Aubrey McLaughlin Zwicker, MBA

Check out ATARC's new White Paper, "Achieving Cyber Readiness for 2025 and Beyond"! The whitepaper explores insights from a recent roundtable discussion where Federal experts examined the challenges and successes in developing and implementing data strategies. Key topics include crafting effective data strategies, the evolving role of Chief Data Officers (CDOs), the critical impact of strong leadership, and utilizing #data and Generative #AI to achieve mission outcomes. Read here! - https://ow.ly/jmtz50Uokb3 https://atarc.smh.re/0Hg

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NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) continues to advance the effectiveness of #boards through research and content devoted to the Future of the American Board. Take a look at the resources we offer, such as Directorship Magazine's digital edition on becoming a high-performing board in a more demanding environment. https://lnkd.in/dgtg5Esb #directorship #highperformance

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Curious about SpectrumX – An NSF Spectrum Innovation Center, SWIFT, NRDZ, or radio spectrum research and policy? Check out the videos linked below from the 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) Spectrum Week event!

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Reserve your spot for the Optimizing Operations: #Gen AI in Federal Agencies webinar on July 18, 2024 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM ET! Join us to hear experts dive into the strategic implementation of Gen #AI, addressing challenges such as #data privacy, #security, and integration with existing systems to create a more agile and responsive government infrastructure. We will explore applications for improving cybersecurity and developing predictive models. Secure your spot now - https://ow.ly/VIXy50SsROz

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November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the opportunity to encourage people with a smoking history or those currently smoking to discuss lung cancer screening with a doctor. As the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support, the American Cancer Society has made significant contributions to the fight against lung cancer. This includes $69 million in current lung cancer research, a roundtable working to close gaps in lung cancer screening, and advocacy work impacting tobacco policies and regulations. Here’s more you should know about lung cancer. ·       Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women (not counting skin cancer). It is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. ·       There will be about 234,580 new cases of lung cancer and about 125,070 deaths from lung cancer this year. ·       Anyone can get lung cancer. ·       Screening for lung cancer in people at high risk can help find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. ·       Lung cancer was once considered a terminal diagnosis, but today there is HOPE! ·       Some people with lung cancer have symptoms, but most lung cancers do not cause symptoms until they have spread. Don’t ignore persistent symptoms. #OneACS #EverycancerEveryLife #americancancersociety

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What an amazing 10 years since joining Merck Animal Health as the first person in the newly created Public Policy and Government Relations role. I’m so proud of what we’ve built and our talented team (the best!) over the past decade. Coming into this position, my goal was clear: to create a customer-focused, business-minded team passionate about advancing science-based policies that ultimately serve producers, veterinarians, pet owners and the animals in their care - and we’ve done just that. Throughout my career, I’ve had the unique opportunity to step into newly created roles, each time bringing an entrepreneurial and customer-service mindset, shaped by my upbringing as a 6th generation farmer marketing our food directly to consumers - before it was even cool! One of the driving forces behind my decision to join Merck Animal Health was the gap I saw as a cattle producer and while working at National Pork Producers Council in engagement from the Animal Health industry to actively support their customers and defend their products. We’ve made great strides to fill that gap, but there’s more work ahead. That’s why I continue to love my work #SuitsToBoots, enjoy the collaboration across our industry, and empower the passion and grit from our team at Merck. We’re here to make sure our customers have access to the best #innovation and technologies to make the right choices for the animals in their care based on #science. You don’t celebrate 10 years in a role without great support and guidance, and I’ve been fortunate to have some of the best. Big thanks to my team, colleagues, and the support of Richard DeLuca and Jenelle Krishnamoorthy. Here’s to the next 10 years!  #AnimalHealth #Leadership #PublicPolicy #Inspiration

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Read my blog post on how to get the most out of the upcoming lame duck session! The Herald Group can help your organization make the most of the lame duck session—and position your organization for public policy success in 2025-2026, both in Congress and at the state level. If you’d like to discuss your challenges and learn more about how our firm can help, please reach out to me or one of my team members at the Herald Group.

