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Summary: In this episode, Nick Schuler, the Deputy Director of Communications and Incident Awareness for Cal Fire, shares insights on the evolution of wildfire communication strategies, the importance of community engagement, and the role of technology in managing wildfire risks. He emphasizes the need for transparency and public trust during emergencies, as well as the significance of preparing communities for wildfire threats. Schuler discusses the challenges of language barriers and the importance of educating the public on fire preparedness and defensible space. He also highlights the ongoing efforts to improve wildfire readiness through policy changes and community involvement.

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Summary: In this episode of the PIO podcast, Robert interviews Brian Townsend, a retired DEA agent and founder of Only2MG, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness about the fentanyl crisis. Brian shares his extensive experience in law enforcement and discusses the alarming rise of fentanyl-related deaths in the United States. He explains the historical context of how fentanyl became prevalent in the drug supply, its integration into other drugs, and the dangers it poses. The conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement, consistent messaging, and a holistic approach to tackling the crisis, including reducing stigma and addressing the root causes of addiction. Brian also highlights the role of organized crime in the fentanyl epidemic and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and public health sectors to create effective solutions.

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Brian Townsend is a retired Supervisory Special Agent/Resident Agent in Charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Brian proudly served in law enforcement for 28 years; 5 years as a police officer in Joplin, Missouri, and 23 years with the DEA, where he held a variety of assignments with increasing responsibility. 

Within the DEA, Brian served in three different formal leadership roles, managing multiple people, programs, and resources. He worked in Corpus Christi, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Springfield, Missouri, to combat drug trafficking and reduce drug-related crime. 

In addition to serving in enforcement operations, Brian was assigned at the DEA
Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. There, Brian managed DEA’s specialized
training unit and developed the leadership and development training unit. The
leadership and development training unit still serves as the primary resource for
leadership development throughout DEA and its extensive workforce of over
10,000 personnel.

Currently, Brian serves as a Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC), a Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) Center supporting law enforcement in nine states (Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). He is also the founder and principal of Eagle 6 Training, providing
speaking, training, and consulting services to organizations worldwide.

Brian’s training expertise extends far beyond drug-related topics. He is frequently
invited to deliver training and presentations on a wide range of subjects, including
leadership development, cryptocurrency investigations, and the dark web. Brian’s
diverse training portfolio equips law enforcement and private organizations with
the knowledge and skills needed to address both emerging digital threats and
organizational challenges. 

Most recently, Brian launched Only 2mg Inc. 501(c)(3), where he leverages his extensive experience and knowledge in the field of opioids. Brian is regularly invited t

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Summary: In this episode, Jen Becker discusses her journey into internal communications and the importance of effective communication within organizations. She highlights the common issues faced by public information officers (PIOs) and offers insights into improving internal communication strategies. Jen emphasizes the need for honesty, understanding employee perspectives, and creating efficient workflows, especially in small teams. She also shares her experiences with crisis communication and the significance of engaging employees during challenging times. The conversation concludes with practical advice for new PIOs and the importance of building rapport through informal interactions.

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Summary: In this episode of the PIO podcast, Robert interviews Kevin Mangan, the public information officer for High Springs, Florida. Kevin shares his journey from a volunteer firefighter to a PIO, emphasizing the unique challenges and responsibilities that come with working in a small agency. He discusses the importance of building relationships within the community, managing communications during crises, and the necessity of transparency and trust in a close-knit environment. Kevin highlights how social media has transformed public communication, allowing for real-time updates and engagement with the community, while also addressing the challenges of misinformation and rumor control.

 Throughout the conversation, Kevin provides insights into the day-to-day operations of a PIO, including the balance of administrative duties and public outreach. He shares anecdotes about successful community engagement initiatives, such as collaborating with local organizations to effectively disseminate information. The episode concludes with Kevin's advice for new PIOs, emphasizing the importance of networking and maintaining credibility in public communications, and a reminder that mistakes are part of the learning process in this vital role.

Kevin’s BIO: Kevin entered the public safety sector in 2004 as a volunteer firefighter and part-time dispatcher in his hometown of Amherst, New Hampshire, before moving to Florida to pursue a career in radio in 2006.
 
Several years into his "Florida Man" designation, Kevin re-entered the fire service as a volunteer firefighter/PIO in High Springs, Florida, while working as a full-time radio station DJ and operations manager.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for consistent, accurate information from local government, prompting the city to hire its first Public Information Officer. Mangan currently serves as the City's PIO and the fire department's PIO and Fire Administration Manager.

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Summary: In this episode, Brian Murray, the Public Information Officer for Harris County, Texas, discusses his dual role in emergency management and public communication. He highlights the unique challenges faced by Harris County, including its large population and diverse threats. The conversation delves into the complexities of emergency alerts, the importance of effective messaging, and the need for community engagement. Brian emphasizes the significance of training for staff and educating the public about alerts, while also addressing the future of communication in an increasingly automated world.

Brian's BIO: Brian Murray, MPA, is the Deputy Coordinator for Homeland Security &  Emergency Management and Public Information Officer for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM). Developing the processes and technology for communicating with the public
during disasters has been at the center of Murray’s career at HCOHSEM. He helped
establish the first physical Regional Joint Information Center at Houston TranStar, and his work in developing “JIC Strike Teams” earned HCOHSEM an Outstanding Emergency Public Information Award from the Emergency Management Association of Texas in 2015. Murray helped lead a workgroup of the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Security, Reliability and
Interoperability Council (CSRIC) IV that paved the way for WEA 2.0 in 2016-2017. Murray is now a full member of CSRIC IX charged with making recommendations to the Commission on the security and development of the Nation’s communications systems in the age of artificial intelligence and the development of 6G technology.

