs
Member Spotlight
Joseph Abreu
Hi, I’m Joseph Abreu, and I’ve had a joyful year. Of course, I’m kidding. The truth is that my love for cruises, brunch with bottomless mimosas, and visits the Container Store, have all been ripped from my heart during the pandemic. And I’m not good at making my own cosmopolitans, so it’s been a little rough.
Being in charge of communications and emergency management at my office has been quite eventful and time consuming these months. Just like many of you, my life went from planning large campaigns and events to ordering branded face masks and scheduling countless Zoom webinars. Work and clients have been a challenge to keep up with, but what I love about our profession is how we are challenged to adapt to a new adventure every day. Fortunately, I did receive good news in the midst of the pandemic.
This July, I was slated by the PRSA Board of Directors to serve as national secretary in 2021. I previously served as the Sunshine District Director on the board from 2018-2019, and I have served in leadership roles on the chapter to national levels since 2006. I’ve proudly helped build awards, accreditation, and professional development programs for chapters and districts across the country. I was honored to receive the 2015 Trailblazer Award from the Sunshine District, and the 2018 Hall of Fame Award from the Palm Beach Chapter. It all started in college at UF as a PRSSA member in the early 2000s. Yes, I’m a lifer, and nothing can save me now.
When I’m not spending time in virtual PRSA meetings – or glued to my desk in my home office staring at my dusty Peloton – you can find me out and about, masked up. I live in Port St. Lucie with my husband and Beagle, so I’m less than two hours from the Orlando Premium Outlets and the theme parks. I also tend to take short weekend escapes to Naples where I got married or Tampa to visit my best friends – who I met through PRSA and on cruise ships, by the way.
In this gloomy world of uncertainty and division, I’ll leave you with my favorite motto that I always strive to live by: Do not stress about anything out of my control. It helps keep me grounded, patient, positive, and hopeful. Stay safe and healthy, friends.
Director of Communications & Emergency Management
Clerk of the Circuit Court, St. Lucie County
January 2021
Happy New Year!
However you've celebrated, I hope your holidays were peaceful and joyful. It is an absolute honor to be leading the Palm Beach Chapter of PRSA in 2021 and I could not be more excited.
Plans are already underway to bring you dynamic, engaging and powerful programming. We’re also going to have some fun this year and, if all goes well, be able to network with one another live and in person in the back half of the year.
Those are big promises but with this stellar team making up the 2021 Board of Directors, we are ready and able to deliver.
I want to say a big thank you to Immediate Past President John Deveney, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, IABC Fellow, for his leadership and guidance in preparing me for this role. While we haven’t seen each other since February 2020, he’s been a great mentor to me and has left me with some big shoes to fill.
You may have seen a few of the Member Spotlights come through over the last few months. This is a great way for us to get to know each other while we are still virtual. We will be continuing those throughout the year. If you’d like to be included, please send 200 words, hi-res headshot, social media links, and any other applicable information to [email protected].
In addition to the Member Spotlights, we would also like to showcase the amazing work that we know is happening here in Palm Beach County. If you have a successful campaign or project that you are proud of and want to share with the chapter, please send that to [email protected].
Lastly, if you are at all interested in getting more involved with the chapter, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know. While we are still planning for a virtual first half, there is no shortage of volunteer opportunities.
Here’s to a great 2021!
All the best,
Melissa Morante
Co-Owner, ComForcare Senior Services
2021 President, Palm Beach Chapter
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