3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

Powerful, New Internal Communications Strategies To Engage And Connect Your Workforce And Drive Business Results

September 17, 2024 - September 19, 2024 | Chicago

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Pre-Conference Workshops:
Tuesday, Sept 17

General Sessions:
Wednesday, Sept 18
Thursday, Sept 19

Powerful, New Internal Communications Strategies To Engage And Connect Your Workforce And Drive Business Results

Internal Communicators Are Uniquely Positioned To Build A Culture Of Fearless Innovation. Join Your Peers For This 2 – 3 Day Conference To Learn Innovative Internal Communication Ideas To Enhance Future Progress At Your Organization.

This immersive 3 – day conference is tailored for professionals in Employee Communications and Human Resources. Gain va luable insights and strategic guidance to shape your innovative employee communication strategies in 2024 and beyond. Join this event to connect with industry experts, thought leaders, HR professionals, and communication specialists. Explore best practices and emerging trends in employee communications that will elevate your organization’s engagement and success.

Jill Mack

Senior Principal, Communication

Discover

Agatha Newman

Director, Strategic Planning + Communications, Medical & Development

Astellas Pharma

Ali Mallett

Senior Communications Strategist

Paycor

Attend this conference to discover the unconventional communication strategies that motivate employees to not only think outside the box, but to embrace the fact that in today’s ever-changing business environment, there is no box. Learn how to:

Insights into the latest trends and innovations in employee communications, including emerging technologies and strategies.
Innovative communication tools and techniques to effectively engage and connect with employees, leading to improved internal communication strategies.
How innovative communication practices can positively impact employee engagement, morale, and overall productivity.
Insights into aligning communication strategies with overall organizational goals and objectives.
How innovative communication approaches can address challenges related to remote work, dispersed teams, and flexible work arrangements.
How to integrate innovative communication approaches into crisis communication plans, ensuring effective communication during challenging times.
Outline a clear and informative internal communications strategy that includes WFH policies, time-off, and travel safety protocols.
Utilize the right communication tools and channels for your employees—keep it simple and easy to adopt.
Make your communications visual when possible—digital signage, videos, internal social networks, and more.
Put strategies and resources in place to communicate with a divided and dispersed workforce.
Develop and provide consistent messaging across channels and departments to avoid any miscommunication.
and more!

Who Should Attend

This Conference has been researched and designed for Vice Presidents, Directors, Managers, Specialists, Officers, Leaders, and Consultants involved in:

Internal Communications
Employee Engagement
Brand Communication
Strategic Communications
Employee Communication

Digital Communications
Global Communications
Corporate Communications
Marketing Communications

Chicago Bean in fall

Benefits Of Attending This ALI Conference:

Building a valuable network with industry experts, thought leaders, and peers in the field of employee communications
Learning about innovative methods for gathering employee feedback and measuring the effectiveness of communication strategies
Gaining valuable insights and best practices from industry experts and peers
Learning about the latest trends and technologies in internal communication
Discovering new strategies for fostering employee engagement and connection
Acquiring new skills and knowledge to enhance your internal communication strategy
Staying up-to-date on industry developments and emerging best practices
Having the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback from expert
Enhancing your personal and professional brand by attending a prestigious industry event
Experiencing the vibrant and diverse city of Chicago
Returning to work with fresh perspectives and ideas to apply to your organization

Opportunity to have your communication questions answered in real-time with a group of your communications and HR peers who are facing the same challenges maximize your time by signing up for our Pre-Conference Workshops on Tuesday, September 24th. The interactive, small group workshops, led by thought leaders and experts on corporate communications prepare you for the 2-day conference, provide you with practical answers to questions that keep you up at night, and inspire you to creatively tackle your most pressing employee communications challenges. We’ll wrap up Tuesday with a networking reception hosted by ALI and a Dutch treat dinner out on the town!

Included In Your Registration: With Your 3 – Day In – Person Pass, You’ll Have Access To:

Three full days of valuable content and networking opportunities, designed to help you build connections and drive success in your internal communications role.
20+ speakers who will share their expertise, insights, and best practices on a range of topics related to strategic internal communications and fostering a culture of connection
An interactive pre-conference workshop day, featuring smaller group sessions focused on specific topics to help you set the foundation for the main conference.
A bonus networking reception exclusively for workshop attendees and speakers, providing a valuable opportunity to connect with others in the industry.
A comprehensive contact list of all attendees, which you can use for future networking and professional development.
A certificate of completion for CEUs, recognizing your participation in this valuable professional development opportunity.
Breakout groups and peer-led case studies and panels, give you the chance to connect with and learn from your peers in the industry.
Additional networking breakouts throughout the conference provided valuable opportunities to connect with other communication professionals
Continental breakfast, coffee, and refreshments throughout the conference to keep you fueled and energized as you learn and connect

Thank you to our Sponsors

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What People are Saying

Learn more about ALI Conferences

Learn more about our services, conferences, trainings, and how you can connect with us.

