The State of PR: Turning Crisis into Connection

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Los Angeles has long faced the challenges of wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, making crisis preparedness a vital skill for PR professionals. From monitoring the wildfires and climate changes to responding to immediate needs and addressing how to rebuild, public relations professionals today have been working with companies and organizations occupied by the effects of the devastating wildfires. Join the Public Relations Society of America – Los Angeles Chapter for our first event of the year, State of PR: Turning Crisis into Connection on Wednesday, February 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Art Share LA, 801 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013. The engaging program is an essential opportunity for PR professionals to connect, network, and gain valuable insights into preparing clients for the unexpected. Featuring speakers from different sectors, we’ll explore strategies to craft effective crisis communication plans and deliver messages that resonate with diverse communities.

Speakers:

• Kerjon Lee, Chief of Strategic Communications, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works
• Leigh Lehman, Director of Communications, GoFundMe
• Lakshman Rathnam, Founder & CEO, Worldly
• Jason Levin, Senior Vice President & Western Region Lead, U.S. Crisis & Risk, Edelman

Learning Objectives

• Understand best practices for crisis communication during natural disasters.
• Learn to coordinate messaging with stakeholders, including government and utility partners.
• Explore methods to effectively communicate with diverse audiences to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
• Develop proactive strategies to help clients build resilience in the face of potential crises.
• Network with industry leaders and peers to exchange ideas and foster collaboration.

Tickets: $20 – $60

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Meet Our Speakers:

Kerjon Lee, Chief of Strategic Communications, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works
Kerjon Lee leads strategic communications for LA County Public Works, supporting a $4.4 billion budget and over 4,200 employees across initiatives like climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. With 25 years of experience, he has managed communications for high-profile projects, including Measure W and legal negotiations with the Supreme Court and Water Quality Control Board. A Webster University alumnus, Kerjon is a founding member of the African Artists Association and serves on the Los Angeles County’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative steering committee.

Lakshman Rathnam, Founder & CEO, Worldly
Lakshman Rathnam is an innovator and product leader with expertise in human-machine interfaces, acoustics, and audio. He founded Wordly to leverage AI-powered real-time translation to improve accessibility and inclusivity at live meetings, webinars, and events. He previously held leadership roles at Earlens Corporation, Amazon, Apple and HP, driving the development of innovative products. The author of more than 25 patents, Lakshman was named a Trendsetter by Meetings Today magazine for his industry impact.

Jason Levin, Senior Vice President & Western Region Lead, U.S. Crisis & Risk, Edelman
Jason Levin specializes in communications, media, crisis, and issues management, offering strategic counsel to corporate, nonprofit, and government clients. At Edelman, he advises on preparedness, issues management, and live crisis response across industries like healthcare, higher education, and Fortune 500 companies. A native Angeleno and civic volunteer, Jason serves on the board of Jewish World Watch and holds degrees from The George Washington University, with prior leadership roles at Cerrell Associates and in local, state, and federal government.

Leigh Lehman, Director of Communications, GoFundMe

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