The past several months have been trying for the $2 billion-a-year compounding pharmacy industry. First, it was a multi-state meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center (NECC). The outbreak, due to unsanitary conditions at NECC, has sickened 730 people, killing more than 50 – and six months later, people continue to fall ill. Investigators examined foreign materials from unopened...

On March 9, 2013, my husband and I sailed on the Carnival Dream as we celebrated our honeymoon. We were treated to the usual cruise luxuries—hot meals, unlimited soft drinks and beautiful ocean views. Carnival treats its customers well, and we were confident that the company had learned from the Carnival Triumph engine room fire. Unfortunately, our high hopes were dashed as we found ourselves stuck in port with more than 5,000 passengers...

PR professionals will be the first to tell you: Rehearsal is the key to a successful speech or presentation. Not only are speakers that are well rehearsed more confident, but rehearsal can also help the speaker stay on message, make key points more clearly and communicate more effectively. Without practice, however, an important speaking engagement can turn into a PR disaster. Politics aside, Clint Eastwood’s 12- minute speech during...

Crisis communication sure isn’t what it used to be. Certainly, while the basic tenets of crisis communications will always be applicable – tell the truth, don’t speculate, explain what you are doing to fix the problem – the rise of social media requires that it, too, be incorporated into crisis communications. In fact, customers have come to expect it. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and several other social media channels are a...

Sometimes, television shows can be educational in a way never intended or imagined.  If you were one of the millions watching the second season finale of Game of Thrones last night, I doubt you were looking for lessons in business or public relations. Not many people would turn to a medieval fantasy on HBO for that kind of lesson, but here are three you can apply to your business today. Do Your Research Royal spymaster, Lord Varys, knows...