When your customers are your neighbors: Tips for successful community engagement

Mar 14, 2017 | Past Events

What happens when a company’s work requires access to people’s backyards? Whether erecting new powerlines, laying down subsea cable, or installing natural gas lines, earning support from impacted neighbors is critical, but can be tricky. Hear from a panel of experts on strategies and tactics for successful community engagement, from the Arctic coast, the Railbelt, and city centers.

Attendees will learn:

  • Best practices for informing neighbors of new projects and activity
  • Dos and Don’ts for building trust among diverse populations with different concerns
  • How to handle controversial topics and challenging media relations
  • Tips for getting buy-in from elected officials and policymakers

Panelists:

Kristina Woolston

Vice President External Relations, is an Alaska Native born and raised in rural Alaska. Woolston, a leader in the fields of government and community relations has nearly 20 years’ experience in Alaska Native Corporation management, Washington DC advocacy, international resource development, and international trade. Under Woolston’s direction, Quintillion is actively growing its brand and presence in Alaska and beyond.

Lindsay Hobson

Lindsay is a West High graduate. She earned her BA at Southern Oregon University in 2004 where she double majored in Communication and Spanish.  She went on to law school at Gonzaga University, graduating in 2007. She returned to Alaska in 2010 and worked as an oil and gas attorney at Walker Richards until 2014. Lindsay worked as the Communications Director for the Walker/Mallott campaign and is currently the Communications Manager at ENSTAR.  Lindsay lives in Anchorage with her husband, Greg, and their 2 children, Meredith and Porter.

Julie Estey

Julie is the Director of External Affairs at Matanuska Electric Association where she manages Member and Public Relations.  Before joining MEA, Ms Estey was the business director for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, an energy research group at the University of Alaska Fairbanks focused on improving how Alaskans generate and distribute power.  Julie has also worked as the Executive Director for the Yukon Quest in Fairbanks as well as a management consultant for Anderson Consulting in Dallas and Chicago.  She moved to Palmer in 2010 where she lives with her husband, two crazy boys under 5, 12 sled dogs, and one very patient cat.

Tim Sullivan

Tim is a 5th generation Alaska, a graduate of West Anchorage High School, and holds a Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University. Tim spent six years working for the Alaska Legislature before starting a resource development and government relations consulting company with clients in the healthcare, oil & gas, fisheries, telecommunications, and small aircraft industries. During this time Tim also served as Statewide Coordinator for Senator Lisa Murkowski’s 2004 U.S. Senate Race, Field Director for the 2008 Alaskans Against the Mining Shutdown Campaign, and Campaign Manager for the 2009 Dan Sullivan for Mayor campaign. Since 2011, Tim has worked as the Manager External Affairs for the Alaska Railroad covering public and government relations for the 94-year-old organization. Tim lives in Anchorage with wife, Terrill, and their two children.

Registration Details:

Registration closes FOUR business days before event. Luncheons are non-refundable after registration closes.

In order to honor our commitment with the venue, the PRSA Alaska Chapter will close registration for all Anchorage programs at noon, four business days prior to each professional development session. This will ensure your seat and meal at the session.

If you purchase luncheon tickets and are unable to attend, we suggest you offer your ticket to a colleague or student. If you would like the chapter to open the seats to others, please email Brooke Taylor. Once registration closes, all ticket sales are final.

At-the-door sales will only be accepted if space is available at the start of the meeting. If seats are not available, walk-ins may purchase a late registration ticket to the event and receive coffee service.

New pricing structure:
At PRSA Alaska, we often hear how valuable the local professional development opportunities are for professionals. We think so too! These opportunities, usually in the form of luncheons held each month, are a great way to improve your skills and network with peers in a similar profession. While PR professionals don’t always love math and budgets, we do know that our revenue must meet our expenses. So, beginning this month, there will be a modest price increase for all professional development opportunities in Anchorage and Fairbanks. As always, members will still receive a discounted rate. Non-members will pay a slightly higher rate. If you’re not a member and want to become one, learn more on our website.

Event Details

Price before April 14:

  • $34 PRSA members
  • $44 Non-Members
  • $10 Students

At the door tickets:

  • $38 PRSA Members
  • $48 Non-Members
  • $10 Students

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Time: Noon to 1 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
Location: Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown

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