ERIE – In celebration of its 120th anniversary, the Manufacturer & Business Association (The MBA) has announced that Dana Perino, former White House press secretary, political commentator and New York Times bestselling author, will be the keynote speaker for its 120th Annual Event, starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, October 8 at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. All media are invited to attend.
“Dana Perino is a well-respected political commentator and journalist whose small-town upbringing helped shape the professional journey that ultimately led her to the White House, and we are thrilled to have her share the lessons she’s learned along the way,” said MBA President and CEO Lori Joint. “Her presentation, ‘Resilient Leadership in Divided Times,’ will give our members strategies for navigating conflict with empathy, fostering productive dialogue and building consensus. She will share compelling stories and practical tools for leading with integrity and connection — even in the toughest moments.”
Perino is currently co-anchor for America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer & Dana Perino and co-host of the hit show The Five, both on the Fox News Channel. The Five has won its time slot every day since it started in July 2011 and has been named the fourth most-watched program in all of cable. Viewers often call Perino “The Voice of Reason” of The Five’s ensemble cast. She also appears as a political commentator on other Fox programs and previously served as anchor of The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino.
Before joining Fox, Perino served as the first Republican woman to be press secretary of the United States. She spent more than seven years as part of the administration of President George W. Bush, joining right after the 9/11 attacks as a spokesperson for the Justice Department.
As press secretary, Perino handled interactions with the White House press corps and advised the president on communications. President Bush has said that whenever he did a press conference or interview, Perino made sure he was never surprised by a question. According to her official biography, she describes her approach to the position as a 50-50 mindset – half the effort went to defending and advocating the position of the president and the United States, and the other half was defending and advocating the media’s access to the president and the government. Perino continues to be active with the Bush Center in Dallas and says her motto is, “Once a staffer, always a staffer.”
Since leaving the White House, Perino became a bestselling author of And the Good News Is…Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side, Let Me Tell You about Jasper … How My Best Friend Became America’s Dog, and Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons for Young Women (from a Former Young Woman). Her newest book, I Wish Someone Had Told Me, is rising on the bestseller list. Her other publishing credits include editorial direction for Things that Matter by Charles Krauthammer and The Time of Our Lives by Peggy Noonan.
As a podcaster, she co-hosted I’ll Tell You What alongside Chris Stirewalt. The hugely popular podcast was made into a limited-run TV show in the fall of 2016, marking the first time Fox turned a podcast into a series. Currently, Perino hosts the podcast Everything Will Be Okay for Fox News Radio.
In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Perino to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which complemented her passion for advocating for individual and economic freedom, especially for women in Africa. Since leaving the White House, Perino and her husband, Peter McMahon, have volunteered in South Africa and Congo. In 2014, they spent a week at a charitable hospital and came back to America to broadcast their findings and appeal for additional help.
To express her gratitude for the opportunities she’s been afforded, Perino started Minute Mentoring, a program for young women that’s like speed dating between mentors and mentees. She also serves on the board of Companions for Heroes, which matches rescue animals with first responders and veterans managing post-traumatic stress.
Perino was born in Wyoming and raised in Colorado. She has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois – Springfield. Before the Bush administration, she worked as a daily news reporter, as a press secretary on Capitol Hill, and in the private sector for global public relations companies.
A sellout each year, The MBA’s Annual Event is the tri-state region’s premier business networking event, featuring the nation’s most prominent figures in business, politics and journalism. Among the most recent speakers are “Moneyball” inspiration Billy Beane (2024), American hero Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger (2023), innovation expert George Blankenship (2022), Ret. Navy Admiral William McRaven (2021), American businesswoman Kat Cole (2019), “Shark Tank” stars Daymond John (2018) and Robert Herjavec (2016), and legendary coach Lou Holtz (2017). The event was not held in 2020 due to COVID restrictions.
Annual Event sponsors include Ridg-U-Rak, UPMC Health Plan, Logistics Plus, PNC, Howard Industries, MacDonald Illig, Greenleaf Corporation, Parker Lord Corporation, McInnes Rolled Rings, Insurance Management Company, Humes Auto Group, Bonnell’s Truck & RV Collision, Inc. and Widget Financial.
For more information, visit mbausa.org.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations reflect the views and opinions of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Manufacturer & Business Association or any of its officers and directors.