CrisisReady 360 Experts
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Damon Thompson Gardenhire
Damon Gardenhire is a veteran communications strategist, journalist and public affairs leader with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of strategic communications, policy, public affairs, and philanthropy. He has served as a senior advisor to state leaders, national foundations, and high-stakes public institutions, and has led crisis communications, narrative strategy, and stakeholder engagement for organizations navigating both opportunity and upheaval. Damon is the founder of Linchpin Resources, where he helps mission-driven organizations tell the truth powerfully, respond to crises strategically, and lead with clarity.
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Aaron Cooper
Aaron K. Cooper is a battle‑tested communications strategist with more than a decade at the epicenter of Oklahoma’s most high‑stakes arenas—serving as Press Secretary to Governor Mary Fallin, Communications Director for the Attorney General, Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the Oklahoma Senate, and most recently leading corporate communications at OGE Energy. Now the founder of Finest Hour Communications, Cooper brings unrivaled experience in crisis response, media strategy, and public affairs, backed by a proven record of shaping narratives, managing reputational risk, and steering institutions through moments when credibility and clarity matter most.
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Keli Pirtle
Keli Pirtle is a veteran communicator with over 30 years of experience guiding public messaging, media training, and crisis response for high-profile science, government, and community institutions. She led communications for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in Oklahoma for more than two decades, supporting severe weather research and national emergency response efforts. A former public relations director for the Norman Chamber of Commerce, Keli has trained hundreds of professionals in media readiness across the country. Her expertise lies at the intersection of science, service, and storytelling—bringing clarity and calm to complex, high-stakes situations.
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Phil Bacharach
Phil Bacharach is a seasoned communications strategist with a rare bipartisan résumé, having served in senior press roles for two Oklahoma governors. He was Press Secretary and Chief Writer to Governor Brad Henry, leading speechwriting, crisis response, and statewide messaging initiatives, and previously served as Deputy Press Secretary to Governor Frank Keating. Phil also directed corporate communications for the Oklahoma City Thunder, coordinated newsroom strategy as Assignments Manager at KWTV-Channel 9, and later served as Editor-in-Chief of the Oklahoma Gazette. With deep experience across government, media, and the private sector, Phil brings calm under pressure, message discipline, and a deep understanding of Oklahoma’s public and political landscape.