July 14, 2020 - 11:30am - 5:10pm ET
July 15, 2020 - 11:30am - 3:00pm ET

About the Virtual Seminar

Employees rely heavily on apps and social media in their personal and professional lives. As users, they expect real-time information along with a great user experience. As an internal communicator, these expectations are the key to your success. Join us to learn how to fast-track your results by leveraging tools and technologies designed specifically for internal communications professionals.

This popular comms seminar will explore today’s most effective resources to connect, engage, and empower employees, and differentiate your organization from the competition. Discover today’s technologies that are a must as well as the varying technology needs of different generations. Learn from recent case studies from leading organizations and gain insights that will help you increase adoption, measure results, and prove the ROI.

Benefits of Attending

• Gain first-hand knowledge from top internal communications practitioners.
• Learn more about the varying technology needs of different generations.
• Discover the must-have technologies to enhance your strategy.
• Examine case studies from leading organizations (find out what’s possible!).
• Discover ways to increase adoption, measure results, and prove the ROI.
• Connect and engage with internal communications experts and your peers.

Who Should Attend

This event is designed specifically leaders and executives in the following areas:

• Internal Communications
• Marketing
• Public Relations
• Media
• Digital Workplace
• IT
• Change & Transformation

Earn Recertification Credits
[Partial credit not available. Must attend all sessions to receive credit]

Three Things to Do Now

1. Download the Agenda

To learn more about sessions and speakers, download the latest agenda.

2. Register

This event is free for members ($595 for non-members). Register now to join us for the live virtual event and to receive a link to watch later on-demand.

3. Get Involved

If your organization would like to play a bigger role in the event, please contact the following:

• Speaking Opportunities: jill.christensen@conferenceboard.org
• Sponsorship Opportunities: michael.felden@conferenceboard.org
• Marketing Partnerships: allison.nilsen@conferenceboard.org
• Group Registrations: brian.teagle@conferenceboard.org

Day One | Tuesday, July 14, 2020

11:30 – 11:45 am
Welcome and Virtual Speed Networking

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board

11:35 am – 12:30 pm

State of the Intranet Industry

Intranets are among the least liked software in the workplace, but there are glimmers of hope. Every year, Simpplr commissions research with communications and IT professionals to learn the current state of corporate intranets. In this session, Simpplr will share the results and findings of this research, including the most important criteria that impact an intranet’s success.

Sam Keninger, Head of Marketing and Research, Simpplr

12:35 pm – 1:10 pm

Technology’s Real Role

If you think technology will solve all of your communication gaps, think again. In this session you’ll learn the real role of technology: a supplement that enables more human conversations, rather than a replacement for unreliable leadership. This issue plagues many organizations, so you won’t want to miss valuable lessons learned from both the banking and retail industries.

Brian Kedzior, Vice President, Talent Management, Parallel

1:15 - 1:50 pm

How to Build a Digital Workplace That Builds a Brand

By focusing on employee experience and cost savings, Tapestry’s Digital Workplace is breaking down silos, leveraging collective knowledge and expertise, and connecting stores to Corporate employees in ways they never have before. Learn how Tapestry’s strong internal technology backbone supports their drive to become an American House of Brands.

Dante Ragazzo, Senior Director, Digital Workplace, Tapestry (Brands: Kate Spade, Coach, and Stuart Weitzman)

1:50 – 2:10 pm
Break

2:10 – 2:20 pm
Session Recap, Virtual Poll & Pet Pics 1

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board

2:20 – 2:55 pm

America Runs on Dunkin’ and So Do Their Employees

Dunkin’ Brands understands they must embrace new ways to deliver information to meet the varying needs of its corporate employees and franchisees - it’s no longer just mass communication (one to all). Hear how Dunkin’ Brands is successfully reaching people through various formats that resonate with them, and sharing information in different and creative ways, to ensure messages are consumed. By the end of this session, you too will be running on Dunkin’.

