This three-hour, interactive workshop offers methodologies and practice for developing pre-scripted and key messages necessary for communicating risk and crisis information to internal and external audiences. Participants learn how to assess internal and external information needs for stakeholders, identify methods for developing pre-scripted and key messages, and demonstrate the ability to use a message map. This workshop focuses on building skills to leverage communication and leadership roles of training participants.

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10% Discount for registering groups of 4+ participants. 
Registration Deadline February 8, 2021.

High stress, high concern incidents change the rules of communication – especially for unfamiliar incidents such as an influenza pandemic, radiation emergency, terrorist attack, etc. However, proper anticipation, preparation, and practice can play a large role in the success of an organization’s communication efforts.

In fact, about 95% of all questions and concerns from stakeholders are predictable and can be anticipated in advance. Organizations should consider developing pre-scripted messaging prior to an incident when communicating effectively to stakeholders. Similarly, organizations should employ strategic, key messaging applications to raise knowledge and understanding, increase trust and credibility, and create informed, appropriate beliefs, decision, and behaviors for stakeholders.

This three-hour, interactive workshop offers methodologies and practice for developing pre-scripted and key messages necessary for communicating risk and crisis information to internal and external audiences. Participants learn how to assess internal and external information needs for stakeholders, identify methods for developing pre-scripted and key messages, and demonstrate the ability to use a message map. This workshop focuses on building skills to leverage communication and leadership roles of training participants.

This workshop uses interactive engagement, group discussion, and scenario-based activities to engage participants. Participants will leave this workshop with resources and guides for developing pre-scripted and key messages.

Meet the Facilitators

Mark Basnight

SummitET® Vice President of Communications and Marketing

As Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Mark is responsible for developing and implementing the long-term communication & marketing vision for Summit Exercises & Training®.

Mark is a John Maxwell Team certified speaker, trainer, coach, and a graduate of the Charlotte Leadership Forum. He is a member of the National Association of Government Communicators, and a U.S. Army Veteran. Mark is a founding member and a past Chair for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Virtual Social Media Working Group. He served as a Lead Public Information Officer during the 2012 Democratic National Convention and had a significant role in planning, coordinating and implementing the Joint Information Center for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Mark is an alumnus of the inaugural FEMA 389 Masters Public Information Officer Program and a former adjunct instructor for the Emergency Management Institute (Emmitsburg, MD). He has been a keynote speaker, trainer, and panelist for numerous conferences including the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) Communication School, National Information Officers Association (NIOA) Conference, National Emergency Manager Association (NEMA) Conference, National Radiological Emergency Preparedness (NREP) Conference, Government Social Media Conference, Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Conference, and Great Lakes Homeland Security Conference. Mark has also been a speaker and trainer internationally for the governments of Seoul, Korea, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Taipei, Taiwan.

Holly Hardin

SummitET® Strategic Communications Program Manager

As the Strategic Communications Program Manager at SummitET Holly manages, develops, and delivers public affairs, risk and crisis communication and emergency public information training, exercise support, and technical assistance. Holly also manages strategic communications research analysis, in addition to developing publications related to the enhancement of advanced communications systems for public safety and health.

Prior to joining SummitET, Holly served as an Emergency Management Communications Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory and co-established the Public Affairs Science and Technology Fusion Cell, as well as the National Public Affairs Academy. At Argonne, Holly was responsible for assisting government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector groups with plans, protocols, procedures, training, and exercises relating to internal and external affairs. Prior to Argonne, Holly worked for the Department of Justice in counterterrorism programs and was a first responder in the Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation Joint Information Center where she also managed a cadre of technical experts and provided risk and crisis communication and digital/social media expertise to Federal, state, and local government agencies, in addition to the commercial nuclear industry.