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Pre-Conference Workshops: Find Out Why ALI Workshops Are Consistently Rated As Valuable Time Spent! - 09/17/2024
9:00 am - 9:30 am	Continental Breakfast, Coffee & Registration Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and continental breakfast as you meet your workshop leader and fellow attendees. Stop by the registration desk to sign-in and pick up your materials for the next 3 days. We'll kick things off at 9:30!
9:30 am - 10:45 am	Workshop A: Crafting a Human-Centric Communications Strategy Preston Lewis, Senior Vice President, Communications & Consultant \| Segal Benz A robust methodology for activating a modern employee experience. Over the past two decades, modern leaders and communicators have contributed to this evolving framework for engaging people inside companies across every industry. Attendees of this workshop will learn: A rapid approach to developing communications strategies and plans How to engage a cross-functional group of internal stakeholders A technique for visualizing complex strategies New ways to engage a remote and hybrid workforce
10:45 am - 11:00 am	Morning Refreshments & Networking Break Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers as we switch over to the next workshop.
11:00 am - 12:15 pm	Workshop B: Top Ten IC Challenges With Tactical Solutions Rachel Folz, Director of Product \| Cerkl In this interactive session, we dive into the 10 most common IC Challenges, providing tactical takeaways you can implement immediately. In our collaborative opening, we will identify which of the following topics are most relevant to workshop attendees, ensuring ample time to address the most pressing challenges: Targeting the Right Audience Communicating in Times of Change Personalizing Communications at Scale Building an Omni-channel Employee Experience Identifying the Comms Metrics that Matter Most (+ the ones that don’t) Ongoing Campaign Socialization Communicating with a Diverse Workforce Effectively Onboarding Employees Show your ROI Future-proofing your Comms Stack
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm	Lunch On Your Own, But Not Alone—Reservations Are Booked! Reservations have been made at a number of local restaurants. Don't miss this opportunity to have lunch with your peers at a local Chicago hot spot!  **Dutch treat – we’ll ask for separate checks.
1:45 pm - 3:00 pm	Workshop C: Defrosting the Frozen Middle: Turning People Leaders Into Effective Communicators Gary Ross, President \| INSIDE COMMS When you ask leaders and managers to cascade communication down into your organization, it goes perfectly, right? Didn't think so. Communication is a key leadership competency, yet people leaders often stumble out of the gate, or don't even get out of the gate at all. In this workshop, we'll look at why that happens and offer ways to motivate and instill confidence in people leaders so they can advocate and amplify important communications. Bring your own leader communication challenges to discuss during this interactive session and leave withsome ideas to try right away.
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm	Afternoon Refreshments & Stretch Break Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers as we switch over to the next workshop
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm	Workshop D: The Seven Deadly Sins of Employee Communications Cindy Crescenzo, President \| Crescenzo Communications Steve Crescenzo, CEO \| Crescenzo Communications With all of the innovations in corporate communications the past 20 years—AI, Viva Engage and internal social media, the ability to easily capture data and metrics, etc.—why are communicators making the same mistakes they were making 30 years ago? It’s the opposite of innovation. In this fun session, you’ll learn: How to avoid one of the biggest mistakes we see: The Communication Illusion. How to avoid measuring the wrong things Why “writing for the approver” instead of the reader is sinking your communication efforts
4:30 pm - 4:45 pm	Close Of Workshops
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Networking Reception For Workshop Attendees, Speakers & Sponsors @ Venue Bar Cheers to a great day full of content! Join us in the hotel lobby main bar for complimentary drinks and networking with your peers.
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm	Dinner With A Group—Reservations Have Been Made To Take In The Sights Of Chicago First time in Chicago? Want to get out of the hotel? Meet your peers in the lobby at 6:00. You'll be heading out to dinner at a local hot spot as you take in the sights of the city.
Day 1: General Session - 09/18/2024
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Registration: Badges, Breakfast, & Beverages 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!
9:00 am - 9:30 am	Chairperson's Welcome & Speed Networking Preston Lewis, Senior Vice President, Communications & Consultant \| Segal Benz Welcome to the 3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications. In this fast-paced forum, you'll get to know your fellow peers, their biggest communications challenges, and a few fun facts.
