Doug Hock
Senior Advisor
Expertise
Doug has 36 years of experience in crisis communications, issues management, stakeholder relations, and media relations. He served as media spokesman for an international mining firm, Newmont Mining Corporation, and directed community relations for Encana Oil & Gas USA, a major oil and gas exploration and production company. He’s dealt with everything from environmental incidents and regulatory issues to labor disputes. He brings his broad experience to bear in helping clients develop communications strategies to manage reputational risk. This includes working in concert with both in-house and external legal counsel on these issues.
- Project Management
- Strategic planning, counsel and messaging
- Stakeholder outreach and engagement
- Issues management and risk/crisis communications
- Communications with elected officials, community leaders, property owners and utility customers
Experience
In June 2000, Newmont experienced a serious environmental incident when mercury being trucked from the Yanacocha mine in Peru was spilled in a nearby village, contaminating homes and resulting in serious health issues for one individual. Doug served as media spokesman throughout this crisis and worked with the remediation team on the ground, as well as part of a corporate team.
Doug also played a key role within Newmont and as part of an industry group in 1997 when EPA chose to include mine waste as part of its annual Toxic Release Inventory. Through a coordinated campaign reaching out to local communities, elected officials and media, the industry successfully conveyed its message and prevented any serious backlash or negative coverage.
When miners at Newmont’s Carlin Trend operations threatened to go on strike during collective bargaining, Doug worked with the Carlin community relations team to design a campaign to convey the company’s position to employees, local media and the community. The strike was averted with no reputational damage to the company and no further unionization of mines in the area.
Education and Affiliations
Doug has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Drake University. He is accredited through the Public Relations Society of America and is former President of the Colorado Chapter. He is currently a board member and former chair member of MetroCaring.
RECOGNITIONS:
- Career Achievement Award in Public Affairs, Western Energy Alliance