News Room and Speakers Bureau
Do You Need an Expert Speaker for Your Meeting or Conference?
ICM’s Expert Consultants are available as subject matter experts and keynote speakers on a variety of topics related to issues, reputation and crisis management, public relations and communications.
CONTACT:
Deborah Hileman, SCMP
President and CEO
+1.502.587.0327
DHileman@CrisisConsultant.com
ICM’s senior consulting team can deliver powerful presentations for your next event! Among recent topics we have covered:
- 15 Timeless Principles of Crisis Management
- Assessing Reputational Risks and Vulnerabilities
- Attorneys as Allies: Balancing Stakeholder Needs with Legal Concerns in a Crisis
- Business Crisis Planning and Preparedness or… Why it’s better to prepare and prevent than repair and repent
- Confident Crisis Response: Aligning Words and Actions to Diverse Stakeholder Expectations
- Crisis Management Crash Course: Ten Steps to Preparedness
- Disaster and Emergency Communications Plans: Preparedness a Year-Round Priority
- Emotional Intelligence and Effective Crisis Leadership
- How to Deliver Bad News (and Protect Company Reputation)
- Lessons from the Pandemic and Other Crises
- Measuring Your Crisis Response: Leveraging Opportunity within the Crisis
- Not Every Issue Makes the Headlines: Managing Issues to Prevent Damage to the Brand, Reputation and Bottom Line
- Prepare, Prevent & Manage: Mitigating the Impact of a Smoldering Crisis
- Smoldering Crises: How Bad Behavior Impacts Reputation and the Bottom Line
Recent News
ICM Releases 2022 Annual Crisis Report
South Bend, Ind. (July 17, 2023) – In a post-pandemic rebound, smoldering crisis stories again were a majority of the news items tallied in 2022, according to the Institute for Crisis Management® (ICM). “We started seeing certain categories returning to typical pre-pandemic ranges, but as always, there were a few surprises in the data,” said Deborah Hileman, SCMP, ICM president and CEO. In 2022, ICM tracked 2,150,826 crisis news items, a decrease of five percent over 2021.
The 2022 ICM Annual Crisis Report is a compilation of news, trends and highlights of business crises, giving leaders valuable insight into the impact crises have on the organization and its stakeholders. According to the report, news items about whistleblowers claimed the top spot for the first time at 29%, followed by catastrophes (including COVID), down 16 points to 21%, and consumer activism and class actions, each tallying nearly four-fold increases over pre-pandemic levels.
“We’ve seen a seismic shift in the kinds of events that are generating headlines. Post-pandemic, news items about the response to management decisions have grown. Stakeholders have had enough and they are responding, sharply indicating that organizations of all kinds should reconsider their approach to crisis planning and preparedness,” she said. Hileman urges leaders to invest in comprehensive crisis management and communication planning and training to prepare, prevent and mitigate the kinds of crises that impact an organization’s reputation, brand, business and financial performance. “ The investment in preparedness is small compared to the cost of failure to manage crisis effectively,” she said.
About the ICM Annual Crisis Report
ICM was founded with the belief that research is a vital underpinning to effective crisis management and communication. The firm has been producing this annual report since its founding in 1990. The report is a popular tool with professionals ranging from executives to academics, and has been cited in numerous reports, articles and white papers over the years.
Visit the ICM website at https://crisisconsultant.com for a free report download and to register for an upcoming online Crisis Communication Management Course. Two classes remain for 2022, beginning in August and in October.
A Tribute to Larry Smith, ICM President Emeritus
Larry L. Smith 1944- 2022
ICM President Emeritus
By Deborah Hileman, SCMP, ICM President and CEO
I lost a dear friend and mentor, and the communications profession lost a true leader in November. I first met Larry Smith when I attended the ICM Crisis Communication Certification Course in 1998. I was a freshly minted VP and needed to get quickly up to speed with crisis communication skills. Larry taught the program back then. I not only learned a great deal about crisis communications, I made a new friend and gained a mentor.
I put those new skills to use soon after that, and when I moved to a new job and needed crisis expertise, he was the first person I called. Both of us “Hoosiers”— folks from Indiana, we had much in common. Our friendship is something I valued more than I can say. Larry was what I might call a pragmatic optimist. He spent much of his career as a reporter, news director and leader in print and broadcast. He did a stint in Washington D.C. as then-Senator Dan Quayle’s press secretary. Ultimately he landed at ICM and as the company’s second owner, shepherded the firm through more than a decade of dedicated client service, honest advice and principled leadership.
