Crisis Ready® Course
Mastering the Art of Crisis Communication

In a world where every misstep can spark outrage, deepen mistrust, or cost your brand everything, your crisis communication strategy can no longer live in a binder or depend on hope.

Stop Hoping Your Crisis Plan Will Work.
Start Building a Crisis Ready® Culture That Actually Does.

Self-paced. Team-strengthening. Culture-ready.
Led by globally recognized and award-winning crisis communication expert, Melissa Agnes.

Recognized and valued by organizations worldwide

You’ve got the title. Maybe even the plan. But deep down, you know you’re not ready enough.

You know there’s more to do — more to strengthen, more to align. Because when the pressure hits, your organization’s ability to communicate can either build trust… or unravel it.

  • Maybe your “plan” hasn’t been touched in years — or never felt real to begin with.
  • Maybe you’re the only one thinking about crisis comms until something breaks.
  • Maybe you’re still seen as just the comms person — not the strategic voice in the room.
  • And maybe, even with a team, you feel like you’re doing this alone. Unsupported. Misunderstood. Outpaced by the responsibility sitting on your shoulders.

That’s not sustainable. And it’s not Crisis Ready.

This Program Will Equip You With:

Complete Crisis Communication Program Built
Walk away with your entire Crisis Communicattion Program structured, strengthened, and ready for cultural integration.

Advanced Crisis Communication Skills Mastered
Develop next-level skills that transform how you lead under pressure and connect with stakeholders when it matters most.

Organizational Buy-In and Support
Finally get the leadership backing and cross-departmental collaboration you need, along with that coveted seat at the table.

Hear From Our Students...

Most crisis management failures aren't due to a lack of response. They're due to miscommunication, fear-based decision making, and the inability to communicate clearly in real-time when emotions are running hot.

In today's world, you're not just managing crises—you're managing them in an environment that's more:

  • Emotionally volatile than ever before
  • Divisive and polarized across every dimension
  • Accelerated in how quickly situations escalate
  • Complex with multiple stakeholders and competing agendas

The cost of getting it wrong isn't just professional. It's personal, organizational, and societal. When crisis communication fails, trust erodes, relationships fracture, and opportunities for growth and connection are lost forever.

The world is in the midst of change. It's the perfect time to strengthen your skills in leading people through chaos and uncertainty.

Welcome, Dear Leader!

If we haven't yet met, let me introduce myself. My name is Melissa Agnes and, amongst other things, I'm the founder of Crisis Ready Institute and I'm really glad you're here.

Since you're on this page, I imagine you're interested in learning more about our world-class Crisis Ready® Course on Mastering the Art of Crisis Communication and Leadership.

While you'll find all the information you need by scrolling through this page, I will take the opportunity (since I have you here) to tell you that this course is designed to take your crisis communication and crisis leadership skills to soaring new heights.

Over the span of 10 weeks and more than 15 hours of learning, exploration, and exercises, you will learn crisis communication best practices that stem from the Crisis Ready Team's deep pool of expertise — and that are not taught anywhere else, giving you a strategic competitive edge.

If you have a passion for crisis comms and/or leadership, and if you're interested in taking your skills to the next level, then you're in the right place. Plus, this is the first step in becoming Crisis Ready® Certified — so if that's an area of interest, then you're definitely where you're meant to be!

To your success,
— Melissa Agnes

What Makes This Program Different

Most crisis communication programs focus on basic frameworks and message dissemination. You get certificates, but not transformation. You learn theory, but not the emotional readiness that determines real success.

The Crisis Ready® Difference:

🧩 ️ Comprehensive Integration: Unlike programs that teach isolated tactics, Crisis Ready® integrates mindset, skillset, and capabilities into one cohesive system that actually works under pressure.

❤️ Emotional Intelligence Focus: The missing piece that traditional training doesn't address: how to lead through the emotional complexity that defines every real crisis.

