Top 10 Trends in Internal Comms with Trish Nicolas: January 23 Webinar, 12 - 1pmCT
2024-01-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)

How to improve relationships at work through better communication with Jenni Field: February 27 Webinar, 12 - 1pmCT
2024-02-27 12:00 - 13:00

April 17 Noontime Webinar: Gen Z+ Decoded: Engagement Strategies for the Next Generation
2024-04-17 12:00 - 13:00
Save the date on Wednesday, April 17 for a noontime webinar as Luke Goetting joins us to explore the motivations and dynamics of each generation, and a better understanding of how to build a positive work culture and enhance employee productivity.
Register Now!

Career Connect: Elevate your Professional Path – May 8 In-Person Event
2024-05-08 17:00 - 19:00 | Lil Ba Ba Reeba, 441 N Clark St #1, Chicago, IL, 60654
Join us in person for our last official event of the program year before World Conference comes to Chicago in June!
Join us on May 8 at Lil’ Ba Ba Reeba! (441 N Clark St) for an engaging and educational networking event tailored specifically for communicators seeking to advance your careers and expand your professional networks. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event will provide you with valuable insights, practical strategies, and meaningful connections to propel your career forward. IABC Chicago is proud to welcome Raleigh Decker as our keynote speaker and workshop presenter.
Reserve your spot today and take the next step toward achieving your career goals.
Register Now.
What you can expect
5:00 PM – 5:45 PM: Networking Reception
Wind down the day with a networking reception where you can connect in a relaxed and informal setting. Enjoy refreshments and engage in meaningful conversations that could lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
5:45 PM – 6:45 PM: Skill-building Workshop
Participate in an informational and interactive workshop focused on honing essential communication skills such as personal branding, how to get noticed on LinkedIn, crafting an eye-catching resume and building a portfolio exemplifying your work and skillset. Acquire practical techniques and tools to excel in your role and stand out in the competitive job market.

About Raleigh
Raleigh graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with both Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Advertising, and from Disney University with her Ducktorate in Management and Communications – Disney Style.
Raleigh is pretty sure that after 11 years of working for World’s Finest Chocolate, she has
chocolate in her veins. That’s even better than the ketchup that ran through her veins years
ago while starting her career on the McDonald’s client service team at marketing agency, Frankel.
Impressed by her project management skills and people instincts, Frankel’s Human
Resources department recruited Raleigh to a new career path. Her people operations experience includes recruiting, talent development, performance management, leadership coaching, culture transformation, digital community building and lots and lots of employee communications.
Prior to agency life, her summer internship at Walt Disney World taught Raleigh the importance of exceeding expectations. And, while you can take this woman out of Disney, you can’t take Disney out of Raleigh. She’s drawn to fun work environments, and likes to spread a little magic wherever she goes.
Outside of work, Raleigh volunteers as a Board Member for Unique Sweets, a nonprofit that benefits autistic young adults by teaching them job skills through baking and offering safe spaces for socialization. As a proud hockey and lacrosse mom, you’ll often hear Raleigh cheering on her kids. She also loves cooking for family and friends, working out and getting lost in a book.

Join Us to Kick Off the 2024-2025 Programming Season! Wed., Aug 21, Noon Webinar
2024-08-21 12:00 - 13:00
Make the most of your IABC membership by joining us for an informal lunchtime networking session as we kick off the 2024 – 2025 season on Wed., Aug 21, at NoonCT. Get to know the IABC/Chicago Board and fellow members alike. We’ll introduce some of our upcoming events and have time for feedback to hear from you and what you hope to achieve from being an IABC/Chicago member. Feel free to bring a friend interested
in learning more about IABC and developing their career in communications. This session is FREE!
We’re excited to see you!
Register Now!

