ITGA Pre-Conference Special Topic Workshop
From Turmoil to Triumph: Crisis Communications Tactics for Town & Gown
June 4, from 8:30am - 1:30pm
Join us for this ITGA Pre-Conference workshop, "From Turmoil to Triumph: Crisis Communications Tactics for Town & Gown." This seminar is essential for senior-level college and university administrators, mayors, city managers and other professionals who are likely to be involved in efforts to prepare for, respond to and mitigate reputational damage due to a crisis situation.
In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, crisis situations can arise unexpectedly, presenting a significant impact on the reputation and operations of town and gown communities. This seminar is designed to equip attendees with the necessary skills and strategies to effectively handle crisis communications, ensuring a swift and effective response when faced with challenging situations.
Click here to register for this event
Steve Patterson, Mayor of Athens Ohio and ITGA Past President
"Observing things on the national stage and the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio led us to realize that we were not prepared for crisis communication of that nature. We reached out to Bruce Hennes and his team and they provided in-person instruction for senior staff for the City of Athens, Ohio. We found that the communication guidance was extremely valuable, especially given that Athens is a college town. Their training prepared us to better manage the media and how to effectively work with different stakeholders. The end result of his work was postering us to effectively engage with the media during a crisis."
Bruce Hennes, Chief Executive Officer of Hennes Communications
Bruce Hennes of Hennes Communications, one of the few firms in North America focused on crisis communications, will lead this special 5-hour session. Hennes Communications serves over 200 clients a year in virtually every market sector – including educational institutions, government agencies, nursing homes, nonprofits, law firms -- and their clients -- that are “on trial” in the Court of Public Opinion. Hennes is a 12-year member of the executive committee of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and twice a recipient of that bar’s President’s Award. He is also an associate professor at the Scripps School of Communications at Ohio University. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and on the faculty of the Ohio State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy.
A nationally-known crisis communications specialist, Hennes is an in-demand speaker, often doing Continuing Legal Education seminars for bar associations and law firms around the country, as well as for other industry groups. He also speaks to public safety, education and government officials about “Extreme Crisis Communications” (i.e. how to handle mass casualty and “extreme” situations involving threats to life & limb). To visit his website, click here.
Program Overview
This special topic session is designed to allow participants to:
- Learn how to use the Crisis Communications Playbook.
- Understand that “No comment” should never be used – and what to say when attorneys insist otherwise.
- Learn how the business model of news gathering and distribution has fundamentally and irreversibly changed, with implications for the way organizations respond before, during and after crisis situations.
- Apply the concepts in a crisis scenario with other colleagues.
Designed For
The professional development workshop is designed for:
- University/college professionals
- City/county officials, and staff
- Community leaders
- Undergraduate and graduate students interested in town-gown relations, public service, political science, and other fields
