Leaders are the face of organizational messaging to a wide (and often disparate) range of audiences, all of which require specific attention to detail when it comes to tone, content and delivery format. Particularly as organizations wrestle with change, communications professionals provide vital counsel in providing strategic and tactical communications advice, developing communications strategy and content, creating fresh and dynamic copy on tight deadlines and challenging leaders to be better communicators. In her presentation, Crystal Drake, APR will share insights on authentically communicating change gained from her roles with GE Power, Wells Fargo and other organizations.
Drake is currently the Executive Communications Manager for GE Power. Previously she was the vice president and southeast corporate communications manager for Wells Fargo & Co., where she was responsible for managing media relations for the organization in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Other roles include serving as the southeast communications director for Feld Entertainment, producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney On Ice, Disney Live, and Feld Motorsports. In this role, Crystal managed all media relations and community outreach in more than 30 markets including: Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Greenville, Richmond, and DC.
Crystal previously served as the director of public relations at United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. She has also worked at CNN, as a publicist to Atlanta-based CNN anchors and as Special Assistant to the First Lady of Georgia, during Gov. Roy Barnes’ administration. Crystal began her career in the communication office at The Carter Center, a global non-profit led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
An Atlanta native, Crystal graduated from Frederick Douglass High School as class valedictorian and president of Student Government Association. Crystal graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and from Hollins College (now Hollins University) with a Master of Arts in English Literature. Crystal attended Spelman as the recipient of the Cox Enterprises Journalism Scholarship, a competitive four-year academic scholarship.
Crystal has volunteered with Communities in Schools Atlanta, and as a board member of Habitat for Humanity North Fulton and Dress for Success Atlanta.
You don’t need to be a PRSA member to attend this event. Click here to register.