First held in 1910, the Drake Relays has established a reputation as one of the nation's premier track and field events, attracting thousands of fans for a weekend of intense competition by elite, collegiate, and high school athletes.

At the same time, Relays Week also serves as a centerpiece for alumni reunions, a study break for students, a time for pet lovers to identify the world's most beautiful bulldog, and a time of celebration for the Des Moines community. These diverse audiences may or may not have a passion for track and field, but participate in the Relays through a variety of community events that occur in advance of (and parallel to) the events in Drake Stadium.

During this lunch hour presentation and Q&A session, we'll explore how Drake's offices of University Communications, Alumni Relations, and Athletics tailor messaging to diverse audiences while retaining a cohesive brand image for the Drake Relays and maximize affinity for America's Athletic Classic. Luncheon attendees get the chance to win two all-session Drake Relays passes and two registrations to the Grand Blue Mile community street run!

PRESENTERS:

• Blake Boldon, director of the Drake Relays
• Dave Remund, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, Office of University Communications
• Ty Patton, Drake Athletics
• Aaron Jaco, Office of University Communications
• Niki Smith, Office of University Communications

Blake Boldon is the 12th Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee. Prior to joining the Relays team in October 2016, he served as executive director of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. A native of Osceola, Iowa, he has an extensive background and record of success as a competitive athlete, collegiate coach and event director.

Dave Remund, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA is executive director of University Communications at Drake University. He has more than two decades of experience in public relations, including leadership roles within three Fortune 250 companies. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Drake and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. In 2015, PRSA named Dr. Remund to its College of Fellows.

Ty Patton is assistant athletic director for athletic communications at Drake University. He serves as primary media contact for the football and men's basketball programs, as well the media coordinator for the Drake Relays.

Aaron Jaco is senior media strategist at Drake University. He holds two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree from Drake, and has worked in the Office of University Communication since 2010. Prior to joining Drake, he was a staff reporter for the Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune newspaper.

Niki Smith is digital media strategist at Drake University. She coordinates the university's social media strategy. Smith holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Drake, and has worked for the university since 2014. She held a variety of communications roles prior to joining Drake, including as a mobile journalist for The Des Moines Register.

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Tickets

$20.00 PRSA Central Iowa Chapter Member
$25.00 after 3:00 pm March 21

$30.00 Non-member
$35.00 after 3:00 pm March 21

$10.00 Student
$15.00 after 3:00 pm March 21