Janis Friesen is president of Friesen & Associates, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm handling print, broadcast, outdoor, online, social media, and direct mail marketing programs for both consumer and business-to-business sectors.
Friesen has more than 40 years of experience in advertising, media relations, crisis management, corporate communications and special event management. She has coordinated such major events and ceremonies as the BANK IV River Run (with 14,000+ registrants) and two Olympic Torch Relays presented by Coca-Cola (Wichita/Newton/Topeka – 1996 and St. Louis – 2002).
A recognized expert in crisis management, Friesen has counseled clients through controversies and/or litigation involving tobacco issues, health care, industrial accidents, corporate bankruptcy, embezzlement, labor negotiations, transportation, Internet mis-use, and environmental concerns.
Prior to starting her own firm in 1993, Friesen spent more than 10 years as a corporate communications counselor in the computer and financial services industries. She spent nearly six years as Assistant Vice President for Marketing at BANK IV (now Bank of America), where she was responsible for advertising, public relations and special events for the bank and its holding company, Fourth Financial Corporation. She has also headed the public relations division of Sullivan Higdon & Sink, a nationally recognized advertising and public relations firm.
Friesen is a Past President of the Kansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and has been honored as the Chapter’s Public Relations Professional of the Year. She is a past Board Member of the Advertising Federation of Wichita; Botanica, The Wichita Gardens; and Old Cowtown Museum.
A graduate of Wichita State University, Friesen holds both a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communications. She is a lecturer in the areas of crisis management, public relations, advertising, and communications ethics.
Op/ed Article:
Every Business Shoud Plan to Address a Crisis Before it Happens
The Wichita Eagle, Business Today Section
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