NEW YORK, April 13, 2009—The New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, among the oldest and largest schools of continuing education for working professionals, and IPREX, a worldwide corporation of independent public relations firms, will co-sponsor a panel discussion entitled, “Economic Crisis and Reputation Devaluation: The Communications Response,” which will focus on the impact the global economic crisis has had on some of the world’s leading companies, both on their own reputations and how they communicate with their stakeholders. The event, which is scheduled for May 15th at New York City’s University Club, will be moderated by John Byrne, Executive Editor of BusinessWeek and author of eight books including The New York Times best seller “Jack: Straight from the Gut,” with former General Electric CEO Jack Welch.
This event is being presented as part of IPREX’s 20th annual meeting, which is being hosted this year by Makovsky + Company, a founding member of the organization and one of the largest global independent public relations and investor relations firms. Each year, a different host city is selected for the IPREX Annual Meeting from the cities in which the partner firms are based.
The panel members will include: Gary Sheffer, executive director, corporate communications & public affairs, General Electric Company; Carl Folta, executive vice president, corporate communications, VIACOM; Robert DeFillippo, chief communications officer, global communications, Prudential Financial; Erin Foster, director, worldwide communications and public relations, Consumer Digital Imaging Group, Eastman Kodak; Stephen Dishart, managing director, communications, Swiss Re, and Michael McDougall, vice president, corporate communications, Bausch & Lomb.
Ken Makovsky, president of Makovsky + Company, said, “The attendees will gain great insights into the evolving world of corporate communications as practiced by some of the world’s leading companies. This is critically important during times of economic stress as companies seek to maximize their budgets in this area. The individuals assembled for the panel discussion have helped shape the corporate communications discipline through forward-thinking and highly strategic leadership at their respective companies and have navigated difficult economic times.”
“This event offers an invaluable chance to understand how economic conditions present challenges and opportunities for corporate communications professionals,” added John Doorley, academic program director and clinical assistant professor, M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communications Program, NYU-SCPS Programs in Business. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with IPREX and Makovsky + Company in presenting this great event.”