IABC Chicago

PDLuncheon - Communicating about Artificial Intelligence: A Global Report
2018-10-25 11:30 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Osterio via Stato, 623 N. State, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
The bots are here…But do we know where we are going?
Join Mary Hills, ABC, Six Sigma, IABC Fellow, FRSA, Business Principal at HeimannHills Marketing Group, as she discusses the inaugural 2018 Communicating Artificial Intelligence Global Report done by the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence. The report summarizes key findings from the Communicating AI survey that was conducted to benchmark what communication professionals know, feel and are doing on communicating artificial intelligence now. Mary will be accompanied by a representative from Health Care Service Corporation to review their plans to learn about communicating and using AI in their work.
Our discussion will include a:

Review of the Communicating AI survey key findings
Case study of AI in practice with keen insights
Practical next steps in preparing yourself to communicate AI in your organization.

HeimannHills Marketing Group is a global marketing and communication firm headquartered in Chicago. As an alliance partner of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, HeimmanHills works with individuals and companies to use strategic communication to manage organizational change and to provide communication professionals with data and information to guide their evolving strategic leadership role in organizations throughout the world.
Health Care Service Corporation is the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 15 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Communicating_AI_Infographic
Pricing:
IABC Member: $35
Non-Member $50
Student with valid ID: $15
REGISTER TODAY!

Webinar: Building Your Organization’s Communication Capability with the COMMS Approach
2018-10-23 15:00 - 16:00
Everyone communicates. The communication function is only one part of sharing information and facilitating meaning in any organization. Yet the growth in social platforms, the role of communication partners including HR, change, project management and marketing, along with the essential communication impact of managers force communicators to relinquish control.
In this webinar, learn how introducing the five-step COMMS planning approach across an organization builds capability, provides a common process and achieves clearer outcomes. Communication functions are under pressure: extend your team’s impact through a simple framework that applies as much to manager one-to-ones as it does to project kick-offs and process changes.
This webinar builds on the planning process introduced in the previous webinar: The five-step COMMS plan: a simpler way to get better outcomes from communication planning. *If you missed this webinar, you can view it in the resource section of IABC.com, when logged in as an IABC member.

Presenter/Jonathan Champ, helps organizations communicate meaningfully. Passionate about developing the next generation of communication leaders, he has two decades experience delivering change communication, leadership and engagement across corporate, community and NFP sectors. He is the founder of Meaning Business and creator of the Shorter COMMS Plan, and a former Asia Pacific Co-Chair of the IABC Gold Quill Evaluators Blue Ribbon Panel. He tweets about #comms as @meaningbusiness.
Date: 23 October 2018
Time: 3 – 4 p.m. CST
Free to IABC members
Register

2018 Bronze Quill Awards Celebration
2018-09-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Wildfire, 159 W. Erie, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Join us on September 27 for IABC Chicago’s premiere annual event celebrating our 2018 Bronze Quill Awards winners.
Date: Thursday, September 27
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location:
Wildfire
159 W. Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Dress: Business attire
Register Here
On-site registration will be available.
Bronze Quill Awards Ticket Options (includes appetizers, dinner and a soft bar)
IABC Member: $85.00
Non-Member: $95.00
Student: $70.00
Group of 5: $375.00

All winning entries will be on display, and award recipients will be available to discuss their projects. There will also be the presentation of the 2018 Karen Utterback Volunteer Award.
This event is a great networking and professional development experience. We encourage you to invite friends, associates and non-members – all are welcome!

Webinar: Collaboration to Improve Department Communication
2018-09-12 11:00 - 12:00
Collaboration to Improve Department Communication
Presented by Shahara Wright

Most department leaders will say that the C Suite doesn’t care if departments work together. However, managers know that it is necessary to complete the work that needs to be done. It often seems like it is impossible because of distrust and suspicion between departments. However, a company can only survive if a culture of communication, transparency and collaboration is embraced.
Departments that struggle (or make no attempt) to cooperate with each other lead to product delays, budgetary problems and destroy company culture. Departments end up competing with one another and no longer seek to improve the company, but themselves. Collaboration is not about projects but working toward a common goal and outlook for a better future. A future where everyone benefits.
In this webinar, you will learn:
• How team leaders can encourage communication.
• How to create a collaborative process.
• How to work through mistakes and pitfalls.
• How to cultivate mutual understanding.
Presenter Shahara Wright is a CEO, business law attorney and business strategist. She is an award-winning author, host of the CEO Collaboration Circle and a highly sought after international speaker. Wright has been the owner and lead attorney of The Wright Firm, PLLC for over 17 years and founded The CEO Effect, LLC, to work with small business owners who want to implement strategy to build capacity.
Date: September 12, 2018
Time: 11:00–12:00 p.m. CT
Free to IABC members
Register here.

