COO Forum Presenter Series: Communicating through a Crisis: Smart Strategies for Tough Times - Fri, Oct 10 at 10:30 am ET
“Communicating through a Crisis: Smart Strategies for Tough Times,” will feature best practices in crisis communications planning and management, including practical tips on communicating before, during and after a crisis.
The session will be led by two senior executives from Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications, CEO and Managing Partner Jessica Smith and Executive Vice President Holly Bartecki. Jessica and Holly have extensive experience providing rapid response crisis communications support to a wide range of corporate, nonprofit, municipal agencies, colleges and universities, K-12 school districts and more.
Presentation Outline and Key Take Aways
· Key factors—identifying communications issues vs. crises
· Think about what could go wrong—types of crises
· Effective crisis communications
· Know your audiences
· Action steps—before, during and after a crisis
· Managing and monitoring mainstream and social media during a crisis
· Q&A
Jessica Smith, CEO and Managing Partner
Jessica has 20+ years experience developing and leading integrated communications strategies and public policy campaigns on behalf of corporate, nonprofit, foundation and government clients. She elevates and protects client brands through intentional relationship-building, thought leadership, media, digital engagement and events.
During a crisis, Jessica works with clients to navigate complex issues and mitigate public scrutiny. Her clients have ranged from K-12 and higher education institutions, cultural organizations, human services providers, a national restaurant chain and more. Her issues management and crisis communications work has included helping clients communicate around political polarization, labor relations, allegations of misconduct, leadership changs, controversial policy decisions and more.
Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in public relations and minor in political science from Marquette University. During college, she was accepted to the highly competitive Les Aspin Center for Government where she served as an intern on the House Small Business Committee in Washington, D.C. She is active in Chicago’s business and civic community serving on the boards of the Chicago Area Public Affairs Group and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Jessica lives on the northwest side of the city with her husband and young son.
Holly Bartecki, Executive Vice President
Holly provides firm-wide client services, including creative and strategy development, customized communications trainings (message, media and presentation), crisis communications planning and rapid response, major writing assignments and facilitation of focus groups.
For a variety of clients, including corporations, municipalities, labor unions, academic medical centers, colleges and universities, manufacturing companies and more, Holly provides strategic communications counsel, oversees brand positioning and coordinates strategy and message development to ensure timely and appropriate organizational responses to critical issues, challenges and opportunities.
She is a part of JT’s senior management team that works with clients to prepare for and respond to serious issues and crisis, including sexual harassment/misconduct, labor relations, environmental hazards, data/privacy breaches and equipment malfunctions, among others. She has led the development of crisis communications plans and incident escalation systems for a wide range of corporate clients.
A trained facilitator, Holly has coordinated retreats, training sessions and focus groups for groups from 10 to 100, including media, message and presentation training. She co-developed and facilitates the firm’s proprietary “Difficult Dialogues” communications skills training.
Holly serves on the board of directors for the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation and Women Employed, a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to improve the economic status of women, effect policy change, expand access to educational opportunities, and advocate for fair and inclusive workplaces so that all women, families, and communities thrive. She also serves as a member of the Suburban Service League, a women’s philanthropy organization that provides support to individuals and organizations in need throughout Chicago’s south suburbs.