The First Coast Chapter began in 1955 by eight local editors of employee publications. At that time, it was named the Jacksonville Area Business Editors Association. Edward Hanna of Prudential Insurance was the president for the first two years. In 1961, the organization was chartered as the Northeastern Florida Industrial Editors Association, affiliated with the International Council of Industrial Editors (ICIE). In 1976, we became the local chapter for IABC and were named the Northeast Association of Business Communicators. During the 1980s, our chapter name changed to IABC First Coast.
IABC Southern Region
Chapters within IABC are grouped into regions worldwide where additional professional and leadership development and learning opportunities are available. IABC First Coast is one of 27 chapters with more than 2,800 members in 15 countries and territories, including the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago; and 14 chapters within the U.S., including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Its landscape may be diverse, but the chapters' commitment to excellence is the same wherever in the region. Over the past 30 years, chapters from the Southern Region have been awarded the coveted International Chapter of the Year title 21 times and have been recognized with numerous other awards in the annual IABC Chapter Management Awards competition. This illustrates that the volunteer leaders at the chapter and regional levels know how to create an outstanding experience for our members.
IABC National
Founded in 1970, The International Association of Business Communicators joined together two longstanding organizations, the American Association of Industrial Editors and the International Council of Industrial Editors. Another longstanding organization, The Corporate Communicators Canada joined the newly-formed IABC in 1974. Today, IABC provides a professional network of nearly 14,000 business communication professionals in over 60 countries committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication.
Florida A&M University Student Chapter
Founded in 1970, IABC's future lies in attracting students and junior professionals to membership. IABC focuses on building student chapters at colleges and universities around the globe through its local chapters. IABC First Coast has the first and only student IABC chapter in Florida, established at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee in 2004. IABC recognized this student chapter as the “Best in 2005” and its president as the Outstanding Student Chapter Leader. IABC First Coast is currently working to establish a student chapter in Jacksonville.