Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Consensus Communications Senior Account Manager Jessi Blakley, APR to the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Orange County. Blakley is appointed for a term beginning January 18, 2013, and ending April 30, 2015. Beatriz Lowery, minority business development manager with Walt Disney World, was also reappointed to the ELC.

“I am honored that the Governor has selected me for this position," Blakley said. “As the mother of a two-year-old, I am more passionate than ever about the importance of early childhood education. I am eager to begin working with the ELC to ensure everyone in our county has access to the resources they need to succeed in school.”

An accredited public relations practitioner, Blakley manages several demanding client accounts at Consensus, and has a successful track record of helping organizations develop and implement media and community relations, reputation and issues management programs. Blakley joined Consensus in 2005, after nearly three years with the Cable News Network (CNN), where she handled numerous successful media campaigns centered around major world events, including the War in Iraq.

In addition to her service to the ELC, Jessi currently serves as President-Elect of the Orlando Regional Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for PRSA’s statewide Sunshine District. Blakley is an Advisory Board Member of the Orlando Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 2012, she was re-elected to serve a second two-year term as an inaugural member of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Central Florida Young Professionals Advisory Council.

The vision of the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County is to ensure that all Orange County children are fully prepared to enter school, ready to learn. The organization has worked since 1999 to provide leadership, guidance and support for school readiness and VPK programs for children in Orange County. For additional information on the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County or its programs, please visit www.elcoc.org or call (407) 841-6607.

Consensus Communications, located in Downtown Orlando, is a full service public relations firm that specializes in high stakes communications strategy, including communications planning, media relations, crisis communications, community relations, governmental relations, ballot issues, political campaigns, marketing, new media, and integrated communications planning and management. The firm is well known throughout the state for serving at the forefront of the issues shaping Central Florida and the state’s future. For more information, visit us online at www.onmessage.com.

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Trust Across America has selected Consensus Communication’s Roy Reid, APR, CPRC as one of 2013's Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior. Roy joins a stellar list of business thought leaders from around the globe including such luminaries as Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin; Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos; best selling author of the ground breaking In Search of Excellence Tom Peters; Speed of Trust author Steven M.R. Covey; Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz; Columnist and author Thomas Friedman; and Patrick Lencioni, consultant and best selling author.

“When you look at this list of those recognized, it is truly an honor to be included,” said Reid. “My work over the last two decades had centered on the idea that building better relationships, garners better results…and the currency for that is trust.”

Roy was cited for his work with clients, community service, and his program Outrageous Trust, an integrated program designed to teach and train people how trust works; implement a set of guiding principles; achieve the attributes of trust; and build a culture of strong, sustainable, outrageous trust.

According to Barbara Kimmel, executive director of Trust Across America, “The honorees are inspiring organizations to look more closely at their higher purpose...to create greater value for, and trust from, all of their stakeholders. They understand that trust is an asset that can leverage real business gains. We congratulate all of these leaders whose work is shining a spotlight on the importance of trust and providing a roadmap for others to follow."

Trust Across America publicized and received hundreds of nominations from around the world. The list was narrowed through an extensive vetting and independent judging process.

The full list of honorees can be found here.

Consensus Communications, located in Downtown Orlando, is a full service public relations firm that specializes in high stakes communications strategy, including communications planning, media relations, crisis communications, community relations, governmental relations, ballot issues, political campaigns, marketing, new media, and integrated communications planning and management. The firm is well known throughout the state for serving at the forefront of the issues shaping Central Florida and the state’s future. For more information, visit us online at www.onmessage.com.

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A crisis can come in the form of an act of nature, accidents, intentional wrongdoing, cyber attacks, and other situations that are out of your control and threaten your organization. Businesses and organizations with a well-organized crisis communications plan are far more likely to survive, and even thrive, in the wake of a crisis. There are tested and proven methods for dealing with crises, developing an effective plan and communicating effectively.

Join us for our upcoming signature luncheon featuring Roy Reid, APR, CPRC. Roy is a seasoned veteran with more than two decades of combined experience helping clients such as CSX Transportation, Florida Hospital, Lake Nona, Wal-Mart and Walt Disney Resorts contend with some of the most high stakes issues.  His experience in crisis communications is unparalleled and he will share his experiences, the “fundamental truths of crisis communications” and how you can successfully navigate the storm.

Five Learning Objectives:
1.      Understanding the nature and condition of a crisis.
2.      The power of earning the “benefit of the doubt”.
3.      The five fundamental truths of crisis communications.
4.      Components of an effective crisis communications plan.
5.      Social media considerations and how the rules have changed.

Roy Reid, APR, CPRC is a leading authority on improving results by improving relationships through a greater emphasis on cultivating trust. He works with business leaders and organizations as a counselor, strategist and coach to grow, maintain and protect their interests.

He is a partner with Consensus Communications, an Orlando-based public relations firm. His clients include Fortune 500^® companies, private companies, entrepreneurs, professional service firms and public agencies. Roy helps clients assess risk and issues within the organization and in the marketplace, and then develop strategies to manage them.

Roy is an award-winning communications expert, a sought after speaker, and the author/creator of Outrageous Trust^® -- a program designed to help organizations strengthen relationships, improve culture and achieve greater results. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida where he received his BSBA and served as Student Body President.

Through his career, Roy has been honored with numerous awards including multiple Image Awards form the Florida Public Relations Association, Bronze Anvil from the Public Relations Association of America and Mark of Excellence from the Florida Hospital Association.  He was also named the Alumni of the Year by the University of Central Florida’s College of Business in 2007. In 2008, Roy was honored with the Frank R. Stansberry/Public Relations Society of America Ethics Award, and in 2010 he was inducted into the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication Hall of Fame.

When: Sept. 26, 2012

**11:30 - 12:00 Networking

**12:00 - 1:00 Speaker Engagement and Lunch

Where: Sheraton Downtown Orlando, 400 West Livingston St., Orlando, FL 32801

Parking: Valet parking available at Sheraton for $5. Additional parking by old Amway Arena is available at no charge.