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?

In this engaging and interactive masterclass, participants will embark on a comprehensive journey to launch, expand, and elevate the use of ChatGPT and similar AI tools in business communications. The masterclass is structured in three dynamic hours, each designed to progressively deepen your understanding and skills.

Hour One focuses on launching and expanding your use of ChatGPT and similar tools. Through instruction, demonstration, case studies, and group discussion, you will learn how to start using generative AI on an individual level, and then expand it across teams and functions.

Hour Two delves deeper into applying these tools for project planning, execution, and crisis management, featuring group activities and demonstrations to illustrate advanced functionalities.

Hour Three takes participants to the next level, emphasizing how to use generative AI to help advance organizational goals and exploring the latest developments in generative AI. The masterclass concludes with a final Q&A and closing thoughts on promoting AI integration in your work.

Learning Objective

By the end of this masterclass, you’ll be able to:

• Develop an AI Mindset and Understand Best Practices in Using Generative AI: Develop a new way of thinking about how you work and grasp the best practices for using ChatGPT and similar tools.
• Apply AI Tools to Individual and Team Functions: Learn how to implement AI tools in personal and team settings.
• Apply Generative AI to Major Projects: Discover how to integrate AI in project planning, execution, and follow-up for improved efficiency and output quality.
• Promote AI Integration in Professional Settings: Develop strategies to advocate for and integrate AI in your work environment effectively.

About Matt Russell

Matt Russell is a nationally recognized speaker on generative AI who presented a generative AI masterclass at the 2023 IABC World Conference. He has frontline experience establishing generative AI guidelines, use cases, super users' teams, and training processes for ChatGPT and other generative AI tools.

Formerly an award-winning senior reporter for The Rochester Post-Bulletin, Matt joined Mayo Clinic in 2012. He served as the communications lead for the $3.76 billion Campaign for Mayo Clinic and led Mayo Clinic’s engagement with PBS for the premiere tour supporting the Ken Burns documentary “The Mayo Clinic.” In his current role, he provides strategic communications consultation to the leadership of one of the world’s largest and most prestigious surgical and procedural practices.

Matt holds a bachelor's degree in English from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration degree from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Philadelphia’s marketing communications organizations are once again coming together to host the ultimate MarComm Super Meetup. The Philadelphia Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Philadelphia American Marketing Association (AMA), Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA), Philly Ad Club, Social Media Day PHL, Philadelphia Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), ANA Business Marketing Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association (Philly DMA) are made up of the region’s most incredible and passionate industry professionals, so we invite you to join us for a giant mixer. This is a member-only, exclusive networking event for partner organizations to kick off the new year with new contacts, business opportunities, and friends.

The mixer kicks off at 5:30 pm at Industrious Fashion District. Drinks and light hors d'oeuvres will be available throughout the evening. It will be a great opportunity for members to meet and network with professionals across Philly’s marketing communications organizations.

Note: Registration is limited to 140 people. Registration closes on January 17.

Directions to Industrious

The office is on a private third floor in the Fashion District Philadelphia. Please enter The Fashion District main entrance located on the northwest corner of 9th & Market Street. Proceed up the escalator and to the left. You will see the office on the private third floor up one additional escalator. The office is located directly above the Levi's Outlet Store. Site map located here.

Should you need parking, we suggest using the Autopark Garage at the Fashion District Mall on 10th Street between Arch and Filbert. The parking bridge on the 4th floor of the garage leads you directly to the private third floor of the building where Industrious is located. Check out this time-lapsed video.

We are also easily accessible via public transportation, directly above the PATCO and SEPTA concourses at Jefferson Station. There is signage directing you from the station to the office. Check out this time-lapsed video from Jefferson Station.

Featuring Nancy Harhut

Email remains one of the most effective marketing channels out there. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get your target audience to pay attention to what you send.

And simply outsourcing your message to AI won’t solve the problem.

Instead, you need to know how people decide to open, read, and respond because that knowledge enables you to create emails that get the job done.

In this example-jammed presentation, you’ll discover seven proven, brain-science-backed ways to increase your email success. They’re easy, ethical, and effective. And best of all, they’ll give you a real competitive advantage.

Key takeaways:

• Discover how people decide to open your emails (It’s not what you’ve been told!)
• Gain 7 proven ways to make the emails you send irresistible—backed by behavioral science
• Take your email game to the next level and crush your competition with these easy, effective creative hacks

About Nancy Harhut

A top-ranked speaker, Nancy’s known for her interesting and actionable insights that focus on the impact of behavioral science on marketing. She's wowed audiences in Sydney, London, Berlin, and all over the US with her high-energy, example-jammed presentations. 

The Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of HBT Marketing, Nancy’s been named one of the 10 Most Fascinating People in B2B Marketing, a Social Top 50 Email Marketing Leader, and a Top 40 Digital Strategist. She and her teams have won over 200 awards for B2C and B2B marketing effectiveness. 

Check out her recent book, “Using Behavioral Science in Marketing,” winner of the National Indie Excellence Award, the NYC Big Book Award, the AMA Leonard L. Berry Marketing Book Award, and several other accolades.

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.

As PR and communications professionals, you know that your brand's reputation is everything. But today, how your brand is perceived goes far beyond just words—it's about actions, inclusivity, and accessibility. This presentation dives deep into the vital connection between brand reputation and digital accessibility, showing you how making your digital content accessible to all audiences isn't just the right thing to do—it's a powerful strategy for amplifying your brand's impact and credibility.

