Tripepi Smith Hosts Crisis Communications Training for the City of Alameda
In April 2024, the City of Alameda tapped Tripepi Smith to provide on-site crisis communications training for staff. Senior Business Analyst Sydni Overly conducted the training, engaging 11 members of Alameda’s executive team.
Sydni completed the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Crisis Communication Certificate Program in October 2023. Putting her expertise to use, Sydni provides ongoing support and strategic direction related to crisis situations for Tripepi Smith clients. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, Sydni served as the Emergency Services Coordinator for the City of Gardena and managed all COVID-19 communications.
The in-person crisis communications training for Alameda consisted of interactive, classroom-style learning with hands-on case studies. Starting with a high-level overview, the first half of the training categorized different levels of crisis situations and delved into strategies for messaging and distribution, managing misinformation and evaluating performance.
Following the in-depth discussion, attendees were split into two groups to complete two case studies each. For the first scenario, attendees were tasked with identifying actions to address the situation and creating three key messages to share with their primary audience. Moving onto the second scenario, each group was asked to strategize on an initial statement to address the situation and respond to “media” questions from the rest of the group.
“The training provided by Tripepi Smith was very useful, hands-on and practical,” said City Manager Jennifer Ott. “Sydni presented insights that were accessible and easy for us to conceptualize. She demonstrated a deep understanding of the nuances that come with crisis situations, and we appreciated the conversations she sparked among our team.”
“Facilitating the crisis communications training for the City of Alameda was such an honor. Crisis communications can, at times, feel overwhelming, but the Alameda team did not shy away from the subject. I really appreciated their eagerness to learn and participate, as well as their commitment to supporting each other,” said Sydni.
Experiencing or anticipating a crisis? We answer 24/7 at 626-536-2173. If you’re interested in hosting a crisis communications training for your team, reach out to us here.
About the City of Alameda
The City of Alameda, California is a unique island community of approximately 80,000 residents in the San Francisco Bay Area. People are drawn to Alameda for the safe and inviting residential communities with distinguished neighborhood schools, boutique shopping, and a broad mix of destination restaurants. Alameda takes pride in being a vibrant community with a rich maritime history and small-town charm. Alameda was incorporated in 1854 and became a charter city in 1916 with a Council-Manager form of government with approximately 500 full-time employees.
About Tripepi Smith
Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, aerial imagery, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of Grover Beach, City of Santa Paula, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Napa, City of Paramount, City of Tracy, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, West Coast Arborists, Scripps College, Blind Children’s Learning Center and Climatec.