Background:

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• Karen Naumann, APR, PMP is a multifaceted, seasoned practitioner with more than 25 years of communication experience. She is a communications educator, executive, and author.

• Education and Credentials

  • Naumann is Accredited in Public Relations (APR). By earning her APR, she has demonstrated her commitment to excellence and the highest ethical standards. She also holds a PMP from the Project Management Institute. Additionally, she graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. Later, she received a master's degree in Communication at the University of Houston. Her graduate studies focused on crisis communications.

• Professional Affiliations

  • She is active in the Public Relations Society of America and the National Press Club. She is also a member of the United National Association of the National Capital Area, Information Professionals Association, Project Management Institute, Louisiana State Society, LSU Alumni – D.C. Chapter, National Association of Government Communicators, National Communication Association, Grey Swan Guild, and Washington Women in Public Relations.

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Please provide a summary of your work history, qualifications, and background:

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• 2023

  • In 2023, she joined the Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) as a Strategic Planner. She has also consulted for the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor (DRL), Office of Policy Planning, and Public Diplomacy (PPD), where she created and supported public diplomacy and digital engagement efforts, communications infrastructure, and strategy for DRL. She is also an Adjunct Instructor and Course Developer in Crisis Communications at West Virginia University, where she instructs active military, earning a graduate degree.

• 2019 - 2022

  • Most recently, Naumann was Senior Strategic Communication Planner and Team Lead in support of the four-star-led UN Combined Forces Command at U.S. Forces Korea, where she developed communication strategy recommendations for command-wide and Republic of Korea allies, as well as advised in provocations by North Korea.

  • She has also been a Sr. Instructor at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information School, where she trained hundreds of public affairs officers for the United States' fleet and field in topics ranging from Complex Adaptive Systems Thinking to Strategic Foresight and Issues Management and Disinformation. She also served as an in-house subject matter expert, contributing to evolving Information as a DOD joint function.

• 2013 - 2019

  • Before this, she was an executive at an established D.C. public relations firm. She has also worked in communication and digital diplomacy for the Government of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel in the Southwest United States. On behalf of the Government of Israel, she led strategic communication efforts in a six-state region.

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Why would a prospective client want you to be their keynote speaker or to support their speaking event? What are some compelling aspects of your background/career/experience that we should know about?

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• The award-winning communicator is frequently tapped as a speaker and facilitator for conferences and events on topics ranging from Cognitive Biases and Crisis Communications to Strategic Communications and Effective Persuasion.

• She is also a frequent contributor to national publications and a published author in public relations. Her innovative approach to military public affairs analysis can be found in Intercultural Public Relations.

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What are your primary topics/areas of expertise?

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• Cognitive Biases: The Poor Decisions that Our Brains Make and How It Affects Us

• The Art and Science of Persuasion: Social Influence and Compliance Gaining

• Communications 201: Taking Communications to the Next Level

• Crisis Communication Planning for Organizations

 

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What are some positions you have held in your career that you would like prospective clients to know about?

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• DOD DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY (DTRA) | STRATEGIC PLANNER

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, & LABOR | PUBLIC & DIGITAL

• DIPLOMACY CONSULTANT

• U.S. FORCES KOREA | SR. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLANNER/TEAM LEAD

• GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL DIPLOMACY OFFICER

 

 

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What are some speaking events you’ve supported recently?

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• HOW TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION, Social Media Breakfast Houston July 2022

• MEDIA LITERACY, 21st Signal Brigade June 2022

• PERSUASION COMMUNICATION, WVU Integrate Conference June 2022

• CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS, DINFOS Live broadcast May 2022

• GAINING COMPLIANCE, Ragan Speechwriting & Public Affairs Conference March 2022

• INFORMATION DISORDER, DINFOS 2021 Social Media Forum Aug. 2021

• INFORMATION WARFARE/INFORMATION DISORDER, U.S. Navy MCC Symposium July 2021

• COMBATING DISINFORMATION, NAGC Webinar Wednesdays June 2021

• COGNITIVE BIASES, NAGC Communications School May 2021

• CRISIS COMMUNICATION SIMULATION, PR News Crisis Management Summit March 2021

• 2021THE PERFECT CRISIS RESPONSE, Ragan Speechwriting & Public Affairs Conference March 2021

 

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Do you have any articles or publications? Have you been featured in any? If so, what were they?

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• INTERCULTURAL PUBLIC RELATIONS, CHAPTER 7, Routledge Feb. 2022

• USING FACT-CHECKING TO OVERCOME DISINFORMATION, PRSA Strategies & Tactics Oct. 2021

• COUNTERING THE FALSEHOODS OF INFORMATION DISORDER, PRSA Strategies & Tactics July 2021

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Please list any other information you would find helpful:

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• Naumann is a Louisiana native. When not working she enjoys reading and hiking.