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Ashley McDonald, MPIO is Public Relations/Communications Manager for the North America Fleet Division of Corpay in Brentwood, Tennessee. Before moving into the private sector, she served as public information officer for Murfreesboro Fire Rescue and Rutherford County Fire Rescue departments (Tennessee) for ten years collectively.

 She now works in a volunteer capacity as public information officer for both the Emergency Management Association of Tennessee and Tennessee Firemen’s Association, and supports the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association’s Mutual Aid Section.

 McDonald holds a B.S. degree in Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University and has completed both the FEMA Emergency Management Institute and FBI-LEEDA Master PIO programs.  

She is a past president of the National Information Officers Association. During her time as president, McDonald led the charge to develop a professional designation and credentialing process for public information officers through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) for which she was awarded NIOA’s “Leadership in Public Information Award” in 2023.

 McDonald earned her Public Information Officer designation from the CPSE Commission on Professional Credentialing in 2022 and has served on the Commission as the PIO representative since November 2022.

Ashley's email
Ashley's LinkedIn Profile
Center for Public Safety Excellence Website

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Transparency: The New Buzzword of the 21st Century”
In this episode, we discuss how law enforcement agencies define transparency and how agencies should work to be as transparent as possible. The panelists for this discussion include:

• Nelly Miles
• Adamy Myrick
• Katie Nelson
• Tamron Olden
• Gary Woodruff

We asked our five panelists these questions.

1. Defining Transparency in Law Enforcement: How do our panelists define transparency within their agencies, and what strategies are employed to balance it with operational security while building public trust?
2. Mechanisms and Technologies for Transparency: What are the current policies, technologies, or practices proving effective in enhancing transparency in police practices?
3. Impact of Body-Worn Cameras: How do body-worn cameras contribute to transparency and accountability, and how do agencies balance their use with legal and privacy considerations?
4. Communication and Perception of Law Enforcement Actions: How can law enforcement agencies improve the communication of their actions to ensure that the public’s perception aligns with the reality of policing?
5. Collaboration for Enhanced Transparency: How can Public Information Officers (PIOs) work alongside community organizations and advocacy groups to foster transparency and address concerns about bias and fairness in policing?

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Lauren Reimer has been the Public Information Officer for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office since Nov 2019.  Pinal County is located between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

Prior to her time as PIO, Lauren spent seven years as a news reporter in various cities, lastly Phoenix, Arizona.

Sam Salzwedel has been the primary video creator and backup PIO for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in Arizona since 2019. He has a journalism degree from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University. Before joining PCSO, he spent 12 years as a photojournalist and reporter in the television news industry in Tucson, Arizona.

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During their time with PCSO, they have worked to grow the agency's presence on social media and gained nearly 2M cumulative followers. PCSO is now the 2nd most-followed law enforcement agency in the country on Facebook, only behind the FBI.


[email protected]

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Jan McInnis is a keynote speaker, comedian, comedy writer, and author. She has written for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud). For 20+ years she’s traveled the country as a keynote speaker and comedian sharing her unique and practical tips on how to use humor in business (yes it’s a business skill!).  She's been featured in the Huffington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post for her clean humor, and she's the author of 2 books - Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds," and "Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." www.TheWorkLady.com  

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Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

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Kith’s President, Stephanie Craig, has built her reputation as a crisis expert by guiding some of the world’s most prominent people and organizations through their most trying moments. Combining her deep experience in politics, media and business, she mitigates crisis, repairs reputations and inoculates against future crises.
 
Prior to joining Kith, Stephanie was the founder and CEO of the Apeiron Strategy Group where she counted former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and the mayor of the nation’s 10th largest city as clients.  When not handling crisis, Stephanie used her company to support causes she cares about by helping to establish the groundbreaking group — I Am ALS and chairing the Force to End Harassment in Advocacy as an effort during the #Metoo movement.
 
In her career, Stephanie has guided media organizations, Fortune 50 tech companies and members of the House and Senate in the United States and Canada through some of their most trying days. She sharpened her crisis skills on several campaigns including three presidentials. She is a battleground specialist and likely the only person to have worked in both houses on Capitol Hill and Parliament Hill.
 
Having known Kith's founder, Bill Coletti, since their time at Public Strategies, Stephanie jumped at the chance to work together again because of their shared belief that there is a better way to be a crisis consultant — the Kith way.
 SELECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Holds distinction as one of the only people to ever work in the U.S. House and Senate, and the Canadian House and Senate.
• Led efforts for Fortune 50 CEO’s campaign to raise over $5 million to support his chairmanship of a corporate giving campaign.
• Ran the global stakeholder network for a multinational technology company preserving billions of dollars.
• Developed and executed the 2020 political strategy for a former First Lady.
• Partnered to create, launch and grow a leading women’s organization.
• Created a marketing and communications department for a global media and insights company that enabled them to completely shift their image in the midst of a complete change to their business-model, which has helped the company go from losing money to posting a $27 million profit in 2020.
• Navigated the nation’s largest and most comprehensive tech policy group through lawsuits, corporate espionage, CEO transition and merger.