Sept 25 - The Role of the Communicator in DEI Webinar
2024-09-25 09:00 - 10:00
As communicators, we are often the ones breathing life into the culture of our company and clients and, in an era of evolving workplace dynamics, organizations must create environments that foster DEI. However, establishing and sustaining effective DEI initiatives require more than just good intentions.
It’s a huge responsibility to navigate the right language and information while retaining authentic communication in our workplace.
The Competence Centre for Workplace Equity has created The Competency Framework, a first-of-its-kind guide designed to improve DEI results.
In this talk, you’ll learn:

How to leverage this framework in your workplace and the communications you are creating on behalf of your clients and company
How to think about DEI in your content creation process as a flexible skill set being built over time (instead of a checklist of the right words to use)
Gain an understanding of an evidence-based approach to working with DEI practitioners

Get a sneak peek into this new framework that is changing the way companies are approaching DEI through a more practical, tactical, and operational approach that is creating genuine results and increased trust.

Use AI To Improve Your Spokespeople with Fight or Flight’s Media TrAIner: Wed., Oct 2, 9amCT Webinar
2024-10-02 09:00 - 10:00
Are you ready to embrace AI in your communications strategy?

Join us for an exclusive look at Media TrAIner by Fight or Flight—a groundbreaking AI-powered tool designed to enhance spokesperson performance and elevate media training outcomes. This presentation is tailored specifically for business communicators to discover how to leverage AI to better prepare spokespeople to build trust, credibility, and lasting connections with their audience.
In this engaging talk, you’ll learn:

Practical techniques to embrace AI in your communications strategy
How to leverage AI to better understand the impact of ‘on record’ conversations.
How to use AI tools to refine communication strategies and improve outcomes.

Discover practical insights, hear success stories, and see the tool in action as we explore how AI is reshaping the future of media training.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of business communications.
Register Now!
$15 for all
Meet Tim and Dan:
Tim Fry
Tim Fry, also known as “Fryman,” is the US Chair at Fight or Flight. He is a global storytelling and campaign leader with experience working with major brands like Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Samsung. Tim lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, two teens, and two pugs. They enjoy the outdoor activities the region offers, such as biking, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and embracing the occasional misty day.
Dan Bird
Over the last 10 years Dan has led, managed and executed international and local media relations programs for major technology brands such as Ericsson, IBM and LinkedIn as well as scale-up and unicorns like Flipdish, Quantexa and Signavio. It’s the thrill of landing coverage for clients that still gets Dan out of bed and he remains on the front line of pitching reporters on a daily basis from New York City, where he has lived since 2022.

Change Isn’t Hard – A Framework for Impacting Change in your Organizations Webinar: Wed. Oct. 23
2024-10-23 16:30 - 17:30
On Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4:30 p.m., join the IABC/Queensland President Mel Loy and IABC/Chicago to learn change communication strategies based on proven behavioral science that will transform your business communications.
In this session, you’ll learn about the Framework, as well as:

Understanding how people respond to change, and what that means for your communication;
Change communication techniques based on proven behavioural science; and
The principles of developing your change comms strategy.

Mel Loy is a self-confessed serial ideator, obsessed with how humans behave and what that means for effective communication. Her small but mighty team at Hey Mel! Communication and Training provides consulting and training services to clients all over Australia and overseas, specializing in internal, change, crisis and strategic communication. Mel is the author of the new book, Change Isn’t Hard: a playbook for practical, people-centred change communication (which we’ll be raffling off during this session!), and the host of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast.
Register today
Cost to attend is $10. Register before Oct. 16th to save $5 with the code PRESALE.

