Here is the person I would choose to help me if I had to communicate to the media in a crisis; keep the media happy, informed, and on my side; or undertake community outreach. Luckily I do not have to do any of these things. I have in the past and know that unless you do it with an expert, the best laid plans of mice and men can go wrong.

Here is her potted resume:

Maureen Upton is Founder and Principal of Resource Initiatives LLC. She has twelve years of executive-level communications experience in Fortune 500 companies in solving complex messaging, branding and crisis communications challenges. She was Director of Public Affairs & Communications for Newmont Mining Corporation, where she had primary responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region. She worked extensively in Indonesia on communications related to both litigation and operational issues.

While working as a freelance journalist, Ms. Upton covered global public health and international sports. With Goldman, Sachs & Co., she held positions in both the Equities and the Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities divisions of the firm. Previously serving as Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communications for Chase Manhattan Bank, she served corporate finance teams in the oil & gas and mining & metals industries, primarily in Latin America.

While an Account Supervisor at Edelman Public Relations in New York, she managed accounts with the Mexican government related to NAFTA negotiations and with the Brazilian government related to its privatization of energy, mining and telecommunications assets. She authored speeches as well as op-ed pieces for cabinet-level officials which appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and other major daily newspapers.

Ms. Upton holds both an MBA in finance and a Master of International Affairs in economic policy from Columbia University in New York, and completed her Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

Ms. Upton is busy working on sustainability policy research and development, as well as community engagement consulting for global metals producers and multinational manufacturers. “Most companies have strong programs in place with regard to their environment, community and workplace,” she says. “Where they usually need help is in getting out the messages of this good work to the right audiences.”