Meet the Crisis Experts
We’re seasoned crisis experts and experienced professionals with decades of experience and deep expertise in strategic communications, print, journalism, risk management, marketing, social media, website development, media relations and public affairs, cyber security, branding, investor communications, change management, crisis and reputation management, training and coaching. ICM experts are available at a moment’s notice to provide support for virtually any issue.
Crisis Experts at the National and International Levels
ICM has forged a strategic partnership with the Unified Strategies Public Relations international network to supplement our consulting staff. As a charter member of USPR, ICM’s strategic partnership enables us to deliver additional on-site consulting support and expertise across virtually every major market in the US and several international locations.
ICM Senior Consultants are crisis management experts in their industries, each with more than 20 years’ executive experience.
Deborah Hileman, SCMP
President and CEO
A crisis expert and 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 and reputation/crisis management, media relations, change management, employee engagement and communication training. She is a FEMA-trained NIMS incident commander with experience as a national EMS public information officer during numerous gulf hurricanes from 2005- 2012.
Known as a voice of calm in chaos and crisis, Ms. Hileman has earned a reputation as a trusted strategist and advisor to board members and C-suite executives, operations leaders and other organizational stakeholders. She has developed and implemented successful communication strategies for numerous business issues, including mergers and acquisitions, controversial development projects, bankruptcies, cyber crime, natural disasters, labor strikes, criminal prosecutions and federal civil investigations, workplace violence, executive malfeasance, investor litigation, wrongful deaths, harassment and abuse investigations, among others.
A regular writer and speaker on business communication topics, Ms. Hileman is a featured columnist in the PR News Crisis Insider. She has delivered training and lectures at several universities, including Notre Dame, Marquette, Cornell, Miami and the Universities of Chicago, Kansas and Miami. She is the author of “Attorneys as Allies: Balancing Stakeholder Needs with Legal Concerns During a Crisis,” published in the Writer’s Guidebook, Vol.2, PR News Press; “Building a Crisis Early Warning System by Empowering Employees to Speak Up,” published in The Book of Employee Communications Strategies & Tactics, vol. 5, PR News Press, and “In a Snap: 15 Tips for More Effective Employee Communications in a Crisis,” published in The Book of Crisis Management Strategies and Tactics, Vol. 8, PR News Press.
Ms. Hileman lives and works in South Bend, Indiana. An avid proponent of lifelong learning, she earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Purdue University, and has completed graduate studies in public administration at Indiana University and executive business education programs at the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Stanford University, the University of Virginia and the University of Denver.
Ms. Hileman has contributed her time and talents to several community and professional organizations, including the Public Relations Society of America, and the International Association of Business Communicators, where she is a past board member. She was the 2017-18 chair of the Global Communication Certification Council®, the only ANSI/ISO-accredited international certification for communications professionals.
Sean Clancy
ICM Vice President, Business Development/ Senior Consultant
Industry Specialty: Manufacturing
Concurrent with Sean being an ICM senior consultant, he is president and managing director of Evolving World Communications, a Charlotte, NC-based communications agency. ICM clients benefit from Sean’s 20+ years as a chief communications strategist and advisor to the President/CEO and senior leadership teams of global FORTUNE 500 companies. His knowledge and tactical proficiency stems from guiding the C-suite through such public policy, major crises and change management issues as:
- Multi-billion dollar merger integrations;
- The lingering aftermath of the Bhopal, India chemical accident;
- Asbestos litigation;
- Global tobacco industry litigation and settlement;
- Security & Exchange Commission and Internal Revenue Service investigations stemming from Sarbanes-Oxley compliance issues;
- National Labor Relations Board investigations and hearings;
- Class-Action Shareholder litigation;
- Child cancer cluster related to Illegal chemical dumping;
- Environmental releases during chemical plant operations;
- Chemical plant explosions; and,
- Workplace fatalities.
Applying knowledge as a former state and federal lobbyist, he created and executed a consolidated media relations, government affairs & community relations strategy that netted a chemical manufacturer three federal permits to incinerate liquid hazardous waste, including the first such permit granted in U.S. EPA history.
