Join PRSA Charlotte for its 3rd annual Communications Symposium. This comprehensive half-day of programming will provide expert insight and practical applications for essential competencies within communications. Speakers will cover important topics such as internal communications, media relations, crisis communication, storytelling, community relations, social media and more.

FORMAT: The keynote address in the main auditorium will be followed by three concurrent breakout sessions lasting an hour, including time for Q/A and group discussion. Afterward, a second set of three concurrent breakout sessions will be held, each with the same timing and format. The breakouts will be followed by a buffet lunch.

KEYNOTE: Oscar Suris, Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications at Wells Fargo & Company, will discuss communications efforts undertaken by the company to facilitate recovery from a national scandal involving consumer banking practices.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (exact order to be determined)

1. How to Reach Millennials -- Learn how to reach the millennial masses through the expertise of three Charlotte minds. Get the attention of young professionals through social media, journalism and events.
   • Garrett Tichy, Founder and Owner of Hygge Coworking and Creator of @WeLove CLT
   •  Corey Inscoe, Editor of CharlotteFive and Co-Host of CharlotteFive Podcast; 
   • Paul Chabai, Associate Campus Pastor at Elevation Church
2. Localizing #GivingTuesday  
   • Amy Jacobs, of Share Charlotte, will discuss how the organization is localizing an international giving effort, #GivingTuesday, creating a local fundraising campaign called #GivingTuesdayCLT that encourages Charlotteans to give back to hundreds of local nonprofits.
3. Media Training for the Digital Age
   • Greg Loh, EMA's executive vice president/managing director of public relations, public affairs will share tips to ensure that anyone serving in an intermediary role can remain calm and focused in dealing with print or broadcast media.
4. Lessons Learned in a Time of Civil Unrest -- Speakers will share reflections based on personal involvement in September 2016 events, with emphasis on the following:
   • How does a business address employees' travel and safety concerns when normal work routines are disrupted by outside events?
   • What is the best way to coordinate crisis communications among multiple agencies when events spin out of control quickly and unexpectedly?
   • What kinds of things is the City of Charlotte doing to address the underlying causes of alienation among various sectors of the public?
   • What is being done to repair the city's image in view of the disruptions that occurred?
     • Sandy D'Elosua Vastola, Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing for the City of Charlotte
     • Willie Ratchford, Executive Director of the Community Relations Committee for the City of Charlotte
     • Laura White, Director of Communications for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
5. Best Laid Plans -- UNC Charlotte officials spent months planning the first-ever Founders Week, with two major announcements set for September 22, 2016: 1) a multi-million-dollar gift to secure the naming of the Student Union; and 2) the launch of a new capital campaign (the largest in the school's 70-year history). After Keith Lamont Scott was shot on September 20, civil disturbances threatened the entire plan. Should the naming ceremony be held? Should the campaign launch go ahead?  What did UNC Charlotte do?
   • Stephen P. Ward, Executive Director of University Communications
6. Charlotte to Havana - What communication challenges had to be overcome, both internally and externally, when American Airlines received government approval to start up the first passenger flights to Havana, Cuba in more than 50 years?
   • Katie Cody, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, American Airlines

Thank you to our sponsors