Our Panelists and Moderators for How to Prepare for and Deal with a Crisis
Panelists
Lynn Perry Wooten
Lynn Perry Wooten, a seasoned academic and an expert on organizational development and transformation, is the ninth president of Simmons University. She is the first African American to lead the University. Specializing in crisis leadership, diversity and inclusion, and positive leadership, Dr. Wooten is an innovative leader and prolific author and presenter. Dr. Wooten holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University, where she was valedictorian; an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business; and a doctorate from the University of Michigan. In addition, she received a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She is the author of nearly 30 journal articles, more than 15 book chapters and four books. Beyond all her accomplishments, Dr. Wooten currently serves on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Boston Public Library Board of Trustees, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Trustee Advisory Board, the JFK Library Foundation Board of Advisors, the Fenway Alliance Board of Directors, The George School Board of Trustees, the MASCO Board of Directors, and the GBH Board of Trustees.
Richard Levick
Richard Levick, Esq. is Chairman & CEO of LEVICK, representing countries and companies in the highest-stakes global communications matters. Mr. Levick has been honored multiple times on the prestigious list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the Boardroom” and has been named to multiple professional Halls of Fame for lifetime achievement. He is the co-author of four books and is a regular commentator on television and in print. Richard hosts the daily podcast for the Corporate Counsel Business Journal which draws the highest profile guests from former U.S. Attorneys General to former legal counsels to U.S. presidents.
Carey Dearnley
Carey Dearnley is a Senior Consultant at Local Wisdom, and is positioned as an Executive and Sales Communication Leader at Janssen Pharmaceutical. She is responsible for driving the organization’s strategic narrative, town halls, senior leader communications, special projects, and change management. In her two decades of experience, Carey has worked as a press secretary on Capitol Hill and in various agency and in-house roles, where she has been a strategic partner to leaders on crisis and issues management, executive positioning, change management, employee engagement, thought leadership and brand strategy and reputation.
David KIucsik
Corporate crises have characterized (some would say "plagued") David KIucsik’s professional life from his first job as a newspaper reporter, right thru his communications work for a global chemical company. He provides that unique perspective for clients, via his own Same Page consultancy on reputation risk, as well as Princeton Strategic Communications, a full-service agency.
Moderators
Rick Alcantara
Rick Alcantara is president of Rick Alcantara Consulting. He advises corporate, nonprofit and government clients on public relations, crisis communications, social media and digital marketing. He is president of IABC Philadelphia, past president and current director-at-large of PRSA Philadelphia, and a member of PRSA's Counselor's Academy.
Audra Hession
Audra is executive vice president of marketing and communications at OWL Services and founder and CEO of Unbridled Communications. She is also president of IABC New York Tristate.
Board of Directors
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President Rick Alcantara |
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Rick Alcantara is the principal of Rick Alcantara Consulting. Previously, he founded Tara Communications LLC, a digital marketing agency, led social media marketing for USI Affinity and taught public relations courses at Rowan University. Rick is a member of PRSA’s Counselor’s Academy, past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of PRSA, a two-time PRSA national committee co-chair, and a member of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia. He coached youth soccer for 24 years in Southern New Jersey. He holds a master's degree in public relations from Rowan University and a bachelor's degree in communications from Susquehanna University. Rick Alcantara LinkedIn Profile
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Treasurer and Immediate Past President Alexandra Spooner |
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Alex leads the Communications team at AmeriGas, where she is responsible for the design, execution and continuous improvement of the overall communication strategy in support of the Company’s business objectives. Her role includes overseeing the planning, development and distribution of all internal communications, identifying process efficiencies within the department and establishing Communications business-partner relationships with other corporate functions. Alex has more than 18 years of experience in corporate communications, in areas including employee communication and Public Relations. She spent most of her career at Pep Boys, one of the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket chains, in communications roles of progressive responsibility. Most recently, she served as the Director of Communications. She was responsible all facets of internal communication for more than 20,000 employees in stores, support centers, field organizations and distribution centers across the country and in Puerto Rico. In addition, she led Media Relations and Public Relations activities for the Company. Alex holds a B.A. in Public Relations and a B.A. in French language and culture from Penn State. She likes to exercise and spend time with her family.