A former award-winning print journalist and credible, articulate corporate spokesperson, Sean coached senior executives for high profile interviews on 60 MINUTES, DATELINE, FRONTLINE and scores of other significant print & electronic placements. During his tenure with the National Safety Council, Sean designed and led grassroots campaigns that culminated in 50 states passing legislation mandating automobile front-seat safety belt usage and later, rear-seat child safety seats for infants and developing children.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Sean earned a B.S. in Public Relations from Northern Illinois University and has completed the Program on Negotiation at MIT-Harvard University Law School and coursework in Content Strategy for Professionals from Northwestern University.
Jennifer Dulles, APR
ICM Senior Consultant
Jennifer Dulles, APR, president of DStreet in metro Denver, Colorado and ICM Senior Consultant has more than 25 years of experience designing and delivering strategic planning, communications, positioning and messaging, thought leadership, and reputation management programs. As an agency principal, she assembles and leads teams who shape markets, engage key influencers and propel companies to the forefront of their respective industries. As a consultant, she is a frequent advisor to the c-suite on strategic planning and corporate growth, as well as reputation management and crisis communications preparedness and response.
Her expertise spans government organizations and their partners, including the U.S. Department of Energy, CH2MHILL, SRA International, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, DigitalGlobe, Space Imaging, and National Renewable Energy Labs. Much of her expertise has been in rapidly moving technology markets, for mid-market companies who sit at the leading-edge of innovation. Her technology client roster includes Schlumberger, Sprint PCS, AutoGrid, IQNavigator, MXLogic, Laird Connectivity, Rally Software, SignalSoft, and Sierra Wireless, amongst dozens of others. In the healthcare market she has worked for Baxter Healthcare Corporation, the National Association of Treatment Providers, the Colorado Hemophilia Association, the March of Dimes, and the National Association of Critical Care Nurses. In financial services she has represented the national Farm Credit system, including developing the rubric and approach for all of their financial institutions to prepare for reputation, issue management and crisis situations. Her retail expertise includes counseling PetSmart on national communications strategies and reputation management — and guiding Cabela’s on significant market entry reputation issues and ensuring the successful market launch of two retail stores — a program recognized with multiple awards.
Jennifer was awarded the 2015 award for top reputation management program by PRNews for her work for Farm Credit, a national provider of financial services. Her crisis communications expertise also includes working with local municipalities on crisis programs, including managing the Town of Firestone’s response to a home explosion in Colorado in 2017 that took two lives, including that of a town employee. Jennifer is accredited in the fields of public relations and reputation management and has been recognized with more than 20 industry awards for her work. She holds degrees in journalism, public relations, and political science.
Ray Hutchins
Senior Cyber Security Advisor
Over the span of a wide-ranging career, Ray Hutchins has acquired extensive experience in a variety of businesses and industries and has bootstrapped and successfully sold several companies – including the sale of a chain of primary care medical centers to HCA. All of his previous businesses were built around an IT core, and in order to make those businesses succeed, Ray had to master the IT side of things.
Today he leads two cyber security companies – CyberCecurity (CC) and Data1Qbit (D1QB).
CC provides comprehensive cyber security solutions to medium-sized companies and their boards of directors. D1QB is a nationally significant cyber security start-up focused on intelligence gathering related to cyber security companies and products.
Ray Hutchins is a rare commodity in our digital economy. He is an experienced, CISSP-trained IT and business executive who seamlessly straddles both the corporate and cyber security worlds. He guides the technical and business teams as they fight the front-line cyber security battles that are part and parcel of today’s corporate landscape.
Erin Dullaghan Jones
ICM Senior Consultant
In addition to her role as Senior Consultant and trainer with ICM, Erin Jones is the Founder and CEO of in.Mode Marketing LLC, a Louisville-based communications firm where her 20+ years’ experience and in-depth knowledge of the ever-evolving world of modern-day marketing is distinguished. Her expertise in crisis communications, PR, marketing, social media strategy and event marketing has attained outstanding awareness of, and proven results for, her diverse client base which encompasses a myriad of fields that include the Kentucky horse industry, consumer goods, public utilities, as well as a number of philanthropic organizations.
