Crisis Communications Virtual Conference

Tuesday, June 17, 2025
11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET

Why now? Because it’s time to swap panic for playbooks!

  • Navigate Uncertainty
  • Build Trust
  • Protect Reputation
  • Tackle Tariff Whiplash
  • Handle Market Volatility
  • Calm Employees & Stakeholders
  • Manage Activist Issues
  • Mitigate Fallout
  • Beat Disinformation
  • Handle AI Deepfakes
  • Foil Cyberattacks
  • Measure Impact

Today’s headlines feel like a blender set to “purée.” You’ve been tossed into a mix of swirling crises—tariff tumult, seesawing markets, supply-chain snarls, budget brinkmanship, stalled earnings, international geopolitical chaos, economic uncertainty, cyberattacks, AI deepfakes, social media firestorms and even activist flareups.

The collateral damage is immediate: Jittery execs, anxious employees and rattled audiences—all looking to you for answers. And your hot seat is already sizzling. One tweet, one fake video or one tariff tweet-storm can tank market cap, morale and careers overnight.

That’s exactly why Ragan’s much-anticipated crisis conference exists. We’ll be monitoring the crises as they happen, and our agenda will pivot to meet the needs of the day. In one high-velocity afternoon, expert speakers from top brands, nonprofits and academia will share battle-tested strategies, war stories and templates you can put to work immediately.

Join us for your next-gen crisis toolkit—loaded and ready! From advanced social listening and lightning-fast message mapping to cross-functional crisis drills, you’ll leave with a future-proof plan that satisfies today’s “need for speed”—and keeps you in the driver’s seat when the next curveball hits.

You’ll discover how to C.R.I.S.I.S-proof your  brand:

  • Create (or level up) a crisis playbook that safeguards your org’s credibility—using scenario mapping, brand reputation audits and more.
  • Reinforce your rapid-response strategy to tackle emerging threats—from AI deepfakes and cyberattacks to data privacy breakdowns.
  • Integrate classic crisis fundamentals with next-gen tactics, tech and channels—think AI tools, real-time social listening, advanced analytics and ephemeral messaging apps (looking at you, Signal).
  • Strengthen executive, internal and external responses with message mapping, concise leadership talking points and robust crisis drills.
  • Implement new measurement practices that turn crisis insights into brand-building opps—using sentiment tracking, post-crisis audits and ROI frameworks.
  • Safeguard your future using new AI and CI techniques to help you anticipate, adapt and thrive to emerging VUCA threats (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity).

Register to secure your spot today!

Agenda

11-11:05 a.m.
Opening Remarks and Ragan’s 2025 Benchmark Data Reveal

Our latest benchmark survey found that “crisis and issue management” is rising to the top as an essential skill to future-proof communication. We’ll dig into the results—and action items together.

Part 1: Blueprints & Best Practices
11:05–11:35 a.m.
crisis plans
The 2025 Crisis Blueprint: Rapid Response Readiness for a Whiplash World
When chaos strikes, will you be caught flat-footed or ready to respond? In today's volatile landscape, crises can erupt at any moment, demanding instant, informed action. This dynamic session transforms traditional crisis management into a powerful, proactive process that anticipates, addresses and adapts to emerging threats in real time. Join us to master the continuous loop of crisis comms management, from prevention strategies that defuse potential disasters to integrated approaches that merge issues, risks and reputation management. Learn the critical content themes that must inform every crisis response and discover why proper crisis management extends beyond the headline-grabbing emergency phase. Leave equipped with actionable tools to not just survive but thrive in a world where the next crisis isn't a matter of if, but when. We'll cover:
  • Continual Crisis Comms: Instituting crisis comms management as a loop of pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis phases.
  • Preventing and Mitigating Crisis: Using five steps to implement activities that communicators can operationalize before a crisis strikes.
  • Integrating Issues Management, Risk Management and Reputation Management: Drawing from several communication specializations.
  • Crisis Content Themes: All crises should consider three chronologically significant content themes.
  • Post Crisis: It's not over when it is over—there are several important considerations to note and we'll share them.
Crisis Communications Instructor
West Virginia University (fmr federal contractor, EPA, DHS, U.S. Army, etc.)
Read bio
11:35 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
change management
From Crisis to Connection: Using Change Comms to Address Disruption in Your Culture