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Director-at-Large Michael Smith |
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Michael Smith is the Corporate Director of Communications for Acts Retirement-Life Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of senior housing and services, where he leads internal and external communications strategies including brand communications, executive and employee communications, public and media relations, digital/social media, and crisis communications. Michael has more than 20 years of corporate communications and public relations leadership experience in both the private and nonprofit fields. He is a graduate of Temple University and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America. Michael is a past president of IABC Philadelphia. |
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Secretary |
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Amy Ashmen is the national director of communications at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, where she oversees internal and external communications, including public relations and social media, for the nonprofit, which serves many of our country’s most vulnerable populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and child welfare. She holds more than 25 years of corporate communications experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Previously, she was a communications manager at Farmers Insurance, communications director for Harleysville Insurance and communications specialist for the California State Automobile Association. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a specialization in journalism from Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. She is a graduate of the Institutes of Organization Management, a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is a certified Zurich Lean Yellow Belt. |
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Director-at-Large Bill Seiberlich |
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Bill Seiberlich, is president of Wedgewood Communications Services, a writing, editing, and communications services company. Bill was part of the corporate communications department of Saint-Gobain Corporation, the world’s largest building materials company, for more than 30 years, where he was involved in employee communications, public relations and corporate philanthropy. He has been a member of IABC since 1983, serving first on the Board of Directors of IABC Lehigh Valley and then on the IABC Philadelphia board since 1988. Bill is a past president of IABC Philadelphia. Bill Seiberlich LinkedIn Profile
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Director-at-Large Donna Cusano |
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Donna has more than 30 years of award-winning communications experience, both internal and external, in the financial services and pharmaceutical arenas. She currently heads U.S. Primary Care Sales Communications at Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, where she leads the development and implementation of strategic communications for the diabetes and cardiovascular field force, as well as executive communications for sales leadership. Donna holds an M.S. in Communications Management from Syracuse University and a B.A. in Communications from Seton Hall University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership from Rosemont College. She is also a volunteer with the Association of Change Management Professionals.
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Director-at-Large Matthew Taddei |
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Matt is a communications consultant with The Vanguard Group in Malvern, PA, where he has worked in various internal and external communications roles (including copywriting, copyediting, video production, and internal consulting) since 1997. In his current posting with Vanguard’s Institutional Investor Group, he serves colleagues who help people save for retirement. Matt is a graduate of La Salle University and Purdue University. He lives in Malvern, PA, with his wife, Laura, and their children. Matthew Taddei LinkedIn Profile
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Director-at-Large Elena Perri |
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Elena is manager of communications and public relations for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the United States. Her responsibilities include overseeing internal and external communications for the church. Elena previously worked for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a copy editor and managing editor for The Catholic Standard and Times (now CatholicPhilly.com) as well as serving as a communications director at two Catholic independent schools in the Philadelphia area.
A Temple University alumna, Elena also is a graduate of the Defense Information School where she completed training in photojournalism and public affairs. She served as a photojournalist in an Army Reserve public affairs office for 12 years. Elena has held various roles on the IABC Philadelphia board, including serving as chapter president.
Elena lives in Havertown with her husband Paul, two sons, and Bruno, a rather large but super friendly pit bull terrier/boxer who is not a fan of social distancing.
Elena is a past president of IABC Philadelphia.