🌱 Cultural Transformation: This isn't individual training that stops at certification. You'r

🤝 Cross-Functional Team Approach: Instead of siloed learning, you're creating shared language and integrated strategy across departments for true alignment when it matters most.

🛟 Ongoing Support: Monthly expert-led AMA sessions ensure you're not left alone after the course ends. Get feedback, guidance, and peer support as you implement.

🎯 Practical Application: Real-world exercises and implementation tools that move you from theory to practice. You're building your actual program, not just learning about programs.

This course is built for real people, real teams, and real organization navigating real risk, uncertainty, and pressure.

And it delivers real transformation.

A Course That Truly Transforms...

More From Our Students...

"This course was jampacked with great lessons, case studies and resources for veterans and newcomers alike. With a diverse set of weekly topics and great guest speakers, there's plenty to takeaway and action with my teams. The course was truly worth it!"
– Jason Flint
Sr. Mgr. Workplace & Crisis Response
"The Crisis Ready Institute is the best place where you can learn, in a few weeks, how to get prepared to fight against a crisis or prevent it. I really appreciate the classes and the material presented during the classes. The guests were also very well prepared in the field and I am much more confident about the skills I have to help my clients. Thank you, Melissa Agnes!"
– Fabíola Góis
Leke Consultancy

What You Get — And Why It Matters

This isn't passive content consumption. It's a hands-on buildout of your crisis communications program and skillset, guided by a global expert.

Core Components:

🎥 On-Demand Learning, Built for Real Life
Flexible, self-paced instruction designed to meet learners where they are and move them forward fast.

💬 Expert-Led AMA Sessions
Monthly live calls with the Crisis Ready® Team to go deeper, get feedback, and receive guidance as your team builds out your Crisis Comms Program.

📋 Implementation Tools That Drive Action
Fillable workbooks, scenario templates, message maps and frameworks, reflection prompts, and team-based exercises to embed learning in your organization.

🎯 Real-World Transformation
Learn to de-escalate emotion, build trust, and reduce Crisis Response Penalties through effective communication that resonates both internally and externally.

🌱 Team-wide Culture Shift
Move from reactive communication to proactive leadership, where emotion is met with resonance and strategy.

🛡️ Enhanced Brand Protection
Equip your people to communicate with clarity, courage, and trust when reputation is on the line.

📜 Optional Certificate of Participation
Demonstrate your commitment to preparedness and team capability.

📆 12-Month Access to the Program
Return to the content any time, at any pace, and continue building your team’s Crisis Ready® capability as your organization evolves.

🚀 Pathway to Advanced Certification
Graduates can apply to join the 6-month Crisis Ready® Certification program for even deeper mastery.

Modular Overview:

Shift your mindset. Anchor in your values. Set your foundation.
You’ll explore how your mindset shapes actions — and how actions shape outcomes in a crisis. You’ll learn to assess and align your team’s current mindset, and integrate your organization’s core values into every aspect of your crisis communication approach.

Get clear on what can go wrong — and what it means for you.
You’ll define what qualifies as an issue versus a crisis in your unique context, identify high-risk scenarios, and begin mapping the real disruptions your team needs to prepare for.

Structure your response — before the pressure hits.
You’ll define escalation pathways, clarify internal processes, and design a tailored crisis communication program that integrates across departments and functions — so everyone knows what to do, when, and how.

Master the human side of crisis communication.
You’ll learn how to recognize and respond to the emotions that crises trigger — in yourself, your team, and your stakeholders. From stress to overwhelm to despair, you’ll know how to connect through emotion, not just logic — and prevent the Crisis Response Penalty (CRP).

Shape your narrative and own the crisis.
You’ll learn how to layer messaging over time, communicate through complexity, and take a long-term view of narrative ownership. From strategy to scripting, you’ll craft communications that resonate, de-escalate, and build trust.

Make crisis communication a shared, sustained capability.
You’ll gain the tools to embed your program into your organizational culture, secure executive and cross-functional buy-in, and ensure crisis communication isn’t a silo — it’s a shared commitment across your ecosystem.

