Biographical data for Tom Berry

Thom Berry is a past president of the National Public Health Information Coalition, an organization of senior-level communications and public information staff in state, local and territorial public health agencies. He serves on several CDC advisory workgroups on topics including SARS, chemical terrorism and bioterrorism.
 
He is director of the Division of Media Relations for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Serving since 1983, he is spokesperson for the agency and is charged with coordinating all contacts with the news media.
 
He conducts in-service training in public speaking, news media relations, interviewing techniques and coalition building for his agency and other local, state and national organizations.
 
He is a member of the National Association of Government Communicators and the National Information Officers Association.
 
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Thom is a graduate of Leadership South Carolina. He received specialized training in public information and integrated emergency management at the Federal Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD. A commissioned law enforcement officer, Berry is a graduate of the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy and is certified by the academy as a Specific Skills Instructor. He serves as chairman of DHEC's Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, which sets policies and guidelines for the agency's sworn law enforcement officers.
 
Prior to joining DHEC in 1983, he worked as a broadcast journalist for more than 17 years as a reporter, anchor and news director.