Brant Short, Professor & Dayle Hardy-Short,Professor, School of Communication, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
, and Jack Dittmann, Director, Job and Social Services Information Officer for the Town of West Yellowstone, Montana
Communication is often described as a major element in the success or failure of community decision–making. Because mining communities face so many complex and unique problems, we believe that a basic skills and strategies workshop for mining community leaders offers some useful concepts, practices and take–home lessons.
The workshop presenters are experienced teachers and/or consultants and trainers and have offered multiple communication training sessions and workshops in many locations including Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, Indiana and Texas.
Dayle Hardy–Short will focus upon interpersonal communication skills, specifically listening effectiveness and nonverbal communication competence. Brant Short will discuss collaboration, managing conflict, and teamwork. Jack Dittman will present concepts related to public information and public relations campaigns for small, resource–based communities.
Brant Short is a native of Idaho and holds a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Speech Communication from Idaho State University and a Ph.D. from Indiana University. His research interests include environmental rhetoric and political communication. He is currently working on a book examining wild fire policy in the American West.
Dayle Hardy-Short grew up in Butte and attended Montana Tech before completing her B.A. at the University of Montana in Communication. She has an M.A. from the University of New Mexico and a Ph.D. from Indiana University. Her research interests include environmental rhetoric, gender communication, and political debate. She is currently working on a book examining wild fire policy in the American West.
Jack Dittmann began his journalism career with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He spent his second tour as a photo-journalist for the Department of Defense. Jack took his Master’s in Communication at Idaho State University and has since handled public information for the Idaho Department of Insurance and the Alaska Division of Senior Services. Jack is currently Director of Job and Social Services and Information Officer for the Town of West Yellowstone, Montana.