What Our Students Say...

“As a risk manager (not a comms person), I feel better equipped to lead significant incidents, train our team, and liaise with our CEO and board.”
— Stuart Slay
Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management Student Conservation Association
"Don't hesitate to sign up for this course. Whether you have years of experience or are just starting out in crisis communications, you will gain insights to help you prevent, prepare for, and respond to any emergency."
Anita J. Foster
Executive Director of Communications, Arlington ISD, Course Graduate

This course is for you if...

✅  You’re responsible for crisis communication in your organization. This includes: Comms, PR, HR, Legal, and/or Leadership

✅  You know your team or org isn’t as prepared as it should be

✅  You want more than a templated “plan,” you want to develop a true skillset 

✅  You’re ready to lead with confidence and connection — even under pressure

✅  You value integrity, clarity, and culture as crisis assets

✅  You’re done carrying this burden without support or direction

✅  You’re ready to do the work required to meet these goals

If you resonate with this list, you’re going to love and gain so much value from this course!

This course is not for you if...

You’re looking for a quick-fix template to check a box

 You don’t believe communication is strategic or essential in times of crisis

❌ You’re unwilling to engage in mindset, emotional intelligence, or cultural integration

❌ You want to “control the narrative” rather than build trust

"This Crisis Ready Course synthesized all of the best practices required for issue managers and crisis communicators to mitigate risk to their agency/institution. From the breadth of topics covered to the depth of experience of the guest speakers – this is an unparalleled package of training. Highly recommend!"
– Jennifer Hartman
University of Toronto Mississauga

What Our Students Say...

"Your course truly fortified my mindset, skillset and capabilities in the crisis comms space and I now feel empowered to take on crises for my clients. I’ve been a communicator for nearly 20 years and I wish I had known about you sooner! Each lesson was thoughtful, detailed and easy to understand. The group of experts you assembled was a huge value add that I didn’t expect. This course was well worth the investment and I look forward to putting it all to good use in the years to come."
Gina Kremer Cannon
Independent PR Consultant, Course Graduate

About Melissa Agnes, your Crisis Ready Course Instructor

Globally recognized crisis expert, thought-leader, and visionary in the field of crisis management, Melissa Agnes has guided organizations through their most pivotal moments—from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies including NATO, the Pentagon (DoD), and Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

Her expertise spans every sector: financial firms, technology companies, healthcare organizations, cities and municipalities, law enforcement agencies, aviation organizations, global non-profits, and more.

Author of the best selling book: Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World. Her book is ranked among the leading crisis management books of all time by Book Authority and named one of the top ten business books of 2018 by Forbes.

Creator of the Crisis Ready® Model: Now recognized as leading industry best practice and taught in universities worldwide, including Harvard University, this methodology transforms how organizations prepare for and respond to crisis.

Melissa's mission is unwavering: In a world addicted to fear and control, true leadership demands coherence, compassion, and courageous connection. Her work prepares leaders not just to withstand challenges, but to rise through them, creating cultures of trust, connection, and transformational impact.

Melissa Agnes

Founder and CEO, Crisis Ready® Institute

Pricing and Enrollment Options

Choose the option that fits your team!
Whether you’re enrolling solo, registering your department, or ready to embed this across your organization, we have pricing options to meet you where you are.

Individual Enrollment

Perfect for solo practitioners, consultants, and in-house leaders looking to uplevel their skills.

$1,450 USD (for 1 seat)

Team Enrollment (2+ Seats)

Ideal for small teams looking to build shared language, alignment, and trust.

$1,150 USD per seat (2+ seats)

Enterprise Enrollment

For larger organizations seeking custom onboarding and wide-scale integration.


Starting at $10,000 USD

* Note: Each registration is valid for a single user/license.

Legal disclaimer

All provided materials are the intellectual property of Crisis Ready Institute, protected by copyright law, trademark law, and other U.S. intellectual property laws. Registrants are granted permission to use materials for internal use only within their organization. They are not permitted to resell any elements of the course, worksheets, intellectual property, or program, nor are consultants granted the license to use the resources and IP with their clients, without obtaining a consultant's license to use by joining Crisis Ready® IMPACT.

