PR Masters Series Podcast, Episode #41 – Joe Lockhart
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MetroPlusHealth Names Lesleigh Irish-Underwood New Chief Brand and External Relations Officer CommPRO Editorial Staff MetroPlusHealth, the five-star rated health plan of choice for over 600,000 New Yorkers, announced the appointment of Lesleigh Irish- Underwood as its first Chief Brand and External Relations Officer (CBERO), reporting to President & CEO, Talya Schwartz, MD. In this new role, Ms. Irish-Underwood will be responsible for the stewardship and execution of MetroPlusHealth’s brand strategy, including product marketing, strategic communications, media relations, community and government relations, member experience, special events, and data-driven marketing innovation. “As MetroPlusHealth continues to meet the evolving needs of New York City residents, Lesleigh’s experience as a visionary leader, effective strategist, and innovative brand builder will enhance and strengthen our executive team,” said MetroPlusHealth President & CEO Talya Schwartz, MD. “Lesleigh has that rare combination of strategic thinking, creativity, and management expertise needed to lead the next stage of our brand evolution. Her talents will enable MetroPlusHealth to play an even greater role in the health and wellness of all New Yorkers.” Irish-Underwood’s arrival as CBERO follows a number of recent executive appointments, as Dr. Schwartz builds a world-class leadership team to grow and strengthen MetroPlusHealth’s market share and brand equity in the health space. “I am so pleased to see the continued growth and development of MetroPlus Health Plan under the leadership of Chairperson Sally Hernandez-Piñero and President and CEO Dr. Talya Schwartz,” said Lloyd Williams, President and CEO of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, and recently retired Chair of the Customer Experience & Marketing Committee, MetroPlusHealth Board of Directors. “Without question, the appointment of Lesleigh Irish-Underwood as Chief Brand and External Relations Officer will significantly enhance the growth and effectiveness of MetroPlusHealth. She is certainly a great addition to MetroPlusHealth, and I look forward to working most effectively with her.” Ms. Irish-Underwood joins MetroPlusHealth from United Way of New York City (UWNYC), where she served as SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, and was responsible for innovating growth- driving marketing solutions, accelerating company-wide digital capabilities, and building loyal donor engagement. Throughout her tenure, she oversaw UWNYC’s B2B and B2C brand awareness initiatives, implementing creative marketing and communication strategies that strengthened UWNYC’s internal business plan and significantly increased annual revenue. “As a native New Yorker who has built her career on serving New York City’s most challenged and underserved communities, it is a privilege to bring my experience and local-market insights to the MetroPlusHealth team in support of the plan’s mission of inclusive, customer-centered, quality-driven care,” said Ms. Irish-Underwood. “I am thrilled to be working with Dr. Schwartz, and an outstanding leadership team, to build even stronger connections with our members, providers, and communities.” Prior to her transition to the nonprofit sector, Ms. Irish- Underwood was a 25-year veteran of the consumer publishing industry, where she held leadership roles at the Knopf Publishing Group of Random House, Pearson, and Kensington Publishing. She is a member of the CMO Council’s North American Advisory Board—comprised of prominent marketing executives and thought leaders from a diverse range of industries—the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation Board, and Brooklyn Community Board 5. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she was named one of The Network Journal’s 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business in 2018. (SPECIAL) PR Masters Series Podcast, Episode #41 – Joe Lockhart Special Episode Joe Lockhart knows the White House through and through. His responses to my questions during our recent PR Masters Series podcast reflects that. Joe described to our listeners how an effective and experienced White House press secretary prepares for a press briefing and maintains trust, integrity and transparency. Judging from my interview with Joe, it’s clear to me that President Clinton was well served during Joe’s tenure as White House press secretary. Being a White House press secretary isn’t for sissies. It’s a difficult job being in front of an information ravishing group of reporters. If you’re not good at your job you will be torn to shreds by the media. And if you engage in half-truths, innuendo, gossip, rumors and fake news, you’ll be overwhelmed. Joe Lockhart is the epitome of what a White House press secretary ought to be. In fact, I would urge him to tutor all future White House press secretaries wanna be’s. If so, the American public would be served up with the truth, which is good for our country. About