SPJ Florida Endorses Two Chapter Members for National Office
The SPJ Florida board voted to endorse two chapter members who are running for national SPJ officer positions.
Jason Parsley, who also served on the board and is an active volunteer, is running for president-elect. Michele Boyet, who serves on the SPJ Florida board of directors, is running for the role of at-large director.
“Michele and Jason both have a long history with SPJ Florida, including leading the chapter as president,” said SPJ Florida president, Christiana Lilly. “Between the two of them, they’ve created many long-lasting programs that have helped educate the journalism (and non-journalism!) community, and I believe they can bring their enthusiasm and creativity to the national level.”
SPJ members can cast their votes starting at the opening business session of Excellence in Journalism 2017. The conference is being hosted this year in Anaheim, California, but members do not have to be present to vote — they will receive an email to cast an electronic vote.
Learn more about the Florida candidates here:
Jason Parsley
Parsley is also a former chapter president and was named the Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member last year and is running for president-elect. He has served on the SPJ Florida board for more than eight years, starting as a member of the board of directors to treasurer to president. His passion project for the chapter includes the Sunshine State Awards, and during his tenure on the board he spearheaded the expansion of the chapter from the South Florida region to the entire Sunshine State. He was also president of the 2014 chapter of the year. He currently serves nationally on three committees: diversity, awards, and bylaws. Parsley is the editor-in-chief and associate publisher of South Florida Gay News.
Michele Boyet
A member of the SPJ Florida board of directors, Boyet is running for at-large director. She has been a member of the chapter board since 2010, serving as vice president, president, vice president of programs, membership, and helps with awards judging. She is the winner of the Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award and Eisenhower First Amendment Award. While on the board, her passion has been creating local events with a large reach and that can be duplicated in other locales, such as the First Amendment Free Food Festival. She also is a member of the communications and resolutions committees. Boyet is the digital marketing manager at The Breakers Palm Beach.