James McClendon, Editor-in-Chief

Ketchum is one of the world’s largest communications firms and its CEO Robert Flaherty will be the Keynote speaker at the Utica College undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Flaherty graduated from Utica College in 1981 with a degree in public relations and journalism.

After he graduated, he stayed in Utica and became the director of public relations for the F.X. Brewing Company. Flaherty then went to Burson-Marsteller, a public relations firm in New York City.

Flaherty has been with Ketchum for the last 28 years and became president of the company in 2008.

Now he heads the company’s 20-member Global Leadership Council to guide the strategy, client service and performance of the agency. He also specializes in corporate positioning and issues management.

The Utica College undergraduate commencement ceremony will be at The Utica Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m.