symposium_speakers

Waterloo Wellington Fund Raising Executives

Gift of Communications
Sessions and Speakers

in partnership with

THE WORLD IS CHANGING AT LIGHTNING SPEED
How to manage your message and balance the overwhelming number of resources available, including: social media and all of the conventional communication tools at once.

Speaker: Leslie Hetherington, APR, MBA
Immediate Past-President of IABC Toronto and Principal at LASH Communications Group

Leslie manages her own consultancy, which focuses on external communications for public sector and not-for-profit clients. Previous roles included Senior Director, Communications & Graphics, Pet Valu Inc., and Vice President, Professional Services and Technology, for MAVERICK PR, an award-winning Toronto-based firm. Winner of the IABC/Toronto OVATION and Canadian Public Relations Society ‘ACE’ awards for media relations; she was also named CPRS Toronto Volunteer of the Year in 2002. Leslie is currently Immediate Past-President of IABC/Toronto, following a successful year in which she led the chapter to win 12 Management Awards, including IABC’s International Chapter of the Year.

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YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
How to communicate with the Gen Y audience: the school of social entrepreneurship and capitalizing on a more socially aware but more media savvy/cynical generation.

Speaker: Jacqui Tam, Director of Public Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University

Jacqui has more than 25 years experience in communications, public relations and marketing: having worked in eastern, western and central Canada in both the private and public sectors. Currently, she is Director of Public Affairs for Wilfrid Laurier University, a position held since September 1999. She is the Canadian representative on the Steering Committee for the Association of Commonwealth Universities PR, Marketing and Communications Network and one of the founders of the ACU’s communications award program for developing countries, as well as Chair of the Ontario Universities Public Affairs Council. Jacqui is also currently an Advisor on the Board of IABC Grand Valley.

Speaker: Lori Chalmers Morrison, Public Affairs Officer, Wilfrid Laurier University

Lori has more than 13 years of public relations and marketing communications experience. She served as Communications Director at The Walter Fedy Partnership for eight years before venturing into independent communications consulting. In 2006, she joined Wilfrid Laurier University’s public affairs department, where she is involved in various communications initiatives including media relations and writing feature articles for the university’s publications. Lori was on the Board of Directors of IABC Grand Valley in various capacities for five years, including a term as the chapter President. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Butterfly Learning Centre, and has volunteered with the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

CONTROLLING YOUR MESSAGE
How to keep colleagues/volunteer boards, etc. from being misquoted in the media. A look at Issues Management: how to communicate bad news and how to decide what and how much to communicate, navigating tough economic times, job cuts and uncertainty.

Speaker: Valerie Beyer, Senior Marketing Communications Specialist, Desire2Learn

Valerie has 20 years experience in relationship marketing and communications. She excels at identifying themes, trends and emerging perspectives and knowing how to use the information strategically; and has assisted public, private and not-for-profit organizations including: the School of Business & Economics; Wilfrid Laurier University; the London and Durham Regional Police Services; Handshake VR; and the KW Humane Society. She is currently Sr. Marketing Communications Specialist at Desire2Learn and an instructor in Conestoga College’s Public Relations Diploma program. Valerie is President of the Board of the KW Humane Society; as well as incoming President of the Board of the Guelph Creative Arts Association. She has also served on the IABC Grand Valley Board; iCON Sales & Marketing Club; and the Public Relations Program Development Advisory Committee (PDAC) for Conestoga College. She is a member of the Communitech Tactical Sales Peer2Peer Group and is Co-Champion of the Strategic Marketing Peer2Peer Group.

Speaker: Kathy Innocente, Fundraising & Community Relations Manager, KW Humane Society

Kathy has 20 years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector, with a background in the development and implementation of fundraising and community relations campaigns as well as wide-ranging experience in the development of volunteer policies, procedures and programs. She has worked at the senior level for over 10 years in a variety of capacities; currently as the Fundraising and Community Relations Manager for the KW Humane Society. Kathy excels at strengthening the public image of her organization by: identifying donor themes and trends; as well as working with media, volunteers, sponsors and other outside parties. She has served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Committee and Toastmasters International. She holds certification as a Fundraising Practitioner and is a current member of the Waterloo Wellington Fund Raising Executives and the Ontario SPCA Educational Conference Committee.

HOW TO GET BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Know your audience, how to meet them and what to focus on in your communications. Get tips from the trenches for cost-effective communications, online strategies, etc.

Speaker: Stephen Young, ABC, National Marketing Manager, MTD Products Canada

Steve is responsible for all branding, marketing, advertising, research, and promotion for MTD Canada; and its nine brands. From broadcasting to ad agencies, shopping centres, manufacturers, and financial services; Stephen has worked in the communications industry for more than 30 years and earned his ABC accreditation. He knows how to make the most of the budget you have and that includes work experience with not-for-profit organizations such as the Asahi Judo Club and K-W Musical Productions. In 2001, he received the Silver Leaf Award of Excellence from IABC, as well as the 2001 Innovator of the Year from Xplor International for outstanding innovation in the area of variable digital printing applications. After hours, Stephen can be seen on local stages – most recently in the role of Mr. Boo in The Rise & Fall of Little Voice.

Speaker: James Howe, Director of Communications, YMCA of Cambridge and KW

James began finding innovative, creative and cost-effective ways of communicating when working on Parliament Hill for Kitchener MP John English; where he launched the first website for an elected federal or provincial politician in Ontario - gaining the attention of McLean’s magazine. After local jobs at Creative Options and the University of Waterloo’s Development Office, he moved to Toronto, where he worked at the Daily Bread Food Bank. One of his proudest accomplishments was running a special event called the Amazing International Food Race, without any budget, yet gaining strong media attention and 7500 pounds of much-needed culturally diverse food. For the past four years, he has been the Director of Communications for the YMCAs of Cambridge & KW, where he learned most of the tips and tricks that he is sharing in this session. On May 1st, James will be leaving his position at the YMCA and will be a free agent.

LUNCH TABLE TALK

Roundtable Discussions of Hot Communications Topics

We are supplying a gourmet boxed lunch, which you can grab and join the informal table discussion of your choice. Each table will be hosted by a senior IABC communicator, who will be there to answer questions and moderate an open chat about a hot communication subject. Choose from topics including: Employee Communications, Crisis Communications, BlackBerry Tips & Tricks, Social Media, Reputation Management and others, to be announced…