Noelani Fender, media relations manager at Priority Marketing, has earned the universal Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential through the Universal Accreditation Board, an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations dedicated to furthering the field of public relations and the development of public relations professionals.
To earn public relations accreditation, candidates must pass an oral presentation and rigorous written examination. Noelani is among 4,500+ active public relations professionals worldwide, and 38 currently working in Southwest Florida, who represent an elite group of skilled professionals committed to practicing with high ethical standards.
Noelani joined Priority Marketing in 2021 as a media relations specialist in the firm’s public relations department. She was promoted a year later to media relations manager, a role in which she crafts strategic communication plans that elevate her clients’ narratives across multiple channels, amplify their messages and foster meaningful engagement. In her position, Noelani develops compelling storylines that bridge journalism and strategic public relations. Her responsibilities involve managing several successful PR programs, developing customized PR strategies and implementing initiatives for a diverse portfolio of clients, including established nonprofits, small businesses and local franchises of national brands.
A seasoned former TV journalist, Noelani’s background includes on-air roles throughout Florida and Georgia, including her previous role as morning feature reporter for FOX4 in Southwest Florida. Throughout her media career, she was recognized for her dedication to broadcast journalism. Noelani was profiled in the 7th and 8th editions of “Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing,” a prominent journalism textbook used by university professors and college students worldwide.
Noelani earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in mass media, with a minor in speech communication, from Valdosta State University in Georgia. She is an active member of Florida Public Relations Association’s Southwest Florida Chapter.
Priority Marketing now employs seven of the 38 APRs currently working in Southwest Florida. They are:
- Teri Hansen, APR – founder, president and chief creative officer
- Holly Boldrin, APR, CPRC – senior director of public relations
- Melissa Mitchell, APR, CPRC – senior director of marketing
- Rachel Toomey, APR – senior media director
- Julia Babair, APR, CPRC – assistant director of client services
- Emily Golden, APR – assistant director of public relations
- Noelani Fender, APR – media relations manager
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