ACG Detroit | Surviving & Thriving: Crisis Management in the Age of Cancel Culture

Evan Nierman possesses 20 years of high-level experience in public relations, marketing, crisis management, online media, international relations and public affairs. Throughout his career, he has provided strategic communications counsel to top business leaders, government officials and presidential candidates, and private individuals.

Prior to forming Red Banyan, Evan Nierman served as Director of Communications for a fast-growing, highly scrutinized start-up where he represented the company and steered the CEO through interviews with top-tier media including dozens of international, national and local print, TV and online outlets.

Previously, as the founder of the Washington office for a boutique PR agency specializing in crisis management and foreign affairs, Nierman guided international and corporate clients through high-stakes, complex situations. Nierman was responsible for the agency’s largest and most complex account, the Government of Ethiopia. Working mostly from the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, Nierman conceptualized and executed communications and public affairs strategies.   He overhauled the Ethiopian Embassy’s website, developed its marketing and communications collateral, wrote speeches and op-eds for the Ambassador, wrote and distributed press releases and fact sheets and helped coordinate interviews, events and public appearances that improved the Embassy’s reach and reputation.

Evan Nierman began his career at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), one of the country’s leading advocacy groups. At AIPAC he supervised all aspects of 15 print and electronic branded publications, including editing the organization’s flagship journal on Middle East policy, which was distributed biweekly to 100,000 readers and every office on Capitol Hill. He also did extensive writing of speeches and marketing materials, drafted more than 100 memos on foreign policy developed for legislators and helped organize large-scale national events in Washington, D.C.

Evan Nierman serves clients throughout the U.S. and internationally. Listen to his latest TED talk

Carrie Schochet is the Founder and CEO of Purple Squirrel Advisors, a boutique executive search firm based in Troy, Michigan.  With a passion for helping companies grow by creating exceptional leadership teams, Carrie has spent the past 16 years connecting C-level and senior executives with leadership positions in finance, accounting, human resources, operations, sales, and marketing.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Carrie moved to Chicago and spent over a decade climbing the ranks at one of the nation’s leading recruitment and staffing firms.  In late 2012, she moved back to Rochester Hills to be closer to family.  In early 2015, Carrie launched Purple Squirrel Advisors with the mission of designing a consultative, “white glove” recruitment process customized to each client. Her team’s expansive and loyal network combined with their direct sourcing activities helps to connect PE-backed, family-owned, and entrepreneurial companies with unique candidates and fulfill even the most difficult searches.

Carrie’s compassion and values have led to a passion of philanthropy and helping others. Carrie co-founded 100 Business Who Care to bring business leaders together who want to make a sizeable impact across southeast, Michigan.  Carrie is also the founder of CFO Next, a group she launched in early 2013 when she discovered a lack of resources and networking opportunities for transitioning or unemployed senior financial executives.  Additionally, Carrie volunteers on several boards, including: ACG, Women’s Forum committee chair, and Entrepreneur’s Organization, Learning chair.