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Houston – May 1, 2009 – The Houston chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/Houston) presented John C. Sheptor, chief executive officer of Imperial Sugar Company, with the 2009 Communication Leadership Award during the organization’s Bronze Quill Awards Gala on April. 30.  

 

The award, given annually to an organizational leader who actively supports communications by initiating, directing, supporting or sustaining outstanding and effective communications programs, went to Sheptor in honor of the tremendous crisis communication efforts he directed after a tragic February 2008 explosion at the company’s refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The explosion and subsequent fire occurred just eight days after Sheptor took the reins at Imperial Sugar.  

 

Sheptor was touring that plant on the day of the explosion. From the moment the tragedy occurred, he maintained a constant level of communication with all stakeholders — including families, first responders, media, investigators and investors. This open dialogue, coupled with decisive and urgent action, helped maintain trust in the company and reinforced its reputation as a solid corporate citizen.  

 

“Mr. Sheptor showed outstanding leadership in managing both the recovery effort and the company's communications after the tragic explosion and fire,” said Theresa Parker, IABC/Houston president. “He is an excellent example of a leader who demonstrates his commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards, and we congratulate him on his well-deserved award.”  

 

In addition to the Communication Leadership Award, IABC/Houston also presented awards to Bronze Quill honorees during the gala.  

 

This year’s IABC/Houston Bronze Quill program was presented by BP and Towers Perrin; and was sponsored by Bayside Printing, The Brookwoods Group; Hanagriff King Design; Shell; South Coast Film & Video; Buck Consultants; Bill Young Productions, Inc.; ContentActive; Hewitt Associates; Art Squad; Hill, Barolet & Associates; Pennebaker/Fifth Ring; and Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. IABC/Houston friends such as BusinessWire, Pivot Advisors, Prism Design Inc., Torma Communications and Wright's Printing also contributed to the Bronze Quill Awards program.  

 

About IABC/Houston: With 335 members, IABC/Houston is part of a global network of 16,000 communications professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communications. IABC/Houston offers professional development meetings and workshops, member newsletters, networking opportunities, awards programs, and sponsors an active student chapter at the University of Houston. The chapter was recently awarded a Chapter Management Award in Membership Marketing by IABC. The chapter also sponsors an active student chapter at the University of Houston and will play host to Align ’09, IABC’s Southern Region Conference, being held Oct. 22-24 at the J.W. Marriott, Galleria. For more information on IABC/Houston, visit www.iabchouston.com.