9:30 am - 10:05 am	Beyond Assimilation: Navigating Diversity in Workplace Communication Yesenia Estrada, Talent Acquisition Partner \| Lions Club International In today's globalized and diverse workforce, effective communication is more crucial than ever. However, navigating the nuances of workplace communication can be particularly challenging for underrepresented populations who bring unique cultural perspectives and experiences to the table. In this engaging and interactive session, we will explore the intricacies of inclusive communication and the impact of cultural differences on workplace interactions. Drawing from both research and real-world experiences, this session will delve into: Understanding cultural differences in communication styles and norms. Recognizing and addressing the barriers that prevent certain voices from being heard in corporate environments. Empowering underrepresented populations to leverage their cultural backgrounds as strengths in the workplace. Practical tips and best practices for fostering inclusive communication and collaboration across diverse teams. Through this case study participants will gain valuable insights into how to navigate cultural diversity in the workplace and build stronger, more inclusive teams. Whether you're a leader, HR professional, or team member, this session will provide you with the knowledge and tools to promote inclusivity and harness the full potential of your diverse workforce.
10:05 am - 10:40 am	“You Don’t Have a Traditional Communications Background.” That’s Right, I Don’t. Jill Mack, Senior Principal, Communication \| Discover Are you struggling as a communicator to come up with new ways to talk to your employee audience? Are you finding that what once resonated doesn’t seem to be working anymore? Ready to think outside the box? This session will urge you to consider candidates with non-traditional communications backgrounds, when filling traditional communications job roles, and will highlight 3 specific skill sets that could help evolve the ways companies talk to their employees.
10:40 am - 11:10 am	Morning Refreshments, Networking Break + Visit Your Sponsors 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.
11:10 am - 11:45 am	Building Digital Leadership to Drive Communication Nathaniel Beck, IT Manager O365 Platform & Collaboration \| Johnson Controls Join us for an insightful session on how strategic communication can elevate digital leadership within your organization. Discover the powerful partnership between the communications team and the modern workplace team, and learn how they collaborated to establish impactful initiatives such as weekly communications, the Ask the IT Expert program, Digital Champions, and Digital in Action. These efforts have significantly boosted digital acumen and leadership across the company. Gain practical insights and best practices to foster similar success in your own organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your digital transformation journey!
11:45 am - 12:20 pm	Paycor's Cerkl Implementation: Tactical Approach and Strategic Outcomes Ali Mallett, Senior Communications Strategist \| Paycor Valarie McCarthy, Senior Manager, Internal Communications \| Paycor Tarek Kamil, CEO & Founder \| Cerkl Discover how Paycor revolutionized their internal communications using Cerkl in a fully remote work environment. Join us for an insightful discussion on integrating personalized news digests, streamlining information flow, and managing high-impact communications with a small team. Learn practical strategies for reducing email overload, leveraging data for targeted messaging, and fostering a connected culture in a virtual workspace. Gain valuable insights from Paycor's experience to enhance your own internal communications and learn how to translate these tactical wins into compelling stories for stakeholders.
12:20 pm - 2:15 pm	Lunch On Your Own, But Not Alone - Reservations Are Booked! Reservations have been made at a number of local restaurants. Don't miss this opportunity to have lunch with your peers at a local Chicago hot spot! **Everyone is financially responsible for their own lunch.
2:15 pm - 2:50 pm	Interactive Session: ‘How Was Your Weekend?' and Other Things You Should Say to Your CEO Gary Ross, President \| INSIDE COMMS Attendees will learn the art of building effective communication with top executives. The session will explore practical tipsfor engaging in meaningful conversations with the CEO, breaking down barriers, and fostering a culture of openness. Attendees will discover the importance of casual yet strategic interactions, understand the nuancesof executive communication, and learn how to leverage these conversations to influence and drive organizational goals.
2:50 pm - 3:25 pm	I, Robot-How to Talk to Your Leaders About New Technology Sharonda A. Glover, VP of Marketing and Communications \| YWCA Metropolitan Chicago In this presentation, attendees will learn effective strategies to persuade organizational leaders to invest in new technologies. The session will cover key techniques for articulating the value proposition, including demonstrating return on investment (ROI), showcasing competitive advantages, and leveraging data-driven insights. Attendees will also gain insights into addressing common objections, building a compelling business case, and aligning technological investments with the strategic goals of the organization.
3:25 pm - 4:05 pm	Afternoon Refreshments, Networking Break + Demo From Your Sponsors Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers. Be sure to stop by and visit your sponsors!