By submitting your enrolment and payment, you are consenting to these terms, along with the other terms of use defined within our Terms of Service.

Ready to Get Started?

This Crisis Ready® Course is designed to meet you where you are — and move you forward, fast.


This course is self-paced, built for real-world professionals with full schedules and high-stakes responsibilities — but you won’t be doing it alone.


Every month, you’ll have the opportunity to join a live AMA session with Crisis Ready® experts, where you can get hands-on support, feedback, and strategic guidance tailored to wherever you are in your course journey and your program development.


Enroll today and begin leveling up one of the most saught after skills in today's world!

“Really outstanding and very useful for the day-to-day of a Crisis Management consultant!”
— Miriam Omedes Archanco
MO&MA Crisis Management Consultants SL
“A very informative and broad selection of topics that narrow down into protecting your brand in a crisis.”
— Chris Derby
San Antonio Livestock Exposition

More From Our Students...

We asked our students what their biggest takeaways from this course were. Here’s just some of their replies…

"The discussions were great and the exercise was amazing!"
"The mindset that "challenge" or "crisis" is always an opportunity to build relationship. I have employed that attitude to many situations already, and it has fundamentally changed my approach to these situations. Also, the worksheets, formulas and actionable takeaways are gold!"
"To do practice runs, to think about emotion when dealing with decision makers during times of crisis, and how to better partner with legal."
"One of the great lessons of this course was to think about crisis communication in a structured way, without forgetting emotions and communication with emotional intelligence. Combining the two worlds."
"As a risk manager (not a communications person), I found it very helpful in leading significant incidents and leading our ICS team. I have a much better understanding of our communications plan and the skills required, and feel better equipped to lead and train our ICS team and liaise with our CEO and board."

What Our Students Say...

“This course enabled me to build and hone a skill-set that frankly not many others are excited to take on, therefore increasing my value as a leader in my organization.”
— Course Graduate

The World Needs Crisis Ready® Leaders

In times of unprecedented change and disruption, ordinary crisis management isn't enough. Build the mindset, skillset, and capabilities that turn your biggest challenges into your greatest opportunities for growth.

Take a Peek!

Experience this supplemental
development program for
yourself, before adding it to
your curriculum.

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Paul Damaren

Paul Damaren is the Global Director of Strategic Accounts for LRQA, a global Assurance Provider. Paul also holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer and Partner at StepUp Solution Services. Paul has worked as a Senior Executive in the Certification space for 10 years and has over 39 years’ experience in the Hospitality, Certification, Service, Retail agri-food and Technology sectors. Damaren is skilled in sales, marketing, certification, operations and software applications and he possesses an MBA from McGill University.

Mr. Damaren has worked with many companies across multiple sectors in supporting their food safety, supply chain, health & wellness, front & back of house operations, brand protection, quality, environmental, health & safety, GMP/GDP compliance, automotive, aerospace, medical, information security and technology requirements.

Paul was formerly a board member and Treasurer for the Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA) and is a currently an Advisor & Council Member with The GW University School of Business and the Crisis Ready Institute.

Before working in the Certification industry, Damaren was a professional Chef/consultant for 20+ years working in major hotel chains, restaurants, private golf courses and food service organizations. Further, Damaren was a member of the National Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks (C.F.C.C.) for 14 years, member of the Region of Waterloo Culinary Association (R.W.C.A.) for 14 years, President of R.W.C.A. (Region of Waterloo Culinary Association) for 3 years, special Events chairman - R.W.C.A. – 1998 – 2000 and National Culinary Ambassador to Russia for 5 years.

Paul’s wealth of knowledge and experience across the span of our services supports his commitment to the ongoing success of our customers.

