Learn a four-step strategy for finding your voice and writing from the readers’ point of view. This ability will help you engage your readers and move them to act.

• Specifically, you’ll learn how to:
• Take advantage of the formula readers use to decide what to read.
• Top 2 rewards of reading to boost interest in your message.
• Answer the No. 1 question your reader is asking about your piece.
• Make a 2-minute perspective shift to focus your message on reader value

About Ann Wylie

Wylie Communications President Ann Wylie provides writing, training and consulting to organizations like Coca-Cola, Toyota, NASA, Salesforce and Eli Lilly. Her workshops have taken her from Hollywood to Helsinki. There, she helps communicators polish their skills and find new inspiration for their work. Ann has earned 60 communication awards, including two IABC Gold Quills. She is author of RevUpReadership.com, a toolbox for writers. Thousands of communicators subscribe to her newsletter, Wylie's Writing Tips.

Ann is an IABC recommended speaker and a member of the 100 Club.

Generative AI can turbo-charge research for communicators, from horizon-scanning policy shifts to tracking issues, sizing up competitors, prepping leaders, and responding to crises.
But simply outsourcing your judgment to AI won’t cut it.

Instead, you’ll learn when to use which tool, how to force citations and provenance, and how to turn raw results into decision-ready briefs your stakeholders can trust.

In this example-packed session, Shel Holtz shows practical, ethical workflows for Public Affairs and Communications teams.

Key takeaways

• Choose the right copilot for the job: When to use ChatGPT Projects + Deep Research, Perplexity, Notebook LM, Custom GPTs/Gems, and other tools.
• Prompt patterns that keep you honest: Structure prompts to prioritize primary sources, require inline citations, extract dates/deadlines, and flag secondary coverage.
• Build reusable research assistants: Set up repeatable watchlists, weekly briefs, 30/60/90-day calendars, and risk heatmaps.
• Create source-grounded Q&A binders: Use Notebook LM to interrogate curated material (e.g., CEO speeches, filings) with verifiable citations.
• From findings to executive-ready outputs: Convert research into spokesperson notes, talking points, FAQs, and customer-facing summaries – fast.
• Safeguards that protect your credibility: Disclosure, provenance links, and “never auto-publish” guardrails for responsible AI use in comms.

Who should attend: Communicators in public affairs, corporate reputation, media relations, and executive communications who need trusted, timely insights without adding headcount.

About Shel Holtz, SCMP, IABC Fellow

Shel Holtz is senior director of Communications for Webcor, a San Francisco-based commercial general contractor and builder. Before joining Webcor in 2017, Shel consulted independently for 21 years, counseling organizations on adoption of digital technology for communication, internal communication, and crisis communication.

by Kaylee Holland - Most organizations see innovation as complex, time-consuming, and reserved for a select few. But according to innovation strategist and author Carla Johnson, that belief is exactly what’s holding companies back.

By Kaylee Holland - The Philadelphia Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators is proud to announce the appointment of Rashi Iyer as its new chapter president starting January 1, 2026.

by Katrina Hook - As Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Radian, Rashi Iyer leads a wide-ranging portfolio that includes corporate and business PR, executive communications, crisis communications, philanthropy, and more. Her work not only shapes Radian’s narrative but also strengthens the company’s connections with stakeholders at every level.

by Kaylee Holland - In the murky realm of artificial intelligence, the question remains: Should we fear its power or harness it for good?

Rebecca Bultsma knows that for some, using AI models can spark unease—but she also sees its immense potential. Drawing on over 16 years of strategic communication and public relations expertise, she is an internationally recognized communications professional and a sought-after AI trainer, speaker, and consultant, dedicated to helping others harness AI’s power for good.

It’s almost 2026, and the comms hiring market looks different—again. Roles that sat on hold are finally moving, but candidates are facing longer processes, higher bars and stiffer competition. If you’re job searching, hiring, or want to know what’s ahead, I’ll share what’s actually happening right now—and what it takes to stand out.

Free LinkedIn Live Event

Key Takeaways

• How today’s interview processes are structured—and what to expect
• Why take-home projects and live exercises matter, and what they reveal
• What hiring managers are really listening for in reference checks
• How smart follow-up can shift the outcome in your favor
• What companies expect around hybrid work and how to talk about flexibility
• The real markers of standout candidates in this market

Watch the promo video

About Brooke Kruger

Brooke Kruger is the founder of KC Partners, a leading communications search firm, and a go-to expert on communications hiring trends. She has a deep pulse on what’s happening in the job market, the skills that are in demand, how hiring is evolving, and what both companies and job seekers need to succeed. With 20+ years of experience advising organizations on talent strategy, Brooke delivers real-world insights and practical takeaways that help companies attract and retain top communications talent.

As a two-time keynote speaker at Mixing Board Live, Brooke has shared firsthand industry expertise on the state of communications hiring. She’s passionate about the future of work and frequently speaks on topics like shifting employer expectations, the role of AI in hiring, RTO, and how communications professionals can stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Beyond the stage, Brooke is an active voice in the industry—engaging audiences as a frequent podcast guest and sharing thought leadership on LinkedIn and other platforms. She’s always up for a great conversation about career growth, hiring trends, and where the industry is headed next.

What Ferris Can Do For You

If you want to sharpen your storytelling skills and help your people improve theirs, look no further than the classic American film, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

In this engaging, practical session we'll unpack the movie's most important storytelling lesson and learn how it can help us connect with, captivate and compel any individual or audience to action — from customers and clients to colleagues and other key stakeholders.

