IABC Chicago

Coffee Club: Content Creation - May 26, 2022, 7:30am-8:30am
2022-05-26 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Chicago)
Grab your morning java or tea and join our morning chat, hosted by IABC Chicago President, Sara Burcheri, to discuss this month’s hot topic, Content Creation. Come ready for an open conversation to learn from each other, ask questions, and gain guidance. Sometimes it’s not just who you learn from, it’s who you learn with! Exclusive to IABC Chicago members.

Using Improv to Build Your Communication Culture! - September 21 Luncheon
2022-08-08 08:00 - 17:00
Using Improv to Build Your Communication Culture!
Wed., Sept 21, 2022, 11:30am – 1pm
Maggiano’s Naperville
Register Today! Click Now
Join IABC/Chicago as we return to in-person luncheons!
“Yes, and” is perhaps one of the most practical and direct applications of improv in the workplace. It’s also commonly misunderstood. Many people think “yes, and” means you have to agree with everything and there’s absolutely no room for conflict. Incorrect! “Yes, and” is a powerful leadership tool because it allows for affirmation and collaboration: two major traits in today’s leaders. So how do we incorporate “yes, and” into workplace culture and leadership communications?
Learn to apply the principles – and not to mention the fun(!) – of improv comedy to help create stronger relationships, foster more productive collaboration, and unlock more powerful creativity for your team.
This will be an interactive event where you will learn how to build trust and confidence in yourself and others all while having fun and a good laugh!
When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday, September 21
Where: Maggiano’s Little Italy, 1847 Freedom Drive, Naperville, IL
Cost: $35 members/$45 non-members/$20 students with ID

Tues., Aug. 9, 12:30 p.m. CT - Smart Brevity: How to make leader messages sharp, clear and unmissable
2022-08-09 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
The premium on smart, clear communication — especially at a leader level — has never been higher. Over 120 emails will hit a staff or stakeholder’s inbox today, making it harder for them to find or stay focused on what really matters.
Layer on shrinking attention spans and the compounding clutter that meetings, messages and inefficient communication add, and it gets tougher for any team to stay aligned, engaged and productive.
Smart Brevity® will help you break through. This modern communication style, built on brain science, is used inside 300+ organizations to capture and keep attention.
Join us with our sponsor, @axios senior director of content, @EmilyInverso, on August 9, 12:30pmCT, for an IABC-exclusive look at techniques and strategies communicators can use to make any leader message a must-read. Save your seat for free here – Register Now!

Fall Calendar Available!
2022-09-21 11:30 - 13:00
Date & Time
Event
Topic/Speaker

Wed., Sept 21, 11:30am – 1pm
In-Person Luncheon
Maggiano’s Naperville
Using Improv to Build Your Communication Culture!
Jeff Ash
Westside Improv

Wed., Oct 5, 7:30am – 8:30am
Zoom Coffee Club
Cybersecurity Communications
Lauren Westbrook, IT Communication Specialist
Red Hat

Wed., Nov. 16, 12 – 1pm
Zoom Webinar
Registration Now
Positively Negative
Stephen Krempl

December 13, 5 – 8pm
Member Holiday Party!
Registration is Open!
Rosetta Italian
1 S Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60603

Positively Negative: How To Turn Negative Messages Into Positive Ones - Wed., Nov 16, NoonCT SOLD OUT
2022-10-15 08:00 - 17:00
Join IABC/Chicago for this Free Webinar!
Being able to articulate your thoughts and solutions clearly is a critical skill for anyone looking to make it in the business world. However, those who know how to articulate unpleasant messages when interacting with their management are the ones that stand out and win in the work world.
In this session, Stephen Krempl will help us understand the mindset and techniques needed to be seen as someone with solutions, suggestions and recommendations while avoiding becoming that hostile, whining complainer, company leaders remember for the wrong reasons. Mastering being positively negative has been proven time after time to make all the difference.
Stephen Krempl is an international trainer, global speaker, bestselling author, and corporate communications coach.
He has worked with thousands of leaders in over 30+ countries. He is an expert on how leaders can stand out and get noticed in their corporations, even in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

December Coffee Club: Make an Impact on Your Culture at Your Holiday Party – Wed., Dec. 7, NoonCT
2022-12-07 12:00 - 13:00
The holidays are coming which usually brings the holiday office party – whether it’s in-person or virtual. What would happen if your conversations could have a greater impact on your culture while having fun? Join WorkingBetterTogether for some fun, tips and open discussion on how you can maximize and build on the relationships with your teams and leave everyone fresh and ready for 2023.
Register Today!

