March 1 Meeting: Mr. George Korda - Political Analyst and Media Personality

Please join us at Season's Cafe on Thursday March 1, 2012 to hear Mr. George Korda speak about current political events and happenings with recent and future elections. Dinner at 6:30 PM, meeting at 7:30 PM.

George S. Korda Biography

George Korda began his communications career as a military journalist. From 1972 to 1974 he was assigned to The School Brigade at Ft. Benning, GA., where he reported on training activities of U.S. Army Rangers, airborne infantry, the U.S. Army Infantry School and other unit functions.

In 1974 he was assigned to the Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army, Europe in Heidelberg, Germany. He traveled throughout Europe writing for Stars & Stripes, Army Times, and numerous other military and civilian publications, including the Associated Press. He was also a radio correspondent for Armed Forces Network, Europe.

In 1977 Korda left the military and became a reporter for Today newspaper (now called Florida Today) in Brevard County, Florida. During his three years with the newspaper, which serves east central Florida, he covered such stories as the 1980 mass refugee boatlift exodus from Cuba, the first submarine launch of a Trident nuclear missile, and many stories related to America’s space program.

In 1981, Korda moved to Tennessee to become Director of Information for the State Department of Commerce and Insurance, which included the state fire marshal’s office and division of regulatory boards. He was frequently called on by the governor’s press secretary to act as spokesman during state government emergencies. These included prison shootings and disturbances, failures of financial institutions, natural disasters and criminal investigations.

In 1984, Korda served as press secretary for the Victor Ashe for U.S. Senate campaign. From 1984 -1987 he was with Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence Public Relations in Nashville, specializing in media relations. In 1987 he moved to Knoxville to become Director of Information and press secretary for Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe.

In 1992 he left the mayor’s office to become director of corporate communications for Regal Corporation. From March, 1996 to December, 2003, Korda was with The Ingram Group, a statewide public affairs firm. In January, 2003, he formed Korda Communications, his own public relations and communications consulting firm based in Knoxville.

George Korda is political analyst for WATE-TV, appearing weekly on “Tennessee This Week” at noon on Sundays. He hosts “State Your Case,” which will begin airs Sunday from noon – 2 p.m. on WNOX-FM, 100.3. Korda writes a column for the Knoxville News Sentinel’s website, knoxnews.com, and for Cityview Magazine. He is president of Korda Communications, a public relations and communications consulting firm.