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In the age of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, company reputations are constantly at risk. On episode 28 of “Circle of Fellows,” recorded on December 21,  four IABC Fellows explored the challenges of managing reputation in social media, the crucial role employees play as reputation ambassadors and the financial value of proactive reputation and risk management.

FIR host Shel Holtz moderated the panel featuring Lee Hornick, George McGrath, Barbara Puffer, and Cindy Schmieg. Watch the video replay here or listen to the podcast. (Subscribe to the podcast and you’ll never miss an episode!)

Note: Technical difficulties were rampant during the recording of this episode, but the audio problems are only intermittent and it’s still worth your while to watch or listen in.

Lee Hornick is the Chief Program Director of Business Communications Worldwide, a business conference and webinar development and sponsorship organization. He has produced worldwide conferences for the Conference Board, IABC, the American Marketing Association, and other organizations that focus on a variety of business issues and trends. Topics include: marketing, branding, corporate communication, change management, employee benefits communication, crisis and issues management, corporate image and reputation, and social media. Lee has worked with companies in every major industry sector, senior communication and marketing executives from Fortune 500 companies, and top business consultants. Lee has also written articles on corporate branding and reputation. He also served as a senior corporate communication executive with the J.C. Penney Company. Lee received the IABC Chairman Award, IABC Research Foundation Friends Award and is an IABC Fellow.

George McGrath is founder and managing principal of McGrath Business Communications, which helps clients build winning corporate reputations, promote their products and services, and advance their views on key issues. George brings more than 25 years in PR and public affairs to his firm. Over the course of his career, he has held senior management positions at leading strategic communications and integrated marketing agencies including Hill and Knowlton, Carl Byoir & Associates, and Brouillard Communications.

Barbara Puffer owns Puffer Public Relations Strategies, where she has served clients for nearly 20 years. Previously, she was Corporate Communications Manager at Barnes Group for 13 years; her communications management career spans 40 years, including work in banking, insurance, and telecommunications organizations. She has been an Associate Professor teaching communication studies at the University of Maryland University College since 2002.

Cindy Schmieg ABC, IABC Fellow is an award-winning strategic communicator. With 30+ years of corporate, agency, and consulting experience, Cindy now teaches online within the Communications Master Degree program at Southern New Hampshire. She has served in many IABC leadership roles and today serves as IABC 2018 Gold Quill Awards Chair.

About Shel Holtz

Shel Holtz, ABC (Accredited Business Communicator), is director of Internal Communications at Webcor, a commercial general contractor headquartered in San Francisco. Before joining Webcor, Shel spent 21 years as principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. In addition to integrating technology into communications strategies, his expertise includes strategic communications planning, change management, organizational culture, business initiatives and communications research. Full bio