Press Release: CRN Announces Crisis Management Session At The Conference

Source: The Council for Responsible Nutrition

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 24, 2012-The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) today announced that Brian Ellis, executive vice president, CRT/tanaka, an award-winning communications firm, will lead an interactive breakout session on crisis management at The Conference: CRN’s Annual Symposium on Dietary Supplements. The session will allow participants to engage in a simulated, real-world crisis scenario that could put a company’s reputation, profitability and future into jeopardy.  

Participants will immerse themselves in a realistic, virtual crisis situation focused specifically on an issue related to the dietary supplement industry.  This unique session, developed exclusively for this year’s annual conference, will teach participants first-hand what is involved in developing a crisis communications plan and managing the plan in real-time, taking into account the importance of employee, external stakeholder and media communications, quick response time, and reputation management. Mr. Ellis, a former journalist, regularly conducts these hands-on workshops for the agency’s clients and for companies looking for one or two day crisis management/executive training seminars.  He has led similar workshops at CRN’s annual Communications and Media Outreach Committee seminars.

“When your company is in a crisis situation, whether it’s a hurricane shutting down your plant or an FDA product recall, you need to move at lightning speed, and having a game plan in place ahead of time will make it easier for you to do that,” said Judy Blatman, senior vice president, communications, CRN.  “This session will be a lot more fun than handling an actual crisis, but it will also get you thinking in a serious way.”             Mr. Ellis is a 22-year veteran of CRT/tanaka, and a member of its executive management team. He is also a senior member of the agency’s Health Practice and concentrates his work in pharmaceutical marketing, health care strategic planning, issues and crisis management, consumer product marketing, change management and major event marketing. He supports a wide range of clients in fields like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health systems, medical devices and medical insurance. Prior to joining CRT/tanaka, Mr. Ellis worked for 10 years in broadcast journalism as an Emmy Award-winning reporter, anchor and producer. In addition to working for local network affiliates, he also contributed to national networks like CNN, CBS and ABC.  CRT/tanaka created the CRN Foundation’s award-winning Life…supplemented consumer wellness campaign, managing and executing the program during its first four years.

The Conference will be held Oct. 3-6 at the Montage Laguna Beach, which is located approximately 60 minutes from both Los Angeles and San Diego, and 18 miles from Orange County's John Wayne International Airport. There are several registration options for The Conference and those interested are encouraged to visit http://www.crnusa.org/2012events/for more information.