Navigating the Pathway to Public Trust

Recognized globally as an expert, thought leader, and visionary in the field of crisis management, 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 creating a crisis-ready, crisis-resilient world by elevating industry standards; providing training and certification programs to professionals that better protect people, brands, the environment, and the economy in times of crisis; and promoting and incentivizing organizations and leaders to invest in effective crisis readiness.

Katie Nelson is the Social Media and Public Relations Coordinator at the Mountain View Police Department in Northern California since 2015. In her role, she manages the department’s social media accounts and outreach campaigns, focusing primarily on the department’s engagement efforts as well as serving as the agency’s public information officer. She presents across the country on social media best practices and crisis communication strategies. She serves as an instructor with the California Office of Emergency Services and the California POST. She is currently the General Chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Public Information Officers Section, and is a recipient of the Young Athena Award and an Award of Distinction with the California Peace Officers Association. Previously, she also served on the Government Social Media Council, a national organization that works to educate and improve agencies’ understanding and usage of social media platforms.  You can follow Katie on Twitter: @katienelson210 or connect on LinkedIn.