Karen Utterback Award Nominations Due
2018-08-30
Each year, the IABC Chicago executive committee proudly presents the Karen Utterback Volunteer Award to one outstanding individual.
Karen Utterback, ABC
We are now accepting nominations for the 2018 Award. To nominate a chapter member, fill out and submit your nomination by Friday, August 31, 2018.
About the award
The annual Karen Utterback Volunteer Award, which began in 2012, recognizes a seasoned professional who donates his/her time and talent to further the professional communications practice. The IABC Chicago executive committee honors one outstanding individual at our Bronze Quill Awards reception each year. Selection criteria include:

Dedication to strategic communications excellence,
Assistance to the organization and its members, and
Years of volunteer service to the profession.

Learn more about the Karen Utterback Volunteer Award.

Webinar: Take Control with Media Monitoring
2018-08-21 11:00 - 12:00
Presented by Dawn Smeaton
PR and communication professionals do not like surprises. The last thing they want is to be in the dark when it comes to news—good or bad—affecting their organization.
The answer to avoiding surprises? Knowing, before the other guys, everything there is to know about your world. What trends or opportunities are coming your way, what your competition is doing and where your industry is going. Media monitoring gives you that knowledge.
In this webinar, you’ll:

Learn four things you need to monitor to put yourself in control.
Understand how monitoring can make you a better communicator.
Get a step-by-step guide to getting started.

There’s nothing like the feeling of being in total control. Media monitoring can give it to you.
Presenter Dawn Seaton: With extensive experience in marketing and communications on the agency and client sides, Dawn Smeaton has both asked for the world—and tried to deliver it. A math nerd by birth, and news junkie by choice, a career in media monitoring and analytics was almost pre-destined. By sharing her passion for data and de-mystifying measurement, she strives to help PR professionals overcome analysis anxiety and become data-driven communicators.
Date: August 21, 2018
Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CDT
Free to IABC members
REGISTER NOW

Webinar: The 9 Rules of Crisis Communication
2018-07-24 11:00 - 12:00
Presented by Lane Kasselman

Bad things happen on weekends, holidays and when the weather is nice—learn how to always be prepared for a crisis and the rules for communicating through it. Lane Kasselman, former Uber and AT&T communication and public affairs executive, will share his experience in navigating crisis and upholding an organization’s trust, credibility and reputation in the process.
Presenter Lane Kasselman is a nationally recognized expert in crisis and public affairs. He led communications and public affairs for both Uber and AT&T, and also ran Kasselman LLC working with BP during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the American Foundation for Equal Rights during the same-sex marriage court decision. He and Matt McKenna, former U.S. President Bill Clinton senior adviser, launched Greenbrier two years ago to help companies and individuals avoid, manage and recover from crises.
Date: July 24, 2018
Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CDT
Free to IABC members
REGISTER NOW

IABC Chicago 2018 Bronze Quill Awards Submission Deadline
2018-07-23
Download the 2018 Call for Entries brochure and submit your entry. Chicago communicators can now enter the 2018 Bronze Quill Awards sponsored by the Chicago chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). As ‘the Oscar’ for Chicago-area communications professionals, the contest recognizes the best and brightest work from all communications disciplines completed during 2018 – from marketing and public relations to writers and digital media experts.
Previous winners represent companies large and small, including Allstate, Boeing, ComEd, McDonald’s, Sprint, Samsung, Towers Watson, Walgreen’s and Zurich.
Award-winning entries demonstrate strategic thought process with clearly defined goals and objectives, measurable results against objectives and value added contribution to the client or organization. Winners receive a personalized trophy, recognition on IABC Chicago’s web site and mention in a press release.
For more information visit the 2018 Bronze Quill Awards page.
Our awards program would not be possible without the generous help of our sponsors. A heartfelt thanks goes out to our 2018 Bronze Quill Award sponsors:
Elite Sponsor

