Whether you're brand new to the communication profession, or a seasoned veteran, Dallas IABC has pulled together a full day of activities you can't afford to miss. Online registration is available.

Quick Links:

• Professional Development Seminars
• Luncheon Keynote / Bronze Quill Awards / Best Practices Salons
• 35 Year Reunion
• Speaker bios
• Event sponsors
• Agenda, pricing, and location details
• Register online for 1, 2, or all three events!

Professional Development Seminars:

Chose from four unique 2 1/2 hr. seminars led by professional speakers that have consistently earned high reviews from audiences all over the U.S. (and a couple of them from around the world). Two of the seminars are strategy-focused. Two cover important tactical skills. All four are sure to deliver information you can start using right away.

Morning Strategy Seminar (9:00 am – 11:30 am)

The New Era of Transparency - Charles Pizzo (speaker bio)

Information has become democratized. Just about anyone can post information to a global audience. Search engines reveal content that is unfavorable to brands. Corporate statements are held up to ridicule or contradicted by employee leaks. Control? What's that?

Welcome to the brazen new world of transparency. These days, it's near impossible to hide from media – who can find all the damning information they want online. After a decade covering this topic, Pizzo takes a fresh look, pulls it all together and lays out an updated strategy to manage “word of mouse.”

Find out about:

• Forward thinking: the future of media relations
• Interactivity: the growing influence of blogs, discussion boards and podcasts
• Accountability: the truth will out
• Adaptability: managing the new transparency
• Inoculation: managing your reputation online

Morning Skills Seminar (9:00 am – 11:30 am)
Writing for the Web – Jeff Herrington (speaker bio)

The Web has been an integral component of organization communications for ten years. Yet many companies and associations continue to post content online as if it were being read off of the printed page... And then wonder why it is so ineffective.

In this workshop, you will learn:

• the most common errors being made in Web/intranet content, and how to avoid those errors
• the best ways to use headlines and ‘blurbs' together to draw readers into your content
• guidelines for the lengths of online sentences and paragraphs
• correct selection and presentation of hyperlinks
• tips you can start using right away to communicate effectively on the Web

(See below for Keynote luncheon, Bronze Quill Awards, Best Practices Salons from 11:45-2:45)

Afternoon Strategy Seminar (3:00 pm – 5:30 pm)
Using Customer Insights to Drive Brand Strategy – Mitch McCasland (speaker bio)

Did you know the brand value of Coca-Cola is greater than the entire economy of Pakistan , Peru and 150 other countries? Powerful brands don't happen by accident – they are strategically developed and carefully managed. In order to build brand equity, communicators must know which factors drive the value of their company's brand.

Through case studies and hands-on exercises, you will learn the principles and techniques for gathering customer insights that are used to create some of the most adored, revered and feared brands in America . In this workshop you will:

• Understand the importance of brand identity and its principles
• Discover the role of research in brand communication
• Investigate techniques for making brands relevant to customers
• Establish the vital link between business objectives and customer behavior
• Learn how to develop strategic brand communication based upon customer insights

Afternoon Tactics Seminar (3:00 pm – 5:30 pm)
Unlocking the Mysteries of Web Graphics - Dusty Crocker (speaker bio)

If you've ever been puzzled about the best way to go from digital camera or image file to effective web graphic, this seminar was designed for you. You'll learn:

• Going from camera to monitor fast and flawlessly
• How to crop a photo to create drama and interest
• How to “optimize” different graphics for the best possible display quality
• The secret of photos that download fast
• The difference between a “gif” “jpg” and a “png” file—when to use them and why
• How to create Web graphics with transparent backgrounds
• One click color correction – to help you make that not-so-great picture look much better

Luncheon Keynote, Bronze Quill Awards, and Best Practices Salon

Unless you're a winner, awards events can be rather… Well.. Boring. Not this time. Whether or not you entered or won a Bronze Quill, we've lined up a speaker and format that will leave you buzzing with new ideas and information when you get back to the office.

The luncheon begins with our keynote presentation:

Employee Engagement: Building a Brand from the Inside Out (12:00 pm - 12:45 pm)

The most critical ingredient in any Company's reputation or brand positioning is its People. Southwest Airlines, known for its low fares, funny flight attendants, and laid back business style, has built a foundation of success by focusing first on the front lines. Southwest's Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Ginger Hardage, (speaker bio) will discuss how, by building the airline's brand from inside out, Southwest has created a culture - and a brand - of trust, respect, and loyalty.