As Executive Vice President and Managing Director in the BCW Public Affairs and Crisis practice, Licy drives healthcare and social impact policy and strategy, and helps shape strategic direction on diversity, inclusion and belonging for the firm and its clients across North America, in public and corporate affairs, government relations, communications, crisis and reputation management. Licy also leads the BCW Healthcare Team in Washington, D.C.

An expert in public affairs, policy and diversity and inclusion, with over twenty five years of experience at the international, national, state and local levels across the nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate and government sectors, Licy is an accomplished, values-driven leader with unparalleled experience in developing and leading integrated public affairs campaigns combining strategic communications, public relations, political/legislative initiatives, policy, coalition building, grassroots efforts and advocacy.

Before joining BCW, Licy built and lead a nationally recognized minority owned strategic public affairs and communications firm, served as Health Practice Chair and Principal at The Raben Group, was the Chief Executive Officer of The AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families, and managed and helped set the leadership direction for strategic policy, communications, and advocacy investments in executive and senior government affairs roles for the American Cancer Society and the nation’s Community Health Centers.

Before joining the private sector, Licy was domestic policy advisor to U.S. Congressman Barney Frank and served in several capacities in the Office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. During his extensive tenure in Washington, D.C., Licy has played a leading role in efforts to draft, shape and enact legislation and policy to improve the public health, health care safety net and the lives, livelihoods and well-being of the nation’s disadvantaged and underserved communities. 

Licy also has worked with Moet Hennessey to drive diversity and inclusion on Wall Street and corporate America. He has partnered with Vice President Al Gore, senior government officials, scientists, NGOs and activists, on global climate change impact and sustainability across Africa. And he was appointed by Republican and Democrat governors to oversee the conservation, preservation and management of a prominent U.S. national historic landmark.

Licy is a graduate of Duke University and holds a certificate in public health leadership in epidemic preparedness and management from the University of North Chapel Hill—School of Public Health and Kenan Flagler Business School, and is the recipient of multiple industry awards and citations for his leadership, policy and public affairs acumen, including being named to The Hill Newspaper list of most influential  leaders in Washington, D.C. consecutively over the last ten years. As a global citizen, Licy has lived in Turkey and Spain, and is fluent in Spanish and Cape Verdean Portuguese.

About the Inaugural Membership Feedback

As we get this membership off the ground, we’re looking to our 2022 inaugural members to be a part of helping us strengthen and tailor this program to meet your needs.

This will involve regular communication with the Crisis Ready Team to provide feedback, share requests for additional ways to support you and your business, etc.

About the Crisis Ready Courses

Each Crisis Ready Course is designed to help you strengthen your Crisis Ready® Expertise. Course subjects will include crisis communication, establishing governance, crisis leadership, storytelling for crisis comms, DEI integration, and more.

Each course is complete with:

  • Anywhere from 4-15 hours of virtual learning that you can do at your own pace
  • Knowledge tests
  • Worksheets and resources to help you bring these valuable learnings and use them within your client work (applicable solely to those who have the license through this membership)
  • A Certificate Of Completion upon successful completion of each course

Opportunity for Individualized Coaching and Support

If you:

  • Sometimes feel as though you’re in over your head with your clients’ issue and crisis management needs
  • Could use support and coaching to help you prepare for and have business development discussions with prospective clients
  • Wish you had more behind-the-scenes support as you serve and support your clients
  • Would benefit from personalized coaching and support as you take your Crisis Ready skills and services to the next level...

... then you will benefit from Crisis Ready Institute's 1:1 coaching and support. This opportunity is retainer-based and is offered exclusively to our consultant and small agency members.

This offering provides personalized coaching and support in:

  • Managing client issues and crises as they arise. We support you as you support your clients so that you can feel confident in the recommendations and advice you provide.
  • Integrating the Crisis Ready Model into your business and client work.
  • Helping you strategize business development conversations and close more deals.
  • Gaining buy-in from existing clients. We can be your frontward-facing partner or remain behind-the-scenes, whatever the situation calls for.

