CCTT meeting explores new frameworks for governance in crisis management

A large professional group photo of approximately 40 participants of the Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT) 2026 meeting. They are posed outdoors on concrete stairs in front of a modern building with large glass windows.
Attendees of the 8th annual Crisis Communication Think Tank U.S. headquarters meeting on April 17, 2026. (Photos/Sarah E. Freeman)

CCTT meeting explores new frameworks for governance in crisis management

April 22, 2026

On April 17, 2026, the Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT) hosted its 8th annual U.S. headquarters meeting at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia. In attendance were over 30 scholars and practitioners, all engaged in sharing insights and contributing to discussions centered around this year’s theme, “Governance.” This theme, as stated in the 2026 theme articulation, is foundationally focused on how governance reveals an organization’s true colors via its strategic leadership and decision-making processes and outcomes in times of risks, conflicts and crises. The day began with welcome statements from Grady leadership, Dean Charles Davis and Associate Dean Glen Nowak, alumnus and benefactor, Dick Yarbrough, and CCTT co-founder/director, Yan Jin before leading into the four panels.

A close-up of Dean Charles Davis speaking in front of a group. He is a man with glasses and a beard, wearing a navy blue blazer over a checkered shirt. The background shows a blurred digital screen with the text "Greetings from Dean Charles..." and a CCTT banner to the left.
Dean Charles Davis greets attendees.

Dr. Yan Jin stands at the front of a conference room giving opening remarks. She is wearing a sleeveless black jumpsuit. Behind her is a large digital screen displaying the word "GOVERNANCE" and the names Glen Nowak, Dick Yarbrough, and Yan Jin. Two vertical CCTT branded banners flank the screen.
Yan Jin shares her opening remarks.

Defining governance

A panel titled "White Noise: Defining Governance." Three men—Patrick Conner, Timothy Coombs and Jason Epstein —sit on high stools in front of a screen. They are smiling and engaged in conversation.
Patrick Conner, Timothy Coombs and Jason Epstein lead the “White Noise” panel on defining governance.

The first panel of the day was titled “White Noise”, defining governance. It was led by Patrick Conner, Timothy Coombs and Jason Epstein. Panelists first began by discussing the varying definitions of governance and where those definitions both succeed and fail as accurate experience-based descriptions. Afterwards, they opened it up to other attendees, which led to a discussion centered around governance as a mechanism of control during crises, for better or for worse. Most notably the discussion resulted in the conclusion that if a firm has clear values and principles, governance is an asset that can lead to better leadership-stakeholder alignment.

System governance

A panel titled "Black Ice: System Governance." Three participants sit on stools. On the left, a woman in a brown cardigan and navy dress holds a microphone. In the center, a man in a navy blazer and white t-shirt looks on. The screen behind them shows headshots.
Amy Harry, Jonathan Graffeo and Jeff Jones lead the “Black Ice” panel on system governance.

The second panel titled “Black Ice”, system governance, discussed how to optimize systems during a crisis to best solve it with a unified front through governance. Panelists, Jonathan Graffeo, Amy Harry and Jeff Jones, highlighted how hindrances within a system are the most dangerous factors that lead to delay in response during a crisis. The key theme during this panel was organizational learning and system development. Filling the aforementioned expansive system gaps as the communications landscape shifts is proactive system governance at its best. Panelists framed their discussion within the changing communications terrain in which reputation and brand damage can occur at any level in an increasingly complex media landscape.

Business governance

A panel titled "Grey Swan: Business Governance." Three men are seated on stools, laughing together. The man on the left is in a navy blazer and tan khakis; the center man, Mike Pferrer, wears a light blue shirt and red striped tie; the man on the right is in a grey suit. The screen behind them displays their professional headshots.
Matt O’Connor, Mike Pfarrer and Russ Williams lead the “Grey Swan” panel on business governance.

The third panel titled “Grey Swan”, led by Matt O’Connor, Mike Pfarrer and Russ Williams, emphasized business governance. Speakers highlighted the foundation of trust that business governance truly begins with. In addition to governance in U.S. markets, the “Grey Swan” panel also discussed challenges in global markets when a firm’s main goal is to align their values and culture with the global market’s values and culture. Williams prompted attendees to “use guiding principles as guardrails” when in a crisis. The panel closed out with panelists and attendees determining that a constant state of READINESS and a strong company culture of trust and support is the backbone of business governance.

Information governance

A man in a grey button-down shirt and navy trousers presents at the front of the room, gesturing toward a screen displaying a news report about a UPS plane crash and Boeing. Two other participants, a woman in a tan top and a man in a white shirt and tie, sit to the right observing the presentation.
Glen Nowak, Taylor Voges and Jonathan Peters lead the “Red Herring” panel on information governance.

The last panel of the day titled “Red Herring”, information governance, was led by Glen Nowak, Jonathan Peters and Taylor Voges. The discussion began with speakers analyzing past crises and how they reflected the efficient and inefficient practices of information governance. They also added that oftentimes, how we maintain valuable information through governance can serve as a safeguard in crises. In this modern media landscape, once information is out it has a life of its own. In addition, the panelists offered their varied perspectives from analytics to legal. When the discussion concluded, speakers and attendees established that at the core of information governance is ethics and that firms and scholars alike should ensure to use it as their north star in a crisis.

A medium shot of a smaller group of ten individuals, identified as the HQ Team and Lab Scholars, posing indoors behind a conference table. Some are seated and others are standing behind them. They are smiling and dressed in professional attire; a man in a light blue shirt and a woman in a patterned blouse are centered in the front row.
The CCTT HQ team and Crisis Insights & Analytics Lab scholars.

As the discussion-filled day adjourned, CCTT scholars and practitioners, together with Crisis Insights & Analytics Lab scholars reflected on their panel breakout sessions. The blend of practitioner experience and scholar perspectives has led to expanded horizons and new governance frameworks for managing crises with improved process and optimal mindset. As said by Dick Yarbrough, our current communications landscape is “an extraordinarily complicated environment” and at the CCTT our goal is to find new ways, via collaborative innovation, to navigate that environment with READINESS.

Author: Grace Carter (goc00165@uga.edu)