Moderator: Judith Black Moore (The Carter Malone Group)

Panelists: Thomas Bennett III (FleishmanHillard), Jonathan Lyons (FedEx), and Christy Weir (Special Olympics). 

Thomas Bennett III (FleishmanHillard) 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbennettiii/

Thomas is a military veteran with over 22 years of experience. Currently, he is Senior Vice President at FleishmanHillard, a global PR agency that was recently named Agency of the Year by PRWeek. In his role at FleishmanHillard, he helps to lead and build the profile of the agency’s global health equity offering. Additionally, he acts as a senior, strategic counselor for clients in all areas of health equity and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I).

Prior to FleishmanHillard, Thomas spent over 14 years working for multiple companies and organizations in the healthcare industry including the American Heart Association, UT Southwestern Medical Center (one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation), Dallas Children’s Medical Center (a U.S. News & World Report ranked hospital), Parkland Hospital Community Health Plan (that offers Medicaid and CHIP insurance plans), and OCHIN (a non-profit organization that provides EHR solutions for Federally Qualified Health Centers). He began his career working for the San Francisco 49ers (of the National Football League) and the Memphis Grizzlies (of the National Basketball Association).

Thomas has served on multiple boards throughout his career. He’s been a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) since 2017 and has served on multiple committees at the national level and within his local PRSA Dallas chapter. Currently, he’s on the national board of PRSA, is a national board member of the PRSA Foundation, is chair PRSA’S annual Paladin Awards, and is on the local Dallas United Negro College Fund (UNCF) board.He is originally from Little Rock, AR, graduated from Fisk University (an HBCU in Nashville, TN), received his MBA from Belhaven University, and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (Alpha Delta Chapter).

Jonathan Lyons (FedEx)

Jonathan Lyons is the manager of Global Media Orchestration and Design at FedEx. In this role, he is responsible for leading a team that manages communications strategies that promote and protect the global FedEx brand and reputation. In his 8 years with FedEx, Lyons has worked in a variety of communications roles related to media relations, crisis communications, executive communications, citizenship, sponsorships and public affairs. 

Prior to FedEx, Lyons served in public relations roles with Memphis Tourism, Obsidian Public Relations and The Peabody Hotel.

Christy Weir (Special Olympics) 

Christy Weir has dedicated over 20 years of her career to developing and implementing innovative public affairs, media relations, and marketing and brand communications strategies across military, nonprofit, and Fortune 500 contexts. Currently, she plays a pivotal role at Special Olympics, where she drives social change by raising awareness and fostering actions to build a more inclusive world. Weir considers her position the best job in the world as it allows her to constantly engage with the media, sharing inspiring stories of athletes from diverse locales such as Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Missouri. Her work is instrumental in altering public perceptions about individuals with intellectual disabilities, combating discrimination and stigma associated with the term 'disability.' Through the compelling narratives of athletes, she is redefining how businesses, media figures, sports federations, and the international development community interact with people with intellectual disabilities.

Weir is a seasoned storyteller and a recognized global and national public relations and communications expert with a proven track record of securing top-tier national and international media placements. With over 15 years of experience, she has excelled in supervising and leading teams in strategic communication efforts, including roles in media operations, crisis communications, and brand communications.

Judith Black Moore (Moderator) 

Judith Black Moore's career has spanned leadership roles in marketing communications across various corporate, public, and nonprofit organizations. Her professional journey includes significant contributions to esteemed institutions such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, International Paper, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Light Gas Water, Brooks Museum, Memphis City Schools, and First Tennessee Bank. Moore takes great pride in mentoring younger professionals, especially those at the intersection of being Black and female, drawing on her extensive background in marketing, public relations, and nonprofit sectors.

Currently, as the Vice President of PR at Carter Malone Group (CMG), she collaborates closely with her longtime friend and PR expert, Deidre Malone, the Founder and President of CMG. More about their work can be found at www.cmgpr.com. In 2017, Moore reached a career milestone by co-founding a nonprofit youth organization with her son, NBA player Tarik Black. The organization, known for its programs GLAM (Girls Life Academy Memphis) and Taking Back The Future, aims to educate young people about life and the broad range of opportunities they can seize. These initiatives reflect Moore's dedication to empowering youth to proactively shape their futures. For more information, visit www.tarikblackfoundation.org.