Holiday Party - Mix & Mingle with IABC/Chicago! December 13, 5pm
2022-12-13 17:00 - 20:00
Join IABC/Chicago for a fun networking night to kick off the holidays!
Tues., Dec. 13
5:00pm – 8:00pm
Rosebud Rosetta Italian
1 S. Dearborn, Chicago
Register Now!

Type
Fee

Member
$30.00

Non-Member
$45.00

Students with ID
$15.00

Who are the people in your neighborhood? A persona-based approach to employee engagement - Jan 25, Noon Webinar REGISTRATION IS FULL!
2023-01-25 12:00 - 13:00
No matter the organization, data and insights show our people are flooded with information. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach when we engage with our people. Using personae is about finding a way to communicate messages to a global audience that are designed with a specific someone in mind, rather than a generic ‘everyone.’
Join Carla Guest from IABC/Toronto for this interesting session on how Siemens Energy used this approach to research, develop and implement persona-based employee communications. It will highlight internal ‘best practices’ of implementation in partnership with business stakeholders (Human Resources, Chief Diversity Officer, Chief Data and Analytics Officer).
REGISTRATION IS FULL!

Effective Data Storytelling– Wed., Feb, 15, 2023 – Noon – 1pmCT
2023-02-15 12:00 - 13:00
Turn your Canva and Tableau into the best story structures to fit your audience. Transforming data into visual communication is only one part of the picture—it’s just as important to engage your audience with a memorable and persuasive story. Narratives are more powerful than raw statistics, more enduring than pretty charts. Effective Data Storytelling teaches you how to communicate insights that influence decisions, inspire action, and drive change. Gain practical advice for communicating research results that you can immediately apply in your day-to-day communications.
Featuring Tony Cheevers, Researchscape
Register Today!

Hindsight 2028 with Lynda Carlisle, Partner, CS-Effect: Wed., March 22, Noon Webina
2023-03-22 12:00 - 13:00
Wed., March 22, 12 – 1pm Webinar. $10
Where will the communication field be in the next five years? What would we want our future selves to know, learn and develop to get us there?
Join IABC/Chicago for this future visioning discussion with IABC/Chicago & Regional board member, Lynda Carlisle, as she walks us through trends and insights for us to consider.
Lynda is both a member of IABC/Chicago and the IABC Pacific Plains Regional Board. As a trusted communications advisor to senior level executives, she is a partner at CS-Effect, leading strategic communications campaigns for notable organizations, including Girl Scouts, NorthShore University Health System, Experian, Alere, Egon Zehnder, Leadership Greater Chicago and CSX Transportation, among others.
Register Now!

Understanding ESG Reporting: Best Practices and Evolving Expectations - Wed., April 19, Noon Webinar
2023-04-19 12:00 - 13:00
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting is a critical tool for telling your company’s sustainability story in a transparent and compelling way in order to satisfy stakeholder demands and comply with new regulations. Whether you’re just getting started on your ESG journey or ready to take a leap forward, this session is for you. We’ll cover:

What’s included in ESG reporting and why it’s a business priority
Evolving regulations and frameworks
Setting goals and tracking progress to meet stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements
Essential components of ESG reporting
Beyond the report: ESG storytelling internally and externally

Join IABC/Chicago as we welcome Cathy McCarron, Practice Lead, ESG Reporting & Sustainability Communications, with Pivot Strategies out of Minneapolis.
Cathy brings more than 30 years of experience to the Pivot team, including running her own communications consulting business for 18 years after working in corporate and agency roles. Cathy’s broad expertise includes over a decade leading CSR and ESG reporting projects — ideal background for her role as Pivot’s ESG Reporting and Sustainability Communications Practice Leader. She is a strategic, versatile communicator adept at delivering targeted communications and reporting solutions for clients across a variety of industries.
Register Now!
$10 to register & attend

Tues., May 9 - Networking & Establishing a Leadership Brand - Pinstripes, Chicago - 5-7pm
2023-05-09 17:00 - 19:00
Springtime in the City! Join IABC/Chicago on May 9 for a fun networking event to reconnect with your coms colleagues! We have Pinstripes reserved and the first drink (or two) is on us!
We will mix & mingle, and then turn it over to Alyssa Cox, the founder of Blue Swift Consulting, who will work with us on identifying our leadership brand as we work the room with intention, and then we have more time to mingle!
Registration is open!
$30 Members
$45 Nonmembers
$15 Students (undergrad & grad)

Too Hot to Handle: Regulation, AI and ESG Webinar: Aug. 9 – 12pm – 1pm
2023-08-09 12:00 - 13:00
Join us for our first webinar of the IABC/Chicago programming year!

