A look at crisis communication and how to respond in the face of adversity – Public Relations Society of American Northwest Ohio

Who Ya Gonna Call … When You’re Who Everyone Else Calls
A look at crisis communication and how to respond in the face of adversity

Clark Kent was Superman. Diana Prince was Wonder Woman. Bruce Wayne was Batman. Steve Rogers was Captain America. Who do you become when disaster strikes?

At first look, we all may appear to be humble PR pros … but the Public Relations Society of America Northwest Ohio Chapter wants to help you discover your super hero alter ego! Join us for lunch Friday, April 15, at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Main Library as social media and communication experts from the Library, The University of Toledo and Austin Associates discuss crisis communication. Our experts will use February’s mass shooting incident by an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Uber’s response to frame concepts of how and when to respond to a crisis, on social media and through other channels.

We are so excited to be at a NEW VENUE this month: the Toledo Lucas County Library Main Library.

Event details:

Day: Friday, April 15
Time: 11:30 a.m. — lunch and program
Location: Toledo Lucas County Public Library Main Library, 325 Michigan St., Toledo, OH 43604
Cost: $20 for PRSA members, $30 for guests, $12 for students
Pay by check, cash or credit card
Please RSVP to nwohioprsa@gmail.com by noon Wednesday, April 13

Our speakers:

Heather Hoffman, Social Media Coordinator
Toledo Lucas County Public Library
To say Heather’s career in media relations has been exciting would be an understatement. She began her career with Promotions One, in Columbus, Ohio, where she assisted with PR for major city events such as the Columbus Marathon, Komen Columbus Race for the Cure and “Red, White, and Boom.” From there she transitioned to Junior Achievement, where she oversaw public relations and learned how to drive a race kart while planning the non-profit organization’s annual Grand Prix Race. Heather’s focus on social media came seven years ago during her time as media coordinator at Lourdes University. There, she built and managed the institution’s six major social media channels, established a social media leadership team and advised on the creation of social media sub-channels.

While at Lourdes, she also gained extensive experience and training in managing crisis communications in both traditional and social media. A book nerd at heart, she is currently working her dream job as social media coordinator for the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. In less than two years, she has grown every Library social media channel, some by nearly 600 percent, and has successfully used social media to grow digital downloads, traditional circulation and participation in programs and events.

Kathy Rotte
Kathy Rotte is a marketing consultant for Austin Associates, a firm that serves community banks across the country in practice areas that include investment banking, strategic planning, financial management, and technology solutions. She has worked in the greater Toledo area for more than 30 years with for-profit and non-profit organizations including Blue Cross of Northwest Ohio; the former Libbey-Owens-Ford Company; ProMedica Toledo Hospital; The Toledo Museum of Art; and St. John’s Jesuit High School and Academy.

One of her most challenging roles was to serve as vice president of corporate communications for a leading bank holding company that operated in four states. She has worked as a public relations and crisis communication consultant for clients, including The Rouse Company (Franklin Park Mall) and Bowling Green State University (Arts Unlimited). She served as project leader and partner for a local ad agency specializing in public relations, marketing and branding. In 2008 while at the agency, she directed the marketing team for ABC-TV’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition’s Toledo Build. Active in the community, Kathy is chairman of the YMCA Camp Storer Board of Directors; on the marketing committee for St. Ursula Academy; active with Bethany House, a shelter for women and their children; and chairman of the Farm-to-Table Dinner for the American Cancer Society. She is a native of Toledo and a graduate of the University of Toledo.

Jon Strunk

Jon Strunk is the Interim Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications at the University of Toledo. For almost 12 years, he has been a part of the University’s communications team, serving in a variety of roles and functions. He is an expert in crisis management, having dealt with nationally-covered crises at the University including an on-campus homicide, a discarded kidney that was to be used for transplant and an on-campus gun threat that turned out to be a hoax, among others. He also has expertise in advising senior leadership on communications strategies, internal communications, government and media relations, and many other facets that come with leading a communications team in higher education. Strunk is an alumnus of UT, graduating with his bachelor of arts in communication and political science in 2004 and his master of business administration in organizational leadership in 2009.