Milwaukee, WI (Jan. 16, 2013)–While it often takes a crisis to motivate employers to seek out the guidance and expertise of truly qualified crisis consultants, a new article from Empathia, Inc. urges organizations to be proactive in their searches. The article, “Expert Tips for Choosing a Crisis Consultant,” offers insights and recommendations from four recognized risk management and crisis response experts, who identify the characteristics that organizations should look for when choosing crisis consultants.
Download your complimentary copy of “Expert Tips for Choosing a Crisis Consultant” at http://www.empathia.com/new_whitepapers/20130116.php.
“Sadly, there’s a large number of unqualified ‘experts’ offering consultation on a variety of crisis management issues,” said Joseph DesPlains, the article’s author and vice president of Risk Management Services at Black Swan Solutions(R), a strategic business unit of Empathia. “If you handle crisis management in your organization, your voice mailbox and email inbox are probably full of consultation offers, and it can be a real challenge to sort through the promises and marketing-speak to find a legitimate consultant. The tips shared in this article make it much easier to find truly qualified professionals who deliver high-quality guidance and counsel.”
The four experts who share their insights in the article are:
1. Bob VandePol, president of Crisis Care Network, the largest provider of workplace Critical Incident Response Services in the U.S.
2. Peter Goelz, senior vice president and manager of the Washington, DC, office of O’Neal and Associates, renowned communications, government affairs and litigation support firm.
3. Russ Simons, managing partner for Venue Solutions Group, where he directs a team that evaluates building systems and components, facility conditions, risk management, safety and security.
4. Ken Jenkins, vice president of Emergency Services for BMS Global, where he leads the company’s response and communication during disaster activations.
Among the tips they share are the following:
– Search for a consultant who offers both a strategic and tactical perspective. The consultant should have a vision of where the organization needs to go as well as the action steps necessary to achieve this vision.
– Always conduct due diligence on the consultants you are considering and interview the consultants, asking for documented case studies regarding their specific training models, testing practices and more.
– Focus on consultants who are committed to collaborating with you before, during and after a crisis. These consultants will learn about your business, priorities and culture immediately upon contracting with you. And, in the event of a crisis, they will meet with your key stakeholders to review losses and lessons learned.
– Seek professionals who have experience as both consultants and as consumers of crisis communications services. These individuals will have a fuller understanding of your needs and challenges.
Download your complimentary copy of “Expert Tips for Choosing a Crisis Consultant” at http://www.empathia.com/new_whitepapers/20130116.php.
About Empathia
Empathia provides behavioral health solutions that improve the well-being, safety and productivity of organizations and individuals. The company collaborates with private and public sector entities from expansive Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses in addressing a diverse range of needs: employee assistance, disaster response and planning, work-life balance, employee relations, leadership development, training and benefits support. Founded in 1982 under the name NEAS, Empathia has distinguished itself as a quality leader dedicated to creating a superior customer experience for both client organizations and employees. For more information, visit http://www.empathia.com.
Media Contacts:
Carrie Reuter
Empathia, Inc.
866-332-9595
creuter(at)empathia(dot)com