In-kind Sponsors

Webinar: Reactive Crisis Management Part 2, Activism
2018-07-19 11:00 - 12:00
Presented by John Deveney

A progressively energized community of activists is part of a new reality for brands and businesses, that calls for new rules of engagement for brands when it comes to their reputation. This rise in consumer activism brings a new host of risks and challenges that brand managers often ignore at their detriment. Make sure that your brand is ready for to react to activists engagement.
Tune in for part two of our two-part series on activist crisis management. A continuation into preparing your brand for activist and their organizations. John Deveney will guide you through the reactive steps your organization should take when engaging with a crisis situation involving activism.
Presenter/John Deveney, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, IABC Fellow, founder of Deveney, has become a national leader in strategic marketing and communication, known for some of the industry’s best campaigns, results and counsel. His firm’s meteoric start was chronicled through significant national campaigns with particular strength in crisis, health care, tourism and hospitality. DEVENEY was named PR News’ Firm of the Vear in 2013 and one of PRWeek’s Top 5 Boutique PR Firms in 2004 and 2016. Deveney was honored as Agency Executive of the Year by PRNews and topped PRWeek’s list of the profession’s four “Brightest Stars” and “Ambassadors that are Heroes.” He is the only professional to ever merit the lifetime achievement recognition of being inducted as both a Fellow PRSA and an ABC Fellow, as well as, PRNews Hall of Fame.
Date: July 19, 2018
Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CDT
Free to IABC members
REGISTER NOW

Webinar: The 9 Rules of Crisis Communication
2018-07-18 11:00 - 12:00
The 9 Rules of Crisis Communication
Presented by Lane Kasselman

Bad things happen on weekends, holidays and when the weather is nice—learn how to always be prepared for a crisis and the rules for communicating through it. Lane Kasselman, former Uber and AT&T communication and public affairs executive, will share his experience in navigating crisis and upholding an organization’s trust, credibility and reputation in the process.
Presenter Lane Kasselman is a nationally recognized expert in crisis and public affairs. He led communications and public affairs for both Uber and AT&T, and also ran Kasselman LLC working with BP during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the American Foundation for Equal Rights during the same-sex marriage court decision. He and Matt McKenna, former U.S. President Bill Clinton senior adviser, launched Greenbrier two years ago to help companies and individuals avoid, manage and recover from crises.
Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT
Free to IABC members
Register here.

Webinar: Proactive Crisis Management Part 1, Activism
2018-07-17 11:00 - 12:00
Proactive Crisis Management: Activism: Part 1
Presented by John Deveney

In 2018, brands are witnessing a wave of a new consumer activism. Since the beginning of 2016, one in five Americans has participated in some form of activist involvement. And many of them claim they plan on getting more active. Make sure that your brand is ready for whatever may come and tune in for part one of our two-part series on activist crisis management. An engaging introduction to preparing your brand for activists and their organizations.
John Deveney will guide you through the proactive steps your organization can take to prepare for a crisis situation involving activism.
Presenter/John Deveney, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, IABC Fellow, founder of Deveney, has become a national leader in strategic marketing and communication, known for some of the industry’s best campaigns, results and counsel. His firm’s meteoric start was chronicled through significant national campaigns with particular strength in crisis, health care, tourism and hospitality. DEVENEY was named PR News’ Firm of the Vear in 2013 and one of PRWeek’s Top 5 Boutique PR Firms in 2004 and 2016. Deveney was honored as Agency Executive of the Year by PRNews and topped PRWeek’s list of the profession’s four “Brightest Stars” and “Ambassadors that are Heroes.” He is the only professional to ever merit the lifetime achievement recognition of being inducted as both a Fellow PRSA and an ABC Fellow, as well as, PRNews Hall of Fame.
Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CDT
Free to IABC members.
Register here.

Solution Provider Webinar: How to Justify Business Value From Your Employee Intranet
2018-07-10 12:00 - 13:00
Presented by Sam Keninger
As communication professionals we know intranets are important. But we sometimes lack the ability justify how they impact the business. To dig deeper, Simpplr interviewed a panel of practitioners to learn different ways companies justify their employee communication programs. Join Sam Keninger, head of research at Simpplr, as he shares learnings about how you can map your intranet program to the bigger picture.
In this webinar, you will learn:

Ways to justify the intranet investment in terms that matter to the business.
How do identify common problems and symptoms of a poor communication strategy.
What metrics can be used to make the case for investment.
Case study examples of various business case approaches.

