people who speak well

PROFILE

CAPTAIN C. B. CONNERS

Commanding Officer

UNITED STATES NAVY

Naval Base Ventura County

Captain Brad “Brick” Conners is the Commanding Officer at Naval Base Ventura County, one of the largest US Navy bases in the world and home to a phenomenal array of unique Navy mission capability.

Areas of Expertise/ Topics for Speaking Engagements and Interviews:

Environmental Excellence, a Navy Core Mission. Captain Conners and his award winning Team have earned a reputation as innovative and effective stewards of 20,000 acres of environmentally sensitive beach, lagoon, wetlands, and even the “Island of the Blue Dolphin” San Nicolas Island, home to over 120,000 CA Sea Lions, 50,000 Elephant Seals, 500 Harbor Seals, and 550 archaeological sites.

Managing Large/ Diverse Teams: Naval Base Ventura County employs over 17,000 military and civilian personnel with broad and diverse backgrounds. Captain Conners, with his extensive leadership and education experience, keeps his Team mission focused and the Base mission ready despite challenging resource limitations and continuously evolving global conflicts.

Issues/ Crisis Management and Response: As commander of a large and strategically vital Naval base Captain Conners is uniquely qualified to speak on man made and natural disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity of operations. With two airfields, a deep water port, and a variety of unique capability, Naval Base Ventura County is a critical component of any regional crisis plan.

Background

CAPT Brad “Brick” Conners reported to Naval Base Ventura County as Commanding Officer following a tour with Commander Strike Force Training Pacific, in San Diego. Naval Base Ventura County employs roughly 17,000 people and is home to a variety of the Navy’s most critical units and directorates.

In 1978, he entered Naval Service via the U.S Naval Academy, from his hometown of Rochester, N.Y. Following graduation in 1982, he reported to Pensacola, FL for initial pilot training. He received his wings in May 1984 in Beeville, Texas and proceeded to Lemoore, CA to fly the A-7E Corsair. In 1990 he transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet.

Afloat, his operational assignments include: VA94 “Mighty Shrikes” (two western pacific deployments onboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN65)); Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) Staff (two Operation Southern Watch deployments onboard USS LINCOLN (CVN72)); VFA27 “Chargers” (Department Head for Korean Peninsula deployment onboard USS KITTYHAWK (CV63)); VFA151 “Vigilantes” (Squadron Commander during Operation Southern Watch deployment onboard USS CONSTELLATION (CV64)); Cruiser Destroyer Group ONE (Flag Air Operations and Operations Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Operation Enduring Freedom deployment onboard CV64; and, Commander Strike Force Training Pacific (Strike Warfare/Air Operations Instructor).

Ashore, his assignments include: VT-25 Flight Instructor; Initial TopGun F/A-18 Maintenance Officer; Initial Air Wing Training/ Standardization Officer for newly formed Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Fallon NV; and Naval War College Student (Masters degree in national security and strategic studies).

Captain Conners has received the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, one Air Medal, three Strike Flight medals, six Navy Commendation medals (with Valor), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal. During his Command tour, VFA-151 received the Navy’s “Battle Efficiency” award. He has more than 4500 flight hours and 950 carrier landings in several different aircraft. He is married with four children.

Ronald P. Conlin

Senior Associate

Research

Ron Conlin is well rounded business professional that has had a significant impact in both business and in the classroom.

As a Partner at J.D. Power and Associates, he played an integral role in the firm’s 600 percent growth in revenues during his tenure. He spearheaded the expansion of the firm into multiple new industries. As the firm’s Chief Research Officer, he developed and implemented all key research standards at the firm. He launched the firm’s first formal internal research training program and designed and implemented JDPAs quality management system.

Prior to joining J.D. Power and Associates in 1995, Mr. Conlin managed the Market Planning and Research Department at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he played an integral role in developing successful new products, such as the Aquatred tire.

Mr. Conlin holds an M.B.A. and a Master of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin as well as undergraduate degrees in Economics and Journalism from the same institution. He is an active participant with the American Marketing Association and Advertising Research Foundation as well as the current Chair of the External Advisory Board of the A.C. Nielsen School of Marketing Research at the University of Wisconsin.

Mr. Conlin is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University. Mr. Conlin has published articles in the Journal of Advertising Research and CASRO as well as several market research textbooks.

For more information on Mr. Conlin please contact John Lockhart at People Media (800) 600-7111 x 224 or jlockhart@peoplemediagroup.com

Wendy P. Basil

Health Psychology Educator

Neuro-Marketing Expert

Child Development and Attachment Disorder Expert

Speaking Topics/ Areas of Expertise:

Ready to Buy? Predicting Your Customers Behavior with Neuro-Marketing
Forming Healthy Attachments for Kids

Wendy Basil has been a health educator for the last 25 years, developing the State of California’s Breast Cancer Control program for the Department of Health Services and promoting incentive-based solutions for public health and mental health services.

Wendy has designed patient-focused health education programs for Kaiser Permanente, Catholic Health West, Roche, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Mentor Corporation, Health Care Partners on a number of health issues from diabetes to HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, impotence, epilepsy and heart disease.

Wendy Basil earned her Ph.D. at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara and is currently completing her doctoral thesis. She also holds a Masters in Communication from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California where she earned her BA degree.

Wendy led the health care practices at People Media and Halsted Communications and co chaired Porter/ Novelli’s health care practice in the Western region.

She is the mother of two teenage daughters, teaches at California Lutheran University and counsels children and their families on various health care and mental health issues, including attachment disorder, the inability to form human bonds and sustainable relationships.

For more information on any of our People Who Need People Who Speak Well speakers please call (800) 600-7111 x 224 or write people@peoplemediagroup.com