PRINCIPALS & ADVISERS
Dianne L. Chase
An accomplished media, journalism and public
relations professional with profound expertise in
various communication disciplines, Ms. Chase is also
an experienced management consultant, trainer,
presenter, and writer.
Ms. Chase’s broadcast journalism career includes
positions throughout the Carolinas as news director,
anchor, and reporter at the top news radio stations.
She is the winner of numerous local, state,
regional, and national broadcast news awards and the
Executive Editor of ‘North Carolina Police Officer’,
the official publication of the North Carolina
Fraternal Order of Police.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee,
the Asheville, NC native
was the founding partner of several media relations
consulting firms. Ms. Chase has broad experience in
helping individuals and companies of all sizes deal
with the informational needs of the media and other
important stakeholders. Her work for C4CS has
included immediate on-the-scene response to critical
situations as well as ongoing strategic
communications advice and media and crisis
communication training for senior managers.
Ms. Chase has served
as president of the Radio-Television News Directors
Association of the Carolinas and the Charlotte
Chapter of the International Association of Business
Communicators. She currently holds several board
memberships with nonprofit and professional
associations, assisting with communications, media,
public relations, professional development, and
event planning.
A recipient of the National Associated Press
Broadcasters Enterprise Award, the Bishop Fulton J.
Sheen Award, the South Carolina Associated Press
Best Newscast award, Ms. Chase has also served as
adjunct professor at UNC-Charlotte, Winthrop
University, the University of Bucharest, Romania and
Knoxville Business College.
Gideon F. For-mukwai, CEM
Originally from Cameroon, Gideon F. For-mukwai, is a certified emergency manager who specializes in the design and delivery of emergency communication, crisis preparedness and resiliency training programs. His flagship training programs are Integration of Social Media into Emergency and Crisis Communication, Building a Corporate Culture of Crisis Resilience, and Turning Disasters into Opportunities.
Mr. For-mukwai is an award-winning speaker and trainer who has conducted trainings in Africa, North America, and South East Asia. He was previously a senior fire officer with the Singapore Civil Defense Force, for which he served in different leadership positions. In his last appointment as a senior instructor, he trained hundreds of officers from home team uniform agencies and coordinated international training programs for public safety officers from more than 20 countries across Asia and Central America. He also co-trained hundreds of corporate executives on crisis preparedness in the post-911 era.
In 2004, Mr. For-mukwai founded XtraMile Emergency Solutions to help corporations beef up their level of readiness. Five years later, XtraMile had trained over 8,000 executives from fields like banking, petrochemicals, hospitality and property Management. Prior to moving to the U.S., where he is currently a graduate fellow at the University of Nevada’s Reynolds School of Journalism, he helped to start a training division for CACH International in Fruitland Park, Florida.
Mr. For-mukwai has been very active within international emergency management circles for more than seven years. He currently serves as a Commissioner on the Certified Emergency Management Commission and as the President of the International Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). In 2006, Mr. For-mukwai was the first professional from outside the U.S. and Canada to earn the distinguished Certified Emergency Manager accreditation.
The author of “Facing Adversity with Audacity: Thriving in Odds, Obstacles and Opportunities”, which was published in 2008, Mr. For-mukwai is fluent in English and French and also speaks some Mandarin Chinese and German.
Dr.
Alan
R. Freitag, APR, Fellow PRSA
Dr. Freitag is a professor with the Communication
Studies Department, College of Arts and Sciences,
the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He
teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in public
relations, and has held this position since August
1998. He also advises the university's chapter of
the Public Relations Student Society of America.
UNC-Charlotte is one of 16 campuses of the
University of North Carolina system, and has a
student population of 20,000. The Department boasts
nearly 1,300 majors and minors.
He earned an associate in applied science degree in
television production and direction from the
Milwaukee Area Technical College (1971); a bachelor
of science degree in radio, television and film from
the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1973); a master
of arts degree in business administration and public
administration from Webster University, St. Louis,
Missouri (1977); and a Ph.D. in mass communication,
specializing in public relations, from Ohio
University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
(1999).
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Freitag retired in 1995 as
a lieutenant colonel after 22 1/2 years of service.
During that time, he spent nearly 10 years in Europe
and two years in Hawaii. He began his career as a
navigator aboard C-130 Hercules aircraft, then
entered the public affairs career field. He served
in advertising and publicity for Air Force
recruiting, on the operations staff of the American
Forces Network - Europe, as director of public
affairs for a U.S. air base in England, with Air
Force legislative liaison in Washington, D.C., as
director of media relations for the Strategic
Defense Initiative Organization at the Pentagon, as
director of media relations and press aide to the
Supreme Allied Commander for NATO's military arm
headquartered in Belgium, and as assistant director
of public affairs for the Air Force's Pacific
command.
