Durée Mellion Ross

President

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR CALLING, WHY KEEP LOOKING?

President Durée Mellion Ross fell in love with public relations at the age of 19 during a fated college internship. Originally a double major in broadcast journalism and sociology at the University of Miami, she found her place in the world of PR.

Now an award-winning PR entrepreneur, Durée leads a talented team of media relations and marketing specialists in South Florida. The reach of her PR agency, Durée & Company, is global with clients who provide services and impact lives from South Florida to around the world.

Durée is also a pioneer in her adaption of emerging industries, including CBD. Her strategic public relations work in the space has resulted in a growing list of clients, from processing facilities to consumer products sold in big box retailers. Through a watchful eye on local and federal legislation, a strong pulse on key expos and leadership conferences and proven relationships with influencers and thought leaders, Durée understands how to navigate the rapidly-growing cannabis industry to achieve client goals.

LOCALLY GROWN, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN

Born, raised and raising a family in South Florida, Durée maintains a headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and a satellite office in Aspen, Colorado. Durée & Company has a wide variety of clients, and the firm has joined the ranks of some of the nation’s most elite professional organizations.

Durée & Company is:

Durée & Company is a longtime member of PR Boutiques International™ (PRBI), an international network of influential boutique PR firms. Ross not only contributes significantly to this respected network but also serves as the vice president of its executive board, highlighting her leadership and influence in the global PR community.
Durée & Company is a member of The Florida Hemp Council and Cannabis Marketing Association, and a corporate partner of Cannabis LAB
Durée is a published contributor to Forbes, the international business magazine.

ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH HER COMMUNITY

Durée & Company builds its reputation, brand and impact through community service. Personally, Durée has devoted time and resources to missions she believes in. Her work for charitable causes has included, but is not limited to:

Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance – Supporters of Broward (SOB) campaign 2020
Winterfest Boat Parade – Advisory Board Member 2020-2022
The National Kidney Foundation of Florida – Fort Lauderdale Kidney Walk 2019
Memorial Healthcare System – Positively Pink Luncheon Benefiting the Memorial Breast Cancer Center 2019
Broward Public Library Foundation – Literary Feast 2019
Rebuilding Together Broward – Black Dresses and Blueprints 2019
American Cancer Society – Celebration Gala 2018-2019
Member, Broward Women’s Alliance, United Way of Broward County’s Envision United group and United Way of Broward County Women United
Member, Diamond Angels of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation committee
Chair, Circle of Red 2012 Go Red for Women Broward County (Florida) campaign

Her honors include being recognized by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at its 8th Annual Comedy Night in 2017. In 2016, she was a March of Dimes Women of Distinction honoree, and in 2013, Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County named Durée one of 100 Outstanding Women of Broward County.

AWARDED BY HER INDUSTRY
Durée and Durée & Company have been celebrated within the PR and small business communities.

An award-winning entrepreneur, Ross has been nationally recognized for her ability to manage crises and develop winning strategies that protect and build brand reputations. In 2023, Ross was named PRNEWS’ “PR Person of the Year.” Durée & Company was also named the Best of Fort Lauderdale 2023 “Top PR Agency,” as voted by Fort Lauderdale Magazine’s readers. Ross’ additional achievements in 2023 include being awarded the Cannabis Marketing Summit’s “Best Use of PR” award, Bulldog Reporter’s Bronze “Best Crisis Management” award, a “Who’s Who of Local Influence” by Venice Magazine and was named an “Apogee Award Honoree” by South Florida Business & Wealth. In 2022, Durée & Company’s effective crisis management earned an Honorable Mention at the Marine Marketers of America’s “Neptune Awards.” In 2020, she was an honoree of South Florida Business & Wealth’s “Prestigious Women Awards,” Ragan’s “Top Women in Communications Visionary” award and PRNEWS’ “Agency Elite Top 100” award, among many others.

SHARING HER EXPERTISE

Beyond training her own team, Durée is in demand to present at various professional events and has served on a range of marketing panels. Some of her most noteworthy engagements include the South Florida Business Journal’s Bizwomen Mentoring Monday in Fort Lauderdale (2014–2020), the Women’s Success Summit IX, Miami (2014), and a recurring invitation to speak to students in the MBA program at FAU’s College of Business and at the University of Miami, her alma mater.

In addition, she volunteers her time and PR expertise to a number of non-profit organizations, including Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer, and MADD.

Durée is a published contributor to Inc. magazine, an American weekly magazine which publishes about small businesses and startups.

