Expired11th Annual Public Relations Issues of the Day for Associations and Nonprofits

This annual event is sponsored by PRSA National Capital Chapter’s Association and Nonprofit Committee. The focus of this event is to meet the needs of communication professionals working at associations and nonprofits through a series of morning roundtables known as breakfast breakthroughs. Many of us operate with small staffs and welcome the opportunity to learn about and discuss communications struggles and strengths in a more intimate environment. Breakout rooms have replaced the roundtables of years past but we hope will still provide an opportunity for attendees to learn from the topic experts and get tips and resources that can help them address challenges and opportunities they face in their own organizations.

Attendees will be assigned to three sessions based on their rankings. Each 25-minute breakout session will repeat three times. The expert presenters will lead the breakout discussion with a 10-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A. Each breakout session will be limited to 15 attendees to facilitate the discussion and share ideas, issues and success stories.

Topics and presenters:

1. Communicating Your Agenda with the 117th Congress and the Biden Administration
Dag Vega
Executive Vice President, bcw-Burson Cohn & Wolfe
Dag Vega manages high-profile corporate reputation and public relations campaigns in the healthcare, technology, financial and international affairs sectors. He previously served as Special Assistant to President Obama where he was the primary liaison and spokesperson to network television. He managed all the President’s television appearances and the surrogate communications program.

2. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Delivering on our Promises in 2021
Michelle Simpson, PhD
Dr. Michelle Simpson received a Ph.D. in Human Sciences from the University of Nebraska. At the university level, she taught “The Minority Experience in the United States” and “Human Development Across the Lifespan.” Currently, Dr. Simpson designs certification exams for individuals working in the corrosion industry. She is a Certified Credentialing Specialist with the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and responsible for the development of exam content, which combines her love for people and her understanding of testing and measurement statistics. Having completed the Facilitator Training Program with the Training Resources Group, Inc. and facilitated countless workshops, Dr. Simpson has a knack for collaborating and connecting with a variety of people both locally and internationally. Dr. Simpson also gives back to the community in a variety of ways as an active volunteer.

3. Media Relations: The Current State of Play
Chabeli Carrazana
Economy Reporter, The 19th
Chabeli Carrazana covers the economy for The 19th, an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy. She previously worked as a business reporter for the Miami Herald covering the tourism industry and The Orlando Sentinel covering NASA, the private space industry and labor issues.

4. Rebuilding Trust in Science, Data and Facts
Erica DeWald
Director, Strategic Communications and Partnerships, Vaccinate Your Family (VYF)
After ten years as a consultant to VYF, Erica DeWald joined the staff in 2021. She has led VYF’s efforts at the state and federal levels to ensure support of grassroots efforts. She specializes in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to advance infectious disease issues. She also co-chaired the DCD working group on patient education. DeWald previously worked at APCO Worldwide providing strategic counsel to governments and nonprofits on alliance development and issue management.

5. How to Lead Your Team, Your Leadership and Yourself during Extended Uncertain Times
Ken Jacobs, PCC, CPC, ELLMP
Principal, Jacobs Consulting and Executive Consulting
Ken Jacobs is a certified coach and experienced consultant and trainer. He has helped agency owners, CEOs and senior executives in the public relations, communications, advertising and marketing fields become more inspired, inspiring and effective leaders. He is a regular presenter for PRSA’s Counselors Academy Spring Conference, ICON Leadership Rally and many chapter and conference events. His leadership column, “Taking the Lead,” appears quarterly in PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics.

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