PRSA Austin April Luncheon: Register Now

Weathering the Storm: A look at Crisis Communications in TexasStorm Uri

As Texans recover from the devastation of winter storm Uri, the focus turns to the poor planning and communication failures that left millions without power in dangerous arctic temperatures. The unraveling of responsibility and accountability begins! The public is asking why there was a lack of communication from authorities during this crisis, fingers are being pointed, and the legislature is now involved.

A crisis followed by cascading communication failures only compounded the impact on Texas. And now the biggest question: Why were so many unprepared? PRSA Austin will explore these questions from a communication standpoint. What can be learned from this crisis? Were leaders prepared? How could the public have been better served? Our guest speakers, experts in crisis relations, will discuss best practices around crisis communication.

Our hosts Jeff Hahn, owner and principal of Texas Hahn Media, Inc., and Katherine McLane, Founder, the Mach 1 Group, will share their words of wisdom and explore the highs and lows, timelines, success, and tragedy as it relates to communication during the storm.

Grab your lunch and join us for this exciting virtual discussion on Thursday, April 22 with Katherine and Jeff. You won't want to miss it or be caught unprepared for the next crisis!

About Our Speakers

Katherine McLAneKatherine McLane, Founder, the Mach 1 Group

Katherine McLane, named 2013 PR Professional of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America, is a leading media, branding and public affairs expert. She founded the Mach 1 Group in 2013 to offer strategic communications and media relations counsel to industry, for-profit and non-profit groups whose strategic objectives intersect with public opinion. Located in Texas, the Mach 1 Group specializes in navigating the media and public affairs landscape in the Capitol and the major markets beyond Austin, including San Antonio, Houston and Dallas.

As Vice President for Communications & External Affairs for the LIVESTRONG Foundation from 2007 to 2013, McLane served as the organization’s chief communications and crisis management architect during years of global media attention surrounding its founder, and successfully steered a course that kept the Foundation’s mission front and center. Katherine served as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Margaret Spellings in 2006 and 2007 and led crisis communications and rapid response for the Department and created successful strategies to promote the Education Department’s policies and practices.

Jeff Hahn HeadshotJeff Hahn, Principal, TexHahn Media, Inc.

Jeff is a 30-year communications practitioner and owner and principal of TexHahn Media, Inc., a holding company of communication and marketing agencies, including Hahn Public Communications, Predictive Media Network, White Lion Interactive and Apron Food & Beverage PR.

Jeff purchased TateAustin in December 2007 from Kerry Tate. Since that time, he has guided the agency through two economic downturns and in the process, tripled its size and billings. Today, TexHahn is a 35-person, $9.4M annual revenue agency.

Prior to agency ownership, Jeff was communications director at Freescale Semiconductor and public affairs director at Motorola Semiconductor for 15 years where he served in roles including: crisis communications, government relations, media relations, financial communications and executive communications. Jeff’s core expertise is crisis communication and reputation management. He is the author of Breaking Bad News: 12 Essential Crisis Communication Tools, published in 2020.

Event Details

What: PRSA March Luncheon - VIRTUAL (Zoom details to be provided upon confirmation) 

Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021

Time: 12 to 1 p.m. CT

Cost: Non-member/Guest: $10 | Member and PRSSA Students: FREE

Registration: REGISTER NOW!

 *Image credit: KVUE News

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