Meet the inaugural instructors of Ragan Training’s new learning portal

Today, our existing Ragan Training hub— an on-demand, subscription-based hub collecting videos and resources from Ragan conferences and webinars— transforms into a full-fledged learning portal.

The Ragan Training learning portal integrates the hallmark features of an effective learning management system such as micro-learning modules with knowledge checks and quizzes, transcript dashboards for learners (and their managers) to track progress and much more.

While Ragan Training continues to grow with our ever-expanding conference and event content, the learning portal will also be updated frequently with new modules and courses featuring lessons from our subject matter experts — including those on staff at Ragan and SMEs in the community — in an easily-digestible format that aligns with how people learn.

Here are the inaugural batch of guest instructors, and what they’re teaching. These instructor-led courses will be rolling out throughout launch week!

Ted Birkhahn, Managing Director, Vested — “Investor Storytelling”

As a managing director based in New York, Birkhahn provides strategic marketing and communications solutions to some of the world’s most prestigious financial brands. With a career spanning 25+ years, Birkhahn has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in brand communications, issues management and digital marketing.

His approach integrates data, content, and technology to enable companies to respond to shifts in the market with speed and purpose. His 25+ years in brand communications, issues management and digital marketing run deep, counseling clients such as AIG, Chubb, EY, Marsh, J.P. Morgan and McKinsey.

Birkhahn’ s first course for Ragan Training, “Investor Storytelling”, walks communicators through several lessons including how to develop an investor story, how to design an effective omnichannel content strategy, and how to prepare leadership to engage investors.

Cat Colella-Graham, Communications Professor — “Employee Recognition During Times of Change”

Cat Colella-Graham is an Adjunct Professor at NYU, LIM College and an internal communications consultant and coach at Coaching for Communicators. She secured the first and only trademark for “Employee Experience” in 2005. Known as a trusted change-maker, coach, and speaker with a proven track record of driving meaningful change through the power of communications, Cat continues to teach graduate-level project management. Cat founded the employee experience agency Cheer Partners, which was acquired after four successful years by Lippe Taylor Group in March, 2021.

Cat’s first course for Ragan Training, “Employee Recognition During Times of Change”, unpacks how communications leaders can navigate the unknown by understanding the principles of employee recognition, engaging managers as change champions and embedding recognition in every facet of employee comms.

Adeta Gayah, Sr. Director, Social Media and Content, Visit Orlando —“Ethical Prompt Engineering for Social Media”

At Visit Orlando, Gayah’s team is responsible for creating social campaigns that build the brand of Orlando and creating all content for the organization. She is also responsible for social media strategy and focusing on cross-functional digital integration. Prior to her time at Visit Orlando, Adeta worked in Digital Marketing for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Universal Orlando Resort. She has led successful large-scale influencer partnerships with social media influencers (like Zach King, Sophia Grace & Rosie from The Ellen Show and The Muppets) and lived in China for several months to serve on the grand opening team for Shanghai Disneyland Resort.

Gayah’s first module for Ragan Training, “Ethical Prompt Engineering for Social Media” unpacks a framework and guidelines for ensuring that generative AI is responsibly used to create outputs. This module is part of Ragan’s “AI Foundations for Communicators” course.

Chris Gee, Founder and CEO, Chris Gee Consulting —“Integrating AI With PR”

Chris Gee specializes in guiding organizations to integrate AI into their communications strategies effectively. With deep expertise in corporate storytelling, digital strategy, and AI-driven solutions, Chris helps companies grapple with the complexities of today’s digital landscape.

Gee’s first module for Ragan Training “Integrating AI With PR”, offers a future-forward look at the myriad ways that AI is transforming, and will continue to transform, how PR pros engage with the media. This module is part of Ragan’s “AI Foundations for Communicators” course.

George Haj, Founder and President, Haj Media — “AI’s Legal and Regulatory Landscape”

George Haj is founder and president of Haj Media, a Miami-based strategic communications firm specializing in media strategy, crisis communications and messaging for law firms, corporate clients and nonprofits. He has worked extensively with some of the nation’s largest law firms and has written and spoken extensively on crisis communications and how companies of all sizes can navigate a fast-moving media environment.

Haj’s first module for Ragan Training, “AI’s Legal and Regulatory Landscape”, is part of Ragan’s “AI Foundations for Communicators Course” and breaks down the top regulatory developments, ethical pitfalls and liability issues that communicators should understand when integrating AI into their workflows.

Debra Helwig, Internal Communications Director, Pinion — “Digital Strategy Audits”

Debra Helwig leads internal communications for Pinion, a national consulting and accounting firm with deep roots in the food and agriculture industry. Helwig and her team shepherd employee engagement, provide strategic thought leadership to firm executives, and manage all aspects of internal corporate communications. A powerful part of her role is to serve as a “process breaker” – identifying places where firm policies and processes need further refinement before they can be effectively communicated.

Helwig’s first course for Ragan Training, “Digital Strategy Audits”, takes an advanced look at how to identify the right tools and strategies in your organization, assess your digital portfolio and present your change case to leadership.

