Crisis Communication: From Early Warning Signs to Reputation Recovery
Proper Preparation is Your Best Defense
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2026, 6:30 to 8:00 pm ET
Location: Zoom Meeting
Cost: $10.00 AWC Detroit Member, $20.00 Nonmember, $5.00 student/new grad
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1983500731081?aff=oddtdtcreator
Why attend:
A crisis today is far more than a PR challenge. It is a critical business and leadership problem where “speed creates headlines … strategy creates outcomes.” This 45-minute virtual session, led by Shenetta Johnson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Issues at Weber Shandwick and AWC Member, provides the strategic roadmap you need for immediate detection and response. Learn to recognize the crucial pivot point where an issue becomes a crisis by training your team to focus on:
- Watching cultural and newsworthy moments by tapping into your audience.
- Applying the “control test” to make sure you’re prepared when the crisis hits.
- Identifying triggers that can critically impact the business and brand reputation.
Beyond detection, you’ll gain actionable strategies for proactive preparation, including how to develop a living crisis playbook and align with leadership to discern when to exercise response speed vs. legal precision. In this session, we will explore:
- A framework for handling an attack from a political figure on your brand.
- Lessons from national-brand case studies on managing influencers and creative campaign risk.
- Immediate steps for Reputation Repair; preparation to measure and rebuild public trust in the long-term.
About the Speaker
Shenetta Johnson is a Senior Vice President of Corporate Issues at Weber Shandwick, where she oversees brand safety and influencer risk assessment initiatives across North America. She is responsible for developing capabilities, expanding standardized methodologies, staffing, and improving the agency’s overall risk assessment processes. With nearly 20 years of experience in PR and integrated communications strategy, Shenetta specializes in managing brand reputation and bridging gaps between consumer, corporate, and influencer-driven campaigns for client activation. Her expertise includes both external and internal communications strategies, crisis preparedness, executive counsel, and influencer program integration. She also held management roles at Ditto PR, Edelman and Golin across corporate, tech and consumer brand accounts.
Shenetta is passionate about advancing best practices in brand safety and helping clients stay proactive in a constantly evolving media and regulatory landscape. Additionally, she is a dedicated mentor and team leader, committed to nurturing talent, supporting career growth, and empowering high-performing teams to succeed.
Based in Metro Detroit, Shenetta earned her B.A. in Communications from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
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Thank you to our sponsor
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, PC is a leading Michigan personal injury law firm serving the state for almost 50 years. Our team of Michigan trial lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions for our clients for individuals injured in car accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice and other personal injury matters. Our law firm has multiple offices located throughout Michigan.