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SPEAKERS: Jay Byrne
Previously Mr. Byrne was director of corporate communications for Monsanto Company—a global life sciences company with over 35,000 employees located in more than 100 countries. Mr. Byrne directed biotechnology acceptance communications, media relations, employee communications and research programs in the U.S. and emerging markets. He managed Monsanto's award-winning family of Internet sites and programs, as well as developed third-party support for biotechnology acceptance. Prior to joining Monsanto Mr. Byrne served as chief spokesperson, chief of staff and deputy assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Byrne also served as director of press relations for USAID. During his tenure at USAID he acted as the White House spokesman and media coordinator for the G-7 Detroit Jobs Conference and numerous other administration initiatives. Mr. Byrne held senior communications and press positions with the Clinton/Gore administration and presidential campaigns, Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy, Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, Oregon Congressman Mike Kopetski and with numerous organizations and elected officials over the past twenty years. He has been a featured speaker at numerous trade and professional conferences and published articles in Reputation Management Magazine, Public Relations Journal and other publications. An alumnus of Tufts University and native of Boston, he resides in St. Louis and Boston with his wife Ann Kittlaus, daughter Erin and son Paul. v-Fluence is a public affairs, issues management and marketing support firm which helps our clients take advantage of the internet and manage online risks because we believe, and the facts confirm, it starts online... .................................................. Michael D. Call, APR
Michael holds a bachelors degree in communications from Brigham Young, and a Master of Science degree in Management from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. He was the founding chair of the Utah Valley Chapter of PRSA, and serves or has served on more than two dozen nonprofit boards. .................................................. Tom Z. Collina
.................................................. David Kostik, APR
David has extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations in fundraising roles as employee, consultant and board member. He has led endowment campaigns, directed annual giving initiatives, and managed grant programs. His experience spans diverse fields including energy, housing, natural resources management, banks, and religious institutions. Prior to forming Kostik Associates, David served as Director of Communications for the leading natural gas utility serving Minnesota, now known as CenterPoint Energy. In that role he was responsible for all external and internal communications and marketing support, as well as the company's philanthropic activity. David holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He has completed studies in fundraising at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, and the Center for Nonprofit Management at the University of St. Thomas. He is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, and a past president of the Minnesota Chapter of PRSA, where he currently serves as Board Ethics Officer. .................................................. Jim Lane
Jim also serves as chairman of the American Biofuels Council; a principal in the New York investment bank Nova Capital Partners; and is active on committees with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels and the Sierra Club. He is also a board director of the real estate developer LCW. He is author of eight books; his ninth, The National Energy Solution, is forthcoming this spring. .................................................. Josh Morby
Serving the needs of non-profits and Fortune 500 companies—while connecting them with government programs, funding opportunities, and the media—is at the root of his success. Morby currently serves as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance, a non-profit corporation focused on support and development of the bio-based renewable energy, power, and products industry in Wisconsin. Morby is tasked with sustaining and growing the organization, managing campaigns, handling finances and fundraising, and serving as the spokesperson for the industry. Before joining Nation Consulting, Morby worked as a press secretary in Governor Jim Doyle's office. Prior to that, he worked as both a staff writer and freelance journalist for a number of newspapers around Wisconsin. .................................................. Sean O'Hanlon
Over the years Mr. O'Hanlon has developed contacts in every facet of the biofuels industry from Seattle to São Paulo. He has authored more than 200 articles on biofuels, co-created and developed the Certified Biofuels Educator (CBE) program, served on the Center for Hemispheric Policy Energy Security task force, chaired round table discussions, and international conferences. He regularly gives interviews to the media, and has been called "One of the most influential voices in biofuels". .................................................. Todd Taylor
I like to work closely with my clients on a variety of legal and business needs, including public and private financing options, entity formation and seed capital, critical contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, governance matters, and compliance with corporate and securities laws. I am a member of Fredrikson & Byron's Energy, Securities, Corporate, and Emerging Business Groups. .................................................. Eileen Wixted
In the nuclear industry, Eileen is well known for helping clients succeed during Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Evaluated Exercises. Eileen works with clients developing a sound drill season strategy for their Emergency Operations Facilities and Joint Information Centers. A key component of Eileen's nuclear strategy is intensive and multi-tiered crisis communications training programs. Additionally, WPNT works with nuclear clients on several issues including plant scrams, the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, and corrosion. Under Eileen's direction, WPNT works with two-thirds of all commercially owned and operated nuclear power plants in the United States. Medical errors, the nursing shortage and health care business practices are major issues facing the health care industry. Eileen works closely with clients developing strategies to manage the myriad of issues that emerge on a weekly basis. Many of our hospital clients utilize Eileen for crisis plan writing and responses. Sometimes, the crisis can have a happy ending as was the case when the McCaughey septuplets were born! Eileen uses the same business-driven approach while assisting professionals working in manufacturing, finance, education and non-profit organizations. Layoffs, sensitive personnel issues and threats to market share are the types of issues for which Eileen's clients seek counsel. Prior to WPNT, Eileen spent more than a decade as a broadcast journalist and is the recipient of an Emmy Award. Eileen is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in mass communications. She is a native of Brooklyn, New York. .................................................. Chuck Zimmerman
