This list features comments from those who worked with Kyle McCurry.
Mark Rieger, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost of Florida Gulf Coast University
"As Provost at FGCU, I had the pleasure of overlapping with Kyle McCurry for about three years. In fact, he was the first FGCU employee that I had a meaningful discussion with after I accepted the job in November of 2020. Kyle interviewed me by phone and wrote a great story in advance of my arrival. I could tell he was an experienced professional at that time, not pulling any punches and asking the right questions to make a compelling story.
"Kyle managed external relations and media for FGCU extremely well. He seemed to know everyone in regional media and attracted national attention to a university that many people couldn't find on a map. The stories of our student's success were picked up routinely, often in the local news and in print media. Faculty expertise was showcased at least weekly in local media. He was tenacious in getting our people air time, and like a true professional, doing so at odd hours and weekends when the stories needed to be told.
"At FGCU, he and his team were instrumental in promoting our Water School, and one-of-a-kind academic unit that started from scratch from a single department. The brand "Water School" still resonates as new and innovative years after it was launched, now with double the faculty, a growing student population, and a state-of-the-art building, the largest on FGCU's campus. I know that it would not have gone so well without the fabulous marketing campaign devised by Kyle McCurry and his colleagues. Our university has been entrusted with $32 million in funding to tackle some of the most serious environmental issues facing Southwest Florida - just from the '24 legislative session alone. After 18 years in higher ed administration at three universities, I can't think of a better example of a media campaign promoting a unique and vital part of a university. Thank you, Kyle.
"For those of you in the market for an excellent media and marketing professional, I urge you to give Kyle a chance to interview. Would I hire him if given the chance? You bet. Especially now, in higher ed, when we are experiencing low approval ratings and are being questioned on fundamental issues of cost, access, freedom of expression, etc., we need experienced communication professionals."
Pamella Seay, J.D., professor of law at Florida Gulf Coast University
"Since meeting Kyle at FGCU, I have been impressed by his professionalism and effectiveness in media relations. His knowledge and industriousness have achieved tremendous results for the university, making Florida Gulf Coast University a go-to resource for expertise and commentary and developing our faculty as experts in their respective fields. As for me, Kyle has provided training and guidance that have gained for me regional as well as national placement. He is a professional in every sense of the word. "
Tim Klutsarits, news director of WBBH/WZVN television
"Kyle is truly one of the most gifted Media Relations and communications people I have ever worked with. Kyle led his team at FGCU from being an afterthought within the space to being one of the bigger players in the state of Florida University system. He was always very responsive to the media's needs and if he couldn't make something happen there was usually an outstanding reason why it couldn't happen. Kyle was always on the lookout for good stories at his school and working to get them out into the community.
"He always had the University's best interests at heart and is someone you can count on will be there to represent your organization to the very best of his abilities."
Johnson Bowles, vice president of advancement
"Kyle McCurry is a consummate professional. Not only is he one of the most hardworking individuals in the public relations field, his journalistic acumen is superior. From start to finish, he knows how to identify and develop compelling stories, how to pitch the right story to the right outlet, and how to make the process easy for everyone involved. Kyle is a confident, smart, tenacious, exceptionally dependable strategic thinker who is always looking for ways to things better. He gets the job done with amazing results."
Shelton Weeks, Ph.D., economics professor at FGCU
"Kyle is a real pro and he did a great job establishing and expanding media relations for us. His efforts made interacting with media outlets much more enjoyable and productive. As a result, the degree of exposure we are getting is at an all-time high."
Matt Hott, former midday host on radio station in Elmira, N.Y.
"Kyle was always a hard worker and a fair boss. Kyle put his heart and soul into each project and worked at getting the best from his employees. Kyle was tough but fair as he expected no more and no less than what he would put in to his projects."
Jim Llorens, Ph.D., retired provost of Florida Gulf Coast University and former chancellor of Southern University and A&M College
"I spent three years at FGCU as Interim Provost while Kyle served in media relations. Kyle brought a wealth of experience, knowledge and talent to FGCU. The university's media exposure and recognition grew exponentially as a result of his expertise in the field, his national and international connections, and his superior work ethic. Kyle worked with the leadership throughout the university: administration, faculty, and staff. He increased the exposure of faculty engaged in research that was of specific importance to the region; developed a pool of faculty to support and provide the media with expert analysis and commentary; and assisted administrators by reviewing and editing media responses. Kyle was an invaluable asset in editing written documents and oral presentations. Kyle is the consummate professional and colleague."
