QuickStart 2024 Leadership Conference Takeaways
Celebrating 70 Years of PRSA East Central District, the 2024 QuickStart Leadership Conference offered valuable insights on a variety of topics, ranging from chapter sponsorships to AI and creativity. The event featured a series of speakers who addressed professional development and organizational success. The following outlines key takeaways from these sessions in which organizations can enhance their performance, foster growth, and navigate the challenges of today's dynamic public relations and communications landscape.
In the "Building Sponsorships to Strengthen Our Chapters" session, speaker John Tintera, PRSA ECD Liaison, emphasized the importance of re-engaging past chapter leaders and leveraging panel opportunities to attract sponsors. A dedicated manager is crucial for avoiding common pitfalls and ensuring a successful sponsorship process. The program outlined a 7-step process, including appointing a manager, gathering volunteers, creating a sell sheet, outlining benefits for sponsors, brainstorming potential sponsors, assigning tasks, tracking the pitching process, and following up.
Tintera's lecture also focused on building leads, exploring various sources, such as agencies, PR/tech companies, financial institutions, PR programs, medical centers, and law firms. The discussion suggested transitioning from event-level to chapter-level sponsorships, developing a clear value proposition, setting sponsorship goals, understanding 501(c)6 rules, utilizing past sponsor lists, evaluating tools and resources, referring to district chapter's sponsorship decks, and timing outreach effectively.
The "Beyond Resilience: Mental Health Strategies for Soaring in a Stress-Filled Life" program featured speaker Leslie Hansen, from Rhine Group Coaching & Counseling, who highlighted the prevalence of stress among PR professionals and the unique challenges posed by remote work. The program defined stress and resilience, identified causes and triggers of stress, and emphasized the importance of self-care strategies. These strategies included affirmations, exercise, mindfulness, breathing techniques, therapy, gratitude, and yoga. Reflecting on personal values can also guide goal achievement.
In the "How Podcasts Can Impact Our Mission" session, speaker Scott Light from Lighthouse Communications, discussed the significant reach and engagement of podcasts, encouraging individuals to allocate a portion of their ad budget for podcasts. Targeting niche audiences, leveraging word of mouth and influencer networks, maintaining consistency and quality, setting realistic download goals, utilizing platforms like Apple and Spotify, and following a production process were key takeaways. The lecture also emphasized the importance of a diverse hosting team, investing in necessary technology, exploring distribution options, leveraging existing content, planning for content and guest speakers, and considering sponsorship opportunities.
Jeff Kennedy from Kennedy Coaching and Professional Development and Leadership Development, emphasized the use of the SOAR model to build membership in the "Board Development and Succession Planning" session. Attendees participated in breakout sessions to identify Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results (SOAR) related to their chapters or organizations. Key themes emerged from the breakouts including enhancing mentorship programs, elevating sponsorship opportunities, and setting and measuring goals.
The session, "Employer Branding: Positioning Your Company as an Employer of Choice in a Crowded Labor Market," presented by Hinda Mitchell, President of Inspire PR Group, emphasized the importance of prioritizing internal communications for organizational success. It highlighted the need to understand the factors that attract and retain employees, build a strong employer brand, foster a positive employee experience, encourage employee advocacy, prioritize employee development and growth, drive leadership consistency and transparency, and communicate effectively and frequently.
Dr. Rob McDole, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University, presented "AI: Using Today’s Communication" and addressed the ethical implications, legal restrictions, limitations, and capabilities of AI. Dr. McDole emphasized the use of AI as a tool to enhance productivity, the need to protect work from AI-generated content, and the importance of exploring AI platforms and tools. The potential impact of AI on the workforce was also discussed. Conference attendees also worked together to create a chapter anthem using AI technology!
The day wrapped up with a virtual session, "How Creativity Impacts Problem-Solving" by speaker Jim Stevenson, from the International Center for Creativity, who focused on the crucial role of creativity in problem-solving. The program emphasized identifying meaningful problems, conducting thorough research, embracing divergent thinking, overcoming creativity killers, creating a supportive environment, utilizing brainstorming techniques, and practicing creativity-building activities.
So, you just wrapped up the 2024 QuickStart Leadership Conference. Feeling inspired? Overwhelmed? Probably a bit of both! But don't worry, you're not alone. Find inspiration and support in your region by getting involved in your local PRSA chapter for additional professional development and networking opportunities.
About The Author:
A seasoned communications professional, Jessica Meldrum, MS, APR, specializes in strategic communications, crisis management, and public relations. With a proven track record of success, she has earned multiple awards through West Michigan Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA). With a strong foundation in strategic communications, internal and external communications, and crisis management, she consistently delivers impactful results. Her expertise extends to storytelling, analytics, and team development with a passion for mentorship. She holds a master’s degree in communications and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, both from Grand Valley State University. As an active member and board member of WMPRSA, she is dedicated to advancing the practice of public relations and is poised to serve as chapter president in 2025.