4:05 pm - 4:45 pm	Panel Discussion: Building a Culture of Transparency: Communication as a Trust-Building Tool Raven Hibbler, Director, Marketing and Communications \| Tapestry 360 Health Matthew Tiefenbrun, Senior Manager, Marketing Readiness \| UScellular Agatha Newman, Head, R&D Communications \| Astellas Pharma Astrid Greve-Spencer, Global Director, Thought Leadership Strategy \| Wolters Kluwer Preston Lewis, Senior Vice President, Communications & Consultant \| Segal Benz In an era where trust is paramount, transparent communication is the cornerstone of a thriving organizational culture. This panel explores how openness and honesty in internal communications can significantly enhance trust and engagement within teams. The discussion will cover practical strategies for implementing transparency, the pivotal role of leadership, and the use of modern communication tools to foster an environment of trust. Join us to learn how to overcome common challenges and build a transparent culture that drives organizational success.
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Close Of Day 1—Join Us For A Networking Reception @ Venue Bar Don't stop the conversation! Join us at the lobby bar as you network with your peers and sponsors in the adjacent at the #ALIcomms Participate in raffles & sign-up for dinner with your peers!
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm	Dinner With A Group—Reservations Have Been Made Want to keep the conversation going? Join a group of attendees for dinner at a local Chicago 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
Day 2: General Session - 09/19/2024
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Breakfast & Visit Your Sponsors Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and continental breakfast as you network with fellow attendees on this final day.
9:00 am - 9:30 am	The Business of EX (Employee Experience) Preston Lewis, Senior Vice President, Communications & Consultant \| Segal Benz 20 reasons why leaders are investing in creating modern employee experiences. Organizations have been focusing on employee engagement and communications for many decades. However, workforce expectations are changing faster than ever, and leaders need to align - quickly. Join this inspiring session and learn: How to build a business case for evolving your work tech stack What leading companies are doing to evolve beyond traditional internal communications New ways to inspire leaders to take action
9:30 am - 10:05 am	Empowering Colleagues to Contribute to the Company Story TeAnne Coleman Chennault, Director, Digital Content \| International Flavors & Fragrances Led by a people-first strategy, this session will provide a practical guide to in-house communications professionals on the tools and motivation needed to help employees tell the corporate story. From multilingual employees to using social media as a platform for internal stories, we will delve into how to spur employee communication participation for the company of today.
10:05 am - 10:40 am	Harnessing Marketing Strategies for Powerful Employee Communications McClain Houston, Employee Experience & Communications Manager \| AArete In today's fast-paced work environment, an effective employee communication strategy is more important than ever. Discover how to turn your employees into enthusiastic brand advocates with tried-and-true marketing strategies. We'll learn to identify audience personas, create a powerful channel strategy, craft compelling content, and run effective campaigns. Gain actionable insights for scaling your internal communications for an informed and engaged workforce.
10:40 am - 11:10 am	Morning Refreshments, Networking Break + Visit Your Sponsors 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.
11:10 am - 11:45 am	Interactive Session: Can AI help you tell better stories? Yes . . . but it needs your help! Cindy Crescenzo, President \| Crescenzo Communications Steve Crescenzo, CEO \| Crescenzo Communications Here’s a secret formula for all corporate storytellers: AI + Your Skills = a killer partnership that transforms the way you communicate. In this practical, hands-on interactive session, you’ll learn: Why you need to treat AI like a half-drunk, raw rookie intern addicted to corporate-speak! How to eliminate 'ChatGPT speak’ from your stories and articles The dos and don’ts when using AI to help you build stories and content What AI will never quite master when it comes to our content Quick tips on training and coaching your AI tool to write the way you want it to write
11:45 am - 12:30 pm	Panel Discussion: Crisis Communication: Strategies for Keeping Employees Informed and Calm Kristi O’Brien, Director, Department of Communications \| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Howard Karesh, Vice President, Corporate Communications \| TreeHouse Foods Lesley LaBerge Miller, Communications Manager \| Ulta Beauty Moderator: Preston Lewis, CEO \| Intactic Effective crisis communication is crucial for maintaining stability and trust within an organization during turbulent times. This panel will provide actionable insights into managing communication during crises. Industry experts will discuss best practices for timely and transparent information dissemination, techniques for addressing employee concerns, and methods for sustaining morale and productivity. Learn how to craft messages that reassure and guide employees, ensuring your organization remains resilient and cohesive through any crisis.
12:30 pm - 12:45 pm	Key Takeaways, Conference Wrap-Up

