Meet The Team
Wanda J. Herndon
President of W Communications a strategic communications consulting firm, offers innovative, effective communications counsel, strategy development is the former Senior Vice President of Global Communications for Starbucks Coffee Company. During her tenure, Starbucks grew from revenues of $465 million to more than $6.3 billion. For most of her 30-plus year career, she led corporate communications and public relations functions for leading brands and Fortune 500 companies. In addition to Starbucks, Wanda has held senior-level positions at DuPont and The Dow Chemical Company. Wanda's expertise which is detailed on www.wcommgroup.com includes:
o Brand Building
o Reputation Management
o Employee Communications and Engagement
o Public Relations/Public Affairs
o Media Relations
o Crisis/Issues Management
o Executive Communications
o Employment Engagement and Diversity
o Investor Relations
o Speeches and Presentations
Silas Lee, Ph.D.
D. Venice Smith
President of Silas Lee & Associates is a Research Analyst and Strategist for a host of national and international corporate, nonprofit, public sector, political, and legal clients. His polls, public opinion research and analyses have been cited in more than 500 publications worldwide, with numerous television and radio appearances. Clients include the National Urban League, NAACP, American Federation of Teachers, National Safety Council, National Education Association, Methodist Hospital Foundation, and the Democratic National Committee. His analyses has been cited by the NBC Nightly News, Today Show, Black Entertainment Television, CNN, ABC World News Tonight, Fox National News, C-Span, USA Today, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.
o Economic Impact Analysis
o Guide Issues Communication and Policy Strategy
o Track Opinions, Perceptions, Issues and Products
o Measure Customer Satisfaction
o Develop Themes for Legal Cases
David I. Rudder, Ph.D.
Consultant for Multicultural Issues at Michigan State University (MSU) provides a broad spectrum of instructional opportunities for a 5,500 member support staff as well as members of the faculty, administration and student body. Her quality educational learning environments focus on diversity, inclusion, and engagement; recognizing bias and stereotypes and the impact on individuals and groups; and global and intercultural understanding. Venice's work promotes consideration of best practices on ways to infuse diversity and inclusion into organizational programs, services and activities. Venice is also the owner of Full Circle Diversity Consultants with a client list that includes the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As an advanced diversity trainer for the NCAA, for nearly a decade, she designed and conducted diversity education workshops in the areas of race, gender, sexual orientation, and culture change at NCAA colleges and universities across the nation. Additionally, Venice has facilitated diversity education workshops for Parke-Davis, Warner Lambert, the DaimlerChrysler-UAW National Training Center, the U.S. Postal Service, the Michigan Education Association (MEA), the Michigan Educational Supplemental Services Association (MESSA), and the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA).
o Facilitation Services
o Training, Seminars & Workshops
Principal of Rudder Consultants focuses on enhancing the organizational effective for clients through the integration of quality planning and assessment. Rudder Consultants research, design and implement assessment processes which lead to the creation of strategic plans for organizations. Clients include the Delaware Department of Education, New Millennium Community Development Corporation, United Way, State of Delaware and First State Service Corps-AmeriCorps.
o Project Management
o Institutional Effectiveness
o Social Marketing
o Strategic Planning
o Research Design & Analysis
o Facilitation Services