That means:

• Identifying and rising above the ordinary information (the data, stats and info) that
• prevents us from delivering the big picture — the context, meaning and perspective;
• Drawing out the best stories from our customers, constituents, members and others;
• Creating more captivating campaigns, preparing winning pitches and presentations
• and extending our influence inside and outside the organization.

Come prepared for a substantive and interactive experience. And remember, the learning will come at you pretty fast — if you don’t stop and tune in you could miss it!

Who is Rob Biesenbach?

Rob Biesenbach specializes in helping busy professionals capitalize on the power of storytelling to engage and influence their most important stakeholders.

Through his workshops, speeches, books and coaching he has helped tens of thousands of senior executives, managers and other professionals become more effective, persuasive communicators. He’s the author of the Amazon bestseller "Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results."

Rob has worked with great organizations including AARP, Allstate, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Feeding America and Lockheed Martin.

In former lives, Rob was a vice president at Ogilvy, press secretary to the Ohio Attorney General, and a nonprofit and association executive in Washington, DC.

Innovation has a reputation problem - it’s seen as the domain of R&D teams, marketing visionaries, or people with the right title, degree, or budget. For communicators, it can feel like something that’s out of reach. Or simply not part of the job description. But that mindset keeps us stuck in rinse-and-repeat tactics, status quo messaging, and missed opportunities to influence what matters.

What if innovation wasn’t reserved for the few? What if it were a learnable, repeatable skill communicators could use to elevate their impact, shape culture, and drive meaningful change?

In this keynote based on her bestselling book RE:Think Innovation, Carla Johnson shares a proven framework that helps communicators connect the dots in new ways, unlock creativity on demand, and become go-to innovators inside their organizations. No guesswork. No gimmicks. Just a practical approach to thinking differently and communicating with greater purpose, clarity, and influence.

Watch the promo video

Audience Takeaways

1. Reframe innovation as a skill that communicators can use to shape culture, influence behavior, and build alignment across the business.

2. Learn why even the most well-intentioned teams struggle to innovate—and how communicators can become catalysts for change.

3. Discover the 5-step framework to consistently generate powerful ideas that drive engagement, action, and measurable results.

About Carla Johnson

No longer is the status quo the sure bet. In today’s world, standing still makes you a sitting duck. Disruption’s inevitable. But if anyone’s going to disrupt your organization, shouldn’t it be you?

As the world’s leading Innovation Architect, Carla Johnson has spent 20 years working with leaders, conducting research and authoring numerous books. She’s developed frameworks that teach people how to redefine what innovation means to them, and then equips leaders to make innovation everybody’s business.  

Carla’s approach transforms organizations by fusing visionary creativity with pragmatic innovation strategies. The result is a culture that becomes a playground of limitless potential while also experiencing unprecedented growth and alignment. 

By Kaylee Holland - The ability to negotiate, persuade, and influence others is essential for success in business communications. Understanding the psychology behind these abilities can set you apart from your peers by applying the tactics and seeing improvements in reaching your professional goals.

by Katrina Hook - The power of AI is infiltrating nearly every element of daily life. What does this mean for the communications industry?

Matt Russell, Principal Business Analyst at Mayo Clinic, advocates for riding the generative AI wave.  “Generative AI tools can help you work smarter, not harder, and if used correctly, can help you do your best possible work,” he says.

by Katrina Hook - Nancy Harhut started her career in a marketing agency. Working on campaigns for various companies got her thinking: What gets people to say yes? “I’ve had a long-term interest in why people do what they do, and how we can make the most of that influence,” she says. “When we sent something out into the world, we wanted people to read it and respond.” Years of research later, Nancy has five tips and tricks to maximize your influence on your audience.

by Katrina Hook - As the world changes, communicating effectively requires empathy and understanding. Communications strategist Arlene Amitirigala is a film believer that mindfulness, self-awareness, and listening are the keys to compassion.

by Sophia Pasquariello - Meet Bill, a longtime member and leader within IABC Philadelphia, whose dedication to the organization has helped shape its success over the years. Whether serving as chapter president, mentoring fellow communicators, or contributing to key projects, Bill has been a key figure in ensuring the chapter remains a valuable resource for communication professionals.

by Sophia Pasquariello - In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become an all-too-familiar companion. But what if there was a way to manage stress, understand it, and transform how we deal with it?

By Diane Streleckis - Technology has transformed how people work from interacting more via video calls and chat (even when we’re in the same office) to having generative artificial intelligence (AI) as an assistant or even a co-worker. How has all this technology affected the human need to connect with others who can help us develop as professionals?

by Sophia Pasquariello -  Amy Ashmen, a dedicated IABC Philadelphia board member, currently serves as the national director of communications at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

by Sophia Pasquariello - Everyone wants to deliver presentations that make an impact. However, even the most experienced speakers can find themselves questioning their effectiveness. Communication professionals face an additional challenge, as they’re often in the role of advising others on presenting rather than presenting themselves. Presentation expert Meridith Grundei, founder of Grundei Coaching, has insights on bridging the gap and turning good presentations into unforgettable ones.

IABC Philadelphia's president, Rick Alcantara, discusses public relations, professional development, AI and more in the October issue of South Jersey Magazine. "His number 1 piece of advice for companies looking to communicate effectively in today's landscape is to 'walk the walk.' In other words, don't just recite certain platitudes, but actually back them up by conducting business in an ethical manner."

by Diane Streleckis - Ask a communication professional the ultimate goal of any message and they’ll likely say creating trust. Former two-star Navy Admiral and current Fortune 100 aerospace company VP Mike Manazir agrees. 

“Effective leadership is founded on trust,” he said. “Communication portrays that trust.” Most importantly, he noted, people follow those that they trust.