Crystal L. Rockwood is Principal of Rockwood Communications Counsel, Inc.

As RCC’s chief strategist with over 30 years of professional experience for Fortune 500 companies and market leaders from over 50 industries, she is in demand as a communications advisor for her acumen in establishing new initiatives, building and leveraging business community profiles and diplomacy in resolving complex communication challenges.

Ms. Rockwood is also an Adjunct Professor at Southern Utah University for the Master’s course in Crisis Management. She serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Humanities and Social Science. Additionally, Ms. Rockwood serves as Chair of Vision Iron County, a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting better long-term planning in Southern Utah.

RCC clients span businesses, non-profits, governmental agencies, law and accounting firms, schools, medical facilities, financial institutions, professional and trade associations churches, and start-ups.

Prior to forming RCC in 2006, Ms. Rockwood was the Director of Communications at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Ms. Rockwood served the 140-year-old global legal powerhouse for six years and launched numerous publicity campaigns and managed press affairs for Pillsbury offices worldwide.

Prior to Pillsbury, Ms. Rockwood was the Senior Advisor for Press and Public Affairs to the Mayor of Oakland serving as press secretary and later spokesperson for both the Mayor and the City. Ms. Rockwood managed press conferences, and visits with the US President and members of his Cabinet, governors, US senators, and other VIPs.

Her diplomacy skills in transitioning Oakland’s then well-known hostile media to neutral ground caught the attention of the Chief of Staff for the US Secretary of Commerce. She was offered but declined four media advance positions in the Secretary of Commerce Department — opting to stay on the West Coast.

Ms. Rockwood’s crisis communication skills were forged by economic emergencies, strikes, crime, and natural disasters.

Additionally, she was trained in city-crisis response and was trained and certified through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Institute in Advanced Public Information for Crisis Management. Ms. Rockwood also served as a communications advisor on the California State Seismic Safety Commission’s Tsunami Risk to California Committee which prepared reports for the Governor and the legislature.

Having worked as a freelance journalist and interned at a CBS affiliate station, Ms. Rockwood intuitively understands media pressure and deadlines. She has worked on countless stories with the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times and numerous local television, radio, print, online and industry-specific media outlets.

Ms. Rockwood has trained business owners, board members, elected officials, CEOs, doctors, attorneys, police and fire personnel, teachers, celebrities, athletes, and reception/administrative staff in all aspects of media relations.

She earned her BA degree in Journalism with a minor in Public Relations. With respect to Social Passport Skills and etiquette, Ms. Rockwood has published several articles and been featured as an expert in publications including Yankee Magazine, Orange County Lawyer and the Los Angeles Daily Journal.