Biography
Channing is part of the VOX Sustainability Team whose work includes AT&T’s corporate citizenship and sustainability program. In this role, he spearheads AT&T’s external and internal communications surrounding CSR and is responsible for overall messaging and media strategy. He works with AT&T’s chief sustainability officer and engages with internal teams and business units incorporating CSR into their business operations. In 2009, he attended COP15, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, to help cultivate a more global view on sustainability issues.
Channing helped initiate Fleishman-Hillard’s San Francisco sustainability practice. He led PR support for Business for Social Responsibility’s 2007 conference, “Designing a Sustainable Future.” He also played an active role in the agency’s Social Impact Marketing group and Fleishman-Hillard’s Corporate Social Responsibility Task Force to identify best practices for corporate responsibility.
With Fleishman, Channing led successful campaigns to generate broad media coverage for a major Nike shoe-recycling initiative; the U.S. launch of smart USA’s fuel-efficient and consumer-friendly “smart for two” vehicle; and 511 Regional Rideshare’s program to get Bay Area commuters to rethink their travel habits.
Previously, Channing was Director of Public Affairs at American Express and led communications for consumer credit card products and, later, for OPEN from American Express, the company’s small-business division. A member of OPEN’s Executive Leadership team, he directly supported the division’s president. He also developed public relations programs that generated broad media coverage for OPEN’s women’s business advocacy initiative, semiannual small business surveys and product marketing campaigns.
While with Edelman Public Relations, he managed clinical trial campaign communications as well as a regional media outreach network for the launch of Tamiflu by Roche, the first anti-viral influenza treatment of its kind. Prior to Edelman, Channing was a production associate and researcher for ABC News’ World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.
An avid snowboarder, watch for Channing on the slopes in the winter. When the snow melts, he can be found on his motorcycle. Channing and his iron horse frequent the backroads of the Mid-Atlantic States and of his native California in search of the road less traveled.