Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and continental breakfast as you meet your fellow attendees.
Sign-in, pick up your materials and enjoy a continental breakfast before we start the day.
Be sure to stop by and visit your sponsors!

Welcome to the Strategic Internal Communications- East Conference.

In this fast-paced forum, you'll get to know your fellow peers, their biggest internal communications challenges, and a few fun facts.

A structured internal communications engagement model is essential for driving alignment and efficiency in today’s complex work environment. This session will explore how Akamai Technologies applies a strategic intake and prioritization process to ensure the right level of support—ranging from full partnership on key initiatives to advisory guidance and self-service enablement.

Attendees will gain real-world insights into how this model reduces digital noise, streamlines workflows, and empowers teams through a structured request process and an IC Toolkit. Whether you're looking to refine your internal communications strategy or build a more scalable approach, this session will provide actionable takeaways to help optimize resources, enhance self-service capabilities, and maximize impact within your organization.

No email addresses for staff? Struggling to reach the frontline? This is an ongoing challenge in many organizations and industries with a deskless workforce — and posters, screen blasts, and seat drops don’t always do the trick.

In this session, discover how Jaime Kazlo and Emily De Vito, internal communications leaders at CDTA, bridged the communications divide with their frontline workforce. From scoping and launching a new digital solution to driving adoption and optimizing usage, Jaime and Emily will walk you through their journey to unlock better engagement and more effective communication.

What you’ll learn:

• Why their legacy intranet and other traditional methods were falling short
• How focus groups helped secure buy-in from the frontline
• The crucial role IT collaboration played in overcoming the challenge
• Best practices for launching an employee app with long-term success

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers.

Be sure to stop by and visit your sponsors and be sure to fill out your evaluation forms.

Many organizations dream of launching the perfect intranet – one that is engaging, widely adopted, and seamlessly woven into employees’ daily work. But here’s the reality: success isn’t about the technology alone. It’s about the groundwork, the leadership buy-in, and a strategy that puts people at the center.

In this case study on culture, strategy, and smart execution, Teresa Palase and Pinaki Kathiari will take you behind the scenes of the Vitality Hub, an intranet that wasn’t just implemented, but embedded into the culture and workflow of an entire organization. But this wasn’t an overnight success story. The journey started at least three years earlier, with a deep commitment to research, strategic design, and a leadership team that truly walked the talk.

This session will break down the process into four critical chapters:

• Why leadership buy-in is non-negotiable and how to align your intranet with your company’s core values
• How Pharmavite gathered and leveraged employee feedback without spending a fortune
• The tactics that transformed their intranet from a static document repository into an essential workplace tool
• The strategic, “surround sound” approach that made failure impossible and ensured long-term engagement

In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, traditional communication methods no longer cut through the noise. Video is emerging as the most powerful tool for internal communicators to engage employees and drive alignment at scale.

In this session, Lianna Robins, Marketing & Communications Advisor at PlayPlay, will explore why video is the most effective format for reaching internal audiences — and how teams can start creating compelling, people-first content that actually resonates.

You’ll learn:

• Why video is now the preferred format for internal communication
• Tips to create authentic and impactful video content
• Real-world examples from companies using video for onboarding, leadership messages, D&I, and more

Walk away with practical ideas you can apply immediately — and the inspiration to make video a core pillar of your internal comms strategy.

Reservations have been made at a number of local restaurants.
Don't miss this opportunity to have lunch with your peers at a local Boston hot spot!


**Everyone is financially responsible for their own lunch.

In this session, attendees will learn how to identify and activate internal champions and influencers to amplify enterprise messaging in a more authentic and engaging way. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, you’ll discover how to personalize communications, build trust across teams, and drive meaningful organizational change from the inside out.

Culture doesn’t just come from the top — it thrives when everyone’s empowered to shape it.

In this session, Workvivo teams up with Centreville Bank to explore how a purpose-driven culture can take root and flourish from within. Discover how even small teams can create a big impact when they tap into authentic voices, shared values, and the right, creative tools to bring people together.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build trust by spotlighting real, relatable employee stories
• Empower teams to lead internal communication and storytelling efforts
• Create personalized, high-impact messages that resonate across all levels
• Scale culture-building with lean resources and an engaging platform
• Align internal and external messaging for a unified brand experience
• Involve leadership in authentic, visible, and supportive ways and how HR can truly be the “keeper of the culture”
• Spark employee pride and engagement from the inside out

Walk away with real-world strategies for cultivating a culture that evolves naturally — with purpose, passion, and the power of your people.

Take advantage of this interactive break to connect with our sponsors and experience their products and services firsthand. Each sponsor will host live demos at their table—giving you the chance to explore innovative solutions, ask questions, and find the tools that best support your work.

If your team is spread across offices, time zones, or Slack threads, a well-crafted internal newsletter can be the secret sauce that ties everything together! In fact, this year, 98% of respondents to our 2025 Internal Communications Trends Report confirmed email as a core part of their comms strategy, with 84% ranking it as the most effective channel, too. And it makes sense why! Email works across all generations and locations globally. It connects employees on a personal level, keeps them informed, and is the foundation of any great comms strategy.…so that everyone receives the same clear, well-crafted message at a time that works for them.

But, what content should you actually include in your internal newsletters to help keep employees informed and engaged? Devin will be tackling these questions (and more) with five of our favorite ways to engage employees via email!

This session will cover:

• Create a branded experience
• Get feedback
• Add motion
• Personalize the content and make it accessible
• Add moments of delight

A strong workplace culture and engaged employees are key drivers of organizational success. This panel will explore strategies for fostering a positive, inclusive, and purpose-driven workplace where employees feel valued and connected. Experts will discuss best practices for measuring and enhancing engagement, leveraging storytelling to inspire teams, and creating communication channels that encourage collaboration and feedback. Attendees will gain actionable insights on building a culture that boosts morale, retention, and productivity, ensuring employees remain motivated and aligned with company values.

Join us at the lobby bar as you network with your peers and sponsors. 

Sign-up for dinner with your peers! 

Want to keep the conversation going? Join a group of attendees for dinner at a local Boston hot spot.


Sign-up at the registration desk or during the networking reception to join a group at tonight's dine-around. Reservations have been made.


**Dutch treat.

Join us for a fun night of karaoke and connection! 🎤 This optional event is free to attend, but space is limited and advance sign-up is required. 

Spots will be available on a first come, first served basis—don’t miss your chance to grab the mic!