Fluent in Floridian

“The future 100 years of Southeast Florida will be about managing the water relevant to the land, building vertically, and connecting them with elevated transportation systems.” This week on Fluent in Floridian, SalterMitchell PR President, Heidi Otway, sits down with Jim Murley, the Chief Resilience Officer for Miami-Dade County to talk about the ways Southeast […]

"The future 100 years of Southeast Florida will be about managing the water relevant to the land, building vertically, and connecting them with elevated transportation systems."

This week on Fluent in Floridian, SalterMitchell PR President, Heidi Otway, sits down with Jim Murley, the Chief Resilience Officer for Miami-Dade County to talk about the ways Southeast Florida is going to have to adapt to #SeaLevelRise.

In their conversation, they discuss Jim's history serving under multiple Governors, his time spent researching with the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at FAU and what exactly is in store for Florida and the planet.

Since he was in the eighth grade, Tim Nickens knew he would be a journalist. What began as a dream to become a sports writer turned into a 35-year career reporting for two of Florida's top newspapers and winning a Pulitzer Prize.

Nickens is Fluent in Floridian. Over the course of his impressive career, he has reported on many of the cultural events that have defined the 21st century, including 9/11, Hurricane Charlie and both election recounts in Florida.

On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, Nickens discusses his career in journalism, the way the industry has changed, his thoughts on today's young voters, and his new role as Editor of Editorials at Florida's largest newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times.

Sea level rise. Unprecedented super storms. Toxic algae blooms.   The effects of climate change on Florida’s environment have become increasingly overt in the last decade. However, activists like Aliki Moncrief are reminding us that while global warming is a human-made phenomenon, it can also be solved by people working together. As the executive director […]

Sea level rise. Unprecedented super storms. Toxic algae blooms. The effects of climate change on Florida's environment have become increasingly overt in the last decade. However, activists like Aliki Moncrief are reminding us that while global warming is a human-made phenomenon, it can also be solved by people working together.

As the executive director of Florida Conservation Voters, her mission is to keep citizens informed of the threats of climate change. Moncrief is Fluent in Floridian. Born in Greece, she grew up in South Miami before attending Emory University for undergrad and Harvard Law for her J.D. She has used her legal education to fight for the environment through the Department of Environmental Protection Enforcement Division and by spearheading The Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative in 2014.

In this episode of Fluent In Floridian, Moncrief sits down with us to discuss her career path, the impact Florida Conservation Voters has had on voter awareness, and what she expects from the new administration in Florida.

John Lux got his start in Florida working for Walt Disney World, but after leaving the mouse's house, he was drawn to a career in film production. Since becoming involved with Film Florida, Lux progressed from volunteer to treasurer before being named the full-time executive director in 2016.

Lux is Fluent in Floridian. As an advocate for the film, TV, and digital media industries, he is aware of the natural benefits our state offers to digital creators, but also of the incentives that can help to move filming away from Hollywood studios, and bring that money to smaller communities. Lux speaks to the influx of money and notoriety seen by the city of Clearwater after it was featured in the hit film Dolphin Tale.

On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, John Lux discusses how the Sunshine State's industry growth stacks up to our coastal neighbors across the South East. He also talks about some of the many memorable shows that were shot in Florida, as well as the engagement of companies like EA who help to expand the video game industry in the state.

When Eric Eikenberg graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he had little idea who Stoneman Douglas was, or that he would be walking in her boot-prints as an activist championing the Florida Everglades. Eikenberg began his position as the CEO of the Everglades Foundation in 2012 and has since been an unapologetic advocate for […]

When Eric Eikenberg graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he had little idea who Stoneman Douglas was, or that he would be walking in her boot-prints as an activist championing the Florida Everglades. Eikenberg began his position as the CEO of the Everglades Foundation in 2012 and has since been an unapologetic advocate for one of the most distinctly Floridian landmarks.

Eikenberg is fluent in Floridian. Whether it's discussing the blue-green algae being discharged from the east and west sides of Lake Okeechobee, the pivotal function of the Everglades in cleaning the water of millions of South Floridians, or the two former Florida Governors that he had the chance to work closely with, Eikenberg seems to have found his calling in Florida. However, when Eric first moved to South Florida from New York, he saw so many Mets, Jets, and Giants colors that he says South Florida was like the sixth borough!

On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, SMPR CEO April Salter discusses with Eric Eikenberg the ties he has to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas the advocate. They also dive into the effect of sugarcane production on water quality, the #NowOrNeverglades movement, and the long trek towards a more permanent solution to the issues in Florida's water management.

From top to bottom, the state of Florida is filled with distinctly ‘Floridian’ features, yet in one corner of Orlando it’s possible to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of London. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been one of Universal Orlando’s calling cards ever since it opened in 2010 with the help […]

From top to bottom, the state of Florida is filled with distinctly 'Floridian' features, yet in one corner of Orlando it's possible to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of London. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been one of Universal Orlando's calling cards ever since it opened in 2010 with the help of PR pro, Alyson Sologaistoa.

Sologaistoa is Fluent in Floridian. As the Director of Public Relations at Universal Orlando, Alyson has a hand in one our state's biggest economic drivers in the theme park industry. With over 120 million tourists projected to take trips to Florida, there needs to be something for everyone. Guests at Universal can expect for their vacation to be an immersive experience – right down to the Butterbeer taste tested by J.K. Rowling herself.

Listen as she sits down with SMPR President and Partner Heidi Otway to discuss her last decade working with Universal Orlando, the way the PR landscape has shifted since the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and her best advice for young professionals in PR.