2010 Making Media Connections Conference

As a Public Relations Director and trainer for the Internal Revenue Service in Chicago, Steve Mongelluzzo had over 20 years of experience in promoting programs and services. He trained and marketed a speakers cadre of 75 technicians who participated in over 1,200 speeches and media interviews in 1996, his last year at IRS. He has coordinated educational programs to reach a variety of audiences, including businesses, seniors, and students.  He has also trained hundreds of other government officials, department heads, law enforcement personnel, technical employees and other public workers in communication skills.

In 1997 Mongelluzzo started his own firm—FIRST Communications—providing communications training and consulting to government agencies and other non-profit organizations in a variety of areas, including media interview skills, marketing, public relations, and presentation skills. He has spoken before national meetings of the Public Library Association, National Recreation and Parks, and American Public Works Administrators. He has also spoken before state-wide meetings of the Illinois Municipal League, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois and Minnesota Library Associations, and Illinois Recreation and Parks Association.

Mongelluzzo also travels internationally for the U.S. Treasury Department providing training and consulting on Public Relations, Media Interview Skills, and Presentation Skills for governments in Africa, Asia, Central America and Eastern Europe. In 2005 he published Winning Media Interviews: Sure-Fire Tactics to Get Your Messages Out. His book takes the perspective of someone who worked with the media for over 20 years, not that of a former reporter. It includes numerous work sheets, talking papers and examples that spokespersons can use in dealing with the news media. It also shows these spokespersons how to develop messages and successfully deliver them during all types of interviews.