You might think all those years working as a journalist would have made him a pessimist. But his enduring faith in people, his big heart and his down-to-earth approach to every challenge made him one of the best crisis communications professionals out there.
I miss him more than I can say. I would not be where I am today without his profound influence on my career and my life. “Thank you” does not begin to cover it.
Rest in peace, dear friend, valued mentor.
ICM, RockDove Solutions Partner to Deliver Complete Issues and Crisis Management Solution
South Bend, Ind. and Washington, D.C. (January 25, 2022)—RockDove Solutions, developer of the award-winning issues and crisis management platform, In Case of Crisis 365, and the Institute for Crisis Management (ICM), a leading crisis communication management firm, today announced that the two companies have partnered to provide clients a complete issues and crisis communications planning, communication and management solution.
Traditionally, crisis was thought of as an infrequent occurrence. Today organizations are dealing with frequent and multiple crises at any given moment.
“Organizations today need more than a written plan, they need integrated issue and crisis management plans tailored to their unique needs and a user-friendly platform that is globally accessible 24/7,” said Deborah Hileman, SCMP, president of ICM.
Christopher Britton, COO of RockDove Solutions, said, “RockDove’s market-leading In Case of Crisis 365 delivers the technology that brings custom crisis management plans developed by ICM to life. Together, our products and services can deliver real-time tools designed for any-device accessibility.”
Ms. Hileman added, “Once crisis plans and tools are developed and loaded into the platform, ICM and RockDove deliver high-level implementation training that prepares management to anticipate and manage issues, mitigate crises and use the tools effectively to protect brand reputation.”
About the Institute for Crisis Management
Founded in 1990, the Institute for Crisis Management was one of the first U.S. consulting firms to specialize exclusively in issues/ crisis management and communications. ICM’s planning, training and consulting services support organizations through all phases of an issue or crisis, from assessing risks and preparing for them, containing a crisis and mitigating damage with effective communications, learning from the event and seizing opportunities that arise from the crisis.
About RockDove Solutions
RockDove Solutions is the creator of the award-winning issues and crisis management software platform, In Case of Crisis 365. We are based in Washington, DC and help public and private organizations of all sizes (including some of the world’s most recognized brands) ensure the safety of their people, maintain their reputation, and the continuity of their businesses.
ICM 2023 Course Schedule Includes Live/Remote, In-Person Training Options
ICM offering its flagship Crisis Communication Management Certification Course
online throughout the year, and in-person this summer on campus
at the University of Notre Dame.
South Bend, Ind. (January 13, 2023) – The Institute for Crisis Management® (ICM), the leader in crisis communication training and education, today announced the 2023 course schedule for its popular open enrollment training programs.
The firm’s flagship program, the Crisis Communication Management Certification Course, helps participants learn to prepare, prevent and mitigate the kinds of business crisis that adversely impact brand, reputation and bottom-line performance. Organization leaders, risk managers, crisis team members, PR and marketing professionals, attorneys, operations managers and HR professionals will benefit from this intensive, hands-on training.
ICM again is offering the course as both an in-person and live-online program. “COVID has changed how professional development is being delivered. We are excited to provide a variety of options to meet the needs of busy professionals where they are,” said Deborah Hileman, SCMP, President and CEO.
“For the second year, our in-person course will be held on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana,” added Hileman. “We believe presenting this important course in such a respected academic setting offers our participants valuable learning in a unique environment.”
“We are pleased to again offer our in-person Crisis Media Training Workshop at Notre Dame, as well. Interested professionals can enroll in one or both programs. The in-person media training is offered on June 15 at Notre Dame, following the Crisis Communication Course. We will add more media workshops if needed,” said Hileman.
Whether online or in-person, the training includes lecture, group discussions and group crisis exercises to reinforce the concepts presented in class. Students receive a variety of crisis communication tools and templates throughout the course. Online sessions also can be viewed on-demand following each class meeting. Enrollment is limited to assure adequate time for discussion and individual participation.