Dec 4 Coffee Chat, 8:30amCT
2024-12-04 08:30 - 09:30
Grow your professional network and start your day with a caffeinated perk in your step at one of three suburban coffee chats in Oak Park, Deerfield or Schaumburg.
This is FREE to attend for members (and non-members) – simply purchase the beverage of your choice and meet us there!
We hope to see you there!
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4DAFA722A3FE3-53312696-iabc#/
Pick one of three suburban locations:
Oak Park: Buzz Cafe
905 S. Lombard Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
Host: Linda Carlisle (Director of Chapter Operations)
Deerfield: Scrambled
660 Lake Cook Rd
Deerfield, IL 60015
Host: Michael Shmarak (Professional Development Committee)
Schaumburg: Sweet Reserve
160 S Roselle Rd C,
Schaumburg, IL 60193
Hosts: Heather Natal (President) + Linda Windham (Director-at-large)

Tues., Dec 17 - Mix, Mingle and Christkindl! At The Dearborn
2024-12-17 16:30 - 18:30 | The Dearborn, 145 N Dearborn, Chicago, IL

5 Ways to Make Sure You Are Relevant 5 Years From Now - Jan 28, 9amCT with The Crescenzos
2025-01-28 09:00 - 10:00

Coffee with Communicators
2025-03-18 08:00 - 09:00

March 19: Elevate Your Career with IABC/Chicago and DePaul’s College of Communication
2025-03-19 16:30 - 18:30 | DePaul University (Loop Campus) 11th floor of the DePaul Center (1 E. Jackson Blvd.), 14 E. Jackson St., Chicago, IL, United States
This event will take place in the North Café on the 11th floor of the DePaul Center (1 E. Jackson Blvd.) on the Loop campus.

Tues., April 1, 4:30pm Maggiano's River North: Networking, Connecting, and Giving: Become an Indispensable Communicator
2025-04-01 16:30 - 18:30 | Maggiano’s Banquet Facility, 516 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States

IABC/Chicago: Unlock Magic in Your Network April 8, 9amCT
2025-04-08 09:00 - 10:00

A Good Ending to the Story: The Importance of Measurement, April 23, 11:30am - 12:30pmCDT
2025-04-23 11:30 - 12:30

Meet the Board Mixer - Wed., Oct 22 - Sweetwater's
2025-10-22 17:30 - 19:30
Meet and network with the 2025-2026 IABC Chicago Board of Directors and other local communicators in the heart of Chicago.

Webinar: How Prolific Innovators Develop Great Ideas That Deliver
2025-11-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
RE:Think Innovation: How Prolific Innovators Develop Great Ideas That Deliver Extraordinary Outcomes

Innovation has a reputation problem – it’s seen as the domain of R&D teams, marketing visionaries, or people with the right title, degree, or budget. For communicators, it can feel like something that’s out of reach. Or simply not part of the job description. But that mindset keeps us stuck in rinse-and-repeat tactics, status quo messaging, and missed opportunities to influence what matters.
What if innovation wasn’t reserved for the few? What if it were a learnable, repeatable skill communicators could use to elevate their impact, shape culture, and drive meaningful change?
In this keynote based on her bestselling book RE:Think Innovation, Carla Johnson shares a proven framework that helps communicators connect the dots in new ways, unlock creativity on demand, and become go-to innovators inside their organizations. No guesswork. No gimmicks. Just a practical approach to thinking differently and communicating with greater purpose, clarity, and influence.

Design Your Growth: Mindset Shifts for Advancement - Thurs., Dec 11, 5-6pmCT FREE WEBINAR
2025-12-11 17:00 - 18:00
Join IABC/Chicago for this free interactive webinar with Michele Monte and Kevin Kowalick, co-founders of Offshoot Coaching Professional Development, also our Event Sponsor!

Register Today!

Free Webinar: Get Your Communications Career Moving at the Speed of Change - Tues., Feb. 17, Noon CT
2026-02-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Looking for your next career opportunity? Don’t miss this interactive lunchtime session with recruiter Lynn Hazan!
Communications careers have shifted dramatically in recent years and so has the way professionals get hired.
Join us on February 17 to learn how the career search marketplace is changing, how to run a more strategic search campaign, and how to position yourself for emerging opportunities.
You’ll walk away with clearer direction and practical ways to build visibility and connect with the right opportunities.
Lynn Hazan is the founder and president of Lynn Hazan & Associates, Inc. (LH&A) — a woman-owned, Chicago-based, award-winning, contingency-based recruiting firm established in 2000, specializing in marketing, communications, and public relations placements. The firm places full-time, part-time, temp-to-perm, virtual, and/or freelance candidates nationwide. By focusing on storytelling and long-term relationships across all stages of her candidates’ careers, Lynn and her team have had great success helping her long-term clients with multiple hires.
Lynn offers various career consulting programs focused on building candidates’ resumes, LinkedIn profiles, personal brands, interviewing & negotiation techniques, and job search strategies. In addition to running her award-winning recruitment agency, Lynn sits on the Marketing Advisory Council at DePaul University and is a three-time performer for the StorySLAM competition.

