About the Institute for Crisis Management
The Institute for Crisis Management-We Know Crisis
Founded in 1990, The Institute for Crisis Management® (ICM) was one of the first crisis management consulting firms in North America. Unlike other general communication and PR consulting firms, issues and crisis management and communication is our specialty. ICM offers a variety of products and services designed to help your organization’s executives to lead effectively before, during and after a crisis.
Executives no longer have the luxury of hours or days before they respond.
The seasoned Institute for Crisis Management team offers our clients the demonstrated ability to make razor-sharp assessments in high-pressure situations leading to results-oriented strategies and action plans. With a nonstop global news cycle, rabid social media and millions of smartphone videos being uploaded daily, leaders must be well-prepared to respond in minutes to an erupting crisis.
When a business crisis erupts, time is of the essence. Call us now: +1 (502) 587-0327.


ICM is ‘boutique’ by design, operating with a flexible, low-overhead virtual business model that enables us to provide CEO involvement and senior-level expertise that meets each client’s needs more affordably than larger firms. ICM Senior Consultants are dedicated independent consultants who are engaged for specific clients and projects. ICM is a charter member of the Unified Strategies Public Relations international network.
The ICM team of experts are senior-level professionals with decades of experience in crisis management and communication. Over the years, ICM and its team of crisis experts have provided communications planning, training and consulting services across scores of industries and virtually every kind of crisis. Our work spans much of North America and several overseas locations. ICM’s Annual Crisis Report has been an industry standard since our founding in 1990 and used by professionals and academics worldwide.
ICM is a recognized leader in crisis communication research and training.
Countless senior executives, PR and communication professionals, attorneys, risk managers and operations leaders have learned how to prevent, effectively respond to and mitigate crises through our flagship Crisis Communication Management Certification Course, offered quarterly for 33 years. The Institute for Crisis Management prepares executives and management teams to lead before, during and after a crisis with a variety of services:
- Crisis planning and preparedness
- Vulnerability and risk assessments
- Risk-specific planning tools
- Crisis communication plans
- Management training and simulation training exercises
- Custom developed crisis training
- Spokesperson/ media training
- On-site or virtual crisis management team support and consulting
- Communication strategy and message development for all audiences
- Mainstream and social media monitoring, analysis and reporting
- Executive coaching and crisis media interview preparation
- Media relations management for the duration of the event
- Post-event debriefing and response assessment, action planning
- Crisis plan reviews and updates

Deborah Hileman, SCMP
ICM President and CEO
CEO Expertise for Every Client
Deborah Hileman, SCMP, President and CEO. A globally-certified strategic communication management professional (SCMP), business leader, coach and consultant with more than 35 years’ experience in public and private companies and non-profit organizations, Ms. Hileman has led high-performing teams in health care, manufacturing, insurance and financial services, nonprofits and higher education. Her most significant areas of expertise include strategic communications planning, reputation and crisis management, change management, employee engagement, media relations and communication training.