Crisis Communications Webinar
ARTBA “Power Hour” Webcasts
A Three-Part Series Aimed at Building Your Brand
September-November 2009
As a transportation design and construction industry leader, you no doubt are always looking for new ways to effectively strengthen your firm’s brand identity.
ARTBA's three-part lunch hour webcast series that focuses on effective project public relations, being prepared for a crisis, and establishing successful community relations and public affairs programs can help you achieve your “branding” goals.
You can also earn Professional Development Hours by participating.
Here’s the webcast schedule:
Session 1:
| 09/16/09: | “Effective Project Public Relations” |
| Time: | 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. |
| Length: | 60 Minutes |
Featured Speaker: John Undeland, senior vice president and partner, Stratacomm Strategic Communications Counselors—A Fleishman Hillard Company
The success or failure of large transportation infrastructure projects increasingly rests on whether designers and builders successfully communicate with the public and project owners. Once a nuanced understanding of hot-button issues is gained, the knowledge must be proactively applied to engage external audiences, including elected officials, regulatory agency staff, leading media outlets, large employers/shippers, and other key stakeholders.
Stratacomm, one of the nation’s premier transportation infrastructure communications firms, has “written the book” on consensus building behind large-scale projects.
Stratacomm’s infrastructure practice leader, John Undeland, will outline the award-winning communications programs that made their outreach on the new, $2.5 billion Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project such a success. Over a decade of evolving public relations challenges, Stratacomm helped the project’s owners—Federal Highway Administration and Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Departments of Transportation, and their engineering and contractor partners—tell their story to diverse audiences throughout a variety of channels. As a result, the firm won the contract to manage the public profile of the Intercounty Connector, a high profile $2.4 billion highway project now under construction in Maryland.
From “grass roots to grass tops,” media relations to online communications—you’ll hear what works and what doesn’t. You will also get the “tools, tips and tactics” you need to successfully move major projects off planning maps and into public use.
Who Should Participate
This webcast is designed for construction industry public relations and marketing specialists, project managers, public agency officials, as well top executives from leading transportation engineering, and highway/bridge contracting firms looking for a refresher course on public relations.
About the Presenter
John Undeland, an admitted transportation “junkie,” has been with Stratacomm since 1996. He is the enthusiastic leader of Stratacomm's infrastructure practice and regional highway safety awareness campaigns. John oversees the firm’s growing portfolio of highway and rail projects. Its flagship project is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, a $2.5 billion project in the Washington, D.C. area. His helmsmanship of the project's public image has steered it from being a magnet for controversy to arguably America's most positively viewed mega-project. In 2006 alone, John's team helped the Wilson Bridge Project log more than 200 million media impressions.
Session 2:
| 10/14/09: | “Be Prepared for the Unexpected: Developing & Executing a Crisis Communications Plan” |
| Time: | 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. |
| Length: | 60 Minutes |
Featured Speakers: John Fitzpatrick, executive vice president and senior partner, and John Undeland, senior vice president and partner, Stratacomm Strategic Communications Counselors—A Fleishman Hillard Company
Your company is working on a local highway construction project when you suddenly receive a phone call from your site supervisor. One of your company trucks has been involved in an accident at the site. Passing motorists have been killed and one of your employees critically injured. Traffic is backed up for miles. Are you prepared to handle this crisis or one like it? This seminar will help make sure you are.
A company that can predict and plan for a crisis stands a far better chance of capitalizing on that opportunity than a company that allows the crisis to sneak up without any preparation.
Stratacomm is one of the nation’s leading strategic communications companies, with core expertise on transportation issues. Two of the company’s crisis communications experts with extensive experience managing public outreach activities on major transportation improvement projects will provide you with broad guidelines for communicating “under fire.”
You will also learn how to develop and execute a crisis communications plan, and effectively respond to the inevitable questions from the news media so you can ensure your messages reach the general public.
As a bonus, you will receive an ARTBA-developed crisis communications planning guide.
