About CKS

Christa K. Santos

CKS Marketing Communications is a full service public relations and marketing communications firm established in 2004, by Christa K. Santos. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, projected to be among the nation's fastest-growing regions throughout this decade, CKS Marketing Communications specializes in small to medium-sized businesses providing support in the areas of public relations, strategic marketing and business development.

Prior to founding CKS Marketing Communications, Santos directed the external communications and marketing activities for the Central Florida Innovation Corporation (CFIC) for over seven years. CFIC was a non-profit organization created as a public/private partnership to generate high tech, high paying jobs in Central Florida. She directed the organization’s annual venture capital conference, Innovation Florida, providing a forum for early-stage technology companies to interact with institutional and private investors.

Additionally, she created community partnerships and strategic business development alliances to accomplish the organization’s objectives. Santos directed all media relations activities and the membership program formerly known as the Emerging Business Network (EBN) and its quarterly (Tech After Dark tours) and monthly programming (Venture Forums).

Prior to joining CFIC, Santos worked at the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Central Florida Chapter, coordinating the annual Walk to Cure Diabetes events, which raised over $450,000. She established the first walk program in Brevard County, enlisting the support of HealthFirst and CEO Mike Means.

In 1994, she served as Executive Director of the Central Branch of the Arthritis Foundation, managing a nine county service area for three years. She was instrumental in getting the first arthritis camp week established at Paul Newman’s Boggy Creek Gang camp in Sorrento, FL. Additionally, she implemented national fundraising programs such as the Jingle Bell Walk/Run for Arthritis and the annual Golf Card Discount program, as well as the use of a car to support program outreach donated by Saturn of Orlando. Santos continued to provide a medical clinic for the medically indigent with the assistance of volunteer healthcare providers at Orlando Regional Healthcare and in Volusia County. She also established support groups and exercise classes for people with arthritis, as well as community educational forums.

Prior to joining the Arthritis Foundation, Santos worked with the Walt Disney World Co. in the Convention Services Department, assisting with fairy tale weddings, banquets and convention functions. She also worked for WFTV-Channel 9 in the promotions department, assisting with WFTV-related community relations activities and events, studio production techniques, machine-to-machine editing and the creation of news topical promotions. Santos gained her early experience at Wordwise, Inc., assisting with public relations activities for clients in the healthcare and software industries.

Santos has been involved with numerous community organizations. She has served as a member of the Public Relations Committee for the Parent Resource Center, assisting with the development of media kits and promotion/script support for a luncheon featuring national family workplace expert, Ellen Galinsky. She also provided graphic design and fundraising assistance to the Easter Seals Society and was the volunteer coordinator for the MS Society’s annual MS Walk and 150 Bike Tours. Santos is involved in several charitable and community organizations, such as the Greater Orlando Alumnae Association of Alpha Delta Pi, serving as a Chapter Advisor to the Zeta Omega chapter at the University of Central Florida and as a mentor to students in the UCF Nicholson School of Communications intern program.

Event Planning         Project Management         Collateral Production

Media Relations         Community Relations         Marketing Communications         Business Development