Empathy and energy: A frank discussion with crisis communications experts
April 9, 2020, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET
Register now!
During the coronavirus pandemic, customers are hearing more and more messages that fit into the category of crisis communications. You need to get your utility’s crisis communications messaging right to make sure it cuts through the noise your customers are hearing. Join us for a panel discussion with crisis communication experts who will share stories of their experience in energy and other industries that can shed light on how utilities can shine in the wake of our current crisis.
You’ll learn:
- The most important messages your utility should communicate during COVID-19
- How to craft messages that will be salient over the long term
- Which channels customers are looking to for these messages
Matt Moseley will explain that “silence isn’t golden” and customers will fill in the gaps when communications are lacking. Matt has spent his career at the intersection of public policy, business and government and is a communications strategist and consultant for companies and organizations such as AT&T, Xcel Energy, AFL-CIO, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, and many others. Moseley was hired by Johnny Depp to be the family spokesperson and communications director for Hunter S. Thompson's funeral and ash-blast.
Andi O’Conor will dive into her valuable framework that’s so critical for your communications success. Communicating facts isn’t enough. It’s about empathizing with what your customers are going through, and demonstrating that you care through careful language selection. Andi has been coaching speakers for TED and TEDx since 2009, and gave her first TEDx talk in 2014. Her clients have included executives from Vail Resorts, The Environmental Defense Fund, Habitat for Humanity, the US Department of the Interior, and many more.
Maria Hartshorne is a crisis communications expert, with her first high-profile case focused on international terrorism. She will highlight the importance of clear communications from the very outset. She will highlight the people who put their lives on the line to alert us all to dangers in the world from industries as diverse as banking and trucking. From blizzards to wildfire, data breaches to pandemics, it’s all about trust and communications and getting out in front of that curve.
Moderators:
Bill LeBlanc, Chief Instigation Agent, E Source
Luke Currin, Associate Director, Customer Engagement Solutions, E Source
Speakers:
Dr. Andi O’Conor, Speakcoach
Dr. Andi O'Conor is a public speaking coach, speechwriter, and trainer who has coached executives for over 25 years. She has worked with clients such as the Rocky Mountain Institute, Yes Energy, and Hygge and has been featured in the New York Times and on National Public Radio. Dr. O’Conor holds a PhD in educational policy and practice from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and has been on the faculty of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Ohio University.
Matt Moseley, Dovetail Solutions
Matt Moseley is partner and chief strategy officer at Dovetail Solutions. He has spent his career at the intersection of public policy, business, and government and has managed many public affairs projects for high-profile clients including the Colorado Education Association, Aurora Economic Development Council, and Xcel Energy.
Maria Hartshorne, MTR Communications
Founder of MTR Communications, Maria Hartshorne discovered her appetite for crisis communications in the dungeons of the NATO public information office in the 1980s. Since then she has handled crisis communications and issues management for clients in a wide variety of industries including natural resources, hospitality, religious, financial, and healthcare organizations. Her experience includes managing crisis communications around environmental disasters, domestic kidnappings, and international terrorism. She specializes in helping clients maintain and build trust and credibility with stakeholders in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
For more information about attending this event, please
email us or call 1-800-ESOURCE (1-800-376-8723).
Who Should Attend? Any utility professional who is interested in crisis communications during COVID-19. Please note, this topic is usually covered by the E Source Corporate Communications Service, but due to the global-wide health crisis, we’re opening this event to all utilities.