FLORENCE M. HOWARD
Author/Publisher Florence M. Howard is a public relations specialist, facilitator, event coordinator, and journalist. During her career, she has written for newspaper, radio, television and the Internet and has managed numerous special events and grassroots campaigns, including Voter Empowerment, HIV/AIDS Awareness and Housing events. She has a special interest in economic and community development and works with community development organizations, colleges, nonprofits, AND governmental agencies to improve the quality of life in selected communities. In addition to owning her own business, she has served as executive director of the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce in Jackson, Tennessee since 2009.
A Journalism graduate of the University of Memphis, she started her career in the Production Department of WREG-TV, News Channel 3, in Memphis then the flagship station of the New York Times Broadcasting Company. She later held positions as copywriter/coordinator of production services and assistant promotions manager. Promoted to director of community affairs for the station, she became executive producer of the Knowledge Bowl, a high school academic quiz program, and manager for the station's Emmy Award-winning Kids Count community affairs campaign that promoted the welfare of children and families through TV specials, vignettes and projects such as the Kids Count Forum (one special guest was Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show), Drop Everything and Read and the Coats For Kids for 12 years. In addition to establishing the quiz program and kids campaign, she also wrote the employee newsletter and directed the speakers’ bureau that coordinated appearances for news personalities Pam Crittendon, Mary Beth Conley, Alex Coleman, Brian Teigland and others. She received a M.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis in 1999 and subsequently has taught journalism/mass communications at the U of M and LeMoyne-Owen College. Active in the community, she has received numerous awards, including the first Florence M. Howard Leadership Award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Memphis.
She is president and founder of SSCOMM, Inc./Secret Shop Communicators, a public relations firm
(www.sscommpr.com), and SSCOMM Publishing in Memphis, Tennessee. She has a son, Derrick, who is also a
writer.
A Journalism graduate of the University of Memphis, she started her career in the Production Department of WREG-TV, News Channel 3, in Memphis then the flagship station of the New York Times Broadcasting Company. She later held positions as copywriter/coordinator of production services and assistant promotions manager. Promoted to director of community affairs for the station, she became executive producer of the Knowledge Bowl, a high school academic quiz program, and manager for the station's Emmy Award-winning Kids Count community affairs campaign that promoted the welfare of children and families through TV specials, vignettes and projects such as the Kids Count Forum (one special guest was Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show), Drop Everything and Read and the Coats For Kids for 12 years. In addition to establishing the quiz program and kids campaign, she also wrote the employee newsletter and directed the speakers’ bureau that coordinated appearances for news personalities Pam Crittendon, Mary Beth Conley, Alex Coleman, Brian Teigland and others. She received a M.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis in 1999 and subsequently has taught journalism/mass communications at the U of M and LeMoyne-Owen College. Active in the community, she has received numerous awards, including the first Florence M. Howard Leadership Award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Memphis.
She is president and founder of SSCOMM, Inc./Secret Shop Communicators, a public relations firm
(www.sscommpr.com), and SSCOMM Publishing in Memphis, Tennessee. She has a son, Derrick, who is also a
writer.
