This journalism background is particularly valuable to executives who are preparing for media interviews. Through DPK Public Relations' Media Interview Skills Training, Dan has trained hundreds of spokespeople across the country to be more confident and comfortable in the media spotlight. For instance, NASA has engaged him to prepare personnel throughout their organization associated with the Shuttle and International Space Station programs articulate their messages in order to project a positive image and build support for extending human exploration back to the Moon and beyond.

Dan is a four-time winner of the public relations field’s highest honor, the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America. The programs that won those awards illustrate the power of strategic public relations planning and expert public relations implementation in changing attitudes and behaviors (case studies can be downloaded at the bottom of this page):

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  Building public support and appreciation for Intel Corporation while convincing lawmakers to grant the company a tax break that saved it $200 million;
  
  
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  Convincing Oregonians to bring competition to an electricity market that boasted the nation's lowest rates;
  
  
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  Helping protect the health of Keiko, the killer whale who starred in the movie "Free Willy";
  
  
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  Keeping a small nonprofit Florida hospital from a being swallowed up by a large health-care corporation in a hostile takeover. 
  
  

Prior to establishing DPK Public Relations, Dan was the general manager of a large Houston public relations firm. He previously held leadership positions with PR firms on the West Coast, where he was honored for his work on ballot measure campaigns and crisis communications response. He got his start in public relations with Ketchum Public Relations in Pittsburgh.

A frequent contributor to trade and business publications on the subject of public relations, Dan’s recent articles have included the following: “Final Watergate revelation prompts questions for potential anonymous sources,” Public Relations Tactics, July 2005, “Don’t wait until crisis hits to establish a company plan of action,” Houston Business Journal, November 12, 2004, “Public relations seeks new brand of self-image,” Houston Business Journal, March 12, 2004, and “Attacks on corporate speech may make corporate communications more valuable”, Public Relations Tactics, November 2003.

Dan is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Journalism and has been married to his wife, Julie, for 21 years.