Presenter Sam Keninger leads product marketing at Simpplr, assessing and analyzing customer challenges and market trends. For nearly 15 years, he has helped design and promote software to improve customer and employee experiences. He speaks at industry events and customer forums, and is widely recognized as an expert in enterprise software technology.

Solution Provider, Simpplr, is today’s modern intranet. Simpplr makes it possible for businesses to connect, align and engage their entire workforce across the enterprise. Trusted by leading brands, including Workday, Box, DocuSign, Eurostar and Columbia University, our customers are achieving measurable productivity gains, increased employee engagement and higher employee retention. Simpplr is headquartered in Redwood City, CA with offices in the UK and India, and is backed by Norwest Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures.
Date: July 10, 2018
Time: 12–1 p.m. CDT
Free to the public.
Register here.

Webinar: Awesome PowerPoint Tricks for Effective Presentations
2018-06-27 11:00 - 12:00
Awesome PowerPoint Tricks for Effective Presentations
Presented by Richard Goring

PowerPoint is the basis for much of the training material you use, and yet it’s text-heavy, dull and boring. This session will help you revolutionize the way you use it to make your presentations and other training materials more effective using visuals, diagrams and animation.
It covers productivity tips on creating content, quick formatting and animating graphs in two clicks. It will help enhance your content with better design techniques, image manipulation, animation combos and precise motion paths. And it will inspire you to create sophisticated interactive content with triggers, hyperlinks and custom content. Plus, a free PowerPoint toolkit to kick start your efforts for everyone who attends.
Steps to take:
1. Attend this session.
2.Become a PowerPoint legend.
Presenter Richard Goring is a director at BrightCarbon, the specialist presentation and eLearning agency. He has helped to write and create thousands of presentations, and coached hundreds of teams to present more effectively using visuals, diagrams and animated sequences that explain and reinforce the key points, which are supported by plenty of resources and tips at www.brightcarbon.com.
Date: June 27, 2018
Time: PST / 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT
Free to IABC members
Register here.

Your Personal Brand: Know What It Is and Shape It to Help You Become a Stronger Communicator
2018-06-21 11:30 - 14:00 | Osterio via Stato, 623 N. State, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
What’s all the commotion these days about creating your personal brand? What is a personal brand anyway and why it is important to you as a successful communicator?
Join us Thursday, June 21, as we welcome Tami Chapek, founder of WeInspireWe and Certified Professional Coach, as she leads us through an interactive working session on personal branding and how you can make your actions speak louder than words.
Tami’s personal branding session will give participants:

A clear and specific vision for your leadership style.
Preliminary action plan to begin to integrate the vision.
Greater confidence and credibility – leading to greater trust and confidence from others.
A higher perceived value in both personal and professional situations.
Ability to stand out from other leaders.

Pricing:
IABC Member: $35
Nonmember: $50
Student: $15
Register today!

Roof Tops and River Views at Groupon Networking and Volunteer Recognition Event
2018-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Groupon Corporate Headquarters, 600 West Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Join us Thursday, June 7 on the roof top of Groupon’s Chicago headquarters to take in the river view and toast to the summer with IABC Chicago! Having made its debut in late 2017, we’re excited to get a glimpse of Groupon’s amazing new roof top space while we mix and mingle with other communications professionals. Let’s also raise a glass to say “thanks” to our volunteers who served IABC Chicago this year.
Admission includes drinks, appetizers and networking galore.
Register here.
Date: June 7
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Groupon Corporate Headquarters
600 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654
Price:
Member: $25
Nonmember: $35
Student: $5

2018 IABC World Conference
2018-06-03 - 2018-06-06
Save the date for the 2018 IABC World Conference, June 3–6 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Canada!
For more information or to pre-register, visit the IABC World Conference website.

Coffee with Communicators
2018-05-16 07:30 - 09:00 | Morningstar, 22 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL, 60602, United States
Uh oh. A major media outlet has run a story about your company that has affected your bottom line. Everyone up to the CEO is unhappy. What do you do?
Join us for breakfast, networking and a discussion with Morningstar’s Sasha Bigda, as she walks us through a coordinated suppression plan to debunk a Wall Street Journalarticle that called their fund ratings into question.
All levels of communications expertise and experience are welcome and you need not be a member to attend. A light breakfast will be served.
Hosted by Morningstar.
Wednesday, May 16, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Morningstar
22 West Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Pricing:

Member:
$15

Non-member:
$25

Student:
$5

REGISTER TODAY!

