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Drew Kerr
Crisis prevention expert for CEOs, founders, and private investors | Speaker. Writer. Thinking one step ahead.
Drew Kerr is the Creative Director of the Queens Chef Project, a multi-media tribute to the food workers of Queens, New York.1 He is a communications professional with expertise in crisis prevention for companies, leaders, and investors.4
Kerr's Queens Chef Project is a passion project he undertook in 2021, photographing and interviewing 50 chefs from Queens about objects in their kitchens that hold special meaning to them.12 He shot over 17,000 photographs, conducted numerous interviews, and traveled extensively throughout Queens to complete this project.1
As a photographer, Kerr focused on capturing joyful images of chefs who survived the COVID-19 pandemic, often persuading them to pose in unconventional and fun ways with their chosen objects.2 His goal was to showcase the resilience and ingenuity of the Queens food industry during challenging times.2
Kerr has a background in journalism and has worked in communications, bringing these skills to his creative project.2 He grew up in Queens, specifically in Flushing and Howard Beach, which gave him a personal connection to the borough and its diverse culinary scene.25
In recognition of his work, Kerr received the Claire Shulman "Spirit of Community" Award.3 The Queens Chef Project has been sponsored by Queens Together and Queens Economic Development Corporation, and has received support from local food writers.2
Highlights
A textbook example of bad crisis management is playing out at the Bronx Zoo. It will end badly.
Happy The Elephant, a high-profile part of the zoo's Wild Asia exhibit, has not been seen in public for over two months, and people are noticing. She was also part of a legal battle deciding whether "she, and therefore all elephants, had free will and whether her confinement in a zoo was a violation of habeas corpus." (as per New York Times)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released a statement last week that the elephant was fine.
But activists aren't accepting that statement and are getting vocal about Happy's mental state and isolation. So the Bronx Zoo issued a statement:
“Happy has recently opted not to be in the exhibit during the day, but she has gone into that area in the morning before the zoo opens. Happy is choosing to spend her time near the barn interacting with staff rather than in the exhibit space. She is given access to the exhibit area each day but not choosing to spend her time there.”
Happy is over 50 years old. The median life expectancy for female Asian elephants is 47 years old.
Now that this has reached the NY Times (who were denied a visit to see Happy in private), the world (including the media) is probably pounding the zoo's doors for more information.
Of course, the zoo could pop the air out of this balloon by posting current video of Happy before opening hours. The zoo can also address the age situation -- perhaps Happy is in her twilight years, and talking about it is perfectly acceptable. Even if Happy was not well, then say so.
However, if the conditions are poor, then this is a flat-out cover-up, and heads will eventually roll. There is no way they can keep hiding.
Instead, the zoo seems to have circled the wagons so far, saying nothing further, which will invite even more pressure and inquiries. They have definitely made things worse for themselves. Basic crisis management logic dictates that this will not end well for The Bronx Zoo.
#crisismanagement #crisiscommunications
Hailey Bieber is a crisis management star.
That's right. Justin Bieber's wife turned around what could have been a very embarrassing scenario. It underscored the difference between a knee-jerk defensive reaction, which most celebrities and their reps would take, or actually taking a step back to listen.
Black beauty content creator Golorria George tests many makeup shade ranges on her dark skin. She tried blush shades from Hailey Bieber's Rhode brand, hoping it would work well, but it ended up looking "ashy" on her face.
After receiving both praise and a barrage of racist comments, George posted a second test video to prove the blush didn't quite work: “It’s so much easier to just listen to dark skin Black women."
Both of those videos garnered 20 million views on TikTok.
That provoked Bieber to personally reach out by phone to George (!), and then send her two new-and-improved blush shades after hearing her feedback.
George explained in a follow-up: “This is why you advocate for yourself. Your voice can elicit change. wonderfully done, thank you for listening to Black women!” She described it as "redemption."
Happy ending? Yes. Lessons learned to avoid a crisis?
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Your constituents want to be heard. Listen to them and make sure they know it. Their words have validity.
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The act of personally reaching out can extinguish a growing fire.
Big hat tip to Karina Moscoso for the story lead!
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