Two Packages Available:

Monthly retainer*
Hours of support per month

$2,500 USD
Up to 5

$5,000 USD
Up to 10

* This is in addition to the annual membership fee.

Before you go to checkout...

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We're excited to be sharing Sustained Resilience: Building Tomorrow's Leaders with you. Fill in the form below to gain access to demo this course. Once you fill in this form, we'll send you an email with further instructions.

Thank you for the honor of considering this important course for your curriculum. We look forward to sharing in the experience with you!

Melissa Agnes

FOUNDER AND CEO, CRISIS READY INSTITUTE

  • Recognized globally as an expert, thought-leader and visionary in the field of crisis communication.
  • Has worked with global players, including NATO, the Pentagon (DoD), Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, financial firms, technology companies, healthcare organizations, cities and municipalities, law enforcement agencies, aviation organizations, global non-profits, etc.
  • Author of “Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World”—ranked amongst the leading crisis management books of all time and named as one of the top ten
    business books of 2018 by Forbes.
  • Creator of the Crisis Ready® Model–which is recognized and being taught as leading industry best practice in universities and higher education curriculums around the world,
    including at Harvard University.
  • Leading international keynote speaker on the subject and TEDx alumna.
  • Sat on the panel tasked with developing the International Standard for Crisis Management— ISO 22361, Guidelines for developing a strategic capability.
  • Sits on the Board of Directors for ZeroNow, a non-profit on a mission to bring school violence down to ZERO.
  • Sat on Police Professional Standards, Ethics and Image Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
  • Founder of the Crisis Ready® Community.

Build for a stronger tomorrow by strengthening your team’s skills in issue management, crisis management, and crisis communication.

Between the demands of our social impact economy, the divisiveness of society and the many other challenges in front of us, embedding a crisis ready culture is more important than ever before. Having a team that is trained, poised, and empowered to effectively respond to risk, controversy and other threats, will strengthen stakeholder relationships and increase the brand equity of your organization. This is a powerful opportunity. The Crisis Ready® Coaching Program is specifically designed to equip your team with the tools needed today for launching into a stronger tomorrow.

Effectively manage through today’s challenges with the help of a diverse group of experts.

From best practices around re-opening, to diversity and inclusion, to managing through the impacts that 2020 has left on your business, the Crisis Ready® Coaching Program is designed to support you through the challenges of today, in order to recover faster and stronger for an even better tomorrow.

Gain strategic foresight into the coming months, giving you the tools you need to better anticipate and plan for a stronger future.

COVID-19 continues to affect a great majority of professionals and businesses, leaving them blindsided by its impact and all the uncertainty that came with it. The Crisis Ready® Coaching Program provides you with access to a diverse group of experts, each with unique areas of insight, to help provide you and your team with strengthened foresight to better anticipate and plan for both the risks and opportunities that lay ahead of us all.

Licy Do Canto

Licy Do Canto, is a veteran of public policy, corporate strategy, health care communications and diversity and inclusion, is managing director of APCO Worldwide’s Washington D.C. office headquarters and mid-Atlantic region lead. Licy is also a Global Advisory Council (GAC) member here at the Crisis Ready Institute and a highly recognized African-American public affairs, lobbyist and communications strategist— recognized by TheHill newspaper for the 11th consecutive year as one of the most influential leaders in Washington, DC.

As Executive Vice President and Managing Director in the BCW Public Affairs and Crisis practice, Licy drives healthcare and social impact policy and strategy, and helps shape strategic direction on diversity, inclusion and belonging for the firm and its clients across North America, in public and corporate affairs, government relations, communications, crisis and reputation management. Licy also leads the BCW Healthcare Team in Washington, D.C.

An expert in public affairs, policy and diversity and inclusion, with over twenty five years of experience at the international, national, state and local levels across the nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate and government sectors, Licy is an accomplished, values-driven leader with unparalleled experience in developing and leading integrated public affairs campaigns combining strategic communications, public relations, political/legislative initiatives, policy, coalition building, grassroots efforts and advocacy.