3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

Powerful, New Internal Communications Strategies To Engage And Connect Your Workforce And Drive Business Results

Powerful, New Internal Communications Strategies To Engage And Connect Your Workforce And Drive Business Results

Internal Communicators Are Uniquely Positioned To Build A Culture Of Fearless Innovation. Join Your Peers For This 2 – 3 Day Conference To Learn Innovative Internal Communication Ideas To Enhance Future Progress At Your Organization.

Jill Mack

Senior Principal, Communication

Discover

Agatha Newman

Director, Strategic Planning + Communications, Medical & Development

Astellas Pharma

Ali Mallett

Senior Communications Strategist

Paycor

Who Should Attend

Benefits Of Attending This ALI Conference:

Included In Your Registration: With Your 3 – Day In – Person Pass, You’ll Have Access To:

Thank you to our Sponsors

What People are Saying

Learn more about ALI Conferences

Agenda

Pre-Conference Workshops: Find Out Why ALI Workshops Are Consistently Rated As Valuable Time Spent! - 09/17/2024

Continental Breakfast, Coffee & Registration

Workshop A: Crafting a Human-Centric Communications Strategy

Morning Refreshments & Networking Break

Workshop B: Top Ten IC Challenges With Tactical Solutions

Lunch On Your Own, But Not Alone—Reservations Are Booked!

Workshop C: Defrosting the Frozen Middle: Turning People Leaders Into Effective Communicators

Afternoon Refreshments & Stretch Break

Workshop D: The Seven Deadly Sins of Employee Communications

Close Of Workshops

Networking Reception For Workshop Attendees, Speakers & Sponsors @ Venue Bar

Dinner With A Group—Reservations Have Been Made To Take In The Sights Of Chicago

Day 1: General Session - 09/18/2024

Registration: Badges, Breakfast, & Beverages

Chairperson's Welcome & Speed Networking

Beyond Assimilation: Navigating Diversity in Workplace Communication

“You Don’t Have a Traditional Communications Background.” That’s Right, I Don’t.

Morning Refreshments, Networking Break + Visit Your Sponsors

Building Digital Leadership to Drive Communication

Paycor's Cerkl Implementation: Tactical Approach and Strategic Outcomes

Lunch On Your Own, But Not Alone - Reservations Are Booked!

Interactive Session: ‘How Was Your Weekend?' and Other Things You Should Say to Your CEO

I, Robot-How to Talk to Your Leaders About New Technology

Afternoon Refreshments, Networking Break + Demo From Your Sponsors

Panel Discussion: Building a Culture of Transparency: Communication as a Trust-Building Tool

Close Of Day 1—Join Us For A Networking Reception @ Venue Bar

Dinner With A Group—Reservations Have Been Made

Day 2: General Session - 09/19/2024

Breakfast & Visit Your Sponsors

The Business of EX (Employee Experience)

Empowering Colleagues to Contribute to the Company Story

Harnessing Marketing Strategies for Powerful Employee Communications

Morning Refreshments, Networking Break + Visit Your Sponsors

Interactive Session: Can AI help you tell better stories? Yes . . . but it needs your help!

Panel Discussion: Crisis Communication: Strategies for Keeping Employees Informed and Calm

Key Takeaways, Conference Wrap-Up

Speakers

What People are Saying

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Venue

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IN-PERSON 3-Day All-Access Pass Sept 17-19, 2024 3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

IN-PERSON 2-Day Pass Sept 18-19, 2024 3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

Recording 2-Day Pass Sept 18-19, 2024 3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

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IN-PERSON 3-Day All-Access Pass

Sept 17-19, 2024
3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

IN-PERSON 2-Day Pass

Sept 18-19, 2024
3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications

Recording 2-Day Pass

Sept 18-19, 2024
3rd Annual Innovations In Employee Communications