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Susan B. Towler, APR

Jacksonville, Duval County

Committee:  Volunteer Services

Susan B. Towler is the Executive Director for The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, Inc., established in 2001 as the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. She is also Vice President, Community Affairs, for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) and has responsibility for the company’s community investment programming. She was formerly the public relations director for BCBSF, the state's leader in the health industry. She joined the company in April 1996 and has had responsibility for coordinating and implementing the company’s public relations programs and providing strategic communications counsel on critical business issues.

She joined BCBSF from Robin Shepherd Public Relations, where she served as client services manager. Susan started her public relations career at Gulf Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville. After three years at Gulf Life, she became director of corporate communications for BancBoston Mortgage Corporation. Following a corporate downsizing at the mortgage company, Susan started SEB Communications, a public relations consulting firm. She owned the business for three years, and then joined Robin Shepherd Public Relations.

Actively involved in the philanthropic sector, Susan is a member of the Council on Foundations, the Southeastern Council of Foundations, the Donors Forum of Northeast Florida, and the Florida Philanthropic Network. Susan is currently a board member of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida and is a member of United Way’s Life: Act 2 Partnership Council. Susan is a graduate of Leadership Florida and currently serves on their regional council.

Susan was appointed in 2006 by Governor Jeb Bush to the Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. Susan is also an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, where she served as president of the North Florida chapter in 1996. She currently serves as a member of the University of Florida Public Relations Advisory Board. She is the past board president for All Saints Early Learning and Community Care Center and is a past president of Esprit de Corps. She was named a "Woman of Influence" by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2004 and an "Up and Comer" by the same publication in 2003.

Susan graduated from the University of Florida in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations. She and her husband, Jim, both grew up in Jacksonville and have a 6-year-old daughter, Emma.