Betsy Clayton, APR of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) recently earned professional public relations accreditation and received the designation of Accredited in Public Relations (APR).

Clayton joins the more than 4,300 active public relations professionals worldwide who represent an elite group of highly skilled professionals committed to practicing with exemplary ethical standards, including 28 in southwest Florida.

Clayton is the waterways coordinator for Lee County Parks & Recreation, coordinating public relations efforts for the county’s 190-mile Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail and annual fall special event, the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival. She also is the acting public information officer for Lee County. Her work with Lee County followed a 17-year career as a newspaper reporter. Clayton earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon.

To earn APR accreditation, candidates must pass an oral presentation and rigorous written examination administered by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), which is an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations dedicated to furthering the field of public relations and the development of public relations professionals. FPRA is a member of the UAB.

The Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. For more information on the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, visit www.fpraswfl.org.