Communicating in the Public’s Eye — Lessons from UT Public Sector Communicators
When: Wednesday, March 13 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: In-person at the Zions Bank building or join online!
- In-person luncheon: Held at Zions Bank at 1 Main St. in Salt Lake City. Park in the City Creek Center parking garage, and go to the Zions Bank Founders Room on the 18th floor.
- Online: Will begin at noon.
- St. George watch party: Anyone in southern Utah is welcome to gather for an in-person viewing of the broadcasted panel and to enjoy lunch with other communications professionals. This watch party will be at the University Marketing & Communication office on the Utah Tech University campus, located at 1071 E. 100 South, Building C in Room 201A in St. George.
Cost:
- In-person attendance in Salt Lake City and at the St. George watch party location includes lunch and will be $10 for students, $20 for PRSA Utah Chapter members and $25 for non-PRSA Chapter members.
- Virtual webinar is free (doesn’t include lunch.)
We all work in a strategic way to develop and maintain relationships critical to our organizations’ success.
Some of us have narrowly defined audiences — with objectives, programs or products that aren’t very visible — while others have broad audiences with very visible communications efforts. In these instances, proper planning and following proven communications principles are critical, because the stakes are high. Saying the wrong thing when the pressure mounts, or working to explain a position that won’t please everyone, is hard.
Our March event will feature a panel of communicators battle tested and experienced in communicating in full view of the public. They’ll share lessons they’ve learned from their very visible communications positions and how these can be applied to any industry or client.
At this event you’ll learn:
- How to communicate when the stakes are high or the topics are sensitive.
- How these communicators follow strategic communications principles in communicating with varied constituents, interest groups, government agencies, etc.
- How a Code of Ethics can guide the work, when many view “win at all costs” as an effective strategy.
- Lessons from our governing process we can all learn from, and the need to be involved in.
Our panel includes:
- Alexa Musselman, Director of Strategic Communications for the Utah House of Representatives
- Aundrea Peterson, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Utah State Senate
- Emma Williams, Public Information Officer for Utah Governor Spencer Cox
- Hannah Gorski, Communications & Policy Advisor for the Utah House Democratic Caucus
- Joe Dougherty, Public Information Officer for the Utah Dept. of Health & Human Services
More about our panelists:
Hannah Gorski began her career in public service advocating for public employees while working for a non-profit labor organization. This opportunity led her to pursue a degree in public administration, graduating with her MPA in 2022. Through her past work and education, Hannah became passionate about effective government communications and analyzing policies across various topics. She brings both interests together in her current role as Communications and Policy Advisor for the Utah House of Representatives Minority Caucus.
Alexa Musselman is the Director of Strategic Communications at the Utah House of Representatives. Alexa is passionate about developing, shaping, and sharing effective messaging to help inform the people of Utah. She earned a B.S. in History from Utah State University and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Utah. Alexa grew up in South Jordan and currently resides in Davis County with her husband and baby on the way. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Emma Williams serves as the public information officer to Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Prior to her appointment in the Governor’s Office Emma was a public information officer for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and a journalist for ABC4 News. Born and raised in the Beehive State, Emma is a graduate of the University of Utah.
Aundrea Peterson is the deputy chief of staff and director of communications for the Utah Senate. She works with leadership and Senate members to develop and implement communication strategies and build rapport with the media about what is happening at the Legislature. Aundrea previously worked for the Utah House of Representatives and World Trade Center Utah. She was a founding member of the Emerging Leaders Initiative, which aims to empower 18 to 35-year-olds to join in policy discussions. Aundrea graduated Summa Cum Laude from Weber State University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, going to the beach and fostering kittens.
Joe Dougherty took on the role of communications director for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services in 2022 after more than a decade as Public Information Officer for the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management. While there, he created and acted as voice for the @UtahEmergency Twitter account to provide accurate, timely, reassuring and often humorous updates on the state’s earthquakes. He previously worked as an award-winning journalist for the Standard-Examiner and Deseret News. He’s a past president and current secretary of the Utah PIO Association. He won the Golden Spike writing award in 2013 and earned the Certified Emergency Manager designation from the International Association of Emergency Managers in 2019. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in broadcast and print journalism from Utah State University.