His military duties included direct public affairs
involvement in the return of the U.S. hostages from
Iran in 1980, the raid on Libyan terrorist
facilities in 1986, and the invasion of Panama in
1989. During three critical years with NATO,
Freitag was closely involved with Alliance media
activities surrounding the reunification of Germany,
the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw
Pact, the restructuring of NATO's military, the
opening of NATO to Eastern Europe, the Russian coup,
the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, and NATO's
involvement in the Gulf War.
Civilian experience includes production and
direction work in public and commercial television
prior to his Air Force service, and teaching courses
in journalism and public relations during his
three-year doctoral program at Ohio University, as
well as serving as faculty adviser to the school's
Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.
He is a member and officer of the Association for
Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, for
whose national conventions he has presented several
research papers. He is also a member of the Public
Relations Society of America and serves as faculty
adviser to UNC-Charlotte's student chapter. He also
holds memberships with the SHAPE Officers
Association (NATO), the Air Force Association, the
Armed Forces Broadcasters Association, and the
Retired Officers Association.
His work has been published in Journalism and
Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of
Public Relations Research, Journal of
Communication Management, Public Relations
Quarterly, Newspaper Research Journal,
Airman, and Asia-Pacific Defense Forum.
Professional military courses completed include Air
War College, Air Command and Staff College, Squadron
Officers' School, the NATO Officers' Course, the
Senior Public Affairs Officers' Course, the
Broadcast Managers' course, the Public Information
Officers' Course, and the Air Force Communications
Short Course.
Dr. Stefan Lütgens
Dr. Stefan Lütgens looks back upon a career of almost 20 years in professional
communications, with leadership positions in media and public relations,
corporate communications, corporate and public affairs. Since the mid 1990s
his
primary focus has been on issues management, crisis management, and crisis
communication.
Dr. Lütgens has gained broad expertise in leading
cross-functional and cross-cultural teams. He is experienced in project
management, in particular in developing and implementing new communication
tools, processes and systems.
Dr. Lütgens earned both a master degree and a doctorate in Communication Science
from the University of Salzburg in Austria. He began his professional career as
a public relations consultant with Ketchum in Munich / Germany and subsequently
worked in the global public relations strategy department at BMW world
headquarters before moving on to the post of Head of Corporate Communications
of Brose Group, a global automotive supplier, based in Coburg / Germany.
In 2000 Dr. Lütgens joined the German business of Kraft Foods in Bremen
where he established Issues Management within Corporate Affairs, re-launched the
consumer relations department and served as media spokesperson on the German
crisis management team. He then was promoted to Senior Manager of Corporate
Affairs with Kraft Foods International (KFI) in London. This role included
responsibility for the KFI issues & crisis management system, re-launching the
international crisis management manual, leading trainings for country crisis
teams and coordinating crisis communications across Europe. Additionally Dr.
Lütgens developed and headed the media training program for KFI spokespersons
in Europe, Asia, Africa and Central/South America. \
In 2005 Dr. Lütgens became Senior Manager of Global Public Affairs / Issues
Management at Kraft Foods´ European Union Public Affairs office in Brussels.
Reporting to senior management at Kraft Foods world headquarters in Chicago, he
had a key role in developing Kraft´s global issues management process and led
its implementation across Europe. He monitored emerging issues in the EU,
developed corporate positions and set up a global online resource for issues
communications. Through coordinating Kraft representatives in industry
associations across Europe and serving as representative on several EU
working groups, Dr. Lütgens also gained valuable insights into the complexity of
trade association work in Europe.
Following his eight-year career with Kraft, Dr. Lütgens returned to Germany to
become Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications for Japan Tobacco
International (JTI) in Cologne.
In 2008 Dr. Lütgens moved to Hamburg to start his own consulting business,
advising selected clients on strategic communications, issues management, and
crisis management. Since early 2009 Dr. Lütgens has partnered with C4CS to
exchange professional expertise and to create synergies in consulting and
training services around the globe.
Dr. Lütgens has been a guest lecturer at universities in Germany and Austria
as well as a presenter and author. In 2001 his doctoral thesis on issues
management received the “Scientific Award” from the Public Relations Society
of Austria (PRVA). His book “Issues Management” was recognized as one of the
first specialized books on this topic in Germany. Dr. Lütgens is co-founder of
an issues management working group of leading European companies which is today
known as the German Issues Management Society (IMAGE). He is also a member of
the Working Group on Crisis Communication and Issues Management within the
German Public Relations Society (DPRG) as well as a member of the Federation of
German Spokespersons (BdP).