Webinar: Stuck in the 20th Century? The Shifts You and Your Company Need to Make to Thrive in the 21st Century
2018-05-09 11:00 - 12:00
Stuck in the 20th Century? The Shifts You and Your Company Need to Make to Thrive in the 21st Century
Presented by Maya Townsend and Martha Miser

Today, the world is a much different place than it was twenty years ago. Yet, we still rely on approaches to strategy that were developed in the 20th century (and a few that were developed over 2000 years ago). We need to move beyond the old methods to what works in our digital, global, rapidly changing world. In this active, engaging webinar, we’ll explore the five shifts organizations and individuals need to make in order to lead strategy and communicate effectively in the 21st century.
In this session, you will learn:

What the shift to a deeply interconnected, digitally ubiquitous, global world means for organizations and individuals.
The five shifts of thinking you’ll need to succeed in strategy and communications in the 21st Century.
The practical implications of the five shifts to your practice.

Presenter Maya Townsend helps individuals, teams, and organizations thrive in our networked world. Through her company, Partnering Resources, she uses the science underlying human relationships to make soft skills generate hard results. She serves on the Editorial Review Board for OD Practitioner. Her articles are regularly published by venues such as Inc.Com, CIO.Com, People + Strategy, and Nonprofit Quarterly. As co‐editor of The Handbook for Strategic HR, Townsend will happily tell you why you should throw out your performance reviews and why most HR departments need a total makeover.
Presenter Martha Miser focuses on disrupting organizations, so that people think differently about themselves and relationships, leading to organizations that are more awake, passionate, human and focused—all of which adds up to better business results. Her company, Aduro Consulting, serves a range of domestic and multinational companies. Prior to starting her consulting business, Miser held leadership positions in several organizations, including Global Head of Leadership and Change for ING Bank in the Netherlands. Her newsletter, Exploring Leadership, examines the unique challenges of 21st century leadership.
Date: May 9, 2018
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT
Free to IABC members
Register here.

How Does Your Company Spell CSR?
2018-05-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Astellas, 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, United States
An organization’s approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is nothing new, and companies use many ways to define what it means to them. Does it include transparency, sustainability, diversity, supply chain management, environmentalism or social involvement? All of them? A combination? It’s different for every organization.
Join us for a moderated panel discussion about what modern CSR means to our panelists’ companies, and how they communicate their position and programs to their employees and external stakeholders.
Panelists
Moira Knight, Executive Director, Communications and Corporate Citizenship, Astellas
Elieen Buckley, Director, National Responsible Business Leadership Team, PWC
Kasjha Moua, Manager, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Allstate
Moderator
Anne Divita Kopacz, Director of Communications, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University, Chicago
Event hosted by Astellas.
May 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
6:00–6:30 p.m. Register, networking, hors d’oeuvres and drinks
6:30–7:30 p.m. Welcome, announcements, panel discussion
7:30–8:00 p.m. Q&A, wrap up
Register today!

IABC Member:
$35

Non-member:
$50

Student:
$15

Rapido!
2018-04-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Hosted by Gagen MacDonald, 35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 700, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Quick! Tell us a compelling story – a soup-to-nuts story – that includes the main character, plot, conflict and conclusion. Easy, right? Now do it in under five minutes.
That’s what Rápido is all about. Rápido, the Spanish word for “rapid,” is our annual high-octane event that challenges presenters to share an innovative campaign in under five minutes, using no more than 20 slides.
This year, we’ve invited a wide range of professionals to talk with us about a winning campaign, its strategy, results and lessons learned.
Below is the list of presenters, their companies and their topics.
Jolean Olson, Vice President, Scenic Road
G&S Communications and Scenic Road
Legacy. Farmers can rely on very few products for controlling weeds over time. We showcase one product’s longevity and brand loyalty through a content campaign.
Jane Hoffman, Consultant
Gagen MacDonald
Countdown to Day One: Creating DowDuPont.
Gabrielle Loring, Senior Consultant
ROC Group
Helping Littelfuse Associates Navigate Complex Medical Benefits.
Sara Mee, Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Transunion
TransUnion’s Data Incident Response Communications.
Dana Mellecker, Global Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Investis
How to get your picture in the Wall Street Journal.
Melisa O’Keefe, Vice President
Gravel
Gravel XP presents an inside look at the brand launch of Smith & Forge Hard Cider, a new alcoholic beverage with a ‘gritty but great’ brand identity.
Prash Sabharwal, Senior Digital Manager
Golin
MacDonald’s Bling Mac. In February 2018, McDonald’s tapped into a cultural trend to create an object of desire that had everyone tweeting their love for the Big Mac.
This is a great opportunity for attendees to learn what goes into planning and executing winning campaigns that propel company brand awareness thought innovative tactics that get noticed. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentations.
Rápido!
Hosted by Gagen MacDonald
35 East Wacker Drive,
Suite 700
Chicago, IL
April 26, 2018
6:00-8:00 p.m.

6:00-6:30 p.m.
Registration and networking

6:30-7-30 p.m.
Presentations

7:30-8:00 p.m.
Q&A

Pricing

Member:
$35

Non-member:
$50

Student:
$15

REGISTER TODAY!
About Our Event Host
Gagen MacDonald is a strategy execution consulting firm specializing in internal communication, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. The firm works inside companies to move corporate and operating strategies off the shelf and into the workplace, turning them into reality.

Webinar: How to Define, Articulate and Activate Your Company’s Purpose
2018-04-25 11:00 - 12:00
How to Define, Articulate and Activate Your Company’s Purpose
Presented by Guusje Bendelert

In today’s climate, purpose plays a bigger role in business than ever before. Purpose can be the keystone of your brand story or the X-factor for retention and recruitment efforts. But, what really is purpose? How should it be communicated? What value can purpose add to your business? Having worked with companies like Southwest Airlines, International Paper and Qualcomm around integrating purpose into their communications, we have seen the tangible benefits purpose can bring to any organization.
In this educational webinar you will learn how to identify your organization’s purpose and communicate it to a variety of stakeholders.
Presenter Guusje Bendelert is a founding partner and chief strategy and creative of thinkPARALLAX, a strategic brand consultancy that works with companies to define and activate their purpose. As a branding, strategy and citizenship expert, Bendelert helps companies articulate, communicate and activate their purpose to enhance performance, engagement and reputation.
Date: April 25, 2018
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT
Free to IABC members
Register here.

Professional Development Luncheon: How to be Your Organization’s Go-To Speechwriter
2018-04-12 11:30 - 14:00 | Osterio via Stato, 623 N. State, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Crafting powerful speeches and remarks requires more than a flair for writing. But what are those things? Don’t miss this special presentation by Mary Jo Bohr, a communications and speechwriting pro who’s written speeches for scores of CEOs and other executives. In her presentation she’ll explore:
— The key differences between writing for the “ear” and writing for the “eye.”
— How to make “tired” topics sound fresh … even riveting.
— Keys to capturing the voice and style of the person you’re writing for.
— How to grab and keep an audience’s attention.
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone newer to the field, you’ll be glad you joined us. A full lunch will be served.
April 12
11:30am – 2:00 PM
Osteria via Stato
620 N State St.
Pricing:

Member:
$35

Non-member:
$50

Student:
$15

REGISTER HERE.

Annual Open Forum Meeting
2018-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | ROC Group, 300 E Randolph St., Suite 3400, Chicago, IL, United States
Get to know IABC Chicago! The IABC Chicago Board of Directors invites members and nonmembers to our annual Open Forum Meeting on Tuesday, April 10, 2018.
We have opened this meeting to all to provide an opportunity to share plans for coming months and to solicit ideas regarding ways we can better serve our members.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
6:00–8:00 p.m.
ROC Group
300 E. Randolph St., Suite 3400
Chicago, IL
Light refreshments will be provided.
FREE TO ATTEND, BUT PLEASE RSVP TO dgomez3488@gmail.com BY APRIL 1.

Webinar: Be a Talent Magnet—How to Retain, Engage and Attract the Millennial Workforce
2018-03-29 11:00 - 12:00
Be a Talent Magnet—How to Retain, Engage and Attract the Millennial Workforce
Presented by Jeff Butler

Recently, the millennial generation took the stage as a the largest generation in the U.S. workforce. Millennials (also known as Generation Y), born between 1981 to 2000, are your current and future leaders and they are bringing tremendous change, innovation and opportunity. In this program, you will hear up-to-the-minute data and case studies, as author Jeff Butler helps you better understand your organization’s millennials and provides actionable strategies to leverage the potential of this upcoming and rising generation.
Key learning points:

Learn what message is enticing to attract millennial talent to your company, even if you don’t have a strong brand.
Discover strategies to manage millennial talent for maximal retention.
Retention strategies companies are using that lead to 96 percent retention rates over a three year period.

