2021 NAGC Communications School:
Schedule at a Glance
Mark your calendars for NAGC's annual Communications School!
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT | Keynote
• Visionary: How to Articulate a Compelling Vision
by Elizabeth Dixon |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• How to Build Trust with Social Media
by Brian Loer Frankel
• You're Speaking - But Is Your Audience Listening
by Tom Fuller
• Create Compelling Presentations for Virtual Training
by Richard Goring
|
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• Crisis Communications Master Class
by Shannon Berg
• Behavioral Objectives for Campaigns - How to Achieve More Action!
by Kathryn Cooper
• Videos for All: Strategies for Creating Accessible Video Products
by Lesley Earl |
| 4:30 – 5:30 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• Strategic Storytelling
by Tom Fuller
• 7 Keys to Unlocking Talent Strategy
by Shelli Hendricks
• Storytelling with Impact
by Judy Sebastian and John Herbert |
| 8:00 pm EDT | Social Hour |
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT | Keynote
• Applying and Communicating JEDI Principles (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and
Inclusion): Diversity is More than an Issue of Black and White
by Dr. Larry Edmonds |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
•"I don't know what you do..." - How to Overcome the Vague
by Stephanie Derrig
• Fall In Love With Video
by Tomás Harmon
• Public Speaker & Media Training for Leadership
by Laura Van Eperen |
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• You Branded What? An Organizational Journey to One Cohesive Brand
by Jenna Bowman and Justin Bieganek
• What to do AFTER the Boss Shoots the Messenger, Even If You Weren't
the Messenger
by Nancy Harrity
• Pre-Flight Checklist - How to Clear the Runway for Your Measurement
Programs
by Ben Kessler
|
| 4:30 – 5:30 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• How to Write Effective Web Copy
by Andrew Buck
• The Neuroscience of Once Upon a Time; or Why Storytelling Works
in Government Communications
by Klay Dyer
• Cognitive Biases: Overcoming Irrational Thinking and Poor Decision Making
by Karen Naumann |
| 8:00 pm EDT | Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards |
Thursday, May 27, 2021
11:00 - 11:45 am EDT
| Social Hour
|
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT | Keynote
• Embrace the Jerk: How Resisting Change Helps Facilitate Change
by Melinda Wells |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• Trolls and Their Toll on Social Media Communicators
by Brandi Bates
• Get Prepared to Speak Impromptu
by Mitchell Friedman
• APR: The Best Kept Secret to Successful Communications
by Ann Knabe, Tom Fuller, & Chris O'Neil |
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• Shoestring Multimedia: Making Audio and Video With Your Phone & Tablet
by Dan Farkas
• Successful Storytelling on a Shoestring Budget
by Steven Norris
• Municipal Budgets: More Than Just Checking a Box
by Caitlin Thayer |
| 4:30 – 5:30 pm EDT | Breakout Sessions
• How Building a Humor Reserve Enhances Your Communications Work,
and Your Life
by Noreen Braman
• Intercultural Presentation Skills: Public Speaking on the Global Stage
by Dan Bullock and Raũl Sãnchez
• PowerPoint Audiences are People, Too: Three Steps to Creating More
Powerful PowerPoint Slides
by Sandra Johnson
|
Meet Your Keynote Speakers:
Elizabeth Dixon
More than just a speaker, Elizabeth is a winsome corporate executive and serial entrepreneur who connects with executives and their teams, integrating strategy, innovation, leadership and personal development in speeches that ignite conversation and inspire purposeful action.
Leading service and hospitality strategy for Chick-fil-A, Elizabeth has driven the strategic direction central to the company's exponential growth from $6B-$13B annual sales. Through Elizabeth’s influence and direction, Chick-fil-A continues to be recognized as #1 in QSR Customer Service year after year.
She has founded, operated and sold several small businesses as well as actively coaches emerging entrepreneurs toward success in achieving their business goals.
Learn more.
Dr. Larry Edmonds
Dr. Larry Edmonds is a retired (early retirement with Emeritus status) and Barrett Honors Faculty member at Arizona State University (ASU). He currently serves as the Vice President of the ASU Retirees Association and serves as a Commissioner on the (City of) Scottsdale Historic Preservation Commission. He is also a JEDI Master (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion).
For a number of years, Dr. Edmonds has taught and has been a practitioner of Leadership, Gender Fluidity, Human Communication (Intercultural/Cross-cultural), Conflict and Negotiation, as well as Training and Development. Edmonds served as Director, Education Leadership Innovation for the Global Listening Centre (2016-2019) and currently serves on the Advisory Board, Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations.
Larry is a Robert B. Rutherford, Jr. Memorial Fellow for his work directly with learners with behavioral/learning issues and a Dessie E. Larsen Fellow for Communication/ Presentation Performance. He has additionally been honored with two Outstanding Faculty/Teaching Awards at ASU.
Learn more.
Melinda Wells
Melinda Wells is a corporate professional and CEO of four companies including the Melyan Group, a consultancy that advises companies on how to gain and sustain value through improvement activities. She is a respected authority in continuous improvement, culture & engagement and military to corporate transitions. Her depth of knowledge extends far beyond the corporate realm and is matched by her passion as a motivational speaker on self-optimization. Melinda has an infectious, high-dynamic personality. She leads through inspiration and strongly believes “ the art of the possible happens when people and ideas converge towards a collective goal.” A visionary in continuous improvement, she created a hybrid approach to elevate people to meaningful and transformative action.
As a highly decorated United States Air Force veteran and the first minority female recipient of the Commandant Leadership Award, Melinda exemplifies change. With countless accolades throughout her career, she is an accomplished professional with extensive industry experience in technology, aerospace, manufacturing, and life sciences.
As an author of "The Woman in Blue" a published literary story in Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives, Melinda presents a fascinating perspective on diversity, perseverance and military transition. Having orchestrated the first Continuous Improvement Summit in the San Francisco Bay Area, Melinda set the foundation for improved program execution in aerospace and defense. With the torch to deliver results, she created new revenue streams totaling $200M, delivered $30M in cost-saving initiatives, and executed 50% improvements in work-life integration. It is with this level of commitment Melinda energizes and inspires a movement of improvement and sets the foundation for “I can too.” She is a Golden Gate University alumna and a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with the Athon Group.
Learn more.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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