Talking Points LLC

A Public Affairs Management Firm

 

 

Home

 

Qualifications/Background

 

Interact

 

Contact Us

 

 

Contact Us

5201 Addington Court
Charlotte, NC 28277
704-841-7649

 

About Scott Carlberg

Scott Carlberg focuses senior management and boards, driving their organizations' public affairs and business development activities closer to their revenue line.  Carlberg has counseled senior corporate executives, analyzed key stakeholders and produced targeted, consistent programming to achieve corporate goals, enhance networks and build esteem with thought-leaders through: 

  • Senior Management Development and Confidence

  • Corporate Transformation and Project Management

  • Organization, Communication and Influencing Skills

  • Business and Industry Credibility

 Senior Management Development and Confidence                                                

o        Led successful “executive positioning” of management at two Fortune 100 firms to build bridges with key stakeholders with strategic backgrounds or influence; conducted one-on-one counsel with CEOs.  Developed the “management communications” function for Phillips Petroleum.

o        Routinely prepared senior corporate management for key venues; handled corporate issues and spoke on behalf of senior management in public and business-to-business issues.

o        Managed a record Duke Energy Foundation $52 million deposit and an annual $12 million strategic outreach budget; tightened foundation governance; reversed audit variances in the corporate foundation.

o        Sharpened the stakeholder focus of a major oil company’s $9 million philanthropy budget by aligning charitable giving to key corporate objectives, reporting activities to the Social Policy Committee of the board, chaired by Lawrence Eagleburger.

o        Negotiated transformational $10 million business/education partnership chaired by Duke Energy’s CEO – “The Charlotte Research Institute” at the UNC at Charlotte.  The Institute creates research opportunities, spin-off companies and intellectual capital; furthers the institution’s designation as a research university and spurs economic development, which is critical to a utility.

o        Planned and contracted company-wide oil company employee survey, communicate results.  Facilitated company teams to address issues raised by employee survey.

o        Analyzed public relations at a major U.S. university, restructuring of the department for increased flexibility, rapid response and alignment with the university goals.

o        Debriefed and developed new strategies for a $10.8 million arts/cultural annual campaign in Charlotte. Campaign showed largest increase in three years with new approach and tactics in place. 

 Corporate Transformation

o       Managing “Open For Business,” a $900,000, three-year UNC System initiative to improve university service to industry.  Working with managements of regional companies in this effort.

o       Created and implemented outreach activities to reverse negative public issues at a proposed greenfield merchant power plant site.

o       Restructuring regional film commission to manage development of a $250 million (annual direct cash investment) industry.

o       Aligned corporate community outreach to benefit Phillips Petroleum government relations; implemented highly targeted constituency-building to aid business units.

o       Led strategic planning and visioning input for a 16 county economic development region of North and South Carolina; developing and implementing system to use of data use for economic development and cooperation between the Carolinas on business expansion and attracting international companies.

o       Managed the “Carolinas Competitiveness Forum,” economic development summit for Duke Power’s CEO, attracting 250 government officials and executives. The goal: Drive consensus to revitalize Carolinas’ manufacturing base; create a “call to action” for opinion leaders.    

o       Re-focused Phillips Petroleum’s video programming, reducing expenses 15% and doubling productivity in a corporate television operation that was named one of the top ten in the nation.

o       Created and implemented external relations plan for a major Phillips Petroleum petrochemical complex in the Texas Panhandle; enhancing fence-line relations, press relations and corporate reputation.

o       Directed Duke Energy’s Sarbanes-Oxley project start-up to document and remediate internal controls for financial reporting.  In ten months, logged 5,000+ controls, covering 90% of company revenues. 

o       Following a $24 billion merger, created and implemented strategic “signature programs” targeting key constituencies; re-structured corporate citizenship across Duke Energy, “Most Admired” in its Fortune segment, 1999-2003.  Streamlined corporate citizenship systems:

·        Budgeting: Implemented budgeting to enhance accountability and tracking of grants.  Paid off $7 million of multi-year grants early through exacting cash management and budget efficiencies.

·        Program evaluation: Enacted reporting mechanisms for grants; conducted in-depth review of top five grants each year and report key strategic and best practices of grantees.

·        University outreach:  Aligned Foundation giving with energy industry emphasis to address intellectual capital issues where Duke Energy operates.

·        Scholarships: Transformed a routine community relations scholarship program into an important national constituency-builder for the executives of the corporation. 

o       Led corporate team in groundbreaking industry/university program to address higher education issues and corporate diversity recruiting.  Taught in the university classroom as part of the program.

 Organization, Communication and Influencing                    

o        Managed a research task force to more fully anchor professional motorsports in the Charlotte region.  The task force reported findings to the North Carolina Governor and General Assembly.

o        Managing editor of the American Red Cross “Year One” Report about Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita; managed relationships with top corporate leaders for messaging.  Distributed worldwide.

o        Merged bargaining unit contracts during union negotiations.  Reduced grievances by two-thirds in represented chemical plant.  Managed communications during negotiations at major U.S. refinery.

o        Created and led corporate Citizen Advisory Panels in two major corporate locations that act as public opinion barometers and communication conduits for management.

o        Produced more than 600 corporate TV programs.  Accomplished in front and behind the camera and microphone.  Adept at media interface.

o        Drove creation of a Charlotte capital campaign system for quality control and to track more than $400 million of capital campaigns.  Charlotte’s top companies and management are still a part of the system.

o        Led corporate/non-profit steering team for a new emergency response system after the Oklahoma City federal building bombing; tap into an opinion leader base, such as the Red Cross’ Elizabeth Dole to promote the initiative.

