The PIO Podcast

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In this episode, we talk to FEMA trainer and retired PIO Mark Brady. 

• Mark was quoted as saying, “Social Media has been the biggest game-changer for public information professionals…”, what do you mean by that?
• What social media platform do you think is the most important for a PIO to capitalize on?
•  Let’s talk about the social media emergency management guidance tool, I do not think many of our listeners are familiar with it?
• Tell the listeners about your experience as a trainer for FEMA and as an instructor at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmetsburg.
• What type of PIO training are you handling? 
• Where do you see the PIO training field going in the next 10 years?
•  What is the challenge facing PIO’s in getting information out to the media?
• What is one thing you see lacking from PIO’s coming into the field today?
• Why is relationship building so important to the success of a PIO?

Bio of Mark Brady

Mark Brady is well known in the field of Public Safety Public Information and crisis communications.  He has 45 years of public safety experience, most notably with fire and emergency medical services. Brady started his career with the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad in College Park, MD, at 18 years of age and was soon employed by Prince George’s County in Maryland working with the 911 call center and police department before beginning a 40-year career with the fire/EMS department.  The County Office of Emergency Management fell under the fire department and Brady worked closely with emergency managers on special projects and activations.  He was also assigned to Public Safety Communications and Training Academy before being called upon to serve as the Department’s Public Information Officer. He started engaging on social media, primarily, Twitter and Facebook, soon after they became popular in 2008.

 Brady’s work as a PIO began with the advent of flip cell phones and thermal paper fax machines and feels fortunate to have gained experience as a “traditional” PIO.  

 Mark Brady served as the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Fire/EMS Department’s Chief Spokesperson and Public Information Officer for 27 years before leaving in February of 2020 in order to expand his teaching and speaking availability on the subjects of social media, crisis communications, and public safety public information. He has spoken at many events across the country as a “subject matter expert” in the field of PIO and social media and has facilitated presentations at several FIREHOUSE EXPO’s, Fire Department Instructors Conference, and IAFC Officer Development and Command and General Staff courses. 

 Brady has served for 12 years as a contract instructor with FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in all PIO-related classes including All-Hazards Position Specific, Advanced, and Master PIO classes as well as Awareness, Public Information Basic and Joint Information System/ Joint Information Center courses. 

 Brady is currently part of a team revising the FEMA EMI’s Advanced PIO course and is also involved in ongoing curriculum review and development for FEMA’s Public Information Officer and Emergency Management Basic Academy training programs. 

Mark is married with 3 adult children and resides in Annapolis, Maryland

Marks Twitter @PIOMarkBrady
Email [email protected]

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In this week's episode of the PIO Podcast, we talk to Julie Parker of Julie Parker Communications...

We discuss advocating for crisis communications training, a sense of urgency in the early stages of a crisis. Julie talks about trust in your Public Information Officers and having a seat at the decision-making table.  We talk about being out in front in a crisis, what small agency PIO's can do to prepare, challenges facing PIO's in getting information out to the media.  Julie also offers her insights into running a communications officer with a news bureau mentality. Why having an active and interacting presence on social media is so important and much more.

Julie's bio - Julie Parker’s unique media career encompasses many facets including her current role as the Senior Media Advisor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, her previous roles as media director for two of our nation’s largest police departments, and as an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning television reporter in Washington, DC. Julie launched her own public relations firm in 2014 after the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security tapped her to be a subject matter expert on crisis communications, social media, and media relations. At ABC7 News, Julie served as a general assignment reporter covering such stories as the three-week-long ordeal known as the Beltway Sniper and the September 11th attacks just moments after the second plane hit the World Trade Center. Her journalism career began at C-SPAN, where she helped produce the 1996 Republican National Convention. She left the world of journalism in 2011 and joined the Prince George’s County (MD) Police Department as its chief spokesperson and Director of Media Relations for five years. Her work was instrumental in changing both the internal culture and public perception of the agency by developing and instituting nationally-recognized communications efforts that resulted in improved community and media engagement and marked enhancement of the department’s image. She was named “Best Police Flack” by the Washington City Paper. Julie later joined the Fairfax County (VA) Police Department in the same capacity she held at the PGPD. In her two years there, FCPD’s social media presence soared, to include increasing its Twitter following from 100,000 to nearly 250,000. 

You can connect with her on Twitter at @JulieParkerComm and on LinkedIn.

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Todd Harmeson has been with the Chesterfield Police Department serving as the Public Information Officer since 2000.  During this time, Todd has also served as the public information officer for the Madison County Emergency Management Agency for nearly 20 years before leaving and joining the East Madison Fire Territory as their lead Public Information Officer.  Todd served as the Lead Public Information Officer during the Memorial Day 2019 tornado strike in Pendleton, IN.  In addition, Todd has served as the PIO for numerous local, state, and presidential disaster declarations.  Todd completed FEMA’s Advanced Public Information Officer training certification and is excited about pursuing the Master certification in 2023.  In 2015 Todd was awarded the Major Gary Rudig award at Chesterfield Police Department for his dedication to the department and his community.  In 2021, Todd received the Officer of the Year award, which is the highest award the department gives each year.
 
