Chad McLeod, APR, CPRC

The owner and principal of McLeod Communications, Chad and his firm are known for their ability to take complex issues and create simple messages that connect with people. With more than 15 years in the PR industry, Chad is a seasoned communications veteran with expertise in issues management, crisis communications, media relations and communications strategy. From Fortune 500 brands to local nonprofits, Chad has worked with clients in multiple industries — providing fresh insights, creative ideas and solutions to their most challenging public issues. 

Chad is the co-host of On Message, a weekly podcast featuring communications tips for leaders, trends and insights into the public relations industry, and the best stories in PR and communications. He spent the early years of his communications career working in multiple roles for U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, where he developed a passion for political communications and messaging. 

Chad is Accredited in Public Relations (APR), a Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC), past president of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, and a former member of the FPRA State Executive Committee. A fluent Spanish-speaker who lived in Venezuela in college, he often assists clients with Spanish-language outreach and media interviews. Chad and his wife, Erin, live in Lakeland, Florida, with their three children. He is in his first term as a Lakeland City Commissioner.