We’re presenting a session to cover a variety of major issues affecting our industry. With rapid advancements in AI and interrelated fights regarding privacy and copyright, coms professionals are running on fumes. Add to that, one of the burgeoning fields in our industry, that being ESG has now been engulfed in “the culture wars” as many commentaries have described.
To help tie these issues together and explore these topics, we’ve invited James Rubec, the head of product at Fullintel and a former PR professional to share the facts, and some stories about these tumultuous times.
What We’ll Cover:

Copyright Government Fistfight
AI Says “Hold My Beer”
ESG In The Hot Seat

Head of Product at Fullint el, James is one of Canada’s top leaders in PR technology and strategy. His unwavering commitment to transforming groundbreaking concepts into viable products has empowered Fortune 500 brands to better understand their public image, enabling them to seize unseen opportunities and further their growth. Rubec’s commentary has been featured in USA Today, CBC’s The National, Yahoo Finance, Variety Magazine, and the Financial Post, and his analyses are included in publications like The Conversation and Wired Magazine.

Register Today!
$10 to register & attend

Designing Success Together: How Communication Consultants Can Positively Influence Decision Makers & Secure Right-Fit Opportunities – Wed., Sept 27 Webinar – 12pm – 1pmCT
2023-09-27 12:00 - 13:00
Featuring Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR
CEO & Founder, BoldHaus
As a strategic communications expert, you know that effective communication can make or break mission-critical business initiatives. But how are you leveraging communication strategies that foster trust, credibility, and openness in your own marketing and sales efforts?
In this content-rich session – which received rave reviews at this year’s IABC World Conference in Toronto – you’ll discover refreshingly simple approaches to deepen rapport with your prospects, lay the groundwork for a truly collaborative “sales” process, and yield better results for your clients – all while avoiding the most common headaches for yourself.
You’ll also learn how to create:

More 1:1 meetings with senior decision makers.
More long-term, transformational client engagements (versus once-and-done, check-the-box type of engagements).
More follow-on work with each and every client you enjoy working with.

This session caters to solo communication consultants, CEOs and owners of communication firms, and anyone with business development responsibilities in a strategic communications firm. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, you’ll gain actionable strategies, scripts, and shortcuts that will enhance results for both you and your clients.
Angelique Rewers is a small business growth expert, and CEO of BoldHaus®, recognized as an Inc. 5000 company. With 25+ years of experience, she’s widely recognized for her no-nonsense approach in helping small and diverse businesses to win corporate clients.
Angelique’s expertise has earned her recognition as “the undisputed champion at helping small businesses land big clients” in Inc. Magazine and a “Fierce Champion for Small Business Owners” on the cover of Business Digest Magazine.
Under Angelique’s leadership, BoldHaus has trained 10,000+ small businesses in 72+ countries, and its groundbreaking global conferences have brought entrepreneurs together with Fortune 500 brands to help them work more effectively together.
Register Today!
$10 to register & attend

Ask the Career Coach: An Unscripted Conversation with Darcy Eikenberg, PCC - Oct 25
2023-10-25 12:00 - 13:00

Your Leadership Brand, 2.0 – In Person Luncheon – Wed., Dec 6, 11:30am – 1pm
2023-12-06 11:30 - 13:00 | Maggiano’s Banquet Facility, 516 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Back in May IABC/Chicago came together to to host a networking event and talk about crafting your leadership brand with Alyssa Cox, BlueSwift Consulting. This December, we’re bringing Alyssa back to dive into how to put that leadership brand to move beyond subject matter expertise to direction-setting leadership, sitting at the center of strategic decision-making.

All leaders have a brand – the defining characteristics of their leadership style that characterize both how they operate and how they are perceived. Taking the time to articulate that brand for yourself is a key first step in living into that brand with intentionality and ensuring that the way you are perceived aligns with your values.
Alyssa Cox is the founder of Blue Swift Consulting, host of The Change Artist podcast, and a respected organizational effectiveness strategist with 14 years of experience helping clients make the leap from subject matter expert to strategic leader.
Register Today!
$35 Members
$45 Nonmembers
$15 Students

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

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