In 2018, Durée was invited to create and serve on the committee to establish Florida Atlantic University’s Women in Leadership program, which she did very successfully.

A SOLID FOUNDATION
Prior to establishing Durée and Company, Durée honed her skills with DindyCo PR & Marketing; Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization founded and operated by Anthony Kennedy Shriver; and Zynyx Marketing Communications, which became The Nixon Group and is now part of the GolinHarris family. Durée presently resides in Fort Lauderdale with her husband, son and daughter.

Industry

AWARDS

Consistently celebrated within the
PR and small business communities.

OFFICIAL CONTEST AND GIVEAWAY RULES NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND OTHER COMMONWEALTHS, TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), 18 YEARS OR OLDER.

Terms. By entering this 20/20 contest (“Contest”) and accepting these terms, you agree to be bound by the following rules (“Official Rules”), which constitute a binding agreement between you and Durée & Company, Inc. These Official Rules apply to all online (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) contests unless otherwise noted.

Official Rules: Entrants must fill out all required fields on the entry form to participate in the Contest. After submitting the required information on the entry form, the entrant will receive one (1) entry into the 20/20 Contest. The Contest will begin on January 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET and end on February 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET (“Contest Entry Period”). All times in the Contest refer to Eastern Time (“ET”). Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. Limit one (1) Entry per company during the Contest Period. Entries generated by a script, macro, or other automated means or by any means that subverts the entry process will be disqualified. Entries must be received before January 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET to be eligible for the Contest.

Eligibility. Contest is open only to individuals participate in the Contest or submit an entry and who are eighteen (18) years of age as of the date of entry (“Entrant”). The Contest is only open to legal United States residents who have at least one physical location in Florida, and is void where prohibited by law. Employees of Durée & Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Employees”), and immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of Employees are not eligible to participate in the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Agreement to Rules. By participating, the Entrant agrees to be fully unconditionally bound by these Official Rules. Entrant represents and warrants that they meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, Entrant agrees to accept the decisions of Durée & Company as final and binding as it relates to the content of this Contest.

How to Enter. Entrants must fill out the contest form entirely and send to the name/contact information as instructed. Any automated computer receipt, such as one confirming delivery of email, does not constitute proof of entry for the purposes of these Official Rules. The entry must fulfill all Contest requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Durée & Company. Fraudulent methods or other attempts to circumvent the rules will disqualify an Entrant’s eligibility at the sole discretion of Durée & Company. Durée & Company may disqualify any Entry for any reason, In its sole and absolute discretion.

Prizes. The Winner(s) of the Contest (the “Winner”) will receive 20 hours of free services per month for 3 months. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Durée & Company’s discretion. The prize is nontransferable. Any and all prize-related expenses, including without limitation any and all federal, state, and/or local taxes, shall be the sole responsibility of Winner. The prize is awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. No substitution of prize or transfer/assignment of prize to others or request for the cash equivalent by Winner is permitted. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Durée & Company to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

Rights Granted by You: By entering this Contest, the Entrant understands and agrees that Durée & Company, anyone acting on behalf of Durée & Company, and Durée & Company’s licensees, successors, and assigns, have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the world, without limitation, the Entrant’s entry, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Contest, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes, without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.

Terms & Conditions: Durée & Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other cause beyond Durée & Company’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Durée & Company may select the Winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Durée & Company. Durée & Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or website or violates these Terms & Conditions.

Durée & Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to maintain the integrity of the Contest, to void votes for any reason, including, but not limited to: multiple entries from the same user from different IP addresses; multiple entries from the same computer in excess of that allowed by Contest rules; or the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such attempt be made, Durée & Company reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Disqualification. If an Entrant is found ineligible, or if he/she does not comply with the Official Rules, then such Entrant will be disqualified. If a prize, prize documentation, or prize notification is returned as undeliverable or unclaimed, this will result in disqualification. In the event an Entrant is deemed ineligible or disqualified for any reason, then an alternate potential winner will be selected.

Disputes. THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND FLORIDA, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES. As a condition of participating in this Contest, participant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Minnesota having jurisdiction. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances shall participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Contest). Entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

Winner(s) will be announced by March 20, 2020.

Sponsor. The Sponsor of the Contest is Durée & Company, Inc. 10620 Griffin Road, Suite 208, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328

Social Media. The Contest hosted by Durée & Company is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Durée Mellion Ross

President

Industry

AWARDS

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