Who Should Participate
This session is designed for transportation construction industry project managers, safety officials and communicators as well as those executives who want additional crisis communications education and training.
About the Presenters
John F. Fitzpatrick joined Stratacomm in 1998 and offers strategic counsel, media relations, media coaching, writing services, crisis counsel and litigation communications expertise to clients. Along with two other senior partners, he manages the firm. Working with leading companies, influential trade associations and federal agencies, John has a winning track record for helping clients create and run research-based, integrated communications campaigns. Prior to joining Stratacomm, John led the communications efforts at the Association of American Railroads, served as the Federal Railroad Administration's public affairs director, and was appointed deputy communications director for the White House Conference on Travel & Tourism.
John Undeland, an admitted transportation “junkie,” has been with Stratacomm since 1996. He is the enthusiastic leader of Stratacomm's infrastructure practice and regional highway safety awareness campaigns. John oversees the firm’s growing portfolio of highway and rail projects. Its flagship project is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, a $2.5 billion project in the Washington, D.C. area. His helmsmanship of the project's public image has steered it from being a magnet for controversy to arguably America's most positively viewed mega-project. In 2006 alone, John's team helped the Wilson Bridge Project log more than 200 million media impressions.
Session 3:
| 11/12/09: | “Building Effective Public Affairs & Community Relations Programs” |
| Time: | 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. |
| Length: | 60 Minutes |
Featured Speakers: Joyce Watson, vice president of public relations, Oldcastle Inc., Lisa Wagman Glezer, client and public relations manager, G.A. & F.C. Wagman, Inc., York, Pa.; and Jeff Solsby, ARTBA director of public affairs
Every day, community leaders and government officials take action that can make or break transportation construction projects. Without effective public affairs and community outreach programs, relations with public officials, the new media, project neighbors and community leaders can have negative impacts on your company and jeopardize the project.
G.A. & F.C Wagman, a highway/bridge contractor, established an award-winning program that engaged most of the firm’s employees to effectively educate local legislators and the public about the positive impacts of transportation investment on the Pennsylvania economy and quality of life. Lisa Wagman Glezer will tell you how they did it, and help guide you in establishing a similar program for your company.
Oldcastle Materials, the leading vertically integrated supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready mixed concrete, and paving services in the United States, knows well the importance of building strong relationships with elected officials and community leaders in the states where the firm does business. Oldcastle won the 2007 and 2008 ARTBA community relations award for their community relations campaigns. Their pro-active approach includes financial and in-kind contributions, open houses aimed at educating students, scouts and community groups about how mine products are used in everyday life, and partnerships with organizations like Wildlife Habitat Council and Habitat for Humanity. Joyce Watson will tell you how to build similar model programs in your local area.
ARTBA’s Director of Public Affairs, Jeff Solsby, will also provide a Top Ten Transportation Communications Tactics update to give you a quick “check list” of easy, affordable and effective project communications tactics you can implement on your next job.
Who Should Participate
This webcast is perfect for transportation design and construction public relations and marketing professionals, project managers, safety officials, as well as those executives who want to learn more about media relations and public affairs programs.
About the Presenters
Lisa Wagman Glezer
Lisa received her B.A. from University of Delaware. She worked for several years at PR Newswire’s Boston office as Manager of Client Services and Media Relations Representative for New England before returning to the Wagman Companies in 2001. Currently, Lisa manages public relations for the Wagman Companies and is also the Marketing Manager for G.A. & F.C. Wagman, Inc., a heavy highway general contractor. In addition, she serves as Chairperson for Wagman’s Grassroots Committee which organizes grassroots involvement for the Wagman Companies. Wagman’s grassroots program has received multiple awards.
Through Wagman’s commitment to Grassroots involvement and their strong public relations program, Wagman has educated their elected officials and the public about the challenges facing the transportation industry, proposed solutions and recommendations and celebrated milestones.
