FL Editors

Dick Collins – Florida Networking Guide Editor

Dick Collins is a respected creative marketing authority, professional writer, presenter, promotional developer and motivational trainer with 30 years experience in advertising, marketing and public relations.

He is an award winning tourism marketing expert who understands the unique marketing relationship of tourism, retail and small businesses, and the local community.

He achieved extraordinary success in marketing Freeport, Maine, a cornerstone of that state’s number one tourism region, during nearly a decade serving on the board of directors, as the Marketing and Events Chairperson, and ultimately as the Executive Director of Freeport Merchants Association. Dick resigned the Executive Directors post with FMA in mid 2008 to relocate in Southwest Florida, but continues to provide marketing and Internet services for Freeport organizations.

“Successful marketing through the development of beneficial partnerships” has been a hallmark of Dick’s approach within the industry. He has networked together a wide range of community groups, for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, and media/pr channels to support each other in a variety of ways. Over time Dick has forged strong relationships with businesses ranging from the local shopkeeper to regional corporations, and some of the country’s best-known national brands.

In the process, he has developed dynamic marketing tools that are both effective and affordable for all businesses. Chief among those tools are Internet Marketing, Personal Networking, and Co-operative PR partnerships.

All of this expertise has been brought together in the Florida Merchants Network (FMN), a membership driven merchants marketing co-operative, for which Dick serves as Executive Director. FMN provides a wide range of media, marketing and PR services for its members, including Web design, copy writing, brand positioning, press release distribution, strategic media planning, networking instruction and more.

Among Dick’s affiliations past and present…

Executive Director Florida Merchants Network
Member SW Florida Public Relations Association
Membership Development Committee, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce
Member, North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce
European Business Council Affiliate
Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Affiliate
Ex-officio Board member Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board member Discover Portland & Beyond Cruise Marketing Coalition
Past board member Freeport Economic Development Corporation
Board member Freeport Community Improvement Association
Member Maine Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
Member Maine Society of Association Executives