Webinar: The Ferris Bueller Guide to Smarter Storytelling - Wed., Feb. 18 - 11:00 AM CT
2026-02-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
What Ferris Can Do For You
If you want to sharpen your storytelling skills and help your people improve theirs, look no further than the classic American film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
In this engaging, practical session we’ll unpack the movie’s most important storytelling lesson and learn how it can help us connect with, captivate and compel any individual or audience to action — from customers and clients to colleagues and other key stakeholders.
That means:

Identifying and rising above the ordinary information (the data, stats and info) that prevents us from delivering the big picture — the context, meaning and perspective;
Drawing out the best stories from our customers, constituents, members and others;
Creating more captivating campaigns, preparing winning pitches and presentations and extending our influence inside and outside the organization.

Come prepared for a substantive and interactive experience. And remember, the learning will come at you pretty fast — if you don’t stop and tune in you could miss it!

Who is Rob Biesenbach?
Rob Biesenbach specializes in helping busy professionals capitalize on the power of storytelling to engage and influence their most important stakeholders.
Through his workshops, speeches, books and coaching he has helped tens of thousands of senior executives, managers and other professionals become more effective, persuasive communicators. He’s the author of the Amazon bestseller “Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results.”
Rob has worked with great organizations including AARP, Allstate, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Feeding America and Lockheed Martin.
In former lives, Rob was a vice president at Ogilvy, press secretary to the Ohio Attorney General, and a nonprofit and association executive in Washington, DC.
Register to attend: https://www.iabcphiladelphia.org/guide_to_smarter_storytelling
Members: $15.00
Non-Members: $25.00
Students: $5.00

Complimentary Webinar - April 16: Mind the Readiness Gap: Must-know trends from Gallagher’s 2026 Employee Communications Report
2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, organizations face an ever-widening gap between the risks and change they’re facing and their readiness to respond. Drawing from the insights of Gallagher’s 2026 Employee Communications Report, this webinar will explore the most pressing trends shaping employee communications and organizational resilience.
Join the conversation with the Gallagher Communications team and discover what’s truly happening within the modern workforce and gain actionable strategies to help.
In this 60-minute session, we’ll cover:

The top factors widening the readiness gap, and what to do about them
How to close the line manager capability gap
What to do about employee burnout and information overload
How to create human-centric communications for impact
Building structure to support AI readiness
Practical tips to boost engagement in a constant state of change

Register to attend today!
Speakers:

Maddison Grigsby
U.S. Leader, Communications Consulting Practice, Gallagher
Maddison Grigsby is a strategic communicator and change leader with a passion for helping organizations navigate complexity with clarity, empathy, and purpose. With nearly 15 years in the marketing/communications space, this is her ninth year in HR consulting. Her deep understanding of organizational dynamics, plus a six-year stint as a songwriter, has laid the foundation for her human-centered approach to any business challenge and storytelling skills.
As a SHRM and PRSA speaker, Maddison has engaged audiences across the country on topics including employee experience, effective communication strategies, and practical leadership insights. Outside of work, Maddison spends time volunteering with the local animal shelter, playing pickleball, finding the best frozen margarita in town, and being an aunt to eight.