The courses are being offered as follows:
· March 7-April 11 (ONLINE: 6 Tuesdays, Noon 2:00 p.m. ET)
· June 13-14 (IN-PERSON 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET, at the University of Notre Dame)
· August 7-Sept. 18 (ONLINE 6 Mondays, Noon 2:00 p.m. ET)
· October 23- November 8 (ONLINE 6 Sessions, Mondays and Wednesdays, Noon – 2:00 p.m. ET)
Classes fill quickly. To register for any of these programs, call (502) 587-0327 or visit the ICM website at https://crisisconsultant.com/crisis-training/crisis-communication-certification-course/.
Award-Winning PR Executive Joins ICM Consulting Team
South Bend, Ind. (January 18, 2022) – The Institute for Crisis Management® (ICM) announced today that Jennifer Dulles, APR has joined ICM as a Senior Consultant. In addition to providing her expertise for ICM clients, Ms. Dulles is president of DStreet, a Denver, Colo.- based public relations consultancy. She will continue in that role while working with ICM on a variety of engagements.
“We are excited to have Jennifer joining the ICM team. Our clients will benefit from her deep experience designing and delivering strategic crisis communications, thought leadership and reputation management programs,” said Deborah Hileman, SCMP, ICM’s president and CEO. “Jennifer and DStreet have counseled and guided numerous major brands on national communication strategies and reputation management.”
“DStreet and ICM have collaborated previously to support clients in crisis, and Deb and I found that we complement one another’s skills and experience very well,” said Ms. Dulles. “I am looking forward to working with her and the ICM team again.”
Ms. Dulles will provide expertise to ICM clients to develop and deliver crisis communications plans, training and consulting. 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.
Ms. Dulles is accredited in the fields of public relations (APR) 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.
Institute for Crisis Management Announces 2021 Crisis Training Schedule
(South Bend, Ind.) January 18, 2021– The Institute for Crisis Management® (ICM), the leader in crisis communication training and education, today announced the 2021 online course schedule for its popular open enrollment training programs.
The firm’s flagship program, now in its 31st year, the Crisis Communication Management Certification Course, helps participants learn to prepare, prevent and mitigate the kinds of business crisis that adversely impact brand, reputation and bottom-line performance. Organization leaders, risk managers, crisis team members, PR and marketing professionals, attorneys, operations managers and HR professionals will benefit from this intensive, hands-on training.
Now offered as a live online program, participants meet online for seven sessions over a three-week period. The training includes lecture, group discussions and group crisis exercises to reinforce the concepts presented in class. Students receive a variety of crisis communication tools and templates throughout the course. Sessions can be viewed on-demand following each class meeting.
The course is offered as follows:
- February 1-22, 2021 (Mondays and Wednesdays, Noon 2:30 p.m. EST)
- May 3-24, 2021 (Mondays and Wednesdays, Noon 2:30 p.m. EDT)
- August 2-23, 2021 (Mondays and Wednesdays, Noon 2:30 p.m. EDT)
- November 1-22, 2021 (Mondays and Wednesdays, Noon 2:30 p.m. EST)
Enrollment is limited to assure adequate time for discussion and individual participation. Classes fill quickly. To register for any of the 2021 programs, call (502) 587-0327 or Click here.
ICM’s Most Popular Crisis Communication Course Now Available Online
(South Bend, Ind.) April 8, 2020– The Institute for Crisis Management®, the leader in crisis communication training and education, today announced that the firm’s flagship program, the Crisis Communication Management Certification Course is now being offered online, with class beginning June 2, 2020.
This intensive course focuses on managing sudden crises and techniques for preventing smoldering internal business issues from going “public” or minimizing the damage to the organization’s ongoing business when public disclosure cannot be avoided.
The program takes place in seven (7) two-hour sessions from June 2-23, 2020.
Enrollment is limited and this program is expected to fill quickly. ICM’s in-person program is also available later this year, August 11-12 in Chicago, and October 13-14 in Louisville, Ky.
To learn more or to register for the online or in-person course, click here.
Institute for Crisis Management Announces 2020 Training Schedule
- Washington, D.C.: March 3-4, 2020
- Denver: May 12-13, 2020
- Chicago: August 11-12, 2020
- Louisville, Ky: October 13-14, 2020
- Washington, D.C.: March 5, 2020
- Denver: May 14, 2020
- Chicago: August 13, 2020
- Louisville, Ky: October 15, 2020
Enrollment is limited and classes fill quickly. To register for any of the 2020 programs, call (502) 587-0327 or click here.