Mandy Mooney, Internal Communications Director, Prologis — “Internal Influence: Shaping Perceptions and Protecting Reputation”

Mandy Mooney is a comms pro with nearly 20 years of corporate marketing and communications experience working at startups, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. She believes that data should drive decisions, and humanity should drive storytelling for communicators. In her current role, she oversees the content strategy for all employee-facing channels and is responsible for delivering culture-enhancing communications.

Mooney’s first course for Ragan Training, “Internal Influence: Shaping Perceptions and Protecting Reputation” explores what internal reputation is and why it matters, offers practical steps and best practices to build and maintain your internal reputation, along with tips for responding to internal reputational challenges.

Steve Mudd, Founder and CEO, Talentless AI—“Creating Audio, Video and Visuals With AI” 

Steve Mudd is the founder and CEO of Talentless AI, an Austin-based creative agency that uses real and artificial intelligence to deliver provocative content. He’s also currently the host of AIAF, a creative podcast featuring artificial conversations about real intelligence. Mudd has a long history as a content creator and storyteller. He most recently ran strategic messaging and content marketing for NetApp and previously worked for Ogilvy on brands such as IBM, Lenovo, Level 3 Communications and Iron Mountain.

Mudd’s first module for Ragan Training, “Creating Audio, Video and Visuals With AI”, explores how communicators can make use of AI video tools, use AI to streamline podcast creation and even clone your leadership team by creating an AI avatar. This module is part of Ragan’s “AI Foundations for Communicators” course.

Johnna Muscente, VP, Communications and PR, Corcoran — “Practicing Compassionate Layoff Comms”

Johnna Muscente oversees all public relations and internal communications efforts for Corcoran, leading a team of PR strategists charged with promoting the firm’s brokerage strength and global affiliate growth, while effectively communicating key milestones and business priorities to all agents and staff.

With close to 20 years of public relations experience and storytelling beyond traditional campaigns, Muscente has built tailored PR strategies for well-known luxury brands across the fashion, publishing and travel industries.

Muscente’s first course for Ragan Training, “Practicing Compassionate Layoff Comms” takes a people-first approach to communicating amid uncertainty and change by focusing on crafting clear communications, rolling out an integrated strategy and safeguarding long-term impact after layoffs.

Kerry O’Grady, Ed.D, Communications Professor— “Media Training During Times of Change”

Dr. Kerry O’Grady is a professor of business communications and marketing management at UMass Amherst, Fordham University and Holy Family University. O’Grady is a faculty affairs expert, sought-after pedagogical innovation consultant, award-winning curriculum developer and seasoned communications practitioner.

O’Grady’s first course for Ragan Training, “Media Training During Times of Change”, looks at how to train leaders and spokespeople during uncertain times by focusing on theories in message framing, avoiding interview pitfalls and creating a flexible response strategy amid backlash.

Catherine Richards, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Expera Consulting—“Creating With AI for a Strategic Advantage”

Catherine Richards is an AI strategist, speaker, and Co-Founder of Expera Consulting. She helps leaders in highly regulated industries become AI-savvy and achieve measurable results. As a former Marketing AI Council Member at VMware, she contributed to equipping 700 marketers with AI skills in under six months.

With a background in strategic marketing for cybersecurity, compliance, and advanced technologies at Adobe, Dell Technologies, and VMware, Catherine excels at turning complex AI concepts into practical strategies that help organizations harness technology for meaningful growth. Committed to ensuring no one is left behind in the AI evolution, she shares practical insights on AI-driven growth through her blog, The Strategist Blog.

Richards’ first module for Ragan Training, “Creating with AI for a Strategic Advantage”, unpacks the difference between using AI and creating with it, urging communicators to use their expertise as a means to refine their prompting approach for strategic outputs. This module is part of Ragan’s “AI Foundations for Communicators” course.

Megan Weekes, CMO and Partner, Speekes —“Executive Influence: Showing Up as a Leader”

Megan is an accomplished global CMO with over 17 years of experience in marketing, communications and media. She has worked on virtually every aspect of the business: media, PR, agency, production, creative, strategy and even as talent.

Weekes has worked with some of the highest profile organizations in the world including MLB, Disney, NHL, Tropicana, Revlon, TD Bank, RBC, Walmart, Rogers Media and many more, and has helped dozens of her clients and agencies set industry records.

Weekes’ first course for Ragan Training, “Executive Influence: Showing Up as a Leader” explores how effective leaders define their style as an extension of their authentic selves, embrace a service-oriented approach while deploying soft skills to drive performance, and communicate using a mix of verbal and non-verbal techniques.

Making learning a continuous road

These instructor-led courses make up just half of the new courses now available on Ragan Training’s learning portal. Additional courses include foundational lessons in manager comms, media relations, business fluency, measurement and many more.

From micro-learning modules with knowledge checks and quizzes, transcript dashboards for learners and their managers to track progress and much more, the new Ragan Training is already becoming an indispensable resource for our community to keep learning and growing their skills as communications leaders.

If you’re looking to upskill yourself or your team, there’s no better time to join Ragan Training.