September 18, 2025
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When Succession Becomes a Story: Why Communications Can Make or Break Leadership Transitions
Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications
CEO transitions are never just internal events — they are moments of truth that can redefine an organization’s reputation in the eyes of every stakeholder. The stakes are immense: investors demand clarity, employees look for reassurance, regulators expect transparency and customers want continuity. When communication is mishandled, uncertainty fills the void, and confidence in leadership evaporates. That’s why succession planning without a communications strategy isn’t a plan at all.
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The Skill Set That Got You Into the C-Suite Isn’t Necessarily the Skill Set You Need to Manage a Crisis
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications
In today’s digital-first world, executives face crises where reputations hinge on rapid, credible communication. Leaders, attorneys and organizations need the skill sets necessary to control narratives, manage public opinion and project confidence. Instead of approaching crisis response training as optional, it should be considered mission-critical leadership competency.
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Philanthropy’s Trigger Words — and How to Make Your Message Clear
Polarization isn’t just reshaping national politics. It’s reshaping how nonprofits talk to the people they serve, the partners they need, and the communities they hope to bring together. Every day, strategic plans collapse over a single phrase. Funders and grantees misinterpret each other’s intent. Communications campaigns spark defensiveness instead of support. Strong ideas falter not because the goals are wrong but because the message misses.
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I Never Understood Our Data-Saturated Life Until a Hurricane Shut It Down
When Helene disconnected my part of North Carolina for weeks, my neighbors and I had to relearn old ways of knowing what was happening — and what wasn’t. Disasters are often accompanied not just by physical devastation, but by breakdowns in information flow — “media blackouts” — that worsen the human toll. In many affected areas, infrastructure damage, loss of internet/cell service, and delayed or censorious government responses mean people can’t get timely warnings, situational updates, or official aid information. This information vacuum breeds rumor, fear and inaction.
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How Not to Handle a Cyberattack: The Worst Crisis Communications Failures
A cyberattack now happens every 11 seconds and chances are, your organization is next. In 2024 alone, more than 3,200 data breaches were publicly reported in the U.S., compromising the information of over 353 million people. These numbers aren’t just staggering, they’re a warning: cybersecurity incidents are no longer rare, and silence is no longer an option.
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Hat Snatcher’s Statement Is Masterclass in Wrecking Own Rep
There are PR blunders and there are catastrophes so tone-deaf they become case studies for years to come. The Polish millionaire CEO accused of snatching a tennis cap meant for a child at the U.S. Open has secured his place in the latter category. And his scrambling to apologize afterward shows the importance in crisis comms of getting it right from the start.
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Restaurant’s Crisis Shows Importance of Facts
Just after midnight on Sunday, March 10, 2024, a 22-year-old woman named Julia Reel was ejected from the Hubbard Inn in Chicago’s River North neighborhood allegedly for being abusive toward a staff member in one of its bathrooms. Reel posted a TikTok video in which she relayed the story, maintaining that a bouncer had dragged her from the ladies’ room and violently manhandled her. Reel’s storytime reportedly garnered millions of views.
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The CEO’s Role as Chief Storyteller
In an era of disruption, where geopolitics, generative AI, workplace shifts, and rising stakeholder scrutiny collide, the CEO’s voice has never mattered more. Leaders can no longer delegate communications to corporate affairs teams alone. For executives navigating today’s “permacrisis,” the message is clear: the CEO’s words and actions are now decisive levers for trust, reputation and long-term growth.
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September is National Preparedness Month
FEMA’s 2025 National Preparedness Month theme, Preparedness Starts at Home, urges Americans to strengthen emergency readiness through simple, low-cost actions. By knowing risks, making a family plan, building supply kits, and engaging in community training, individuals can protect loved ones, save money and contribute to safer, more resilient communities.
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9/23/25 Ohio Trucking Association
9/30/25 Ohio Office of Homeland Security, Ohio Office of Emergency Management, Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management, Cuyahoga County Board of health, Cuyahoga County Mayors & Managers Association, Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association, Cuyahoga County Fire Chiefs Association, American Red Cross, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
10/14/25 Ohio School Boards Association
10/17/25 American Association of School Librarians
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10/21/25 Winding River Managing Partner Bootcamp
10/28/25 Ohio State Bar Association
10/29/25 National Association of Temple Administrators
10/30/25 Employers Resource Council
11/17/25 Ohio School Boards Association
11/18/25 Private Seminar
12/2/25 Construction Employers Association
12/11/25 Columbus Bar Association
12/16/25 Akron Bar Association
12/18/25 Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
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