A certified crisis communication manager with 20 years in the issue management business, Jerry is an expert in message development and communications planning.
Jerry has served as a trusted advisor to senior executives at corporations, industry groups and public agencies looking to advance a policy agenda or when facing heightened scrutiny from the media or government officials. He is adept at using diverse communications platforms ranging from traditional media to digital advertising to help position clients with their key audiences.
Jerry manages the firm’s media training and crisis communication training curriculum for clients. In this capacity, Jerry prepares clients to engage in public debates with both champions and critics through research and messaging that avoids “spin” and stands up to public scrutiny.
During his career, Jerry has worked with universities and colleges to protect their reputations; served as the grassroots director and on-the-record spokesperson for a statewide coalition on workers’ compensation issues; helped cities and special districts build support for taxes, assessments and other revenue enhancing measures; and worked with a wide range of clients facing litigation, investigations and other reputational threats.
Jerry worked for APCO Worldwide’s Sacramento office for 15 years. While at APCO, he helped to direct coalition building and media relations efforts on two successful statewide initiative campaigns, as well as legislative campaigns on dozens of policy issues, including workers’ compensation, health care, tort reform, consumer privacy, water, financial services, recycling, environmental toxics, and transportation fuels. Jerry also helped to build the office’s crisis and issue management practice on behalf of public sector clients, including universities, fire districts, cities, pension systems, and water agencies.
Prior to joining APCO, he worked for Burson-Marsteller as an account manager, working on legislative and ballot measure campaigns.
Jerry is certified in Crisis Communication Management by the Institute for Crisis Management. He graduated with honors from California State University, Sacramento, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.