Katie Cribbs, assistant direct of media and public relations at FGCU
"Kyle is truly a visionary when it comes to public and media relations. As a journalist in SWFL for nearly two decades, I witnessed him build one of the most successful public relations practices I’ve ever seen. When I left television news, I jumped at a chance to work alongside him at FGCU. I’ve enjoyed collaborating with him on both sides of the business—as a journalist and media relations colleague—and I would never hesitate to work alongside him again."
Devin Turk, former TV reporter in Fort Myers, Fla.
"Working with Kyle is a DREAM for a journalist. I worked with him for more than 2 years when I was a reporter with NBC2. Since Kyle also worked as a television reporter, he understands the immediacy of the deadlines they face, the kinds of stories they're looking for, and how to make them happen. If a reporter calls him with a request, he looks into it instantly and will move mountains to accommodate them. He will shoot B-Roll or interviews and send them in if that's the only option. He develops personal relationships with journalists and is then able to pitch stories to the best person for the job. Before he started at FGCU, they were rarely included on the news. Now you can expect to see his professors on air or in print seemingly every day in the Southwest Florida market. He's passionate about his job and it shows. I can't endorse him enough for the job he has done promoting FGCU to the world. "
Kyle Carter, Ph.D., retired chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and former provost of Western Carolina University
"I was Provost at WCU while Kyle was the general manager of the radio station. He produced a radio show for myself and the Chancellor that aired roughly monthly. Kyle was always well prepared, extremely knowledgeable and personable. He has strong language facility and social skills. Based on my experience with Kyle I view him as energetic, dedicated, responsible and very organized."
Kimberly King, investigative reporter in Asheville, N.C
"Kyle is the best Public Relations professional at a University that I've ever worked with. He understands what a real news story is and always strives to provide the best topic expert for a given story. He is never pushy, but comes from a place of knowledge and respect for journalists. The best thing about working with Kyle is that he has a news background. Because of that, he was always able to both encourage and put professors and students, at ease, educating them how their expertise can add important context to a TV news story. He is consistent, caring, authentic, and an extremely hard worker for the institution he's employed by."
Geoff Roth, former news director at TV station in Charlotte, N.C.
"Kyle McCurry is one of the hardest working reporters who has ever worked for me. He is a strong writer and storyteller and digs for unique stories to tell our audience. As a bureau reporter, he has shown he is a self-starter who needs little guidance to get the job done. Besides covering one of the areas in our DMA, Kyle has also become the most respected NASCAR correspondent in our market. His depth of knowledge of the sport, along with the contacts he developed, quickly made our news department the go-to place for NASCAR coverage."
Emma Heaton, anchor/reporter at WINK-TV
"Kyle is an exceptional individual, whose reliability, efficiency, and versatility make him an invaluable asset in any professional setting. As my college professor, he imparted a wealth of knowledge and skills, demonstrating a deep commitment to fostering student growth and success. In my professional interactions with him, particularly with his role on Florida Gulf Coast University's media relations, Kyle exhibited a remarkable ability to handle diverse tasks and challenges with ease and proficiency. His dedication to excellence and his adeptness at communication and strategic thinking make him a standout professional. Any company would be fortunate to have Kyle on their team, as his contributions undoubtedly lead to enhanced productivity and success."
John Bardo, Ph.D., former president of Western Carolina University and Wichita State University
"I worked with Kyle while he was with WWCU and I found him to be professional, well prepared and able to carry an hour interview with ease. He always seemed to respond ethically and with good humor. I always enjoyed our interactions."
Amelia Fabiano, TV reporter in Phoenix, Ariz.
"Kyle has been the best and most hardworking media/public relations specialist I have ever worked with. He always made himself available for me and my colleagues and tried as best he could to get someone relevant as an expert interview for my stories. He also frequently provided me with story ideas and pitches with legitimate potential that my station would be interested in and often go for. His background as a journalist gives him an advantage others in public relations often don’t have. He truly made my job as a reporter easier and gave me priceless resources!"