Some topics Ms. Hardage will touch on include:

• Southwest's recent political battle to lift the Wright Amendment restrictions at Love Field -- and how Southwest has utilized its most valuable asset -- 31,000 Employees nationwide -- to spread the word.
• The company's decision to step out in the spotlight by agreeing to be the subject of the reality television program "Airline" which chronicles the day-to-day operations in four of Southwest's largest airports across the country.
• The airline's critical communication to Employees about keeping costs under control in order to maintain its status as the nation's Low Fare Leader.

Bronze Quill Awards (12:45-1:15) & Best Practices Salons (1:30 pm – 2:45 pm)

Following the keynote, we will recognize the best of the best in Dallas communication achievement. From great media relations campaigns to outstanding web sites, Dallas/IABC is proud to continue the tradition of recognizing excellence in our profession.

After that, we're doing something new – giving winners a chance to talk about their work in small groups. At tables of 8-12 people, you'll get a chance to hear first hand how your fellow communicators tackled an interesting challenge. And you'll get the chance to share your own stories. These ‘salons' are intended to help you connect with other people that are passionate about the same kind of work you do – broadening your network of contacts, and sharing practical ideas.

Dallas/IABC is proud to be one of the oldest, strongest, and most award-winning IABC chapters in the world. At our 35 year reunion, we're making a point of celebrating the volunteers, leaders, and outstanding communicators that brought us to where we are today. The event is absolutely free to current members, past leaders and volunteers. IABC Chairman Warren E. Bickford, ABC, will be on hand to join the festivities. (see pricing for guest and visitor fees). It's going to be groovy, so read up on the details and mark your calendar.

Speaker Bios

Ginger Hardage, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications for Southwest Airlines

Ginger has worked in public relations in the Dallas area for more than 25 years. She was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Public Relations by PRWeek and the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA) named her its PR Practitioner of the Year for 2000. That same year, the Southwest Airlines Corporate Communications team was named the Top Communications Department in the nation by PRWeek. Other awards to the public relations department include a Gold Quill for media relations from the International Association of Business Communicators.

Ginger is a past president of Dallas/IABC, a member of the Southern Methodist University Public Relations Advisory Board, the Texas Tech Rawls College of Business Advisory Board, the Public Relations Society of America, and a graduate of Leadership Texas. She previously served on the boards of Big Brothers and Sisters of Metropolitan Dallas and Southwest Care.

More about Ginger Hardage

Charles Pizzo, Charles Pizzo Public Relations

A former chairman of the board of both IABC and its Research Foundation, Pizzo is a top-rated speaker and Ragan contributor. He also serves as counsel to v-Fluence Interactive Public Relations. Pizzo has been speaking about media relations online, reputation management, and leadership, plus has written on a host of technology communication issues. He has led TeleSeminars for both IABC and Ragan on such topics as corporate social responsibility and cybersmearing – attacks on reputation that start online.

Charles Pizzo evacuated to Texas from Hurricane Katrina with his Mother and dog, Ollie. They lost two homes as well as their native city.

More about Charles Pizzo

Jeff Herrington, Jeff Herrington Communications

Over the past 18 years, thousands of corporate communicators from Manhattan to Montreal to Melbourne have attended Jeff Herrington's writing and publication editing workshops. He's traveled to 45 countries on five continents, writing articles for the corporate publications of IBM, AT&T, Mobil Oil, Baxter Healthcare and Whirlpool, among scores of other organizations. In 1999, Dallas IABC awarded Jeff it's highest honor: Communicator of the Year.

More about Jeff Herrington

Mitch McCasland, Moroch Partners Advertising

More about Mitch McCasland

Dusty Crocker, TCU Professor, and professional trainer

Dusty Crocker has trained hundreds of professionals thorugh the US, Canda, Australia and the United Kingdom. Topics include Macromedia and Adobe Software, Graphic Design, Printing and Prepress, Communication, Coaching and Teambuilding, and Creativity. Clients who have used Dusty's training services include Coca Cola, Apple Computer, Sam's Clubs, McGraw-Hill, the US Army, and the Social Security Administration, and many more.

Dusty is coauthor and designer of The SkillPath Business Communication Style Guide.

More About Dusty Crocker

Super Groovy Events Sponsors

Primo!
Eisenberg and Associates

Dy-no-mite!
Authentic Press
Business Wire
Christi Harris Companies
Steve McAlister, Photographer
Ragan Communications

Far Out!
Clampitt Paper

Thanks to all of you.

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