Converting Critics, Skeptics and Cynics: Audience Engagement Strategies for 2016

Robert Alaniz

Senior Partner, Milagro Strategy Group

ROBERT ALANIZ is currently a senior partner with Milagro Strategy Group, an award winning California public affairs firm specializing in media relations and public outreach strategies. He has a reputation as a dynamic and seasoned senior public affairs/strategic communications executive with exceptional success in conceiving, planning and executing strategic public/community affairs initiatives, coalition building and issues campaigns that drive top-line performance and bottom-line results. A results driven practitioner with extensive background in public affairs, governmental affairs, community engagement, crisis and issues management, coalition development and media relations, he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of leveraging public outreach strategies to build community & pubic policy support in order to achieve client goals and grow new business opportunities.

He is constantly sought after by corporate CEO’s, elected officials and organizational leaders for his media strategy and message development expertise as well as his skills in preparing clients facing crisis scenarios. To date, he has trained hundreds of corporate executives and elected officials on how to deal with tough reporters and crisis situations. He is also the former national media trainer for National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO).

Alaniz has also received numerous honors in his field, including a CIPRA “Creativity in Public Relations Award” presented by Inside PR Magazine for best public affairs/issues management campaign; an IBAC ACE Awards 1st Place, National Awards presented by the International Association of Business Communicators for outstanding public policy/coalition building campaigns; a PRSA/LA PRISM Award 1st Place presented by the Public Relations Society of America/Los Angeles Chapter for best issues management campaign; and a Hill and Knowlton at Its Best, Media Campaign to keep the Houston Astros baseball team in Houston, Texas. Mr. Alaniz was recently nominated and inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame.

Morgan Crinklaw

Manager, Issues Management Communications, Chevron Corporation

Morgan Crinklaw is the manager of Issues Management and Litigation Communications for Chevron Corporation. In that role, he is responsible for shaping and protecting Chevron’s corporate reputation as related to major corporate issues, unforeseen events, litigation and sensitive environmental remediation projects. He is also responsible for a crisis communication and emergency response training program employed by Chevron’s business units around the globe.

In 2014, Morgan was named one of the 40-Under-40 in PR by PR Week Magazine for leading a communications strategy related to a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Chevron. The lawsuit was dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as the “legal fraud of the century.”

Prior to joining Chevron in 2008, Morgan spent more than 5 years in California state politics, most recently as Communications Director for the Minority Leader in the California State Assembly.

Deborah Kazenelson Deane

Executive Vice President, Edelman Los Angeles

Whether they are facing a crisis, engaged in developing a communications platform in a master narrative or messaging workshop, or during a media training, Deb is relentlessly focused on helping clients achieve their communications goals. Her diverse background includes working with both private and public sectors in industries ranging from healthcare and financial services to technology, food and travel. She has developed and implemented strategic engagement campaigns for new product launches, corporate positioning, IPOs and workplace and product issues and crisis with the potential to affect brands, business and reputations. When needed, Deborah has also served as a bilingual spokesperson for many of her clients.

Since joining Edelman, Deborah has worked with a wide-array of corporate clients to provide counsel on crisis and issues management, developing master narratives and positioning for their organizations, executive visibility programs, and thought leadership campaigns. She has worked closely with several biotechnology companies providing support during FDA and regulatory matters, product recalls, IPOs, M&A’s, IPOs and shareholder activism and corporate communications. She has also provided strategic counsel Experian, Kaiser Permanente, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Shell, Western Digital Corporation, Payoff, Inc., Mattel, Chevron and Symantec, among others.

Prior to joining Edelman, Deborah ran her own public relations consultancy that included work in healthcare, Adtech, financial communications, labor relations and media relations.

Before going out on her own, Deborah worked at PainePR where she was vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles office that she helped to launch. Her clients included Shuttle By United/United Airlines (crisis), Amgen, Inc. (crisis, community relations, product) and PDT, Inc. Prior to that she worked for Hill and Knowlton, where she managed public relations, financial communications and public affairs activities on behalf of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, AeroCalifornia, Procter & Gamble, STARR Surgical, the California Avocado Commission, the California State Office of Traffic Safety, Bumble Bee Seafoods and Houghton Mifflin (crisis and reputation).

