“Lani's combination of skill, speed and experience were a critical asset to our team while navigating a nationwide food recall event. She was both professional contractor and coach, providing the resources we needed when we needed them, and encouraging my personal development as a communicator. Lani was ready to go at a moment's notice, asking the questions that needed to be asked to compose the messages that needed to be delivered. If a future crisis should arise, Lani will be my first call.”

• Sarah Schmidt, Vice President, Public Affairs, Associated Milk Producer, Inc.

 

“I highly recommend Lani as an international communications expert.

I had the honor to supervise three high-level consulting assignments Lani implemented in Moldova: two with the National Bank of Moldova (Media/Social Media Communication Strategy Development, and Internal Communication System Development) and one with MOVCA – the Moldovan Organic Value Chain Alliance, in preparations for the BIOFACH Organic Trade Show, the world’s largest organic foods exhibition.

Every time, Ms. Jordan has shown up in Chisinau, Moldova, very well prepared, and has delivered way over the expectations. She always tailored her messages and recommendations to the client’s level of development/understanding, which led to 100% of her recommendations to be implemented.

On top of being a highly qualified professional, Lani is very easy to work with. She shows lots of cultural sensibility, finds common grounds with any trainee, and is very independent. I am planning to work with Ms. Jordan again in the nearest future.”

• Nadejda Mocanu, Country Director – Moldova, Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) (Formerly Moldova program manager, Financial Services Volunteer Corps)

 

“Lani is everything you want -- and more -- from a crisis communications professional. She's responsive, smart, and has the experience to handle any situation. She listens carefully, never gets flustered, and turns around copy and revisions quickly. Plus, she's always thinking ahead ... so you're prepared before the next crisis hits.”

• Wendy Wehr, Former board chair, House of Charity

 

“I am pleased to recommend Lani Jordan without reservation. I have known Lani since the early 1990s through our membership in the Cooperative Communicators Association. She is a true professional communicator and an exceptional leader. I recently enlisted Lani to facilitate a strategic planning session with our Co-op’s Communications and Marketing staff. Lani was the perfect choice for this task having carefully guided her own communication team and advising her cooperative’s executives through a wide range of challenging situations, including mergers, acquisitions, and crisis events. Lani expertly guided us through the planning process, asking thoughtful and probing questions, offering insight as an unbiased observer, and at times, being more brutally honest than we could be ourselves. She began with a thorough evaluation of our current tactics and helped identify those areas where we could be more efficient. She expertly guided the animated discussions to bring out our team’s strengths and developed strategies to address our challenges. The resulting plan helps us prioritize our tactics, reconsider our target audiences, and aligns our communication and marketing efforts more closely with the overall business goals of the cooperative. It better positions our staff as proactive leaders of the marketing communication function. The experience energized our team’s morale and provided clear direction for the future. It also provided us with important tools to communicate our value and expertise to management. I would highly recommend Lani’s services for any group looking for ways to improve its strategic planning.”

• Glen Liford, Manager/Editor, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative

 

“For more than 25 years, Lani Jordan has been my professional mentor. The consummate corporate communicator, she has helped me navigate crisis communication, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and leadership changes. Her insight provides invaluable guidance when you need it most.”

• Sheryl Doering Meshke, Co-president and CEO, AMPI dairy cooperative

 

“Lani Jordan’s depth of knowledge and skill as a crisis communicator, speaker and trainer is tremendous. She has been co-leader for ARA’s multi-day crisis communication workshop several times and consistently achieves high praise from attendees. In addition, she’s always a professional and fun person with whom to work.”

• David W. McKnight, Director Member Services, Agricultural Retailers Association

 

“Lani Jordan shared her vast experience and well-honed skills with the participants of our state-wide Ohio AgriBusiness Association Industry Conference earlier this year. Her focus on Protecting Your Reputation in a Dynamic Environment was a great general session to have all CEOs and senior leaders think about how they approach their companies' reputation and intentional actions 24/7. And, the provided breakout session on Crisis Communication Planning provided participants with the tools and next-steps to take back to their everyday roles.”

