Like anyone else in a downturn, many of us tend to hunker down. We opt to stay on in jobs we dislike, for fear there's nothing else out there. We take the safe job choices, rather than rolling the dice in search of a jackpot. Most of all, we grow discouraged and give up the chase. These are exactly the wrong things to do.
Nothing lasts forever, and that includes economic downturns.
Rather than growing more conservative in your career moves, I suggest being more aggressive. That clearly seems the case with the trade association public-relations specialist. He especially needs to roll out his Rolodex and get cracking. You identify what you have to market and tailor your story to suit that audience. If you're having trouble getting something moving, be daring in your negotiations.