2025 NAGC Communications School:
Schedule-at-a-Glance
All times listed are Eastern Time. Please note that all sessions are only being offered in person.
Monday, May 19, 2025:
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
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Exhibitor Set-Up
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| 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Registration Open |
Tuesday, May 20, 2025:
| 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Registration Open |
| 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Exhibitor Set-Up |
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7:30 – 11:30 am
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Beverage Service
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8:30 – 11:00 am
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Pre-Conference Workshops [add-on fee]
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• Action! Building a Storyboard to Spark Creativity
Presented by Chad Lewis & Stephanie Guzman-Barrera, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
• The Real on Reels
Presented by Monique Blyther, Tysons Community Alliance
• Crafting the Perfect Pitch: How to Explain Anything in One Minute or Less
Presented by Dorry Levine and Doug Hattaway, Hattaway Communications
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| 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Networking/Exhibit Showcase
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11:30 am – 1:00 pm
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Lunch On Own
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12:00 – 1:00 pm
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First-Time Attendee Lunch and Presentation |
| 1:00 – 3:00 pm |
NEW for 2025!
*Pittsburgh Steelers Acrisure Stadium Tour and Hall of Honor Museum Tour
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*Ticketed Event; Transportation will be provided to and from Sheraton Hotel
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| 5:30 – 6:00 pm |
Sponsor's ONLY Reception-Off-Site-Gateway Clipper |
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6:00 – 8:30 pm
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*President's Reception-Off-Site-Gateway Clipper
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*Open to all Communications School participants
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Wednesday, May 21, 2025:
| 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Registration Open |
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7:30 – 8:10 am
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Continental Breakfast-All Participants
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| 7:45 – 4:15 pm | Exhibit Showcase |
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8:10 – 9:30 am
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Opening Keynote Speaker:
Take Charge of Your Brand
Presented by Guisselle Nuñez
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| 9:30 – 10:00 am
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Networking Break/Exhibit Showcase
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10:00 – 11:00 am
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Breakout Sessions
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• Navigating Media Relations: Strategies for Government Communicators
Presented by Amber Righter & Stacia Korman, City of Lancaster
• The True Measure of Comms ROI — It’s Not What You Think
Presented by Scott Ward, Fifth Estate Communications
• Storifying Your Social Reports: Uncovering the Insights Behind the Data
Presented by Christina Roach, City of Austin
• Best Practices for Social Media in Government
Presented by Nelli Sproull & Bridget McNie, 9Rooftops Marketing (9R)
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11:15 am – 12:15 pm
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Lunch & Presentation of the Communicator of the Year Award
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12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
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Keynote – The State of the Media Presented by Josh Campbell, CNN
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| 1:45 – 2:45 pm |
Breakout Session
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• PIOs Can Influence Public Behavior by Using Strategic Storytelling
Presented by Linda Wickstrom, Waukesha County Dept of Health & Human Services, retired
• Use GenAI to help you write social media responses to customers
Presented by Leslie O’Flahavan, E-WRITE
• Briefings and Presentations: How to Effectively Communicate with Confidence and Ease
Presented by Michael Hughes, Open Mike Solutions and Rebecca Merrill, College Possible Minnesota
• Crafting Clarity: Building a Brand Strategy for Government through Value Propositions
Presented by Christopher Salem, Sustainable Success Coaching & Consulting, division of CRS Group Holdings, LLC
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2:45 – 3:15 pm
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Networking Break/Exhibit Showcase
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3:15 – 4:15 pm
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Breakout Sessions
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•Amplifying Impact: The Critical Role of Public Involvement in Project Development
Presented by Vickie Karandrikas, Kimley-Horn
•All About Your Audience-Pending Response
Presented by Casey Mank, Bold Type
• Multiplicity: Creating Communications Clones in your Organization
Presented by Christina Metcalf, Town of Brookline
• New Tech, New Tactics: Evolving Your Communications Strategies
Presented by Kevin Crowsyn, US Army & West Virginia University
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| 4:30 – 5:30 pm |
Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards Reception
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• Open to all Communications school participants
• Appetizers provided, plus a cash bar
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5:30 - 6:30 pm
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Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards Ceremony
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• Open to all Communications school participants
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7:00 - 10:00 pm
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George Washington Bonfire Collective Event-Off-Site-National Aviary
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Sponsored by Slate Communications
• Open to 40 participants; Must apply as part of registration and be accepted
to attend. You must be attending Communications School to be considered for
this event.
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Thursday, May 22, 2025:
| 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
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Registration Open |
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7:30 – 8:30 am
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Continental Breakfast: All Participants
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| 7:30 – 1:30 pm | Exhibit Showcase |
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8:30 – 9:30 am
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Keynote:
Strategies and Collaboration: Enhancing Incident Response During California Wildfires
Presented by: Andy VanSciver, Ventura County Fire Department & Nick Schuler, CAL FIRE
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| 9:30 – 10:00 am |
Networking Break/Exhibit Showcase
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10:00 – 11:00 am
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Breakout Sessions
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• Planning an Effective, Small Budget Informational or Advocacy Campaign
Presented by Julia Brossart, OKI Regional Council of Governments (MPO) & Kellie Rittershausen, National Lieutenant Governors Association
• Pitch Perfect: Generating Positive Coverage in the Current Media Landscape
Presented by Chad Lewis, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
• The IAP2 Way: A Primer on Community Engagement Tools and Processes Used Internationally
Presented by Justin Schneider, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
• The Power of Personal PR: Why Communicator Must Master LinkedIn
Presented by Don McLean, McLean Media
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| 11:00 – 11:15 am |
Networking Break/Exhibit Showcase
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11:15 am – 12:15 pm
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Breakout Sessions
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• Navigating a Rebrand: Building a Modern, User-Friendly Brand that Increases Capacity
Presented by Gina Paige, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
• How Consumer Research Methods Can Strengthen Your Public Brand Presented by Todd Fabian, 9Rooftops Marketing (9R)
• From Concept to Episode 100 - Building a Sustainable Podcast
Presented by Scott Anderson, El Paso County Colorado
•Low Cost, High Return: Strategies for Engagement
Presented by Mira Sleilati, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
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| 12:15 – 12:30 pm |
Box Lunch
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12:30 – 2:00 pm
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NAGC Business Meeting & Closing Keynote:
Hosting the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh: A Game-Changer for Marketing, Tourism, and Economic Revitalization
Presented by: Abigail Gardner, Communications Director, Allegheny County
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| 1:30-3:30pm | Exhibits Tear Down |
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