• Janice Welsheimer, director, Educational Programs, Ohio AgriBusiness Association

 

“I had the privilege to work with Lani Jordan for 12 years. Over that time, I saw what a talented journalist and writer she is. Whenever there was an emergency or company crisis, Lani took charge and calmly handled the situation. Her writing ability is second to none to be able to give the reader the insights to the story. Last, she was in charge of our annual meeting with all the moving parts of up to 3,000 people. Anyone can write, Lani can tell the story!”

• Lynden Johnson, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, CHS Inc.

 

“During my years as CHS Board chairman, Lani was a one-person communications army. She was always prepared with a detailed communications plan that kept the message on target. More important, she makes a great effort to understand the audience and put the message in “your” voice. Lani’s communication training for the CHS Board was key to helping board members communicate challenging issues as CHS experienced change. Lani’s organizational skills and attention to detail were vital to the growth of CHS. Working with the board and management communicating a consistent message to a variety of audiences, including members, customers, partners, financial institutions and international clients allowed CHS to grow successfully. As part of this, Lani planned/coordinated video segments/ wrote speech’s and supervised the team for the CHS annual meeting with over 2,000 attendees; she put together a great team, the meeting always went smoothly. Lani can do it all.”

• Michael Toelle, Director, Nationwide Insurance;  Director, CF Industries, Inc.; Chairman (2002-11), CHS Inc.

 

“First of all, if there is a crisis brewing, you want Lani on your team! She is a highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced strategic communicator who has deep expertise leading and delivering executive and crisis communication. I've worked with Lani for over 20 years and she has an amazing ability to quickly digest and synthesize complex information, strategize, and craft and deliver key messages that inform and inspire. As an executive communicator, Lani listens carefully and writes with speed, accuracy and sensitivity for tone. She quickly builds trust and rapport with c-suite leaders, executives and board members, and she continually keeps the needs of all stakeholders in mind. Lani is also recognized nationally as an expert in crisis communication.”

• Linda Tank, Senior vice president, Public Affairs, CHS Inc.

 

“I would highly recommend Lani for any of your communication needs. Lani is very knowledgeable in all aspects of crisis management. I asked Lani to present at the annual Grain Elevator and Processing Society conference this spring and she nailed it. Lani once again had the highest satisfaction score of all involved. Lani's energy and knowledge is second to none.”

• David Olson, Operations manager, Cargill grain

 

“I confidently recommend Lani for all of your communications needs. Lani does an excellent job of helping executives craft and deliver messages, particularly around major initiatives or events that must be communicated effectively to customers, owners and other stakeholders. She understands complex issues and is able to communicate them clearly to all audiences. Above and beyond her impressive skill set, she is a pleasure to work with.”

• Brian Legried, Senior Vice President, AgDirect

 

"Lani Jordan’s understanding of both crisis communication and the refining industry made her an invaluable asset. On numerous occasions – sometimes in the middle of the night – she moved swiftly, decisively and skillfully to craft messages and tell our story in a way that not only protected, but strengthened our stakeholder relationships. Her understanding of the need for ongoing crisis planning and practice is exceptional.”

• Pat Kimmet, Senior vice president and manager, CHS Refinery, Laurel, Mont.

 

“Lani Jordan is a great person to work with as a communications consultant. She listens well, is thoughtful, organized, very responsive, and excellent at taking a subject and creating the most appropriate communication message(s) for the intended audience(s) to achieve your desired outcome. I highly recommend her.”

• Audie Dunham
  CEO/C-Level Executive (retired), and Professional Contemporary Fine Art Painter

 

“Lani Jordan is the best person to have on your side during any type of crisis. I have been working in the environment and safety field for over 30 years and have experienced everything from fatal accidents to major community evacuations and Lani was always there when I needed her. Her calm, cool demeanor and fantastic understanding of the people she is working with go great together with her outstanding communication skills. Whether you are facing a national news network at a chemical release site, a small community wondering why someone they loved will not make it home, a board of directors wondering why their management team is being fined by a regulatory agency or just about any crisis situation you can imaging, you will be better off with Lani on your team. I have been very lucky to have worked with Lani and would be more than willing to provide more examples of how effective she is to anyone who is interested”.

• Pete Mutschler, Environment, Health and Safety Director, CHS Inc.

 

“When I served as a director and board chairman for CHS, I was always reassured knowing that Lani was there to make certain I had the best tools and messages to communicate with our employees, our owners, fellow board members, and elected officials. She repeatedly demonstrated her deep skill set, giving everyone the confidence they had the messages and tools to accomplish their goals. Whether the news is good or bad, she shines.”

