October 3Chamber Luncheon "Crisis Management & Communications"

Description

This fast-paced talk by crisis communications and media specialist Stephanie York, will focus on a highly-strategic approach to communicating during a wide variety of situations, offering methods for establishing and maintaining “control of the message,” enabling you to move your message forward or mount a defense against a sudden press onslaught.

Accident •Accusation of fiscal mismanagement • Active shooter • Data theft/loss• Death of a key executive • Embezzlement • Employee fraud • Explosion • Food-borne illness • OSHA citation • Ex-employee attacking on Facebook • Reputational challenges • Sexual misconduct • Unfair labor practices • Workplace violence • The PD is on line 3 looking for comment.....

Especially in today’s world of immediate information, when reporters won’t wait long for you to return that call before posting the story online and where virtually everyone is a “journalist” armed with a camera and able to reach thousands of people with one simple Facebook message, managing all communications amid a crisis is a necessary skill set for business leaders. 

About the Speaker: Stephanie York is vice president at Hennes Communications, one the few firms in the U.S. focused exclusively on crisis communications and crisis management. Hennes Communications serves corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, education and healthcare institutions, as well as law firms and their clients, that are “on trial” in the Court of Public Opinion. 

With over 20 years’ experience in law and communications, Stephanie and the firm’s past and present clients include the 2016 Cleveland Host Committee for the recent Republican National Convention, ThyssenKrupp, Avery Dennison, Lubrizol, Kent State University, Oberlin College and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as scores of municipalities and law firms across the U.S.  

An attorney, Stephanie is better recognized as the assistant director of law and spokesperson for the City of Akron and former Mayor Don Plusquellic.  Besides serving on seven local non-profit boards, she is president of the Downtown Kiwanis Foundation.