On-Demand Video

About the Event

The session will discuss what businesses and public relations agencies are doing to fight against COVID-19 and resulting panic, and gives tips for navigating these uncharted waters. The session will also feature the results of a new study by the Institute for Public Relations and Peppercomm that surveyed 300 communication executives and senior leaders to find out how their companies are managing communication both externally and internally in the COVID-19 pandemic.

REGISTER

Host

Steve Cody, Founder / CEO, Peppercomm | @RepManCody

I’m a comedian, climber and dog lover, but not necessarily in that order.

I am also the founder and CEO of Peppercomm, a fully-integrated strategic communications firm headquartered in NYC, with offices located in San Francisco and London. In that role I’m responsible for everything from implementing strategy and counseling clients to leading business development and bringing new products and services to market. In short, I do everything but clean windows.My biggest passion is helping others. I derive immense satisfaction from mentoring students, guest lecturing at the universities who are brave enough to invite me to speak, and helping fellow mid-life marketing communications professionals who have lost their way in life. There may be hope for us yet.I am the current chairman of the Institute for Public Relations, a longtime member of the Arthur W. Page Society, a member of the advisory councils of the College of Charleston and the University of Florida, and was named one of Northeastern University’s 100 most successful alumni. I have also co-authored “What’s keeping your customers up at night?” which was published by McGraw-Hill in 2003 and has put thousands of readers to sleep over the years.I’m proud to say that I’ve used my love of stand-up comedy to raise more than $100,000 for countless charities. I’m just as proud to see Chris and Catharine, my two children, grow up to become successful professionals. I’m confident the family tradition will continue with my grandson, Adrian Joseph “A.J.” Cody. May he outperform us all.

Guests

Adele Cehrs, CEO / Founder, When + How Agency | @AdeleCehrs

Heralded as a crisis communications expert, by the Wall Street Journal Adele Cehrs has worked with high-profile clients like Vice President Joe Biden, the CEO of Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson and the owner of the Washington Monumental Sports Ted Leonsis.As a well-respected entrepreneur, Adele was recently recognized as a "business wonder-woman" by the Washington Business Journal.She has also spoken at the United Nations and her talk was broadcast on United Nations Television and translated into eight languages. She is the author of the book: Spike Your Brand ROI: How to Maximize Results. 

Neil Foote, President, National Black Public Relations Society | @politicsincolor

Neil Foote is principal of Foote Communications LLC, an integrated public relations, content management and multicultural marketing firm that has worked with a wide range of clients from the business world, entertainment and nonprofits. His work includes generating coverage in major national, regional and local media, developing media and marketing strategies, developing branding strategies, writing content, advising them on social media and purchasing media.

Previously, Foote has worked at The Miami Herald & The Washington Post), the American Society of Newspaper Editors, The Dallas Morning News, Belo Corporation and Tom Joyner. Foote has traveled the country giving lectures and leading discussions the role of digital media in transforming journalism and diversity in the media.

Foote also teaches journalism at UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism and co-director of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, the nation’s leading conference for aspiring and experienced writers.  He also is author of “Principals of News” (Kendall Hung Publisher, 2020) and contributor to the textbook, Race, Gender, Class, and Media: Studying Mass Communication and Multiculturalism (Kendall Hunt Publisher, 2012,2014,2017).

Outside of work, the native of Brooklyn, N.Y. is president of the National Black Public Relations Society, Inc., a steering committee member of Commission on Public Relations Education; board chair of the National Kidney Foundation serving North Texas, board secretary member of the Forefront Living, and a Life Trustee for The Lamplighter School. Foote has a B.A. in government from Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.) an M.S.J. from Northwestern University's (Evanston, Ill.) Medill School of Journalism and an M.B.A. at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX).

Tina McCorkindale, Ph.D., APR, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations | @tmccorkindale

Kim Sample, President, PR Council | @PRCouncil

Kim Sample focuses on helping the PR Council’s 100-plus member agencies thrive and elevating the PR profession overall. Prior to joining the PRC in August 2018, Kim was the founder/CEO of Emanate, a $35 million, 100+ person international marketing communications agency. During her tenure Emanate was named PR WEEK Agency of the Year and CRAIN’S Best Places to Work in NYC, and the team’s work for clients was recognized with numerous industry awards. Kim also worked at Ketchum, Marina Maher Communications and Golin earlier in her career, and has served Fortune 500 clients across a number of industries, including financial services, travel and hospitality, CPG and consumer electronics. 

With appreciation for your support...