 Business and Industry Credibility                                                        

o        Board governance coach, Executive Service Corps, Charlotte.  Certified through BoardSource nationally.

o        Managed more than $85 million in “corporate social investing”.

o        Past Chair, The Conference Board’s national “Community and Public Issues Council”. 2000 – 2003. Held vice chair, programming and membership positions before the chairmanship.  1995 – 2000.  Significantly increased national reach of the group, industry diversity and membership numbers.

o        Co-creator/instructor, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, “strategic planning” professional course; more than five years, taught more than 125 corporate managers across various industries the fundamentals of community and stakeholder management.

o        Speaker and workshop leader for more than 25 years in courses ranging from stakeholder relations, corporate communications and video production.

Selected Personal Civic Activities:

  • Executive Service Corps, Charlotte.  Volunteer for nonprofit board governance and orientation.
  • Lifetime Learning Institute, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte: Vice Chair, Advisory Board (2005-2007) 
  • Business Marketing Association of the Carolinas.  Communication Chair. (2006-2007); Advisor to the board (2007).
  • Charlotte Arts and Science Council (http://www.artsandscience.org/)
    • City Campaign Cabinet Leader: Reached 113% of fund-raising goal; set strategy for future growth in key giving segment.
    • Co-chair of the project team that created an “emerging leaders” program for the arts in Charlotte. Program premiered in 2005 and graduated its first class in May, 2006.
  • Boy Scout volunteer
    • Scout Council Executive Board member (1978-2001).
    • Scout Council VP for “Exploring” (young men and women age 14-21). Membership reached 25% of the available youth (national average: under 5%) (1998-2000).
    • Designed youth outreach that tripled registration in key venues (1995-1998).
    • Media representative, national Jamboree, outside Washington, D.C. (1997).
    • Troop leader (1975-1998). Lead “high adventure” ventures in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming. Worked with more than 400 young men in their Scouting careers.

 

 

A "Before & After" look at some of Scott's work

The Issue:

  • A plastic production plant is being sited in a community where a major manufacturer has no previous presence

The Solution:

  • A “community entry plan” identifies issues that can derail the siting process.
  • The plan identifies community opinion leaders and places management at key community venues.

The Effect:

  • The company enters a community as a positive corporate citizen.
  • New management is immediately a trusted and involved civic partner.
  • The siting is done with community buy-in and the facility is in operation today.

The Issue:

  • A strategy is needed for the funds a company spends for scholarships and internships

The Solution:

  • An education plan focuses on high-potential minority students, interns them in the company and provides professionals as leadership role-models.

The Effect:

  • Funds are targeted and well invested.
  • The company strengthens its minority outreach.
  • The program celebrates its 12th year in operation in 2007.

The Issue:

  • A company wants to improve the economic development of its hub city and create a “signature” corporate outreach

The Solution:

  • A major philanthropic investment bolsters the intellectual capital of the region and supports the local university.
  • A high-profile, creative use of philanthropic funds reflects on the company behind the contribution.

The Effect:

  • More than $10 million of research monies are committed from new funders.
  • Four new companies spin-off from the university institute.
  • The region is a player in new high-tech fields. The university is cited alongside MIT and Stanford.
  • The university takes a key step toward “research university” status, critical for local economic development.

The Issue:

  • A panel of judges for a corporate scholarship program does only one thing -- award scholarships.

The Solution:

  • The panel’s corporate purpose is re-defined: Choose scholarship recipients; be vehicle to reinforce important company relationships.

The Effect:

  • This strategic group of stakeholders provides high-level relationship-building between company management and key stakeholders.

The Issue:

  • The philanthropic outreach of a company has no focus.

The Solution:

  • Corporate objectives provide the backbone for the company’s “signature” outreach.
  • Contributions are analyzed by line-item.
  • A streamlined contributions system emphasizes business unit and facility-level outreach, planning line items annually to maximize communications about gifts.

The Effect:

  • The public has a clear impression of the company’s philanthropic citizenship.
  • The contributions budget directly relates to business unit issues.
  • Communications about contributions are planned and executed to touch the right stakeholders.

The Issue:

  • An executive will be interviewed for a feasibility study by a fund-raising consultant for a local nonprofit

The Solution:

  • An issue analysis provides the executive with anticipated Q&A and the latest trends in corporate philanthropy.

The Effect:

  • The executive is prepared; directs the interview to fit the goals of the company.
  • The executive sets the tone about the company as a potential funder to the cause.

The Issue:

  • A company needs to improve the outreach tools available to it safety and health professionals at facilities.

The Solution:

  • Public Affairs and the Health, Safety and Environment Department coordinate efforts for a “Safety and Health Grant” program in operations communities.

The Effect:

  • Local safety and health professionals make on-the-spot decisions about funding small local projects that improve public health and safety.
  • The company is seen, appropriately, as empowering its local employees to help the communities where it operates.
  • Communities become safer, healthier places to live.

 

 

Education

  • M.A., The University of Oklahoma. Human Relations.
  • M.A., B.A., Western Illinois University. Broadcast Communications.
  • Corporate Community Relations Certificate, Boston College

 

 

Professional Development

Pragmatic Experience that has Pioneered New Approaches in Business Communications

  • Among the first corporate television producer/directors in the country; taught video production to my peers and managed a focused and efficient television facility
  • Created the management communications function at a major petroleum company that built an open and constructive image of corporate leadership
  • Forged new relationships with higher education to meet corporate, academic and civic needs
  • Redefined stakeholder relation processes in two major corporations