• Jerry Hasnedl, Farmer, director and former chairman (retired), CHS Inc.

 

“Lani and I worked together for seven years at CHS, Inc. Often under aggressive timelines and/or in high(er) stress scenarios, I found Lani's work to be prompt, thorough, and of high quality. She always had a light touch and was easy to work with. Her career focus has prepared her well to be a trusted partner to her clients in areas including strategic communications and crisis management planning.”

• Jamey Grafing, Vice President & Corporate Treasurer, CHS Inc.

 

“I have known Lani Jordan for over 20+ years. She is recognized by her peers, subordinates and superiors as a highly motivated, competent, and reliable individual that has the capability and capacity to achieve results with time sensitive communication in high pressure and demanding circumstances. Her strengths in leadership, knowledge, and capacity to evolve with the industry are exceptional. No matter the time of day or circumstance she was intimately aware of who to contact, what to say, and why. I truly enjoyed working with her though these difficult challenges.”

• Ed Mallett, Vice President, Midwest Region Country Operations, CHS Inc.

 

“I had the pleasure of working with Lani Jordan at CHS. We partnered together on press releases, speeches and the annual financial report drafting. Lani’s creativity and passion contributed to her success at CHS and she is someone with whom I have thoroughly enjoyed working. Lani’s high energy and positive outlook make working with her a fun and enjoyable experience.”

• Camille Witzke, Controller, Energy and Processing & Food Ingredients, CHS Inc.

 

“I had the distinct pleasure of working with Lani Jordan for nearly 20 years in a Fortune 100 company and, throughout that time, had many opportunities to see her impressive work as our corporate communications expert. From writing for a variety of audiences and executives, to strategy planning and execution, to managing crises and crisis communications, to planning and running an effective and efficient Annual Meeting and more, Lani truly did it all and, more importantly, did it with world class efficiency and expertise. Lani has unbounded energy, creativity, and wit, and uses each to her advantage at every opportunity. I have the utmost respect for Lani's many talents and expertise and would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a communications expert.”

• Nanci Lilja, Director, Legal Operation, CHS Inc.

 

“Lani is the most skilled crisis communicator that I have worked with. She brings a combination of cool-headed thinking, tactical crisis communication skills, and strategic planning to every response.  She led the crisis communication on numerous incidents that we had involving hazardous materials transportation and delivered outstanding results each time. I have been impressed with her ability to quickly size up a situation, get the team working and on task, and help steer the response from end to end. In everything she does, Lani's goal is to help bring resolution to the issue and preserve the corporate brand.”

• Ray Guest, Environmental health and safety director, CHS Inc.

 

“I had the pleasure of working with Lani for several years on the company's financial communication including its annual report, quarterly financial reporting and other disclosures, as well as presentations, speeches and other materials detailing performance and returns to company owners. Lani is knowledgeable and capable when it comes to the nuances of financial communication, as well as a great partner with the company's financial team. I would highly recommend her as a communication strategist for organizations that need to tell their financial story in an accurate and understandable manner.”

• Dan Lehmann, CPA, Assistant Corporate Controller, CHS Inc.

 

“Lani is one of those exceedingly rare communicators who combine creative thinking with strategic execution. These highly valuable skills come into play in her ability to handle everything from long-term planning and issues management to content creation. Lani is adept at building lasting connections with stakeholders of all kinds, from CEOs to plant employees to customers. She provides thoughtful, insightful counsel and can quickly shape and deploy an effective communications program using any type of media. In our 20-plus years of collaborating on investor and stakeholder communication initiatives, she has always been an exceptional practitioner, an effective advisor and a true partner.”

• Cynthia Clanton, public relations practice leader, Colle + McVoy

 

“Lani has great passion for cooperatives, agriculture, and energy. I have worked with Lani for many years as we expanded our global footprint. She developed relationships with employees across the world and effectively and positively portrayed their culture to all employees. Lani has tremendous energy and enthusiasm and gives her all to any project! She is professional and insightful and manages to do it all with a bit of humor (when appropriate).”

• Melodie Thostenson, Vice President, Business Integration, CHS Inc.