CommCore CEO Andy Gilman quoted in The New York Times “Starbucks to Close 8,000 U.S. Stores for Racial-Bias Training After Arrests,” following the arrest of two African-American men recently at one of their Philadelphia stores, prompting protests.

“This move goes far beyond the playbook” of what a normal crisis response would be, said Andrew D. Gilman, the president of CommCore Consulting Group, a crisis management firm. “That’s sending a big statement.”