As a result, Lisa was invited to represent Wagman in the York County Chamber of Commerce’s largest “Get Out the Vote” campaign and subsequently featured in commercials, radio and print ads in fall of 2008 encouraging others to get involved and vote.
Lisa has also presented Wagman’s grassroots program to other industry organizations to motivate them to start grassroots programs. Lisa presented “Wagman’s Grassroots Model for Change” at ARTBA’s annual convention in Chicago, IL in 2008. She presented “Exercising Your Political Muscle” at MTBMA’s annual conference in Bedford Springs, PA in 2009.
Lisa, part of the fourth generation at Wagman, works on a part time schedule while raising three young children.
Joyce Watson
Joyce joined the Oldcastle Materials family of companies in 2000 in the role of Public Relations Director for the New York and New Jersey division. In 2007 she accepted the corporate-level position of Vice President of Public Relations and serves as a resource for Oldcastle companies in more than 40 states in the areas of public, community and media relations, as well as corporate communications.
Oldcastle Materials, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, and is a vertically integrated supplier of asphalt, aggregates and ready mixed concrete as well as paving services. In 2008 they generated revenues of $7.4 billion dollars.
Joyce currently serves on the NSSGA’s Communications and Community Relations Committee and served in a leadership role from 2002 to 2006. Joyce has written corporate social responsibility articles for industry trade publications and has worked hard to create a positive industry awareness that accurately reflects the contributions and importance of the construction industry. She was a speaker on the topic of sustainability at the AGG 1 forum in Orlando this year and will be speaking on blasting and community relations at the 2010 forum.
She holds a master’s degree in marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Jeff Solsby
Jeffrey Solsby joined the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) in February 2007 after more than a decade of high-profile media relations and public affairs experience in the public and private sectors.
Mr. Solsby manages ARTBA’s “Transportation Makes America Work” image/branding campaign—an “inside the D.C. beltway” program to build public and political support for increased federal transportation investment. He is responsible for the association’s media relations activities, crisis communications support efforts, and helps manage the association’s marketing programs and oversees advocacy efforts in support of ARTBA’s mission. He also manages the association’s Equipment Manufacturers Division overseeing membership development and operations.
Prior to joining ARTBA, Mr. Solsby served as a managing director with Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates, a Washington, D.C.-headquartered international public affairs firm providing strategic counsel in support of public policy, crisis communications, corporate communications and government relations efforts for major trade associations, Fortune 100 companies and large private corporations.
From 2001-2005, Mr. Solsby worked in his native Southern California. He spent nearly three years with Anaheim-based Curt Pringle & Associates. He provided government relations and public affairs counsel for clients, including Yamaha Motor Corporation and Lennar Corporation and a number of high profile local government and infrastructure programs. He also conducted lobbying and communications outreach in Sacramento, Washington D.C., and with Southern California local government agencies. His work included providing government relations and communications support for a proposed $500 million transit-oriented-development.
Previously, Mr. Solsby was chief of staff for California Assemblyman Todd Spitzer. He also served as communications director for Spitzer during his prior service on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Solsby worked extensively with the Orange County Transportation Authority, the county’s public-private toll road agency, and the California Department of Transportation.
From 1997-2001, Solsby served on Capitol Hill as a senior staff member for two members of Congress, including former Rep. James Rogan (R-Calif). During his time with Rep. Rogan, Mr. Solsby focused on a number of vital infrastructure programs underway in Southern California, such as 1998’s TEA-21 law, the Alameda Corridor program, 710 Freeway controversy, LA-Pasadena light rail extension, and challenges facing the Burbank Airport and surrounding community.
Born in Pasadena and raised in Newport Beach, Solsby received his B.A. from California State University, Chico, with a major in U.S. History. He and his wife Michelle reside in Alexandria, Virginia with their two daughters.
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Registration
The cost per webcast is $125 for members; $175 for non-members. A discount is available for those who enroll in the three-part series. The member series price is $325; the non-member price is $450.