In today's rapidly shifting environment, employees carry a heavy weight of uncertainty, grief and loss surrounding fears of layoffs, restructurings, leadership changes and the lingering aftershocks of a global pandemic. Rising costs of living, family responsibilities and societal instability pile on while tariff stress, evolving federal policies and economic uncertainty compound the pressure. But by weaving change comms, grief-informed leadership and inclusivity into your organizational DNA while activating ERGs as trusted sounding boards, you can transform crisis into connection. We’ll cover:

  • Change Models FAQ: Where traditional change models (i.e., Kotter, ADKAR, Lewin) fall short in addressing grief and emotional disruption—including a side-by-side comparison of models.
  • Case Studies: Real-world examples (Levi Strauss & Co) of how loss impacts organizations.
  • New Paradigm: Insights into why grief requires a different leadership approach—and a grief-informed leadership model tailored to emotional well-being during times of uncertainty.
  • Supporting Staff: Practical strategies to support employees facing fear, ambiguity and cumulative stress.
  • Tools and Channels: Other tools to foster a culture of support, emotional safety and long-term resilience (ERGs and listening boards are just the beginning).
Founder, Change Communications Advisor
Traumatic Grief Solutions
Read bio
Director, Culture Programs & Operations
Levi Strauss & Co.
Read bio
12:05-12:20 p.m.
Short Break
Part 2: Training & Tales from the Trenches
12:20-12:45 p.m.
crisis drills and training
Practice Under Pressure: Training Execs & Employees for High-Stakes Scenarios

Crisis drills and media training are often neglected until disaster strikes—leaving leaders unprepared for the public eye. Join us to see how to conduct realistic tabletop exercises, equip spokespeople with confidence and refine your messaging under pressure. By practicing in advance, you’ll reduce panic, streamline approvals and respond with credibility when the spotlight hits. You’ll learn:

  • Drilling into Drills: How to plan tabletop exercises and help drive quarterly emergency response training—plus how to incorporate crisis lessons from other orgs and industries.
  • Talking Points: Tips to train execs, SMEs and front-liners to deliver empathetic soundbites.
  • Bridging & Pivots: Tactics for steering hostile questions back to your key messages.
  • Murder Board Lessons: Hard-won best practices and surprising takeaways learned from prep work for recent Congressional hearings on airline fees.
  • CIP & Next Steps: How to debrief and refine drill outcomes—ensuring continuous improvement and faster reaction times under real pressure.
Managing Director, Global Response and Corporate Communications
United Airlines
Read bio
12:45-1:00 p.m.
spokesperson training
FEMA-Forged Filters: Picking and Prepping the Proper Spokespersons

The messenger is often as critical as the messenger. Your spokesperson embodies more than just fluency in talking points, they need presence, empathy, and credibility. Learn about the six core filters you need to watch out for—and how to prep speakers who are lacking.

  • Respect, Gravitas, and the Seat at the Table: Why you should select spokespersons who already command internal respect across departments and levels.
  • Humility and Bravado: How to teach spokespersons to balance confidence with approachability.
  • Tone and Body Language: The nonverbal confidence cues and training you need to know.
Vice President, Adjunct, Fmr. FEMA External Affairs Director
Emergency Management External Affairs Association
Read bio
1:00-1:30 p.m.
internal comms case study
Inside Out: Restructuring Without Ruin: How Red Lobster Navigated Crisis Comms from the Inside First
For over five decades, Red Lobster defined casual seafood dining—but a wave of financial pressures forced the iconic chain into an abrupt and very public pivot. When headlines broke the news that Red Lobster had shuttered dozens of locations and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, both employees and guests feared the worst. In this behind-the-scenes case study, discover how Red Lobster turned a corporate restructuring into an opportunity to restore trust—by focusing first on education, honesty, and emotionally resonant messaging. You’ll learn:
  • Bankruptcy ≠ Closure: How employee education and consistent talking points turned “Chapter 11” into a clarifying moment, not a death knell.
  • A Letter, Not a Press Release: Why Red Lobster prioritized open social letters over formal media outreach—and how it worked; including stories from former and current employees.
  • Real-Time Pulse, Real Results: The role of social listening in reshaping the brand’s strategy and directly informing comms tone and timing.
  • Shared Language, Shared Loyalty: How internal and external teams rallied behind a unified message to cascade updates and address fear, confusion and rumors.
  • Internal Out: Inside the reception of the bankruptcy announcement at stores; and how internal and external comms worked together to educate employees and keep them informed every step of the way.
EVP, Head of Issues and Crisis Communications
MikeWorldWide
Read bio
1:30-2:00 p.m.
external comms case study
From Hashtags to Headlines: A Case Study of PR Under Pressure

