Event Details

Crisis Communication

Especially in today’s world of “gotcha” journalism, with tiny, digital cameras capable of sending hi-definition pictures to YouTube and CNN within minutes and reputational challenges amplified exponentially by Facebook and Twitter, “managing the media” is a necessary skill set for executives, as well as government, education, healthcare and nonprofit officials.

This fast-paced talk by Canton native and veteran crisis communications and media specialist Bruce Hennes, from Hennes Paynter Communications in Cleveland 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.

Speaker: Bruce Hennes

Bio:  Bruce M. Hennes, Managing Partner of Hennes Paynter Communications. 

Hennes Paynter is one of the few agencies in the U.S. focused exclusively on crisis communications.  Serving government agencies, educational and healthcare institutions, nonprofits and corporations that are “on trial” in the Court of Public Opinion, Hennes Paynter Communications also offers media training and litigation communication support to their clients. 

Hennes has over 35 years’ experience working in politics and public relations.  He now counts among his current and former clients such companies as Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University, Akron General Health System, The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, KeyBank, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, NASA and Westfield Insurance, as well as many municipalities, school districts and law firms.

Hennes serves on the governing board of the Cleveland Leadership Center and The Business Emergency Planning Institute.  He is one of the founders of the FBI Citizens Academy Foundation of Cleveland.  He is also a Graduate Lecturer in Advanced Communications/Media Relations in the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and he frequently speaks before bar and trade associations.  Hennes is also a member of the boards of The Press Club of Cleveland and he’s on the executive committee of The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and recipient of the bar association’s first-ever President’s Award.  Hennes received certification in Effective Communications from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and The Federal Emergency Management Agency.  President of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2008, Hennes is also of counsel to Levick Strategic Communications in Washington, DC. (2007 Crisis Manager of the Year and 2007 Litigation Communications Firm of the Year by PRNews).

A graduate of Oakwood High School (now GlenOak), Hennes was inducted into the Plain Local Hall of Distinction in 2010. 

For three straight years, Hennes Paynter has won the Gold Award from the Public Relations Society of America - Greater Cleveland Chapter for its crisis work and in 2009, Hennes Paynter won PRSA’s coveted “Best of Show” award for its work with another agency on the national peanut butter recall.

Menu:  Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, peas, salads, and cupcakes for dessert.
              Vegetarian option will be Pasta Primavera.

The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met the HR Certification Institute's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit."   
 

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