Born and raised in Austria, Dr. Lütgens has lived in several European countries.
He is a strong believer in the value of cultural diversity and speaks German and
English fluently. In his spare time he enjoys travelling, reading and spending
time with family and friends. While his golf handicap is still lousy, he is,
however, a passionate skier preferably exploring black runs in the Austrian
Alps and in the Rocky Mountains.
Joey C. Popp
A professional broadcast journalist with over 20
years in television and radio news, Joey Popp uses
realistic interview techniques to help build media
and spokesperson skills for our corporate, not for
profit and government client partners.
Mr. Popp’s career includes both journalism and
public relations. In the early 1980s, he left a
stint with an Atlanta network affiliate to undertake
a new and exciting adventure. As Director of
Communication for the 1982 World’s Fair, Mr. Popp
was interviewed by hundreds of newspaper, radio and
television reporters from around the globe. In this
role, he added to his talent for covering the news
the ability to effectively work with the news media
as a PR professional.
Following the conclusion of the World’s Fair, Mr.
Popp returned to broadcast journalism in Charlotte,
NC. As an investigative and medical producer with
WBTV, the CBS affiliate, he quickly gained
recognition for his award-winning work. A member of
the NC Radio Television and Directors Association,
Mr. Popp conducted numerous memorable interviews and
wrote and edited many groundbreaking investigative
pieces. In addition, he produced “Doctor-On-Call”,
one the first local television news segments devoted
to medical research, which quickly became a
respected feature on WBTV news.
Mr. Popp then moved on to WLOS, the ABC affiliate in
Asheville, NC, where he worked as a general
assignment reporter, reporting “live” about many
breaking stories and providing in-depth coverage of
the area’s judicial system. He also filled in as
co-anchor of the station’s highly rated Morning News
before joining the NBC affiliate, WCNC, in
Charlotte. For WCNC he reported “live” from many
crisis spots and prepared breaking news stories from
the station’s mobile newsroom. Always stable and
unflappable before the intensity of the cameras,
Popp was a highly recognized and popular member of
the News6 team.
In 1996, Mr. Popp left full-time journalism to
pursue an independent career. In his role as Senior
Partner and lead media trainer at
C4CS,
he has since worked with hundreds of individuals who
routinely praise him as an outstanding mentor and
coach.
Together with his wife Catherine, Mr. Popp also
produces television and radio segments and places
advertising with various broadcasting media. In
addition, he continues to work as a TV journalist
with WTVI, hosting the popular weekly one-hour
call-in program “Healthwise”.
An avid sports fan, in his free time Mr. Popp can be
found at Bank of America Stadium cheering the
Carolina Panthers, pulling for the Charlotte
Bobcats, or broadcasting from various high school
football games where he occasionally provides both
play-by-play and color commentary.
A native of Berlin, Germany, Mr. Schmidt has many years of consulting, training
and coaching in the areas of strategic communication, crisis management, and
organizational leadership under his belt. He speaks several languages and has
lived and worked in North America, Europe and Asia.
Due to his international background, Mr. Schmidt possesses a rare sense for
cultural differences and their role in multinational corporations. He is
capable of both quickly assessing complex business issues and guiding a
comprehensive response while providing culturally diverse client partners with
a depth of understanding and competence.
Mr. Schmidt has routinely advised business leaders including the CEOs of
multinational corporations regarding high stakes business problems. On the
consulting end his focus has been on working with domestic and international
client partners in the areas of crisis and risk communication, litigation
communication, employee communication, media relations, issues management,
reputation management, and crisis management.
In confidential executive coaching sessions Mr. Schmidt has helped senior
managers improve their public speaking and interpersonal comunication skills as
well as reach a greater understanding of what it takes to be a successful
leader. This holistic approach is not only geared towards enhancing verbal and
physical delivery, but also at learning how to win over audiences and becoming
a more confident and better leader.
Mr. Schmidt has frequently been invited to make presentations and conduct
customized management trainings. He has addressed professional audiences in
several dozen countries on topics ranging from crisis and risk communication to
issues management, business continuity planning, and leadership coaching.
Mr. Schmidt's expertise extends to his educational career. He possesses a
Master's degree in Communication Science and Business Management and has
been a guest lecturer at universities in a number of countries. A Friedrich
Naumann scholar and recipient of a Fulbright Grant, Mr. Schmidt has also
written articles for a variety of industry and peer reviewed publications.
In his free time Mr. Schmidt enjoys biking and swimming with his wife and his
children. His interest in learning about and exploring foreign cultures has
turned him into a fan of travel literature. An avid fly fisherman, Mr. Schmidt
can be found wading the streams feeding Lake Erie, preferably going after
steelhead. |