Glen Schwartz, Director of Communications, Dunkin’ Brands

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Connected

In this session, you’ll learn how Arizona’s largest public utility launched and is sustaining a successful internal podcast to connect employees with the stories that matter to them most. But there’s a twist. Leadership made a decision to pull the plug on the delivery mechanism, causing the team to scramble to find an alternate solution. Sound familiar? Hear how the team is recovering and their best-kept-secrets so you, too, can have a successful podcast program.

Zane Ewton, Communicator and Multimedia Storyteller, Arizona Public Service

3:30 – 3:50 pm
Break

3:50 – 4:00 pm
Session Recap, Virtual Poll & Pet Pics 2

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board

4:00 - 4:30 pm

Making Sense of the Chaos

In this session we’ll dive into how to make sense of an organization’s disparate collaboration and sharing technology solutions that are not used consistently or optimally. Although still a work in progress, hear how Wayfair is navigating the waters, getting the basics right, and empowering employees with the information and recognition they need to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Kristin Geyer, Global Head of Internal Communications, Wayfair

4:30 - 5:00 pm

The Future of Technology Panel Discussion

This panel will discuss what the future of technology may potentially hold for internal comms professionals, and what you can do now to prepare for the changes to come.

Moderator:

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board

Panelists:

Dante Ragazzo, Senior Director, Digital Workplace, Tapestry (Brands: Kate Spade, Coach, and Stuart Weitzman)

Glen Schwartz, Director of Communications, Dunkin’ Brands

Zane Ewton, Chief Communicator and Multimedia Storyteller, Arizona Public Service

Amy Jenkins, Director of Client Strategy, theEMPLOYEEapp

5:00 – 5:10 pm
Session Recap, Virtual Poll, Pet Pics Round 3, Day 2

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board 

Day Two | Wednesday, July 15, 2020

11:30 – 11:40 am
Welcome and Virtual Speed Networking

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board

11:40 am – 12:25 pm

Using Mobile App Technology to Connect a Dispersed Workforce

After numerous engagement surveys shed light on gaps in our internal communications and senior leadership visibility, BNSF Logistics made the decision to invest in strategies and new channels to improve internal communications. Learn about our approach to keeping our dispersed workforce engaged and excited to work for BNSF Logistics.

Sherrell Watson, Director of Internal Communications and Employee Experience, BNSF Logistics 

12:35 – 1:10 pm

The Power of the Electronic Suggestion Box

It’s no secret that when you give employees a voice at work and their voice is heard, the benefits are enormous. Two-way communication cultures help to increase employee engagement and your organization has the opportunity to improve, as employees have amazing ideas to catapult your business forward. In this session, you’ll learn how to automate the employee suggestion process, making it easier than ever before to capture and execute on their innovative ideas.

Trent Nate, Director, Sales, Select Health

1:10 – 1:30 pm
Break

1:30 – 1:40 pm
Session Recap, Virtual Poll & Pet Pics Voting

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board

1:40 – 2:15 pm

Finding the Right Technology to Meet Your Employees Where They Are

Employees expect to have the same tools and technology at work as they do in their personal lives, so you must meet the workforce where they are. Hear how Asbury Communities developed a communications strategy that relied heavily on a multi-tool approach (an employee app, email, and livestreaming) to reach its largely non-desk workforce and engage employees at all levels in multiple locations. You’ll also learn how to get executive buy-in, measure impact, implement checks and balances to sustain your initiative, and use feedback to build new features.

Jason Brennan, Director, Internal Communications, Asbury Communities

2:20 – 2:55 pm

This is Not Your Mother’s Intranet

In this session, you will learn how the world’s largest communications company has taken a modern media approach to connecting to and communicating with their 300,000 associates. Just as their customers expect, real-time, personalized, multi-channel communications, so does the workforce. We’ll walk through their journey of change and share the benefits from their modern approach to workforce communications - from a better experience for employees, publishing efficiencies for communications professionals and data, insights, and initiative tracking for senior leaders.

Nolan Carleton, Associate Director - Employee Communications, AT&T

2:55 – 3:00 pm
Session Recap, Pet Pics Winner & Closing Remarks

Jill Christensen, Program Director, The Conference Board