For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2009

Contact:  Roger Conner
(703) 236-6218

Catholic Charities USA Sr. Director of Communications Addresses Latin America Government Officials

Alexandria, VA—Roger Conner, Senior Director of Communications for Catholic Charities USA, will address the 7th annual “Latin American Seminar on Political Communication and Crisis Management” today (October 23) hosted by the Graduate School of Public Management at George Washington University. Conner’s presentation, Global Crisis Communications—A New Level of Intensity, will be shared with approximately 250 elected government officials and journalists spanning all Latin America countries.

Conner will provide perspective from his years of experience as Vice President of Communications for Marriott International, the global lodging leader; and from his current role in leading Communications for Catholic Charities USA—the 4th largest non-profit/charity in the U.S. Led by Rev. Larry Snyder, a member of the White House Council of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Catholic Charities USA is dedicated to the reduction of poverty in America and is among the preeminent human service organizations in the country in disaster response and disaster case management.

“To be able to share crisis communications and issues management experiences with an audience of this caliber is not only a privilege, but a great learning experience. The Q&A is always the best part,” Conner said. “My experience at Marriott and Catholic Charities provides insight into both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds as they relate to communicating in the face of crisis and issues.”

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Catholic Charities USA’s members—more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for nearly 8.5 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary.