Worcester, MA — October 10, 2024 — Quinsigamond Community College’s Chief of Police Stephen DiGiovanni and Karen Hutner, executive director of Strategic Communications and Public Relations have successfully completed the FBI-LEEDA Master Public Information Officer (PIO) course. Hutner also acts as the Public Information Officer for QCC Police. This advanced, week-long program was held in Columbus, Ohio, and was designed to build on the foundational skills taught in FBI-LEEDA’s Media and Public Relations course, which both Hutner and DiGiovanni completed last year.
“This Master PIO course provides critical tools and knowledge that is a vital component in effectively communicating to our college community, particularly in times of crisis,” said QCC Chief of Police Stephen DiGiovanni. “By adopting these advanced strategies, we’re better equipped to support our college’s communications and crisis management initiatives.”
The Master PIO course is crafted to guide participants from tactical to strategic approaches in media and brand management. This four-and-a-half-day intensive curriculum covers a comprehensive approach to advanced media engagement, internal and external communications strategies, and story pitching. Additionally, attendees learned high-quality video production for social media, developed strategic messaging calendars and participated in scenario-based tabletop exercises aimed at creating a framework for crisis communication manuals.
“Our ability to connect effectively with our community hinges on a strong, proactive media engagement strategy, in addition to communicating effectively to our community,” Hutner said.
FBI-LEEDA is a non-profit organization that provides leadership education for law enforcement professionals. The Master PIO course represents one of the organization’s highest levels of training, advancing the skills and impact of participants nationwide.