The company currently publishes several news blogs and podcasts of its own. These include AgWired, Domestic Fuel, Precision Pays and World Dairy Diary (www.worlddairydiary.com). The company is considered the industry leader in using new media for agricultural communications. To date ZimmComm has developed websites and podcasts for over 20 different agribusiness companies and organizations. Additionally, the company specializes in the production of news releases utilizing multi-media content like audio, video and images. They have a branded service called AgNewsWire which focuses on distributing releases to agricultural journalists. Recently the company has adapted their multi-media release service to create virtual press rooms for organizational events. Chuck is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Journalism and has worked in public relations and broadcasting for over 25 years. He has primarily worked with clients involved in agribusiness and still specializes in agricultural communications. Chuck is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association, National Association of Farm Broadcasting, American Agricultural Editors Association, Livestock Publications Council, Association for Downloadable Media, International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, National Press Photographers Association and U.S. Agricultural Information Network. |
PR Workbench HARO—Help A Reporter Out
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Jay Byrne is president of v-Fluence Interactive Public Relations, Inc. (v-Fluence). v-Fluence is an online public affairs, issues management and marketing support strategic consulting group. He directs an award-winning team that has been recognized nationally for its innovative, comprehensive campaigns on the Internet, the vast medium that has become a critical venue for effective, rapid communication to both broad and highly targeted audiences.
Michael D. Call, APR, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has been working to improve nonprofits and communities for more than 15 years. His professional work has included eight years as president and CEO of United Way of Rock River Valley in Rockford, Illinois, and nearly seven years as executive director of the Utah Commission on Volunteers. Prior to finding his niche in government and nonprofit management, he worked for five years as manager of communications at a steel mill and two years as an account executive in a PR firm. He also served for seven years as adjunct faculty in the Communications Department at Brigham Young University.
Tom Z. Collina is Executive Director of 2020 Vision in Washington, DC, a national membership organization focused on finding realistic solutions to oil dependence and climate change. He has 20 years of experience in energy and security issues, most recently as Director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Before that he was Executive Director of the Institute for Science and International Security and Senior Research Analyst at the Federation of American Scientists. Since starting at 2020 Vision in 2003, Tom has initiated numerous energy-related projects such as the National Summit on Energy Security, the PowerShift National Tour, the Energy Security Briefing Series for congressional staff, and a national education campaign on plug-in vehicles. He has published over 50 articles in major magazines and journals and has appeared frequently in the national media (print, radio and TV), including the New York Times, CNN, and NPR. Tom has briefed congressional staff on numerous occasions and testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on energy security. Tom has a degree in International Relations from Cornell University and serves on the Boards of Directors of the Scoville Peace Fellowship and the Janelia Foundation. He lives in Takoma Park, MD with his wife and three children.
David leads Kostik Associates Inc., a Minneapolis-based firm that builds client success by providing a cost-effective portfolio of public relations, fundraising, and strategic planning counsel designed to strengthen management infrastructure and improve outcomes for businesses, nonprofits, government organizations and other institutions.
Jim Lane is Editor & Publisher of Biofuels Digest, the world's most widely-read biofuels daily. The Digest has a daily readership of 16,000 at 4,000 organizations in 199 countries.
Joshua Morby is the lead partner of the Milwaukee based public strategies firm Nation Consulting. Primarily focused on energy and economic development, Morby has served the needs of the state's largest utilities, bio fuel producers, and wind industry professionals, with an emphasis on development and organizational collaboration.
Sean O'Hanlon founded the American Biofuels Council in early 2007, and has served as CEO since its inception. He first became interested in agricultural, environmental, health, economic and energy issues while traveling internationally during the late 1990's and began investigating the potential benefits of alternative fuels. His interest in biofuels increased greatly after the events of 9/11 and during his research he saw the need for a unifying organization to bring all interested parties of renewable fuels together. Currently his duties include serving as senior analyst, director of education and public relations.
Todd heads Fredrikson & Byron's Biomass and Biofuels practice. I focus much of my time on project and technology development related to the production of biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts from multiple feedstocks and processes. By leveraging my legal and industry expertise, I can more effectively advise biofuels and biomass providers, investors, developers and researchers in connection with the development, financing, and acquisition of biofuels and biomass projects. I have had the privilege of working with a variety of clients, from rural farmers, university researchers, and large regional to large international companies in developing biofuels and biomass projects.
Eileen is a strategic communications veteran with core competencies in the nuclear and health care industries. As a strategist and communication trainer, she has helped clients navigate brand damaging issues as well as prepared clients to face hostile media and government investigations.
Chuck Zimmerman is the President and co-owner, along with his wife, Cindy, of
ZimmComm New Media, located in Holts Summit, MO. ZimmComm has pioneered the use of online publishing and social networking
platforms as tools for various types of internal and external marketing purposes like public relations and communications.
