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 Strategic Corporate Communications West!
In this fast-paced forum, you'll get to know your fellow peers, their biggest corporate communications challenges, and a few fun facts.

This presentation dives into how a strategic partnership between Internal Communications and Social Media led to the successful launch—and continued momentum—of Saatva’s Employee Advocacy Program. Designed to boost employee engagement and elevate our employer brand, the program taps into the power of authentic storytelling from within.

By organizing small, time-bound cohorts of highly engaged employees, we provided hands-on support, gamified participation, and focused on sharing culture-driven content that resonates. The outcome? Stronger internal connection, increased brand visibility, and measurable gains across both employee sentiment and social media performance.

We’ll share what worked, what we’ve fine-tuned along the way, and how employee voices continue to shape Saatva’s brand from the inside out.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• How we launched the program—and the key strategies we’ve used to sustain it
• The metrics that helped us define and track success
• What we’ve learned about the types of content that resonate most with both employees and external audiences

Jessica Sipperley is a communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in a variety of industries, supporting health payer and technology leadership in developing and executing robust communication strategies. As both an individual contributor and people leader, Jessica has sought to keep employee understanding and engagement at the forefront of her work, encouraging senior leaders to do the same.

Change is an absolute in all industries and within all companies. The scope of a change, or the pace of change, will be different, but at their core, all changes affect employees. This could range from curiosity about “why?”, enthusiasm about the new direction and a desire to engage, or a retreat into wanting to keep things as they are.

As communicators, we create the messages and shape the tone, but more often than not, rely on our senior leaders to deliver. This release of ownership means a message may land in a different way than we intended. My presentation will share approaches that have been successful in times of change, as well as examples of opportunities to pivot, learn and do better next time.

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.

Discover innovative ways to enhance engagement and drive connection by creatively leveraging existing tools and meeting employees on the platforms they already enjoy.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn to maximize the value of existing communication tools and platforms.
• Explore creative approaches to engage employees without extensive budget allocations.
• Improve employee experience and decrease your workload by enhancing their preferred platforms.

Organizational restructuring can be a disruptive time for employees and stakeholders alike. At the heart of any successful reorganization lies effective, strategic communication. This speech will explore the critical role communications professionals play in guiding organizations through periods of transformation. Attendees will learn how to craft clear and empathetic messaging, anticipate challenges, and foster trust during moments of uncertainty.

Reservations have been made at several local restaurants.
Don't miss this opportunity to have lunch with your peers at a local Washington, D.C. hot spot!

**Everyone is financially responsible for their own lunch.

How creative are you? According to our facilitator Bridget Quigg, you are infinitely creative. Let's get moving and enjoy group exercises designed to get us playing, collaborating, laughing, and growing our confidence in our natural creativity. Plus, we'll learn how to draw creativity out in others. 

The shift toward people-focused communications marks a pivotal change in how organizations connect with their audiences. This case study explores Husky Technologies™ strategic transformation of its corporate communications approach through the lens of authentic employee storytelling. Learn how the integration of internal and external communications channels created a cohesive narrative that strengthened employee engagement while building brand credibility. Through practical examples and measurable outcomes, discover how Husky’s "Powered by People" approach revolutionized traditional corporate communications methods and humanized the brand. Join this comprehensive discussion where you will learn:

• Strategic framework for authentic storytelling: Understanding the value of human-centered communications, identifying powerful storytelling opportunities, and creating an integrated channel strategy that amplifies employee voices while driving business objectives.
• Best practices for building a sustainable storytelling ecosystem: How to implement and maintain successful programs and employee engagement platforms while measuring their impact on organizational culture and external brand perception.
• Practical techniques for scaling authentic narratives: Learn how to transform internal success stories into compelling external content. Discover how tools like Viva Engage, manufacturing floor huddle sheets, and social media platforms can work together to create a unified storytelling approach that genuinely connects with audiences.

Video has become an indispensable medium for effective corporate communication, driving engagement, alignment, and connection across both internal teams and external stakeholders. But creating professional-quality videos in-house can feel overwhelming, especially when budgets and timelines are tight.

The good news? AI is here to help. By integrating AI into your content creation workflows, you can create impactful corporate videos more efficiently, cost-effectively, and creatively than ever before.

In this short session, you’ll learn how to:

• Streamline in-house video production to enhance employee and stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Leverage AI tools to boost creativity and productivity while maintaining your brand’s authentic voice.
• Explore diverse video formats to keep corporate messaging dynamic and engaging.
• Demonstrate the impact of in-house video creation on cost savings and team alignment.

AI won’t replace your role in corporate communications—but it can make you more effective than ever. Join us to discover how you can become the driving force behind scalable, resonant video content that elevates your organization's messaging both internally and externally!

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers.
Be sure to stop by and visit your sponsors!

With the rise of artificial intelligence and automation, corporate communication teams are redefining their strategies to stay ahead. This panel explores how organizations are leveraging AI-powered tools for content creation, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced personalization. Experts will discuss challenges such as maintaining authenticity, managing ethical concerns, and ensuring that technology complements human creativity.

Key Takeaways:

• Explore the role of AI and automation in streamlining communication workflows.
• Learn how to balance technology with human creativity for authentic messaging.
• Gain insights into navigating ethical considerations and data privacy in AI-driven strategies.

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

Want to keep the conversation going? Join a group of attendees for dinner at a local Washington D.C. 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.

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and continental breakfast as you network with fellow attendees on this final day.

Together we will recap yesterday's top takeaways and set the stage for this final day of learning.

As generative AI reshapes the corporate landscape, communications professionals face a pivotal moment. In this session, learn how AI is being considered and applied in various leading corporate communications and content marketing teams—and where it's headed. We’ll explore practical frameworks for integrating tools like ChatGPT and Gemini into daily workflows, examine the risks and ethical considerations, and identify the critical learning gaps holding teams back. Through compelling real-world use cases, you’ll see how AI is not just enhancing content creation, but transforming messaging, audience engagement, and strategic alignment. This talk makes the case that communications leaders must become fluent in GenAI—not just to remain relevant, but to drive the future of storytelling and influence. 

In this case study presentation, we'll dive deep into the communications strategies and tactics that drive successful mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Attendees will hear about a real-world M&A scenario, and the critical role that effective communication plays in ensuring smooth transitions, aligning organizational cultures, and maintaining employee morale throughout the process. From pre-announcement strategies to post-merger integration, this session will highlight best practices and lessons learned from experienced professionals in the field.

Attendees will leave with practical tools for managing internal and external communications, addressing stakeholder concerns, and mitigating risks during high-stakes corporate transformations.

This case study will equip you with the knowledge to manage your own M&A communications with confidence and precision, ultimately driving stronger outcomes for all parties involved.

Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming deal or want to improve your communication approach, this session offers invaluable insights for corporate communications professionals.

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.

Dive into a compelling real-world case study and interactive workshop that reveals the secret to driving engagement and brand success through the alignment of communication strategies with core values.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how to connect organizational values with storytelling to inspire trust and loyalty.
• Gain techniques for crafting authentic and emotionally resonant narratives.
• Learn to use storytelling as a tool to align internal and external communication strategies.

In today’s digital age, where misinformation spreads rapidly, building trust through effective corporate communication is more critical than ever. This panel will examine strategies to create transparent and credible messaging that resonates with stakeholders. Experts will share insights into crisis communication, proactive reputation management, and engaging audiences across diverse channels to foster long-term trust.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how to craft transparent messaging that builds and sustains trust.
• Learn proactive techniques for managing misinformation and protecting brand reputation.
• Explore multi-channel approaches to engage stakeholders and ensure message clarity.