In 1993, Todd graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana State University and immediately began working in his first full-time Emergency Management position.  In 1995 Todd was married to his wife Shawn Harmeson who was working as a 911 Communications Operator.  Todd and Shawn have three boys, two of which are currently following in his law enforcement footsteps.  The family spent the first few years of their marriage in Terre Haute, IN before moving back to Madison County, which is where Todd was born and raised.
 
Todd has served as a mentor for several other public safety professionals across central Indiana helping guide and coaches them as they are learning their newly found positions as Public Information Officers.

Todd's Twitter @ToddHarmeson
Todds 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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Warren Weeks sold his first newspaper to his grandmother at the age of five, he was Wayne Gretzky's PR handler for a day in 1998 and over the past two decades, has become one of Canada's most popular and trusted media trainers. Thousands of spokespeople from a wide range of industries have called upon Warren to learn how to take greater control over their media interviews and to improve their media relations outcomes.   

Warren has established a reputation for providing executives with sound, strategic communications counsel - often under tight timelines and volatile circumstances, such as work disruptions, bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions, plant closures, food/water contaminations and more. In the summer of 2000, he spent three-and-a-half months in the Town of Walkerton, Ontario during that community's notorious E. coli water contamination crisis.

He has worked with a long list of satisfied clients throughout Canada and the United States in both the private and public sectors, including banks, insurance companies, utilities, not-for-profits, health care organizations, social advocacy groups, retailers, municipalities, conservation organizations, global consulting firms, information technology companies, grocery retailers, educational institutions, authors and more.

Warren is the principal of Eleven Strategic Communications, Inc., a full-service corporate communications firm he founded in 2003.

He also offers his media training clients the perspectives and insights of a reporter, having written more than 1,000 articles for a variety of publications. 

In the spring of 2010, Warren started an online campaign to get former NHL coach Pat Burns (who was dying of cancer) into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Within a matter of weeks, the campaign attracted 72,000 members and generated more than $2 million in earned media coverage from outlets including Hockey Night in Canada, the New York Times, Globe and Mail, National Post, Montreal Gazette, Fan 590, Team 990, Ottawa Citizen, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CHCH TV, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, AM 640, Yahoo Sports and more.

Warren holds a Masters of Arts degree in Journalism (1993) from the University of Western Ontario.

https://www.municipalworld.com/feature-story/avoiding-interview-landmines/

Making Great Presentations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXpucOX9BB0&feature=emb_rel_pause

Warren Weeks - Crisis Communications

Contact Warren at 416-238-6361 or send him a confidential email at warren (at) weeksmedia.ca. 

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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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This week's episode we interview Sgt. Wayne Delk from the Cobb County Police Department in Marietta Georgia. Some of the things discussed included staffing of the PIO unit and the duties of the staff in the unit. We also discussed the increase of violence as it has occurred across the country and how Cobb County is messaging to help reduce the risk to the community. We discussed the challenges faced in messaging and what social media platforms the Cobb County Police Department utilizes. s experienced an increase in violence. Many communities have seen unprecedented increases in violent crime. Lastly, we wrap it up with recommendations for someone who wanted to be a PIO. 

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.

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This week we interview Ty Wood, Social Media Specialist and PIO for the Clovis Police Department.  We talk to ty about his background

• How many employees does the Clovis Police Department have?
• How are you staffed in Media Relations?
• How did you end up working with social media?
• How long has Clovis PD been using social media and what platforms do you utilize?
• You have hosted virtual ride alongs. How has that been received?
• How Ty turns a virtual ride-along into an engaging and bi-directional conversation?
• What factors have complicated his job in sharing information with the public and dealing with the media? 
• Has the department's use of social media increased communication with the public?

Bio of Ty Wood
An experienced public servant with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Public Relations, Social Media, Law Enforcement, Community Service, Crime Scene Investigations, and Recruiting. I have served in every division of our Department from Youth Services, to Investigations, Patrol, Jail, and Dispatch. When I began my law enforcement career 22 years ago, I never knew it would lead to public relations within the profession. I absolutely love getting to share how we do what we do with our community.

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.

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In this episode, we speak to Lt. Baxter of SFFD  we talk about his role as the only PIO,  the impact of community outreach, and public-Ed?   A  campaigns effort to raise awareness about water fatalities around the coastline.  A discussion over how agencies can connect with community-based groups.

Bio of Jonathan Baxter: started his career in Public Safety at the age of 14 working as an explorer scout with the City of Paso  Robles Police Department. I attended EMT school at the age of 17, obtaining my EMT certificate just past my 18th birthday in 1989.  He was hired with the San Luis County Ambulance service part-time as well as the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.  