Negative headlines and social media outrage can escalate a small misstep into a full‐blown reputation meltdown. In this session, we’ll showcase a case study on how smart PR tactics, the right spokesperson, transparent public statements and timely social media can transform a brewing crisis into a reputation win. The real‐world outcomes and frameworks you learn will give you a roadmap to keep external audiences informed and supportive when “it” hits the fan. We’ll cover:

  • Early Signals: How to identify the first social media warning signs, address misinformation before it spirals and gauge each escalation stage.
  • Social Media Playbooks: The viral effect across top channels—what happens when narratives take on a life of their own—and when to activate crisis‐specific social media guides.
  • Media Meets AI: Smart ways to handle tough press inquiries while combating manipulated narratives, bad news and falsehoods amplified by AI.
  • Internal Champions: Surprising lessons for tapping employees and spokespersons to counter negative coverage and restore public trust.
  • Dashboard Confessional: A behind‐the‐scenes look at the integrated media and social dashboard—tracking real‐time sentiment, shaping swift corrections and restoring credibility.
CCO
Brunswick Corporation
Read bio
2:00-2:15 p.m.
Short Break
Part 3: New Tech & Next Steps
2:15-2:50 p.m.
tech panel
CTRL+ ALT + PREEMPT: Using AI and New Tech to Outpace New Threats

Deepfakes, bot swarms and algorithm-warping propaganda now erupt in minutes—long before a “defend” posture can kick in. This forward-leaning panel reframes crisis tech as early-warning radar—not just a fire hose. You’ll learn how top brands are shifting from short-term content fixes to long-view risk intelligence—investing in tools, talent and training that spot narrative threats early, fortify trust and keep you on the front foot. You’ll learn:

  • Mindshift to Front-Foot Risk: How to swap a defensive stance for proactive narrative intelligence—so you can seize the initiative before bad actors do.
  • Today’s Digital Threatscape: From mis-, dis- and mal-information to deepfakes, voice-clone scams, bot swarms and LLM poisoning—how to know exactly what you’re up against.
  • Front-Foot Tech Stack & Mapping: How to select the best cross-platform listening suites, deep-fake detectors and vendors—while surfacing your top three vulnerable storylines.
  • Community Early-Warning: How to identify high-risk forums, build relationships now and arm local advocates with counter-content before rumors flare.
  • People, Process & Proof: How to stand up a risk pod, drill with security and data teams, and unpack use cases that turned early detection into trust wins.
CEO
Graphika
Read bio
Manager of Social Media Strategy and Analytics
United States Postal Service
Read bio
US Head of Counter Disinformation, Crisis & Risk
Edelman
Read bio
2:50-3:25 p.m.
measurement and post-crisis panel
ROI or Die: Measuring the True Cost—and Value—of Crisis Response

Without a robust measurement plan and thorough post‐mortem review, your crisis response may never evolve—and you risk repeating mistakes. We’ll wrap by showing you how to track brand sentiment shifts, analyze incoming data for real‐time counsel to executives and integrate lessons learned into future crisis strategies. By proving the critical role of comms and PR in protecting brand reputation, you’ll pave the way for stronger, more resilient response plans. We’ll cover:

  • Post‐Mortem Essentials: Key steps to conduct post‐crisis audits, spotlight process gaps and capture stakeholder feedback to fuel improvement.
  • Data Counsel: Approaches for analyzing incoming data—like sentiment metrics and media coverage—to deliver credible insights and strategies to leadership.
  • ROI & Reputation: How to quantify crisis outcomes (e.g., damage control, trust recovery) and demonstrate the tangible value of your comms team.
  • Future‐Proofing Tools: How to track public perception across emerging channels, leverage advanced analytics and anticipate potential threats before they escalate.
  • Measurement Toolbox: Must‐have crisis‐tracking platforms and KPIs—covering brand sentiment, engagement rates and more—to build your bulletproof crisis comms dashboard.
Media and Public Relations Program Manager
Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority
Read bio
Director of Operational Communications
Weill Cornell Medicine
Read bio
Director of Communications
Adams County Government, Colorado
Read bio
3:25-3:30 pm
Most Important Take-Aways of the Day

We’ll share the top tactics and strategies from the virtual conference as you prepare to implement these ideas for your organization.