Kristin Hart
Director, Communications Consulting Practice, Gallagher
Kristin connects people with ideas, strategies and tools that empower them to overcome the barriers to effective communication. She uncovers communications needs, assembles the right team and crafts tailored solutions that drive results. She believes communication weaves together all parts of an organization—and that good communication drives meaningful behavior change.
Before joining Gallagher, Kristin led as vice president of sales and marketing at Ragan Consulting Group, where she partnered with clients to address internal and external communication challenges through assessments, consulting and training. She also produced industry conferences for Ragan Communications and honed her corporate communications experience as a communications manager at PepsiCo., supporting internal, corporate and executive messaging for the global beverage company. A lifelong improvisor, comedian and actor, she also brings humor and energy to her work and the stage.

Webinar - May 5th: How to Clearly Communicate Your Value
2026-05-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Each of us has had moments throughout our lives and careers that have shaped who we are. Yet when faced with a simple question, “Tell me about yourself,” many of us struggle. The challenge isn’t a lack of experience. It’s that we haven’t taken the time to fully understand ourselves—to recognize the moments that have shaped us, make meaning from them, and see the patterns that reveal the value we bring.
In this interactive workshop, communications advisor and career coach David Polmer helps participants uncover those defining moments, make sense of them, and articulate their
value in a way that feels clear, grounded, and natural. The goal isn’t to sound more polished. It’s to communicate with clarity and confidence—so your value comes through without
having to perform.
Participants will:
Recognize the moments that have shaped who they are, personally and professionally
• Identify the patterns and themes that emerge from those moments
• Clarify the value those patterns reveal about who they are and how they show up
• Shape a clear, authentic way of communicating that value in conversation
• Practice sharing their story in a way that feels natural, not rehearsed, and refine it through feedback
Who It’s For
This workshop is designed for communications professionals who want to more clearly understand and articulate their value in a way that resonates in networking, interviews, and
leadership conversations.
As communicators, many of us know how to tell stories about organizations, leaders, and brands. But when it comes to talking about ourselves, we often default to listing what we’ve
done and the skills we have—sounding more like a job description than a person. This workshop helps participants move beyond that, so they can communicate not just what
they’ve done, but who they are and the value they bring.
• Mid-career communications professionals preparing for their next leadership step
• Communications leaders who want to express the broader impact of how they show up and lead
• Independent consultants and advisors who need to clearly position their perspective and expertise
Participants Will Leave With
• A clearer understanding of who they are and the through-line that runs through their experiences
• A grounded articulation of the value they bring—not just what they’ve done
• A simple, flexible way to communicate their value in real conversations
• Greater confidence in responding to “Tell me about yourself” without sounding scripted or rehearsed
• Practical experience sharing their story and refining it through feedback
Workshop Structure
• The challenge: why talking about ourselves is harder than it should be
• Recognizing defining moments that have shaped who you are
• Making meaning from those moments
• Identifying patterns and themes across your experiences
• Clarifying the value those patterns reveal
• Shaping a clear, authentic way to communicate your value
• Testing your narrative (breakout pairs)
• Group reflection
• Carrying your narrative forward
Register today
Members: Free
Lite Member: $5
Non-Member: $10

Spring Coffee Chats Around Town - May 14 at 8:00 am
2026-05-14 08:00 - 09:00
IABC Chicago’s Coffee chats are back for Spring and now in 4 locations on Thursday, May 14th from 8-9 am.
Connect with fellow communications pros in a fun, relaxed setting. These casual chats are perfect for sharing ideas, tackling challenges, and expanding your network while enjoying your morning cup in your choice of: Chicago, Oak Park, Northbrook, and Wheaton.
Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned expert, there’s a seat at the table for you. Don’t miss out on this laid-back, low-pressure get together with IABC Chicago.
Free for members
$12.45 for non-members
Register for your preferred location:
Chicago: Milli by Metric – 3110 N. Kedzie
Oak Park: Addis Cafe – 810 S. Oak Park Ave.
Northbrook: Bean Bar – 1901 Cherry Lane
Wheaton: Summer Moon Coffee – 811 Butterfield Road
