Public Affairs Leadership Summit

Wednesday, July 26

4:30 – 6:30 p.m.            In Person Networking Reception

Join Public Affairs Council members as we kick off the Summit with a happy hour reception. RSVP HERE

Thursday, July 27                                               

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 

10:00 a.m.                  Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch

In this opening keynote, hear from Jason Levin, author of Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch on actionable networking strategies for building authentic relationships for career advancement. Levin will provide attendees with a keep-in-touch roadmap by leveraging executive stories, insights, academic research and social science. He’ll share practical guidance on forming relationships that translate into networking, mentorship, and sponsorship opportunities to leverage at any career stage.

Jason Levin
Author / Keynote Speaker & Trainer / Executive Career & Business Development Coach
Ready Set Launch, LLC

11:15 a.m.                   Break

11:30 a.m.                  Stakeholder Engagement During Times of Uncertainty

Stakeholder expectations of companies and associations are constantly evolving. Business is no longer being assessed purely on its bottom line or products. Public affairs professionals must be increasingly proactive in anticipating issues and preparing to respond quickly to the concerns of the public, employees and other key stakeholders. This session will explore how senior leaders are managing stakeholder expectations and reputation management by actions such as:

• Having an issues management team helping forecast threats and opportunities
• Looking through a reputation management lens to determine which issues take priority and what level of engagement they require
• Building a strategic communications plan and integrating other key business functions into your efforts

Ezra Garrett
SVP, Public Affairs & Impact
Oportun

Pam Jenkins
Chief Public Affairs Officer
Weber Shandwick

12:30 p.m.                        Lunch Break

1:00 p.m.                          Advanced Advocacy and Communications Campaigns

Today’s highly connected world requires an increasing reliance on digital advocacy tools and social media platforms to run high-impact public affairs and issue advocacy campaigns. In this session learn the new standards for creating a strong advocacy and communications plan that reaches elected officials, activates advocates, and influences other key stakeholders. Our speakers will discuss:

• The role of social media in your public affairs activities – from monitoring to engagement
• How to develop a unified message through digital content and online storytelling
• Strategies for integrating traditional government relations activities such as lobbying into broader advocacy campaigns

Michelle Russo
Chief Communications Officer
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Sue Zoldak
Founder & Owner
The Zoldak Agency

2:00 p.m.                    Break

2:15 p.m.                    Public Affairs Leadership

What leadership traits make good public affairs leaders great? How can you elevate your own leadership profile? Hear directly from respected leaders on managing up in times of change or uncertainty, motivating staff and managing teams both remotely and in-person, and leveraging thought leadership to advance your organization and personal brand.

Peter Slone
Senior VP, Public Affairs
McKesson Corporation

 Suzanne Swink
VP of Government Relations
KORE Power

3:15 p.m.                    Adjourn

Pre-Recorded Content

As a Public Affairs Leadership Summit attendee, you’ll receive exclusive access to three pre-recorded sessions available for 90 days following the conclusion of the Summit.

Measuring the Value of Public Affairs
Demonstrating the power of your public affairs work is more important than ever. It is crucial to use the right metrics to evaluate your government relations and stakeholder engagement efforts. This session will cover the tools and best practices for demonstrating and communicating value to senior management, including:

• The most widely used measurement tactics by corporations and associations
• How to tailor your metrics to your organization’s needs and culture
• Setting objectives during uncertain times
• Case studies of measurement and benchmarking

Douglas G. Pinkham
President
Public Affairs Council

Hiring, Managing and Evaluating Consultants
Finding the right consultant or contract lobbyist can contribute significantly to achieving your public affairs goals or objectives. But hiring a consultant is not only a big financial investment, but it can also be a daunting task with so many options available. Additionally, finding the right fit can make or break your initiatives and impact your reputation with policymakers and the public. Whether you’re looking for a contract lobbyist or a public affairs firm, this session will walk you through the ins and outs of hiring, evaluating and managing consultants.

Marvin Yates
VP, Strategic Government Relations
MultiState

Corporate Social Issue Engagement
As public and employee expectations for business increase, companies are facing more and more pressure to engage politically on social issues. This session will explore data on how companies engage on social issues as well as guidance for when and how to weigh in. We’ll share how companies can create a social issue engagement framework, solicit feedback from employees and other stakeholders and ensure internal alignment on moving forward.

Kristin Brackemyre
Senior Director, Public Affairs Practice
Public Affairs Council