Third Quarter 2010 Highlights

Oil from the blowout in the Gulf of Mexico stopped flowing July 15, but communications professionals will be debating lessons learned from the tragic incident for years. Certainly the catastrophe illustrates the need for effective crisis plans and outstanding communicators. In the third quarter we worked with several of our clients to enhance both. Below are some highlights:

• Incorporating lessons learned from the Gulf of Mexico, incident commanders and senior leaders participated in Crisis Communications Training in Houston. The training helped the client convey empathy and compassion while managing stakeholder expectations.

• Ascending to the top spot of this Fortune 200 financial services company, WPNT provided a series of Executive Communications Coaching sessions to the incoming CEO in preparation for a key speech to 8,000 people at a civic auditorium.

• Executives from a leading East Coast Health System participated in Media and Crisis Communication Training programs. New reporting requirements demand healthcare executives communicate effectively about a myriad of issues and crises such as unintended patient outcomes, medication errors, and infection control procedures.

• More than 250 people were involved in a two-day “wheels-up” Crisis Communications Exercise that included seven WPNT team members. We staffed a simulation cell and provided inputs from the news media, local officials, and impacted stakeholders. Our participation brought a real-life dimension to testing the client’s Joint Information Center.

• To formalize its strategy and message surrounding sustainability, this high tech giant’s ‘Green Team’ underwent a day of WPNT Executive Media Training. During the training, select members of the WPNT Press Corps conducted interviews and then submitted print stories at the close of training.

• WPNT led a two-day program in Pittsburgh for the top executives of a publicly traded company involved in community outreach. Executive Media & Presentation Skills Training helped the leaders “get on the same page” in their media interviews and public presentations.

• High potential individuals from China and Japan gathered in the Midwest for a leadership development program at this global chemical maker. WPNT provided a two-day, Executive Presentation Skills training program as part of the curriculum. These award-winning sales professionals are being groomed to return to their countries for management roles. They received training to present projects on process improvement, capacity challenges, and new market opportunities to company leadership.

• The California Nurses Association and Service Employees International Union continue to target hospitals across the nation to unionize. Executives and managers from three California hospitals facing union organizing efforts participated in Leadership Communication Boot Camp. Individuals learned how to demonstrate more engaging and effective communication by mastering the constructive empathy model of communication.

• Ray Thompson provided private Executive Speech Coaching in Calgary for the newly named president of a prominent Canadian company in advance of a keynote address. Successful C-suite executives appreciate candid feedback that strengthens their skills.

• Content experts of this leading animal supplies company participated in Executive Media & Issues Management Training in San Diego. WPNT provided strategic counsel and training on numerous animal welfare issues. WPNT Press Corps members also assisted in the afternoon.

• Advanced Media Training in New Orleans focused on a controversial topic that will soon be making news. The session involved three WPNT Press Corps members – all former working journalists. WPNT helps executives better understand how the editorial process works.

• Featured in a recent Time magazine cover story on education reform, WPNT assisted partners of this Washington, D.C.-based management consultancy with the release of its research surrounding best practices for teacher recruitment.

• Meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill is the only way to influence policy and legislation. Members of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers participated in an Advocacy Communication Training Session in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Pioneer. Key learning’s were how to tell your story, make your point quickly, and answer tough questions with confidence.

• The CFO of a chemical company received Executive Media Training in a private session at WPNT’s Houston training facility. The program included a simulated “live satellite interview” via a remote camera and IFB earpiece, a common format for network television.

• As airline industry consolidation continues, the need to define brands through both new and traditional media is expanding. To that end, half a dozen senior leaders of this global airline gathered for Executive Media Training co-taught by WPNT Ltd. and PulsePoint Group. The executives represented Asia-Pacific, Europe, various U.S. hubs, as well as the ecommerce business line.

• The third quarter closed with WPNT’s Ray Thompson and Rhonda Hughes in the Middle East for a week of Advanced Presentation Skills Training for executives and managers from eight countries. Our training is tailored to address cultural and regional needs.

• A Community Hospital System’s representatives recognized as leaders in the conversion of electronic medical records met outside of Dallas, for a Presentation Prep Session in advance of a national conference. The session helped the IT experts learn how to avoid the data dump and embrace the art of storytelling. Through a series of on-camera exercises, the presenters also learned how to manage tough questions.

• In advance of its quarterly conference call with analysts, members of WPNT’s Analyst Corps supported the CFO of a worldwide telecommunications company. The Corps, based in Chicago, San Francisco and Las Vegas, simulated the calls via teleconference. WPNT’s Analyst Corps includes former Wall Street and private equity executives.

• Three executives with a high-tech firm traveled to the U.S. for Executive Speech Coaching. Participants included the head of marketing and communications for India, the director of business development for China, and the director of communications for Asia. The client is focusing on raising its profile and enhancing executive skills globally.

• To communicate ways to improve cost efficiencies to plan presidents, the staff vice president of this leading healthcare insurer underwent Executive Presentation Training with WPNT near Los Angeles.

• Nuclear Generating Stations in Washington, Illinois, Texas, Iowa and Kansas called on our nuclear division to conduct Media Awareness, JIC, Evaluated Exercise Support, and Crisis Communication Intensive Sessions for executives and members of the Emergency Response Organization. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s graded exercises continue to hold the nation’s nuclear fleet to a high standard of operational and communication excellence.

• Stephanie Nora White was quoted in an August article titled, “Leading and Coaching Authentically” featured on www.coachingcommons.org. Nora White stressed the importance and impact of taking leaders out of their comfort zone and into the shoes of their stakeholders, such as employees, customers, suppliers and investors.

• A leading semi-conductor company uses WPNT’s Spokesperson Development Curriculum to provide communications training to engineers, managers and executives across the company. Sessions in the third quarter focused on enhancing trade media interviews.

• As health care reform provisions are being implemented, we are at the right hand of three national health insurance plans providing Strategy and Communication Training. In this changing landscape of health care reform, the ability to communicate well is essential.

• Kudos to WPNT Ltd.’s training coordinator Artie DeNoyer. Her recently self-published, reference book, Whose Cartouche is That? is a compilation of ancient, Egyptian king names from Dynasty 0 to the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Reviewed in the fall issue of KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt, the book received high praise; “a must have for anyone doing research.” The book has sold in the U.S., Europe, Australia and South Africa.

WPNT takes special care to protect our clients’ identity and information.