At 18, he was asked to participate in a trial paramedic program put on by the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, in the Carmel Valley,  obtaining his Paramedic license at the age of 19,  becoming the youngest paramedic in the State of California.

From late 1990 to 1998 I was employed full time as a Firefighter Paramedic with the City of Sonoma Fire  Department. During this time, I earned my A.S degree in Fire Science, multiple fire science certificates, and an A.A degree in Criminal Justice.  

Let it be known that also from 1990 to 2000, in addition to my full-time career, I also worked part-time as a Paramedic for AMR SF, Guerneville Fire, Bodega Bay Fire, Sonoma County EMS, and Occidental Fire.  

Additionally, I also worked part-time as a Firefighter/EMT and Fire Investigator for the Glen Ellen Fire  Protection District from 1991-2010.  

From 1998 to 2000, I worked full-time for the City of Hayward Fire Department as a Firefighter  Paramedic.  

In January of 2000, I started my career with the San Francisco Fire Department. From 2000 to 2006 I  worked around the City as a Firefighter Paramedic, and Rescue Swimmer. From 2006 to 2016, I  volunteered to be assigned to Engine 1, which was at the time the busiest fire engine in America, per 

FireHouse Magazine. With over 500 public contacts per month, personal pride and integrity drove my fellow crewmembers and me to provide equal, and above standard service to every customer (citizen). 

From 2008 to 2016, I worked as a temporary lieutenant on fire suppression apparatus (Mostly Engine 1).  On January the 18th of 2016, I was hand-selected by Chief Joanne Hayes-White to become the SFFD’s  Public Information Officer. While in that role, I was promoted to lieutenant in May of 2016 based on my rankings on a civil service test.  

I remain employed as one of the highest decorated employees (47 Valor and Honors) with the City of  San Francisco.  

In 2006, I left the City of Pleasanton part-time employment and started a career with the City of Menlo  Park Police Department (part-time). I have achieved Advanced Officer, Designated Rifle Officer, Critical  Incident Officer, Bike Officer, K9 Officer, Drug Recognition Officer, and DUI officer certificates.  

In 2014 I obtained a B.S degree in Criminal Justice, along with multiple Certificates in Homeland Security and public safety-related topics.  

In 2017 I was hired part-time as an adjunct faculty instructor for Fire Science and Administration of  Justice at City College of San Francisco and teach for the Mission High School Fire and MES program,  among other topics.  

I remain employed with CCSF College in a part-time capacity. 

Jonathans 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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Dr. Trahan is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Reserve (USAR), and a former Commander of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center located in Birmingham, Alabama.  While in the armed forces, Dr. Trahan successfully operated four Joint Information Bureaus and one Joint Information Center from 1991-94. Some of his assignments were: Joint Logistics Over the Shore -1992; the Presidential Task Force Andrew-1992; the National Boy Scout Jamboree -1993 and the 50th Anniversary of Operation Overlord (D-Day) - 1994.

Since 1998, Dr. Trahan has superbly trained more than 3,500 people yearly in media relations throughout almost all of the United States. England, Norway, France, Belgium, Paraguay, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

Dr. Trahan graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Military History. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Public Relations from Ball State University and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising from The University of Southern Mississippi.

An accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, Dr. Trahan is a former member of the National PRSA Board of Directors and National PRSSA Faculty Advisor. Dr. Trahan is also a Fellow in the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows.

He’s also a long-term fan of The Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints!

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.

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In our final episode of season 1 we talk to Laurie McCann, Social Media Officer with the Toronto Police Service. We discuss her advocacy of social media education for young people. Mistakes that young people make when engaging online.  Why listening and engaging on social media is imperative. Laurie provides examples and talks about Amanda Todd's story and its impact on her. Laurie is also a proponent of self-care, mental health, and suicide prevention with the police service. 

Connect with Laurie on Twitter @TheCoffeeCop

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.

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In this episode, we talk about Social Media Listening and the value of engaging your community. Michelle offers insights into engaging, responding thoughtfully, and what listening tools a PIO can use. Michelle will also expand upon what happens if agencies do not socially listen. This episode is packed with insights enjoy!

Michelle's Bio

Michelle Proffitt is a content creator and brand storyteller. She recently joined the University of South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement and Safety as the agency’s first Public Safety Information Director. Before this role, she served on the public information teams of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (SC) and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (FL), and spent some time working in private sector marketing.

Michelle specializes in content curation and community management across all social channels. She provides graphic design direction, manages agency branding assets, and oversees photography and videography projects. She is passionate about implementing the right tools to meet the right audiences where they’re at.

Michelle holds a Master of Arts degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Marist College (NY) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH).
Twitter: @callmemichellep and LinkedIn: /michelleproffitt 

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.