Presenter Jeff Butler is a​ ​speaker,​ ​author​ ​and​ ​passionate​ ​millennial​ ​who​ ​helps​ ​organizations​ ​improve​ ​their​ ​retention of​ ​millennial​ ​employees.​ ​A​ ​native​ ​Californian​ ​and​ ​raised​ ​in​ ​Silicon​ ​Valley,​ he​ ​has​ ​spent​ ​his​ ​entire​ ​life​ ​during​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​pattern of​ ​employee​ ​turnover​ ​in​ ​recorded​ ​history.​ ​Graduating​ ​from​ ​UC​ ​Berkeley​ ​with​ ​a​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Computer​ ​Science,​ Butler ​experienced the​ ​competition​ ​and​ ​challenges​ ​of​ ​recruiting,​ ​attracting ​and​ ​retaining​ ​top​ ​talent​ ​first​ ​hand.​ ​Unlike​ ​other​ ​experts​ ​on​ ​millennials, he​ ​has​ ​been​ ​in​ ​the​ ​trenches​ ​of​ ​what​ ​it​ ​means​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​millennial​ ​and​ ​what​ ​it​ ​takes​ ​to​ ​retain​ ​and​ ​keep​ ​them​ ​engaged.​ ​With​ ​Butler​‘s versatile​ ​background,​ ​he​ ​has​ ​helped​ ​fortune​ ​500​ ​companies​ ​and​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​professionals​ ​across​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States—in addition​ ​to​ ​appearing​ ​on​ ​TEDx​ ​in​ ​both​ ​2016​ ​and​ ​2017.
Date: March 29, 2018
Time: 11 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT
Free to IABC members
Register here.

Young Professionals: Luck O’ the IABC Networking Bash
2018-03-22 17:30 - 19:30 | Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub, 400 N McClurg Court, Chicago , 60611, United States
Celebrate an extended St. Patty’s Day with your favorite communications professionals at Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub in Streeterville from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22! Join us for great networking opportunities with your IABC Chicago friends.
The event is open to professionals of all ages, and you need not be an IABC member to participate. The small fee covers your first drink, light appetizers and a night of low-pressure fun and networking with the finest group of communicators Chicago has to offer.
Tuesday, March 22 from 5:30-7:30.p.m.
Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub
400 N. McClurg Court
Chicago, IL
Pricing:

Member:
$15

Non-Member:
$25

Student:
$5

REGISTER HERE.

Professional Development Event “Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results”
2018-02-22 18:00 - 20:30 | Industrious, 171 North Aberdeen, Suite 400, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
Every organization, be it a Fortune 500 company, a nonprofit or a startup, needs a story that captures the “why” beyond the “what” and communicates your purpose, brand and relevance in a way that’s unique and compelling. Yet, too often we resort to rattling off dry data points like lists of services or products, target markets, head counts and revenue figures.
In this interactive session, Rob Biesenbach will talk about why stories more effective than data, examine the key components to any successful company story and review examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Then you’ll have the chance to construct, refine and share your own story.
Feb. 22, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Register here.
About Rob Biesenbach
Through workshops, consulting and books, Rob Biesenbach helps leaders communicate with purpose, power and impact so they can achieve their business goals.
Rob is a former vice president at Ogilvy PR, press secretary to the Ohio Attorney General and a nonprofit and association executive. He’s also a Second City trained actor who brings a little show business style to the subject of business communications.
His latest book is Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results, on which this presentation is based.

Webinar: How to Use Video to Enhance Executive Communication
2018-02-15 13:00 - 14:00
Solution provider webinar: How to Use Video To Enhance Executive Communication
One of the biggest differences between high performing organizations and those that consistently fail to reach performance goals involves executive communication. All too often members of the C-suite hide behind others to convey their vision for the company. While they may think it is more efficient to communicate indirectly, they are doing little to endear themselves to their employees.
Streaming video allows executives to engage in interactive live communicate with all employees no matter where they are located. It is for this reason that many corporate communications departments are choosing to host All-Hands and Town Hall meetings with this technology.
In this webinar, we will discuss:

The benefits of using video for executive messaging.
How to prep your executives to communicate with video.
Tips for selecting a video platform for executive communication.