Erin’s corporate experience includes Broadcast Coordinator and Press Officer of the ESPN X Games at ESPN, Inc.; Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc. where she served as the Director of Publicity and Communications Manager; Whole Foods Market IP. L.P. as Louisville Regional Marketing Specialist; and Director of Sales at Metromojo, LLC. Her firm’s business partners include the American Saddlebred Horse Association; Donate Life: Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates; Education Associates, Inc.; Facilities Management Services pbc; the Louisville Water Company and Louisville Water Tower Park; Maryhurst; Poplar Ventures; SKYPAC Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center; and Thorntons LLC, among others.
She is a charter member of USPR (Unified Strategies Public Relation), an international network of public relations and marketing communications professionals, in which she represents the Commonwealth of Kentucky. An accomplished speaker, Erin also has an impressive resume of public speaking engagements at keynote marketing-related events throughout the U.S.
Maxine McBride
ICM Senior Consultant
Industry Specialties: Real Estate and Development, Transportation, Oil and Gas
In addition to her role as an ICM Senior Consultant, Maxine is founder and president of Clockwork Marketing Services in Jacksonville, Fla. She has been providing effective public relations, media relations and community campaign services for leading companies for 25 years. Her dedication and visionary contributions set her apart as one of the most respected marketing and public relations CEOs in the region.
Maxine is known for her skillful and instinctive advice in challenging situations. She calmly implements and executes strategic plans to provide crucial messaging, both internally and externally. She has tremendous expertise in media relations, including close working relationships with journalistic and industry publications.
Maxine is a sought-after industry expert and has served as a keynote speaker for local, regional, state and national programs. She has received numerous honors including being named as a Woman of Influence, a First Lady in Florida Housing and People to Know in Florida. She is involved in the community as an active leader including Leadership Jacksonville, JAXUSA Partnership Business Development Committee, JAX Chamber Trustee and former Board Member, founding member of the Urban Land Institute North Florida, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Jon Pushkin
ICM Senior Consultant
Industry Specialty: Health Care
Jon is president of Pushkin Public Relations and a senior consultant with ICM. His candid, proactive approach to public relations has made him one of Denver’s most widely respected PR practitioners. Jon is a past chair of the Independent Practitioner’s Alliance of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and a past president of the Colorado Chapter of PRSA. He is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by PRSA and his work has been recognized with awards from PRSA, Colorado Healthcare Communicators and the American Marketing Association.
Jon has deep experience in health care public relations and crisis communication. He has designed and implemented dozens of successful integrated strategic communications programs including: Mission Driven Careers, a primary care workforce recruitment campaign for Colorado Community Health Centers; Checkoff Colorado, a groundbreaking, collaborative, statewide public awareness campaign for the charitable funds on Colorado’s tax checkoff program; Be Stroke Smart, a national public awareness campaign for the National Stroke Association; Beat the Bug, a flu shot awareness program for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Suspect Sepsis, a public education campaign about a leading cause of hospital deaths; and GettingUSCovered, a new Colorado health plan for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions.
Larry Smith
ICM President Emeritus (1944-2022)
Larry was a master communicator when it comes to managing crisis. He had 50 years’ experience in the news and public relations business—as a former television news director, press secretary to a Senator, and newspaper editor, and works with executives of organizations seeking to minimize the negative public reaction to a business crisis.
Larry also helped organizations be prepared for a crisis by developing proactive crisis communications plans, and leads many of ICM’s workshops and custom leadership training programs, including the ICM Crisis Certification course. His expertise and history with ICM was instrumental in identifying trends and contributing to the ICM Annual Crisis Report. Larry joined ICM in the mid-90s as a Senior Consultant and was president of the company from 1999-2012.
Are you a crisis management professional with senior level experience?
Consider joining the ICM team. Contact us to learn more about our firm and consulting opportunities.