Deborah is a member of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Dean’s Advisory Council and serves on the Board of Directors of Fielding School’s Health Policy and Management Alumni Association and L.A. Family Housing, a non-profit dedicated to erasing homelessness in Los Angeles. She holds a B.S. in Psychobiology and an M.S.P.H., both from UCLA.

Clint Schaff

US General Manager at Camp Playa

Clint Schaff is a senior marketing executive, educator and entrepreneur with 16+ years of integrated marketing and agency management experience driving business results for complex businesses, consumer brands and organizations. He aims to leverage communications, collaboration and community to support social entrepreneurship and social change.

In 2015, Clint launched Camp Playa, the U.S. office of The Camps Collective, a network of independent, digitally oriented communications agencies best suited for clients with a challenge brand mindset, on behalf of Vision7 International, the Canadian-headquartered marketing communications company.

Prior to pitching a tent at Camp Playa, Clint had built and led digital agency teams for Roll Global, M80, GolinHarris and Edelman, where his work for Call of Duty won a Grand Effie, a Gold Effie and a Gold Sabre. Other brands he has led the digital efforts for include Nintendo, Adidas, Dole, FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, and Toyota.

Clint also is a leader in the classrom, have served an adjunct professor for 8+ years at USC’s Annenberg School, and has spoken at PR News, Social Media Week, Digital LA, TECHmunch, and UCLA among others. He also actively volunteers with the LAGRANT Foundation and has served on boards for PRSA-LA, Social Media Club-LA, and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.

On a lighter note… Clint appeared on a reality television dating show, donned the Goldy Gopher mascot costume in college, and sings karaoke as frequently as possible.

Dave Barthmuss

Founder of Advotocracy

Dave Barthmuss is the recently retired Group Manager of Communications for General Motors, who now serves as an independent consultant and senior counsel for clients and agencies. He brings more nearly 30 years of public relations experience including crisis management, grassroots programming, digital content development and product marketing. In his roles, Dave has helped clients and corporations develop strategic communications programs that reach key stakeholders and deliver a company’s message in a variety of settings. Dave possesses a keen ability to build the kinds of engaging bridges that have turned the most determined of detractors into proactive third-party advocates –- a subtle art he calls “Advotocracy,” the act of leading through advocacy.

Most recently, Dave was GM’s top communicator in its Western Region where he oversaw a diverse team of PR specialists. Dave focused on various communications functions in this role including product marketing, issues management and public policy for all 24 states west of the Mississippi. Dave also served as a key spokesperson for the company conducting numerous interviews and participated in several public speaking events related to topics such as alternative fuels, communication best practices and other business topics. Prior to this role, Dave managed global energy, environment, and sustainability communications at GM’s headquarters in Detroit.

Earlier in his career, Dave provided strategic guidance and constituent relations needs for 20 state senators, public policy analysts and state bureaucrats. Dave specialized in public affairs issues management, public policy promotions, legislative monitoring and general public relations services. Dave has also focused on engaging and building relationships with influencers, detractors, advocates and media, often creating long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships for his clients.

His work has earned several awards from PRSA including the 2013 PR Professional of the Year Award, Sabre, PR Week and the Publicity Club of Chicago, as well as GM Chairman’s Honors for achievements in advanced technology communications, and Star Awards from GM’s Public Policy Center for environmental education. He was also recently awarded the Volunteer of the Year award from the LA Chamber of Commerce for his continued contributions to the Southern California Leadership Network.

Dave earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Political Science from Michigan State University. He is currently a board member for the Southern California Leadership Network.

When not on the road or in the office, you’ll find him spending time with his family, enjoying concerts (he’s a reformed Deadhead) and cheering on his favorite sports teams.

Dave is active on social media networks and welcomes new friends and followers:

• Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davebarthmuss
• Dave on Twitter: @DaveBarthmuss