Presenter/Bill Accola, is vice president, professional services & customer success at MediaPlatform. He is responsible for delivering integrated solutions to address the challenging business requirements of MediaPlatform’s customers. He brings an advanced understanding of project management tools and best-practice methodology to manage complex, multi-disciplinary projects. Previously, he served as executive director of business development for the news distribution industry leader Marketwire.

Shazia Haq is senior content marketing manager at MediaPlatform. Haq has a professional background in b2b content marketing and technology writing. She earned her master’s degree in international politics from NYU and her undergraduate degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California.

Date: 15 February 2018
Time: 1– 2 p.m. CST
Free to the public
REGISTER NOW

Professional Development Luncheon "Becoming a Trusted Advisor"
2018-02-01 11:30 - 14:00 | Northern Trust, 181 W. Madison St., Englewood Room, 7th floor, Chicago, IL, 60603, United States
If you work in the communications business, you no doubt have come across someone who is a natural at owning a room, a pro at giving feedback clients will listen to or being the “go-to” person when all else fails.
How did they get there? More importantly, how can you get there?
Join us as we welcome Chris Varones, founder of Aesop Communications Group, who will take us through some steps to become that go-to advisor for your clients, your peers, or your boss.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
– Characteristics of a trusted advisor
– Actionable tips on becoming a trusted advisor
– Why all clients want and need a trusted advisor.
February 1, 2018 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

11:30 – noon
Registration and networking

noon – 12:30 p.m
Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Wrap up

This event is open to professionals of all levels and you need not be an IABC member to attend. Lunch is included in event pricing.
Members advance registration: $35
Nonmembers: $50
Students: $15
Members at the door: $40
REGISTER NOW
About Chris Varones
Chris is the founder and principal of Aesop Communications Group based in Chicago. Chris recognized the importance of being a trusted advisor early in his career and considers it a lifelong endeavor. Before founding Aesop, Chris worked at Burson-Marsteller, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, MWWPR and the Illinois House of Representatives.

Details
Northern Trust
181 W. Madison St., Englewood Room, 7th floor
Chicago
A photo ID will be required when checking in at the security desk.
Parking options:
WMW Self Park
172 W Madison St.
The Poetry Garage
201 W. Madison St.

Webinar: Crafting and Telling the Story of Your Strategy
2018-01-30 15:00 - 16:00
Crafting and Telling the Story of Your Strategy
Presented by Shawn Callahan
It’s the dirty little secret of the business world: Between 80 and 95 percent of employees don’t know or understand the strategy. And it occurs regardless of how good the strategy is.
Using industry case studies, this presentation will highlight:

Why communicating strategy fails.
How strategy can be converted into a co-designed story that can be told and retold, so everyone has clarity on what the organization is trying to achieve.
Identifying and tackling anti-stories that prevent progress.

In this webinar, you will learn:

How to craft a strategy story that is owned by your most important influencers.
What a business story looks and sounds like and how to spot good ones.
Three big mistakes novices make when starting out with story techniques.

Presenter Shawn Callahan, is the author of Putting Stories to Work and the founder at Anecdote, the world’s largest business storytelling company. Shawn started his career in tech with companies such as Oracle and IBM but realized that, at the end of the day, it was the human factors that determined the success of any enterprise. In 2004 he founded Anecdote, a firm that helps leaders and sellers find and tell great oral stories. He works with Global 1,000 companies and a global network of partners. Shawn’s book, Putting Stories to Work, won a gold medal in the 2017 Axiom business book awards in the category of Networking (social networking, communication skills).
Date: 30 January 2018
Time: 3-4 p.m. CST
Free to IABC members
REGISTER NOW

IABC Gold Quill Awards Late Entry Deadline
2018-01-30
Every year, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards program recognizes work from around the world that soars to new heights.
For more than 40 years, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards have recognized and awarded excellence in strategic communication worldwide. Gold Quill is the only awards program that honors the dedication, innovation and passion of communicators on a global scale. Since 2008, more than 4,451 projects have been entered in the Gold Quill Awards.
Are you ready to soar? Share your best work by entering the 2018 IABC Gold Quill Awards program! More information is available here on www.iabc.com.
Late deadline: January 30, 2018