ICM Headquarters Announces Relocation
The Institute for Crisis Management has relocated! Our main office is now located in South Bend, Indiana. While the main office is now in the Eastern time zone, nothing else has changed. As a virtual agency, we work from anywhere and everywhere.
Institute for Crisis Management Releases 2018 Annual Crisis Report
The 28th annual report examines the year’s crisis news, analysis and trends, and identifies industries at highest risk. Banks and financial services, technology, consumer products and pharmaceuticals among most crisis-prone in 2018.
Denver, Colo. (May 30, 2019) — We don’t need a crisis plan, that will never happen to us. “At the Institute for Crisis Management (ICM), we find that management denial is the most common reason organizations are unprepared for the inevitable,” said Deborah Hileman, SCMP, President and CEO. “The crises that are decimating companies are overwhelmingly a variety of smoldering issues that, if left unchecked turn into the kinds of headline-grabbing crises that end executive careers, tank financial performance and bring an organization to its knees. Once again in 2018, the majority of the 792,336 crises stories we tracked, 67%, were smoldering problems that could have been prevented or mitigated had management addressed them sooner.”
The 2018 ICM Annual Crisis Report is a compilation of news and trends and identification of those industries that were most prone to crisis during the year. Leaders can gain valuable insight on the impact crises have on the organization, the industry and its stakeholders. According to the report, the top crisis category in 2018 was (again) mismanagement, followed by discrimination, cybercrime, sexual harassment and labor disputes.
The year’s most crisis-prone industries were banking and financial services, technology, education, transportation, pharmaceuticals, food, health care, consumer products and media and entertainment.
“Unfortunately, increasing numbers of crises stories in the news tell us that organizations appear no better prepared for crisis than a year ago. Boards of directors are still largely disengaged with crisis issues and executive managers fail to lead badly-needed crisis planning and preparedness efforts,” she said. Hileman urges leaders to invest in comprehensive crisis communication planning and crisis management training programs to prepare, prevent and mitigate the kinds of crises that impact an organization’s reputation, brand, business and financial performance.
About ICM
Founded in 1990, the Institute for Crisis Management was one of the first consulting firms in the U.S. to specialize exclusively in crisis management. ICM’s planning, training and consulting services help leaders and organizations through all phases of a crisis, from assessing risks and preparing for them, containing a crisis and mitigating damage with effective communications, learning from the event and seizing opportunities that arise from the crisis.
Visit the ICM website at https://crisisconsultant.com for a free download of the report and to register for an upcoming Crisis Communication Course and Media Training, scheduled for August 13-15 in Louisville, Ky., and November 5-7 in Denver, Colo.
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ICM in the News
Businesses large and small are struggling to manage crises that are impacting their brand, reputation and bottom line. ICM CEO Deborah Hileman, SCMP was pleased to participate in a CNN Money story about crisis management. Our thanks to journalist Jeanne Sahidi for reminding business leaders about the importance of crisis planning and preparedness.
Read the article here: https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/04/success/crisis-management/index.html
If your leadership team is ready to implement crisis communications planning and preparedness, give us a call.
ICM News- For Immediate Release
ICM CEO Deborah Hileman, SCMP Named to Board of International Association of Business Communicators
San Francisco (March 30, 2018)– The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) today announced the selection of five new members to serve on the International Executive Board (IEB) for 2018. As the governing body of IABC, the IEB leads the organization in its mission to set the global standard of excellence for business communication.
Deborah Hileman, SCMP, President and CEO of the Institute for Crisis Management, has been nominated to join the Board as Director. She currently serves as the Chair of the Global Communication Certification Council, an affiliated program of IABC.
The IEB selection process follows a rigorous, competency-based approach emphasizing leadership, problem-solving, a global perspective, strategic thinking and business acumen. IABC draws from the best in the global communication field to educate, inform and inspire innovation in professional communication.
The 2018–2019 IEB slate will be presented to IABC members for ratification at the 2018 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 2 June 2018, during the IABC World Conference in Montréal, Canada.
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.