Before joining BCW, Licy built and lead a nationally recognized minority owned strategic public affairs and communications firm, served as Health Practice Chair and Principal at The Raben Group, was the Chief Executive Officer of The AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families, and managed and helped set the leadership direction for strategic policy, communications, and advocacy investments in executive and senior government affairs roles for the American Cancer Society and the nation’s Community Health Centers.

Before joining the private sector, Licy was domestic policy advisor to U.S. Congressman Barney Frank and served in several capacities in the Office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. During his extensive tenure in Washington, D.C., Licy has played a leading role in efforts to draft, shape and enact legislation and policy to improve the public health, health care safety net and the lives, livelihoods and well-being of the nation’s disadvantaged and underserved communities. 

Licy also has worked with Moet Hennessey to drive diversity and inclusion on Wall Street and corporate America. He has partnered with Vice President Al Gore, senior government officials, scientists, NGOs and activists, on global climate change impact and sustainability across Africa. And he was appointed by Republican and Democrat governors to oversee the conservation, preservation and management of a prominent U.S. national historic landmark.

Licy is a graduate of Duke University and holds a certificate in public health leadership in epidemic preparedness and management from the University of North Chapel Hill—School of Public Health and Kenan Flagler Business School, and is the recipient of multiple industry awards and citations for his leadership, policy and public affairs acumen, including being named to The Hill Newspaper list of most influential  leaders in Washington, D.C. consecutively over the last ten years. As a global citizen, Licy has lived in Turkey and Spain, and is fluent in Spanish and Cape Verdean Portuguese.

Melissa Agnes

Recognized globally as an expert, thought leader and visionary in the field of crisis communication, Melissa Agnes has worked with global players, including NATO, the Pentagon (DoD), Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, financial firms, technology companies, healthcare organizations, cities and municipalities, law enforcement agencies, aviation organizations, global non-profits, and many others.

In 2020, Melissa founded Crisis Ready Institute, a public benefit corporation dedicated to teaching advanced crisis communication skills.

She's currently passionate about providing dedicated support to crisis communication consultants. Through her programs, she’s focused on helping them strengthen their crisis communication skills and credibility in the market, and supporting them in growing and scaling their business. The work they do is important and she's passionate about helping them amplify the positive impact they have in the world.

Her book, Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, is taught in dozens of universities around the world, including at Harvard University; is ranked amongst the leading crisis management books of all time, by Book Authority; and was named one of the top ten business books of 2018 by Forbes.

Melissa is the creator of the Crisis Ready® Model, which is recognized and being taught as leading industry best practice in the fields of crisis management and crisis communication.

As an in-demand international keynote speaker and a TEDx alumna, Melissa has traveled the world helping organizations and leaders further strengthen their crisis ready mindset, skills and capabilities.

In 2019, Melissa founded the Crisis Ready® Community, a space for professionals to come together to support one another, collaborate and strengthen their crisis ready skills.

Melissa sits on the Board of Directors for ZeroNow, a non-profit committed to ending harmful events in schools.

She also sat on the Board of Trustees for D'Youville University for four years until the end of her term, where she also serves as a visiting scholar for the course she co-created and co-teaches on Crisis Leadership.

Passionate about serving law enforcement and bridging the trust divide between agencies and the communities they serve, Melissa is a former member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). In 2021 she co-chaired a committee tasked with developing a strategy and plan of action to begin resolving the trust crisis in the U.S.

In 2019 and 2020, Melissa sat on the panel tasked with developing the International Standard for Crisis Management— ISO 22361, Guidelines for developing a strategic capability.

Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Melissa currently lives in New York City and enjoys weight-lifting, sailing, and exploring new cities, countries, and cultures.

Erick Anez

Erick Anez is the Global Head of Business Resilience at Finastra. Erick is a proven leader with well over a decade of experience leading change and transformation in the Operational Resilience field.

