WashingtonExec recently hosted marketing and communication executives for an exclusive MARCOM Committee dinner where attendees engaged in the topic of sequestration messaging.
Sheila Blackwell, Decision Sciences International Corporation Chief Communications Officer, moderated the discussion at the event, which was held at Maggiano’s in Tyson’s Galleria.
Guest Speaker Cameron Leuthy, Senior Analyst at Bloomberg Government, offered attendees an overview of events that led to the current industry communications climate and ignited a discussion on topics including the looming government shutdown and strategic communication processes in an increasingly social world.
“The topic of sequestration touched off a lively discussion on the myriad of messaging challenges that confront companies as well as their chief communicators every day,” said Blackwell.
Leuthy brought more than 20 years of industry expertise to the round table discussion and offered unique and significant insight as a government insider for the MARCOM Committee attendees.
Social media was cited as an area of dissonance for communicators given the speed of information sharing and disconnect among senior level executives to recognize the platform as a permanent vehicle for communication. Attendees also discussed their concern for the lack of productivity in government and made note of the ailing state of bi-partisanship in the political sphere.
“Attendees collectively agreed the key to messaging success is straightforward, simple communications without trying to predict the future or sugar coat reality,” concluded Blackwell.
The 2013 WashingtonExec MARCOM Committee Leaders are Alan Hill (Serco) Sheila Blackwell (Decision Sciences) and Eileen Cassidy Rivera (Harris Corp).