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Episode Summary: In this conversation, Brenden Elwood discusses the importance of strategic communication for city council members. He emphasizes the need to understand how residents receive information and to implement multi-modal communication strategies. Elwood highlights the significance of being responsive to residents' needs and the impact of timely communication on building trust.

Brenden's BIO: Brenden services as the Vice President of Market Research at CivicPlus. He oversees the company’s resident and local government research to provide actionable insights and data to enhance resident and community engagement through accessible digital solutions that streamline and strengthen government operations. By working with local governments across the country, he has researched the importance of an agency’s digital presence, web accessibility, resident trust and satisfaction, as well as strategies to close these gaps at the local level, utilizing modern and accessible digital solutions. Brenden currently serves on the City Council of North Bend, Washington, where he helps shape local policy with residents at the forefront.

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Summary: In this conversation, Gretchen Papez, the System Director of PR and Media Relations at Valley Health Systems, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of healthcare communications. She discusses the importance of proactive messaging, crisis communication preparedness, and integrating various communication strategies. Gretchen emphasizes the need to build trust within the community, adapt to trends like home healthcare, and manage misinformation. She also highlights best practices for stakeholder communication and the significance of storytelling in healthcare. The discussion concludes with advice for emerging communication professionals and reflections on the future of healthcare communication.

Gretchen's BIO: Gretchen Papez, APR, has spent the majority of her career in health care public relations and marketing communications in Las Vegas, NV. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, walking, traveling and spending time with her family, friends and pups. 

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Episode Summary:  In this conversation, Lisa McDonald shares an intriguing story about a five-foot alligator discovered in a storm drain, highlighting the unexpected wildlife encounters that can occur in urban settings. She discusses how the video of this discovery went viral on social media, emphasizing the impact of engaging content in public works and community awareness.

Lisa's BIO; Lisa McDonald studied Radio and Television Communications at the University of Central Florida, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree.  Lisa started her career in local radio before moving to television news, where she worked for 19 years. She was an assignment editor at WKMG Ch 6 and FOX 35 news, handling breaking news, sending crews to scenes, and scheduling stories. Lisa transitioned to Public Information, starting at the City of Mount Dora in 2017, before moving on to Orange County Fire Rescue as lead PIO.  She is currently the Communications Manager for the City of Oviedo and began working there two weeks before Hurricane Nicole hit Central Florida. Lisa’s specialties include document remediation, videography, and writing. Lisa was born just outside Washington, DC, and raised in Winter Park, Florida. She lives in Oviedo and has always loved the community she now serves. She has a son in the Navy. She and her long-time partner have a cat named Gary, and she also teaches yoga on the side. She has been a yoga instructor since 2010 and can honestly say she is passionate about municipal communications.

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the PIO Podcast, Robert interviews Gaurav Gupta, head of R&D at Kotter, discussing the transformative role of AI in public information and communication. Gaurav shares insights on generative AI's impact on content creation, the importance of effective communication strategies, and the need for transparency in AI usage. They explore the challenges posed by misinformation, the need to reskill the workforce, and the importance of aligning AI tools with agency strategies. The conversation emphasizes that AI should be viewed as an enabler of change rather than a replacement for human roles, underscoring the importance of leadership and adaptability in navigating the evolving AI landscape.

Gaurav's BIO: GAURAV GUPTA has been helping organizations and individuals unleash potential and maximize business outcomes for over 20 years.  His expertise is in change leadership and strategy execution.  By combining thinking from behavioral science, leadership development, and strategy implementation, he has advised leaders on their most important business initiatives across industries as diverse as finance, healthcare, extraction, oil and gas, and chemicals.  Having worked in over 10 countries, Gaur3av draws on extensive global experience in collaborating with leaders to develop and implement new ways of working in their organizations. Gaurav is the head of R+D at Kotter and collaborates with Dr. John Kotter, the world-renowned expert on change and leadership, to develop the most successful approaches to create large-scale change and greater adaptability.  Gaurav is the co-author of the book Change: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to-Imagine Results in Uncertain and Volatile Times.  Gaurav represents Kotter through speaking engagements, consulting, and facilitated learning events.  Gaurav also co-founded Ka Partners, a firm established to help growing startups perform better through greater employee engagement, more efficient resource utilization, and better decision-making. Gaurav has delivered keynote addresses for corporate clients and at various conferences.  He has published numerous articles, including in HBR, MIT Sloan Review, and Forbes, and has been quoted in publications like The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and USA Today. He holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Middlebury College, where he graduated summa cum laude. 

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Episode Summary: In this conversation, Deana DiPaola discusses her experiences in crisis management, particularly during her first weekend on call when national neo-Nazi groups came to her city, in addition to handling one of the largest 4th of July fireworks events in the state. She highlights the importance of understanding community safety, effective communication, and the challenges of leadership in such critical situations.

Deana's BIo: I am a reliable, respectful, empathetic, and dependable individual. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated flexibility, versatility, and dedication to the organization. I am committed to the goals and objectives of the Police Department and work closely with our respected business partners in Central Florida as the current Public Information Officer.

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