From Oil Spills to TikTok Crises CommPRO Marks 15 Years of Transformation
Fifteen years ago, I launched CommPRO with a simple but ambitious mission: to create a trusted forum where communicators could learn, share, and lead together. What started as an idea has grown into a vibrant global hub that reflects the best of public relations, marketing, investor relations, and media.
When CommPRO opened its doors in 2010, the profession was being reshaped by three defining forces. The BP oil spill made crisis communications a front-page story and showed how a single misstep could reverberate across digital and traditional media alike. The Barcelona Principles had just been introduced, challenging communicators to move beyond outputs and finally measure outcomes that tied to business impact. And social media was no longer optional—Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube were becoming essential PR tools, forever changing how brands built trust and how audiences demanded accountability.
Today, the landscape looks very different but the lessons remain urgent. Crisis response now plays out in minutes across TikTok and X instead of in daily news cycles, and authenticity is nonnegotiable. Measurement has matured into data-rich dashboards, but the demand for proving communications’ business value is higher than ever. Social platforms have multiplied and fragmented, forcing communicators to master both the intimacy of niche communities and the volatility of viral trends.
As I look back on this milestone, my heart is full of gratitude for the contributors, collaborators, innovators, and readers who have made CommPRO what it is today. Special thanks to contributors including Larry Weber, Arthur Solomon, Aaron Kwittken, Grace Leong, Simon Locke, Helio Fred Garcia, Patrice Tanaka, Neil Foote, Leslie Grossman, Linda Descano, Tom Madden and so many more.
This anniversary year has already been filled with conversations and programs that embody the spirit of CommPRO. In June, we held our first-ever Communications Town Hall at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, bringing leaders together to explore innovation in communications on the global stage. In April, our Town Hall on the future of PR agencies brought powerful insights from some of the industry’s most respected leaders. Later this month, during Climate Week in New York City, we will host a candid forum on climate communications, focusing on authenticity, accountability, and the role of communicators in driving meaningful action.
The shareholder activism series, which continues throughout 2025, has been another highlight. I am especially grateful to Keith Gottfried, CEO of Gottfried Shareholder Advisory, who is a true force of nature in this field. His leadership and guidance have helped countless boards and executives navigate the ever-evolving challenges of activist investors, and his partnership with CommPRO has been invaluable.
Our podcasts remain an essential part of our work. On the PR Masters Podcast, Art Stevens has hosted legends including Sir Martin Sorrell and Jim Weiss, alongside many others who continue to inspire and lead the profession. On That Said with Michael Zeldin, we’ve welcomed media powerhouses such as Heather Cox Richardson and Brian Stelter, whose insights have deepened our understanding of politics, journalism, and the shifting media landscape.
When I reflect on these conversations and collaborations, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. CommPRO would not exist without the writers who share their expertise, the guests and innovators who bring fresh perspectives, and the readers who engage with our content and amplify the conversations that matter most. You are the lifeblood of this platform, and I am so thankful to be on this journey with you.
As we celebrate 15 years, I am more excited than ever about the future. The challenges ahead—whether in technology, sustainability, or the evolving role of communications—are also opportunities for leadership and innovation. With more town halls, thought leadership, podcasts, and collaborations on the horizon, the next chapter of CommPRO will be our boldest yet.
Thank you for walking with me on this journey. Together, I know we will continue to elevate voices, shape the future of communications, and make a meaningful impact in the years to come.