His hands-on approach focuses on operational learning, culture, and reputational management. Erick holds a Bachelor of Emergency & Homeland Security, Graduate studies in Security and Disaster Management, is a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP), graduate of the FEMA institute in Incident Management and Command, and is a respected member of Public-Private partnerships within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and  the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Some of his most notable achievements in the field include leading the private sector response to Hurricane Maria as well as working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Continuity of Operations (CCOP) projects for mission-critical facilities in the United States. Erick has also trained with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Infectious Disease Planning and community response, including Point of Dispensing initiatives.

From 2016 to 2019, Erick held several roles at Crowley and, most recently, was the company’s Managing Director of Safety & Resilience. During this time, he was responsible for resilience operations supporting all business segments as well as leading the organization’s safety culture improvement journey. At Crowley, he led the Occupational Health & Safety, Business Continuity, and Crisis Management teams.

Before joining Crowley, Erick held similar roles at Southwest Gas and Third Federal Savings & Loan.

Aaron Marks

Founder and Principal, One Thirty Nine Consulting
Global Advisory Council Member, Crisis Ready® Institute

Aaron Marks is the founder and principal of One Thirty Nine Consulting, providing services for small and large businesses in Risk, Crisis, and Consequence Management.

Supporting both domestic and international clients, he provides operational and subject matter expertise in readiness and preparedness, crisis and incident management, and business and operational continuity for complex systems and organizations.

Aaron has provided in-depth review, assessment, and analysis for technology, policy, and operational programs for clients in healthcare, critical manufacturing, and entertainment and hospitality, as well as for state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal governments in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He is a recognized authority on the application of nontraditional techniques and methodologies to meet the unique requirements of training, evaluation, and analytic games and exercise.

Prior to entering the readiness and preparedness field, Aaron was the Director of Operations for a commercial ambulance and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider in western New York State where he participated in the integration of commercial EMS and medical transportation resources into the local Trauma System.

During his 30-year career, Aaron has worked in almost every aspect of EMS except fleet services. This includes experience in Hazardous Materials and Tactical Medicine, provision of prehospital care in urban, suburban, rural, and frontier environments, and acting as a team leader for both ground and aeromedical Critical Care Transport Teams.

Aaron is a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner and received a B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He is also a Nationally Registered Paramedic and currently practices as an Assistant Chief with the Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Amissville Virginia.

Chris Hsiung

Chris is the 11th Police Chief of the Mountain View Police Department, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. For more than 25 years, he has served the Mountain View community, and as the department’s leader, is passionate about maintaining MVPD’s role as a progressive law enforcement organization in the 21st century.

Chris is an internationally recognized speaker and columnist on the areas of crisis communications, critical incident management, leadership, and engagement with stakeholder groups. In his time with Mountain View PD, Chris has held a variety of investigative, tactical, and leadership roles, serving in every division in the organization. He is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government program and has a master’s degree in eBusiness Management from Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, CA.

Chris also serves in several leadership positions on multiple boards, including as president on the Government Social Media Leadership Council and committee member on the IACP's Professional Standards, Ethics, and Image Committee. Previously, Chris served as a board member for the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center and two terms as a commissioner on the City of San Mateo Community Relations Commission.

You can connect with him on Twitter @Chief_Hsiung or LinkedIn.

Ashley Davis

Ashley is a Brand and Marketing Strategist who partners with CEOs, executives and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional brands. After spending over a decade working in strategic communications for multimillion dollar brands and startups, Ashley knows what truly drives conversations, builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their stakeholder groups and attracts strong strategic partnerships.

Ashley has helped organizations and leaders increase employee awareness and overall understanding of the company vision. She has strong experience / knowledge of social media tools and techniques for driving awareness, reputation and brand—and is known for advancing a company's messaging in the marketplace by growing the following of now multiple multimillion dollar brands and startups.

Ashley has served as the Editor of monthly all employee publications by managing the planning, writing and production. She is an integral part of new product launches and is frequently engaged to train entire sales teams along with channel / distribution partners on new product launches. In addition to her extensive experience, Ashley is a trained business coach.

Ashley holds a BA in Global Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

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