This practical and engaging session will help PR and communications pros with the tools and knowledge needed to elevate your brand's reputation through digital accessibility.

Key Takeaways

1. Discover how digital accessibility directly influences brand reputation in our socially conscious and connected world.
2. Learn how investing in accessibility can expand your audience reach, enhance user experience, and drive tangible business results.
3. Gain practical insights on seamlessly integrating accessibility into your PR and communications strategies, ensuring your content is both inclusive and engaging.
4. Explore ways to effectively communicate your commitment to accessibility, build deeper trust, and position your brand as a leader in the industry.

About Matisse Hamel-Neils

Matisse Hamel-Nelis is an award-winning Métis communications and digital accessibility consultant based in Toronto. With extensive public relations experience, Matisse is both the founder and principal of Matisse Nelis Consulting and a part-time professor at Durham College, where she developed and now leads the Public Relations Graduate Certificate program. She is the founder and host of PR & Lattes, a podcast and blog that provides a platform for communications professionals to share insights and ideas on public relations, marketing, and accessibility. Matisse is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and accessibility in all her roles. Certified as an Accessible Documents Specialist (ADS) and a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, Matisse is a respected authority on accessibility in digital communications.

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.

Mark your calendar for January 23 when the Marcom Super Meetup returns to Philadelphia. The third annual networking event will be open to members of several Philadelphia-area PR, marketing and advertising associations, including IABC, PRSA, Philly Ad Club, PPRA, AMA and others. Details will be coming in the next few weeks.

By Diane Streleckis - This highly charged election cycle can be particularly fraught for communication professionals. Leaders often want to share their policy perspectives or feel pressured to do so by expectant employees or stakeholders. But the risks to the company’s public perception, as well as a leader’s individually, can be high if a message goes awry.

Renew your IABC dues in October for a chance to receive complimentary registration to Alex Sevigny's AI Master Class, Part 2. You'll also receive access to Part 1.

Renew here.

The new IABC International website is live. It's colorful, easy to navigate, and loaded with professional development resources. The homepage lists IABC events from around the globe. www.iabc.com

The world of crisis communication is transforming before our eyes as AI introduces new reputational risks and opportunities to level up how we prepare and respond to crises. If you feel underprepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities this rapidly evolving landscape presents, this is the session for you. Join us as we explore AI's practical tools and applications in crisis comms management, discover how to integrate it seamlessly into your existing workflows and crisis communications plans, and learn from real-world examples about AI's potential to lead to crisis scenarios and what to avoid.

Watch the promo video

Takeaways

• Discover which AI tools will be most helpful and how to incorporate them into your crisis communication systems.
• Learn to leverage AI for proactive risk assessment, identify emerging threats, and mitigate potential issues before they escalate into full-blown crises.
• Explore and understand what's on the AI landscape right now and get a glimpse of the latest emerging AI tech for communicators.
• Get step-by-step instructions on crafting effective prompts and fine-tuning your AI model to generate compelling, industry and brand-specific crisis messaging.
• Gain valuable insights to protect your organization's reputation and confidently navigate the complexities of the AI era.

 About Rebecca Bultsma, AI Trainer, Speaker, and Consultant

As an internationally accredited communications professional and sought-after AI trainer, speaker, and consultant, Rebecca focuses on empowering communicators to integrate AI into their workflows confidently and ethically. She brings over 16 years of strategic communication and public relations experience to her work, having led communication strategies for diverse audiences in the K-12 education sector in Canada. Her extensive knowledge of AI is grounded in two years of dedicated research and practical application across various industries, and she is currently deepening her understanding of ethical AI principles with a Masters degree in Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics at the University of Edinburgh.

Rebecca is known for her contagious enthusiasm and ability to draw on her extensive professional communications experience to bridge the gap between complex concepts and practical applications and make AI accessible, engaging, and relevant for every audience. Passionate about human-AI collaboration and ethical AI adoption, she is adamant that successful communication in the age of AI is about empowering people to leverage technology to connect more authentically, build stronger relationships, and create a lasting impact.

Outside of her work, Rebecca is a devoted wife to her high school sweetheart, mother of four college students, and Frenchie mom, proving that it IS possible to chase big dreams, raise a family, and still find time for mountain hikes—all while navigating the ever-evolving world of AI.

By Diane Streleckis - The nature of politics means politicians are used to being interviewed on video. But just because they do it often doesn’t mean they’re immune from common missteps. Kerry Barrett, founder of media-training firm Kerry Barrett Consulting. and an Emmy-winning broadcast journalist, shared four anecdotes highlighting what communication professionals can look out for, whether they’re on camera or advising business leaders and colleagues.

Our August 6 masterclass on prompt writing for communication professionals drew several live attendees and 33 virtual guests. The online participants hailed from California, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Edmonton, Canada.

Greg Matusky, CEO of Gregory FCA. delivered the engaging and informative presentation from his company's office in Ardmore, PA.

IABC Philadelphia Programming Committee Chair Daniel Paulling earned his CMP certification from the Global Communication Certification Council, the only person to do so at the IABC World Conference in June. He joins Rashi Iyer, IABC Philadelphia's accreditation/certification chair, as the only active chapter members to have been certified.