Navigating a Minefield – a PR Peek into the Greenberg Scandal

As PR professionals, we’ve handled a few crises throughout our careers; but what happens when it turns into a crisis you never imagined preparing for – your CEO and multiple associates indicted and convicted of running a horrendous criminal organization.

Join us for an intimate conversation about the Seminole County Tax Collector’s office public relations efforts through the Joel Greenberg scandal years. Learn from the office’s former PIO, Alan Byrd, about managing the national media attention and the situation’s aftermath. You’ll want to update your crisis plans after this program.

We’ll be discussing:

• The warning signs of an untruthful executive.

• The importance of legal counsel with media experience.

• How to watch for stories to be used for political ammunition.

• Knowing the difference in dealing with federal vs. state prosecutors and agencies.

• The state of Florida’s Sunshine Laws and how they impact all crisis comms, including private companies.

Speakers:
Alan Byrd is the founder of Alan Byrd & Associates, where he’s worked to help clients develop and grow their brand through PR, marketing, public affairs and business development. For over one decade, he covered tourism, transportation and sports business for the Orlando Business Journal. During this time, Alan also won dozens of local, state, regional and national awards for his stories. Before making the leap into PR, he transitioned into the role of director of marketing for the OBJ, where he oversaw the newspaper’s events and circulation growth and received the company’s highest honor, an Eagle Award for Circulation Excellence. Throughout his career, Alan Byrd has been a sought-after speaker, talking on a multitude of subjects to groups small and large. His subject matter has included topics from baseball and fishing regulations to how to use the media for sales and how to maximize your community relations to grow your bottom line.