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President Rick Alcantara |
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Rick Alcantara is the principal of Rick Alcantara Consulting. Previously, he founded Tara Communications LLC, a digital marketing agency, led social media marketing for USI Affinity and taught public relations courses at Rowan University. Rick is a member of PRSA’s Counselor’s Academy, past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of PRSA, a two-time PRSA national committee co-chair, and a member of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia. He coached youth soccer for 24 years in Southern New Jersey. He holds a master's degree in public relations from Rowan University and a bachelor's degree in communications from Susquehanna University. |
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Treasurer and Immediate Past President Alexandra Spooner |
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Alex leads the Communications team at AmeriGas, where she is responsible for the design, execution and continuous improvement of the overall communication strategy in support of the Company’s business objectives. Her role includes overseeing the planning, development and distribution of all internal communications, identifying process efficiencies within the department and establishing Communications business-partner relationships with other corporate functions. Alex has more than 18 years of experience in corporate communications, in areas including employee communication and Public Relations. She spent most of her career at Pep Boys, one of the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket chains, in communications roles of progressive responsibility. Most recently, she served as the Director of Communications. She was responsible all facets of internal communication for more than 20,000 employees in stores, support centers, field organizations and distribution centers across the country and in Puerto Rico. In addition, she led Media Relations and Public Relations activities for the Company. Alex holds a B.A. in Public Relations and a B.A. in French language and culture from Penn State. She likes to exercise and spend time with her family. Alexandra Spooner LinkedIn bio |
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Director-at-Large Michael Smith |
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Michael Smith is the Corporate Director of Communications for Acts Retirement-Life Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of senior housing and services, where he leads internal and external communications strategies including brand communications, executive and employee communications, public and media relations, digital/social media, and crisis communications. Michael has more than 20 years of corporate communications and public relations leadership experience in both the private and nonprofit fields. He is a graduate of Temple University and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America. Michael is a past president of IABC Philadelphia.
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Secretary Amy Ashmen |
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Amy Ashmen is the national director of communications at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, where she oversees internal and external communications, including public relations and social media, for the nonprofit, which serves many of our country’s most vulnerable populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and child welfare. She holds more than 25 years of corporate communications experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Previously, she was a communications manager at Farmers Insurance, communications director for Harleysville Insurance and communications specialist for the California State Automobile Association. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a specialization in journalism from Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. She is a graduate of the Institutes of Organization Management, a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is a certified Zurich Lean Yellow Belt. |
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Director-at-Large Bill Seiberlich |
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Bill Seiberlich, is president of Wedgewood Communications Services, a writing, editing, and communications services company.
Bill was part of the corporate communications department of Saint-Gobain Corporation, the world’s largest building materials company, for more than 30 years, where he was involved in employee communications, public relations and corporate philanthropy. He has been a member of IABC since 1983, serving first on the Board of Directors of IABC Lehigh Valley and then on the IABC Philadelphia board since 1988. Bill is a past president of IABC Philadelphia. Bill Seiberlich LinkedIn bio |
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Director-at-Large Donna Cusano |
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Donna has more than 30 years of award-winning communications experience, both internal and external, in the financial services and pharmaceutical arenas. She currently heads U.S. Primary Care Sales Communications at Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, where she leads the development and implementation of strategic communications for the diabetes and cardiovascular field force, as well as executive communications for sales leadership. Donna holds an M.S. in Communications Management from Syracuse University and a B.A. in Communications from Seton Hall University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership from Rosemont College. She is also a volunteer with the Association of Change Management Professionals. Donna Cusano LinkedIn profile |
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Director-at-Large Matthew Taddei |
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Matt is a communications consultant with The Vanguard Group in Malvern, PA, where he has worked in various internal and external communications roles (including copywriting, copyediting, video production, and internal consulting) since 1997. In his current posting with Vanguard’s Institutional Investor Group, he serves colleagues who help people save for retirement. Matt is a graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia and Purdue University. He lives in Malvern, PA, with his wife, Laura, and their children. |
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Director-at-Large Elena Perri |
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Elena is manager of communications and public relations for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the United States. Her responsibilities include overseeing internal and external communications for the church. Elena previously worked for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a copy editor and managing editor for The Catholic Standard and Times (now CatholicPhilly.com) as well as serving as a communications director at two Catholic independent schools in the Philadelphia area.
A Temple University alumna, Elena also is a graduate of the Defense Information School where she completed training in photojournalism and public affairs. She served as a photojournalist in an Army Reserve public affairs office for 12 years. Elena has held various roles on the IABC Philadelphia board, including serving as chapter president.
Elena lives in Havertown with her husband Paul, two sons, and Bruno, a rather large but super friendly pit bull terrier/boxer who is not a fan of social distancing.
Elena is a past president of IABC Philadelphia.
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