Chris Gent Earns APR Credential

Chris Gent, vice president of corporate communications at Kissimmee Utility Authority, has earned Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) by successfully completing a rigorous examination process administered by the Universal Accreditation Board.

Kissimmee, FL (PRWEB) August 31, 2010

Chris M. Gent, vice president of corporate communications at Kissimmee Utility Authority, has earned Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) by successfully completing a rigorous examination process administered by the Universal Accreditation Board.

The announcement was made August 27 by the UAB, a consortium of nine professional communication organizations, including the Florida Public Relations Association.

The APR is a voluntary and demanding certification program for public relations professionals and is the profession's only national post-graduate certification program. The certification aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession. Candidates must present a work portfolio to a panel of three peers and successfully pass a computer-based examination.

Professionals earning the APR must maintain their credentials through continued professional development, leadership in the profession and service in their local communities.

"Earning the APR reflects a mastery of what's needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession," said Anne M. Dubois, APR, Fellow PRSA and UAB chair. "Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organizations and clients."

Currently, there are more than 4,300 professionals worldwide who hold the APR mark.

A 23-year public relations veteran, Gent holds a master's degree in strategic public relations from The George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Central Florida. He is an active member of the FPRA.

Founded in 1901, KUA (http://www.kua.com) is Florida's sixth largest community-owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to 170,000 residents in five Central Florida counties.

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