Speakers

EVP, Head of Issues and Crisis Communications
MikeWorldWide
Read bio
Founder, Change Communications Advisor
Traumatic Grief Solutions
Read bio
CCO
Brunswick Corporation
Read bio
Media and Public Relations Program Manager
Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority
Read bio

Director of Communications
Adams County Government, Colorado
Read bio
Manager of Social Media Strategy and Analytics
United States Postal Service
Read bio
Director of Operational Communications
Weill Cornell Medicine
Read bio
US Head of Counter Disinformation, Crisis & Risk
Edelman
Read bio

CEO
Graphika
Read bio
Crisis Communications Instructor
West Virginia University (fmr federal contractor, EPA, DHS, U.S. Army, etc.)
Read bio
Managing Director, Global Response and Corporate Communications
United Airlines
Read bio

Director, Culture Programs & Operations
Levi Strauss & Co.
Read bio
Vice President, Adjunct, Fmr. FEMA External Affairs Director
Emergency Management External Affairs Association
Read bio

 

INTERESTED IN SPEAKING?

Please reach out to Director of Event Programming
Alyssa Smith.

Key Benefits—all delivered in one high-impact afternoon:

  • Tariff-Turbulence Tactics: Learn how brands rode out the 1,600-point Dow dive after tariff tweet-storms and kept investors calm (and how to prep for the next rollercoaster ride).
  • Live-Fire Drills: Run lightning message-mapping and war-room simulations so you’re ready when the next crisis like ransomware hits (2,063 victims in Q1 ’25 alone).
  • Rapid Response Playbooks: Deploy scenario planning and real-time monitoring that slash “first-statement” time from hours to minutes.
  • Reputation Armor: Apply proven escalation protocols and stakeholder-outreach moves that protect brand equity when activists, analysts or even natural disasters pounce.
  • AI Early-Warning Systems: Master social-listening dashboards and even deep-fake detectors—critical as 49 percent of companies have already been hit by audio or video scams.
  • Metrics that Matter: Turn post-crisis audits into ROI dashboards that translate sentiment shifts and market moves into board-ready insights.
Pricing
Register now for Ragan's Crisis Communications Virtual Conference:
VIP Regular Rates
Virtual Conference Registration $1,799 $1,999
Virtual Conference Ragan Insider Member $1,749 $1,949
Nonprofit/Gov Event Registration $1,699 $1,899

All attendees will receive the recording of the event.

Need help convincing management you should attend?
Download this letter to convince your boss you should attend the Crisis Communications Virtual Conference.

Group Discounts

Would you and your team like to attend? Group pricing for 3 or more is available when going through the registration process!

RAGAN COUNCIL MEMBER DISCOUNTS

Membership includes free registration passes. Contact Shallon Blackburn for more information on becoming a member.
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Phone registrations: Please contact our customer service team at 800-878-5331 or [email protected].

Register to secure your spot today! Don’t miss this opportunity to:

  • Access exclusive content and resources.
  • Connect with your peers.
  • Get the ideas & tools to stay ahead in today’s rapidly changing world.

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Register today. Once registered, you’ll be able to join the private LinkedIn group right away.

BONUS MATERIALS
  • Checklist: The AI Writing Prompt Flowchart
  • The Clear and Concise Technical Writing Guide
  • Strunk & White’s Timeless Secrets for Rocket-Powered Writing
  • Why and How to Create an In-House Style Guide
  • Bias-Free Writing: What’s Preferred and What’s Problematic
  • The Art of Storytelling (A Practical Guide)

Sponsors & Partners

Want to become a sponsor? Get in touch with our team to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Let's Partner!

Who Should Attend?

You should attend if you spend at least a quarter of your time in any of these areas:

Public Relations • Brand Management • Internal Communications • Public Affairs • Executive Communications • Reputation Management • Crisis Communications • Issues Management • Social Media • Media Relations

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Crisis Communications Virtual Conference Certificate

Get Recognized!

Each registration comes with a personalized "Crisis Communications Virtual Conference" Certificate of Completion for attending.

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