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Stephanie Craig

President, Kith

202-329-7545

linkedin.com/in/craigstephanie 

www.kith.co

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Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

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Todd Fox is the Founder and Managing Director of the Close Protection Corps, a specialized services firm that works with celebrities, dignitaries and C-suite executives in challenging environments. The company was founded in 1999 with initial services focused on the Latin market. Fox’s company became known for protective service operations in challenging environments such as Mexico, Colombia, Haiti, Iraq, Balkans, Turkey and Russia. The company has performed protective operations across the full
spectrum of clients ranging from Madonna and Janet Jackson, to Supreme Court Justices and UN Officials.
Martial Arts Training
• Black Belt 4th Gracie Jiu Jitsu
• Black Belt 1st Kenpo Karate
• Amateur Muay Thai
• Black Belt 5th Japanese Ju JitsuBlack Belt National Champion (IBJJF)
PROFESSIONAL MMA

• Professional Wins 10, Losses 2
• Hook n Shoot, Submission Fighting Championships, Ring of Fury,
• Reality Submission Fighting, World War III, Universal Challenge, AF Combat

PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED
• POWER OF PAPER & PLASTIC: An Unofficial Guide to Backstage Passes
• UNDERPINNING: Foundational Concepts in Force Instruction
• PROTECTIVE PERSPECTIVE: A Peek Behind the Curtain
• PROTECTION for & from HUMANITY: Modern Survival Strategies
• ALL ACCESS: The Secrets of Tour Security
FORMAL EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Columbia College, St. Louis, MO 1999
• Master of Business Administration, MBA (80% complete) Webster University, St. Louis, MO
• Certificate of Criminal Justice, Mineral Area College, Park Hills, MO

Todds Website TourProtection.com
Email [email protected]
Instagram @TourTraining

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Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

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She was the first female to ever achieve the rank of Major and Jenell Atlas was the first female captain ever placed over the Indiantown substation.

Jenell Atlas is an award-winning officer; as Public Information Officer, she regularly took interviews from national news organizations (Good Morning America, New York Times, etc..) about the Martin County Sheriff Office for nine years, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Many of her ideas helped develop good public relations between the Sheriff’s Office and the community.

Under Sheriff Crowder’s administration, Deputy Atlas pointed the agency toward the need for a Public Information Officer, a website, a Sheriff’s calendar for residents, and a child support roundup for dads who were behind in payments. For that campaign, Deputy Atlas used her own story.

Jenell is an avid traveler, moving all across America on the open road with her RV Travel club. 

Jenell's Email 

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Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

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Amazon - A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own PR Firm

Liselle serves as founder and president of DeGrave Communications, a boutique
public relations firm, and podcaster for the “PRessing On in Public Relations”
podcast. Having grown up with Cuban refugee parents, her drive to create and
live the American dream has always been rooted deep inside her. As a young girl,
Liselle gave tap lessons to her neighbors, organized her grandmother’s closet for cash, and even saved her lunch money just to fund her early business shenanigans. She is passionate about small businesses and encourages entrepreneurship everywhere she goes.

Liselle enjoys spending quality time on her ranch with her husband, two children, a dog, bees and chickens. Having always been an “old soul,” she enjoys antiquing, gardening, reading, studying natural living and trying just about anything with lavender in it.
To connect with Liselle, visit DeGravePR.com

Rachel is the driving force behind RMG Communications, where creativity and strategy collide to create award-winning campaigns that truly make an impact. She also co-hosts the popular and award-winning “PRessing On in Public Relations” podcast, blending wisdom and wit on PR, life and business.

Beyond overseeing RMG, podcasting and writing books, Rachel’s heart belongs to travel. You can find her exploring new horizons and seeking inspiration in far-flung places. When she returns to her cozy Arizona home, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Trent, and the charming crew of rescue cats: Patrick, Trinnie, Scarlett, Stormy, Elsie, Mav, and Roo. Together, they make a purr-fect family.
To connect with Rachel, visit RMGComm.com

Listen to their Pressing On Podcast 

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Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

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Sgt. English has been with the Joliet Police Department for nearly 25 years and has held the role of Public Affairs Sergeant at my department for the past 3.5 years.  Sgt. English is the Assistant Commander of our Crisis Negotiator Team, a member of our peer assistance team, and a member of our department’s pipes and drums band.  Outside of the department,  he is a pre-licensed psychotherapist.  Sgt. English has been married to my college sweetheart for nearly 24 years, and we have two adult sons.

Sgt. Dwayne English #53
Email: [email protected]

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Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

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Shelley Lynch joined the FBI as the Public Affairs Officer for the Charlotte Division in 2011. She has handled many high-profile cases and countless investigations of fugitive and missing children in North Carolina. Lynch assisted with crisis communications after the Boston Marathon Bombing and the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. She regularly coordinates with FBI Headquarters, FBI offices nationwide, and state and local law enforcement agencies to develop and implement strategies to best communicate with and respond to media inquiries. Before her work in the FBI, she spent 16 years in the television news industry working at television stations in Augusta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, as a producer and executive producer.

FBI Website on educational material on Sextortion

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.