Lea-Ann O’Hare Germinder is the Founder and President of Germinder + Associates, Inc., a strategic communications firm with offices in the New York City area and Kansas City, Missouri. She is also the Editor and Publisher of Goodnewsforpets.com, an award-winning digital platform focused on the vet/pet industry. She was awarded the G. Ellsworth Huggins Fellowship from the University of Missouri Journalism School to continue doctoral research in strategic communication. Her research focuses on generative AI and public relations and how the profession can help implement responsible AI in line with professional codes of conduct.Germinder's crisis, strategy, and brand communications expertise is based on years of experience in many vertical markets. She is known as an innovator and remaining relevant is a top priority. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide variety of clients — from pharmaceutical companies to athletes & and entrepreneurs launching new products. The award-winning results speak for themselves. She has dedicated a substantial portion of her career to giving back to her profession through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Association of Public Relations (IPRA). She has served on the PRSA national board and as a trustee of the PRSA Foundation. She has also served as president of the New York City and Kansas City PRSA chapters. She has mentored many members and young professionals, both within her company and within the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She has won numerous business awards for her activities. She has a proven record counseling top executives to grow a business, crisis comms, launching profit-centers, supporting global brands, and building a company, but giving back and mentoring are part of her story too. Connect with Germinder at Lgerminder@germinder.com or via her university email at legbdr@umsystem.edu.