Come celebrate and explore the art of communications at Central Iowa PRSA’s OctoPRfest, a professional development conference, which features the annual PRSA Institute professional development sessions and PRIME Awards ceremony.

Mark your calendar now!

PRSA Institute:                        8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Awards Luncheon:                 Noon­–1:30 p.m.

Location:                                 Mercy Medical Center — Conference Center

Featured Speakers: 

8:30–9:45 a.m. — Measurement: Calculating the ROI on your Communications and Linking Communication Measurements to Business Goals

Angela Sinickas, President, Sinickas Communications, Inc.

You know you should measure your communications, but where do you start? This session will help you build measurements into your communication planning process in a way that you can later calculate the return on your organization's communication investment.

10:00–11:00 a.m. — Panel: Leveraging PR to Put Des Moines on the Map

Tiffany Tauscheck, Chief Communications Officer, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Mindy Toyne, Owner, In Any Event

Steve Linn, Managing Partner, Iowa Craft Beer Tent

Greg Conrad, Tournament Director, Principal Charity Classic

11:00 a.m.–Noon — The Next Big Thing: Driving Brand Innovation with Emerging Tech

Greg Swan, Vice President of Public Relations and Emerging Media, Space 150

It seems there is always a next big trend in media technology -- Snapchat, VR, 360º video, Pokemon Go, Facebook Live -- and the pace can feel exhausting. But today's marketers and PR pros must adapt and find ways to be excited about "what's next" or risk being passed by. In this session Greg Swan, space150's VP of Social Engagement, will share a look at current trends, case studies, and best practices to help today's communicators define a framework for innovation and ways to avoid fad fatigue.

1:45–2:45 p.m. — Becoming a Super-Connector

Presented by Adam Carroll, Financial Literacy Speaker, Author & Entrepreneur

There is a new movement in companies today that creates more business than the greatest sales army ever could — it’s called social capital, and if your people don’t understand how to leverage it, they’ll be left in the dust. The ability to leverage Networking P.O.W.E.R. could have a dramatic effect on your bottom line…and the level of fulfillment in your office. In this presentation, Adam uncovers the five simple steps to building Super Connectors in every level of your company in a way that will leave the whole office buzzing with a newfound energy.

3:00–4:00 p.m. — When “Who Cares?” Becomes “Who Doesn’t?”

Aaron Putze, APR – Director Communications + External Relations, Iowa Soybean Association

Timely topics revolving around agriculture that impact you and your family are almost endless. From water quality and food labeling to renewable energy, jobs and economic activity and America’s standing in the global marketplace, it’s nearly impossible to identify a food and farming issue that isn’t popular and trending. For organizations like the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), the transition from “Does anybody care about what farmers do?” to “Everyone cares and is impacted by what farmers do” demands real-time leadership, disciplined integration throughout the organization and strategic communications and public relations. In this conversational session, discover new ways to amp up earned and owned media, stakeholder engagement, issues management and values-based leadership. 

For more information on this year's OctoPRfest Institute, please contact Ann Thelen at [email protected].  

Tickets

$155.00 PRSA Member Full Day
$145.00 Earlybird rate before October 3

$75.00 PRSA Member Lunch and Afternoon Session

$30.00 PRSA Member Awards Luncheon Only

$180.00 Nonmember Full Day
$170.00 Earlybird rate before October 3

$100.00 Nonmember Lunch and Afternoon Session

$40.00 Nonmember Awards Luncheon Only

$50.00 Student Full Day

$40.00 Student Lunch and Afternoon Session

$15.00 Student Awards Luncheon Only

$75.00 PRSA Member Morning and Lunch Session

$100.00 Nonmember Morning and Lunch Session

$40.00 Student Morning and Lunch Session