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I’m fortunate to have a lot of great trails nearby so that time in nature can be part of my weekend reset – weather permitting. Yesterday, a routine hike with my dog unexpectedly sparked some thoughts on leadership. As we walked a popular trail, where leashes are mandatory, we encountered not one, but two couples whose dogs were off-leash. Each time, as their dogs enthusiastically bounded toward us, the owners reassured with a quick, "Don't worry, they are friendly!" However, my dog, who is quite fearful of other dogs, especially those off-leash, did not find this reassuring at all. This situation made me reflect on how often we navigate our work based on our personal experiences and biases, forgetting that others may not share the same context or feelings. In leadership, this kind of assumption can lead to significant gaps in understanding and communication. Just as the dog owners assumed that everyone would be comfortable with their pets' behavior, leaders might assume that all team members are on the same page regarding changes or new initiatives. In reality, just as some dogs are more cautious or reactive, employees also have varied experiences and comfort levels that can affect their response to organizational changes. They are also just beginning to process changes at announcement time, while leaders have completed their processing and are ready to move into action. Effective communications plans help leaders acknowledge these differences and create opportunities to understand the unique perspectives and needs of their team members before moving forward. This experience reminded me that true leadership involves empathizing with diverse experiences and actively addressing our own biases. It’s about ensuring that while we might be ready to run freely toward a goal, we are not leaving our team members behind, overwhelmed or misunderstood. Let's strive to be leaders who leash our assumptions and unleash our team's potential.

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That’s a wrap for #NatCon24. Our team had a fantastic time presenting at the poster session. A few conference takeaways for me: 1. Lean into what you love at work. Those things that you really love to do at work - do them more often. For me it’s leaning more into the creative brainstorming space and connecting data stories. 2. Design approaches and care with the human experience first. Technology is a wonderful asset and it helps us work better, but we are human first. User experience matters in the workplace and for those we serve. 3. Executives and upper management need to pay attention and protect culture. If we’re expecting our managers to address culture and hold staff accountable, we also need to hold our peers accountable. Being a good culture keeper builds trust, helps retain employees, and opens up dialogue to build stronger organizations. If you attended #NatCon24, what are your takeaways? #thechildrensguild #mentalhealth #children #behavioralhealth #learning #nationalcouncil

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If you work in PR, you need to watch the Spirit Airlines (former) CEO Ben Baldanza interview on CBS This Morning. It's 11 years old, but still a master class in navigating a tough interview. A few good lessons can be learned from it: 1.) Stop trying to be liked by everyone. I loved this line from Baldanza: "We're #1 in the things that matter most to our employees, our customers and our shareholders." That is a CEO who is self aware of the brand and its key stakeholders. 2.) Answer the tough questions (don't ignore them) and THEN bridge to your key message. For Spirit Airlines - that key message was crystal clear: They offer the lowest price! 3.) Bring the positive energy. In what could have been a contentious interview, Baldanza was overflowing with positive vibes and his laugh was contagious. These are the things we prepare clients for every day. If you're interested in learning more about media training, drop me a line! Any other takeaways from the interview that I missed? #MediaTraining #PublicRelations #TechPR #PRAgency #Communications

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Aero Crew News, LLC shines an important light on the obstacles many aviation industry professionals face when seeking mental health treatment - and the opportunities Congress has to remedy those issues with common sense aeromedical policy changes to help end the culture of mental health stigma at the FAA.

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Here are some great reminders for governments to consider when conducting public engagement during a crisis. Some of these tips may also resonate with businesses that need to keep customers and other stakeholder informed during a challenging time. #BeReady #CrisisCommunications

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This brief article about beautiful Thriver, Soraya, and her experience as a model in the #RunwayofResilience event last fall. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gmrgVY5v

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Join the Foundation Fighting Blindness on December 7 for our National Chapter Webinar to get an inside look at the groundbreaking progress happening in clinical trials for blinding diseases. Our panel of expert speakers will share the latest research, reveal new clinical trial opportunities, and explore how these advancements are shaping a brighter future for those affected by vision loss. 🧬👁️ Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this is your chance to stay informed and inspired. Don’t miss it—register today! https://gag.gl/nvdzeE Image Description: Dark blue background with the Foundation Fighting Blindness logo at the top. Below it, the text reads "National Chapter Webinar" with more text below that reads "Clinical Trials." The event date and time are listed as "Saturday, December 7, 2024, 12:30 P.M. ET." Geometric lines and a colorful digital wave are featured at the bottom.

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As #NationalPublicWorksWeek comes to a close, I'd like to shout out to all the public works pros who work hard to maintain quality of life in our communities, every single day. JPW Communications is proud to partner with public works team across the state as their strategists and translators, crafting a more effective outreach approach for these important, but often misunderstood, projects. Check out our recent blog that highlights the secret weapon in our approach, which might just surprise you. Check the link below. ⬇ 🚧 #NPWW #PWX #publicworks #localgov

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