the Podcast The Stevens Group has been presenting the PR Masters Series Podcast for almost two years now. This series is part of the ongoing partnership between The Stevens Group and CommPRO to bring to PR, digital/interactive and marketing communications agencies the wisdom of those who have reached the top of the PR profession. About Our Guest Joe Lockhart, White House Press Secretary under President Bill Clinton Joe Lockhart is perhaps best known for his service as White House Press Secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2000, during which time he managed daily press briefings, provided senior counsel to the President, and managed communications through the President’s impeachment proceedings. Long-time White House correspondent Helen Thomas called him “a straight shooter,” and “one of the best it’s been my honor to work with;” Susan Page at USA Today found Lockhart “direct, well-informed and trusted;” and former CBS White House correspondent Peter Maer said “if Joe Lockhart knows anything, it’s how to control a narrative.” Lockhart developed his knack for steering the conversation during his early career as an award-winning journalist, political strategist and public-relations consultant. Lockhart held posts as Assignment Editor at ABC News, Deputy Assignment Manager for CNN, and foreign producer reporting on the Gulf War for Skye News. He served as a press secretary for the presidential campaigns of Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis, an aide to Senator Paul Simon, a senior advisor to the John Kerry campaign, and an Executive Vice President at Bozell Sawyer Miller, where he advised a range of high-profile corporations and institutions on media relations and political strategy. Lockhart is the founding partner and managing director of the Glover Park Group (GPG), a Washington, D.C. communications strategy firm. Under Lockhart’s leadership, GPG earned a reputation for providing its wide range of corporate and non- profit clients (including Microsoft, Visa and the National Football League) with agile crisis management, astute public affairs, policy, advertising and marketing counsel, and cutting-edge opinion research. In 2011 Lockhart was named Vice President of Global Communications at Facebook, just as the rapidly-expanding enterprise was preparing to go public. Lockhart helped the company mitigate initial public backlash to its IPO, take ownership of its story, and refortify its brand. In 2013, Lockhart returned to GPG, where that vision payed immediate dividends, in the form of a major expansion and move to a new headquarters. At GPG, he spearheaded the National Football League’s response to a series of public challenges. In 2016 the NFL named Lockhart Executive Vice President overseeing Communications, Government Affairs, Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. A graduate of Georgetown University, Joe is a native of New York City, New York. Follow Joe on Twitter: @joelockhart About Our Host Art Stevens, Managing Partner, The Stevens Group Art Stevens literally knows the PR industry at every level and in every aspect, from the inside out and from foundation to pinnacle. Art knows what makes a PR business successful, profitable and valuable. A prolific writer as well as a dynamic executive, Art is subtle, observant and quietly creative, yet not opposed to a good measure of “brandstanding” when appropriate. He has been valuing agencies, brokering mergers and acquisitions, and providing strategic advice for ten years. Art is a former owner and CEO of LobsenzStevens, a Top-20 independent PR agency, which Publicis Groupe acquired. Follow Art on Twitter: @ArtS1735 Rediscover Your Life Skills to Live the Life You Truly Want Wendy Glavin, Founder & CEO, Wendy Glavin Agency Now, that we’re in 2021, what’s changed for you? Many of my friends and colleagues in the U.S. and abroad say they’re still worried about staying healthy and safe, are concerned about the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines, are stressed about job and income loss and feel sad, isolated or in-limbo. Since most people are hardwired with a “negativity bias” all the events of 2020, have thrust us into continued negative thinking, like, what we don’t have, what we don’t want, where we don’t want to be and how we don’t want to feel. Other self- limiting beliefs include, I’m too old, or young, too poor or scared, too busy or not disciplined enough, too lazy or a perfectionist, and other assumptions based on how we were raised or taught. Whether it’s how you’re wired or your upbringing, we can change our thoughts. For example, one lesson I learned during physical therapy was, “Change a thought, move a muscle.” My guess is when you take a walk, a run or do some type of exercise, you feel better. Another lesson I learned when I was a young adult was to build on my strengths. My dad used to say, what you did in the past is proof of what you can do in the future. This led me to accept jobs I might not have otherwise taken. Later, I worked with clients outside industry sectors in which I worked.