Tom Doerr, director of local content & news at Fort Myers Broadcasting
"Kyle was a wonderful asset to Florida Gulf Coast University, because he regularly found image-enhancing stories about the University to share with SWFL media. Early on during his tenure, Kyle established open lines of communication with the leaders of our company's media platforms (Radio, Television, Magazines, Digital, and newspaper). He not only brought good stories to the media, but he went out of his way to find faculty and administrators to serve as expert sources. The overall effect certainly helped the relatively young University establish itself as an important community resource. In addition, Kyle was always pleasant and upbeat. My personal experience working with Kyle is that he was very good at his job. Always a pleasure and helpful. I'd be happy to discuss Kyle's wonderful attributes with any prospective employer."
Evan Dean, investigative report at WBBH-TV
"Kyle McCurry is a gifted public relations professional who has a rare & refreshing knowledge of how to best connect with local media outlets. While many in PR send out countless press releases hoping for an occasional hit, Kyle's phone is ringing daily with reporters seeking help on stories. He understands the pace and visual nature of television news -- and that's always been appreciated."
Carol Ross, vice president of artist management and public relations for Tommy James and the Shondells
"Kyle is smart, he has integrity and approaches every project and pr campaign with good insight and covers the smallest detail to ensure the maximum results for the client. He continues to amaze me!!!!"
Chris Cifatte, anchor at WINK-TV
"Kyle is one of the best at what he does. He's always the first call in the newsroom for help with a story - and always delivers. He's also creative and comes up with story pitches that work on TV. I don't think there is anyone in the 'PR realm' that we rely on more than him in our newsroom."
Martin Amsler, former assignment manager at TV station in Charlotte
"Kyle McCurry is the employee who is successful every time and on deadline. It does not matter what obstacles are in his way, Kyle is very talented at nagivating any issues he may encounter. I had Kyle in mind when I proposed a series of NASCAR stories for broadcast on our station. He took the idea and not only knocked it out of the park, and based on those stories, he covered the race series for the remainder of the season and ultimately won NASCAR's broadcaster of the year award. Kyle can think out of the box and present the information in a way that is easy for anyone to digest. He is an asset to any organization. I would work with him again in a heartbeat."
Adam Pinsker, reporter in Bloomington, Ind.
"As Director of Media Relations at Florida Gulf Coast University, Kyle is a pleasure to work with. In my role as a reporter, Kyle is very responsive to my requests for interviews with FGCU Faculty and Staff. He often arranges these interviews with little to no advance notice. Kyle is very diligent about providing background in the individual that I am about to interview. If there isn't a need Kyle can meet, there was usually a good reason for it, but he always tries his best to help myself and other local media people."
Ed Osborne, vice president of licensing and special markets for Tommy James and the Shondells
"In the work that Kyle performed for Aura Entertainment he consistently demonstrated a high level of commitment and personal initiative in bringing each of his project tasks to a successful conclusion. As importantly, he was adept at working on his own and being a team player. He was constantly on the alert for and thinking about promotional/marketing opportunities which he would research and then bring to us. I highly recommend Kyle without reservation."
Shannon Clowe, reporter in Tampa, Fla.
"Kyle was always extremely helpful. He arranged interviews in a timely manner and was very organized. He was easy to get a hold of and communicated well. Pleasure to work with!"
Brenda Hage, Ph.D., school of nursing director at FGCU
"Kyle McCurry is a consummate professional. I have found him to be ethical, principled and focused on the highest standards of journalistic integrity. He is well connected to the SWFL community and within the journalism and marketing industry. He is able to leverage his expertise and connections to keep us front and center in the media, providing great coverage and positive exposure. He has also provided expert consultation and media training for our team which has been invaluable, particularly for those new to media appearances and interviews. "
Gage Goulding, reporter in Houston, Texas
"Kyle has been invaluable to me and my colleagues. He works tirelessly to ensure he can help us in any way possible. Kyle and his team of experts at Florida Gulf Coast University have become one of the most reliable sources in SWFL and increasingly across the nation. I can confidently say I've forged a relationship with Kyle that I'll take no matter where my career takes me."