Pre-Conference Workshops
The art and craft of speechwriting 2019: How to persuade, motivate and inspire audiences - and get results - Rob Friedman, Ragan Consulting Group
Boot camp for speechwriting pain: Get rid of rambling speakers by giving them a point - Joel Schwartzberg, ASPCA
Track 1 - Speechwriting Fundamentals
March 14
(Keynote) Find your executive’s voice to strengthen your leader’s messages - Sarada Peri, Speechwriter for former President Barack Obama *
The secrets of career success for speechwriters - Rob Friedman, Ragan Consulting Group *
Storytelling with a strategic purpose - Shelly Plutowski, Mayo Clinic
The Speech of Angels: Using music to craft powerful and effective speeches - Brent Jensen, host of No Sleep ‘til Sudbury
Escaping Power Point Prison - Create stunning visual presentations that’ll set your messages free - Donald Ritzenhein, Wayne State University and Neil H. Mansharamani, Federal Aviation Administration
(Keynote) A speechwriters’ journey from communicator to catalyst - Janet M. Stovall, UPS
March 15
(Keynote) Winning ideas come from the funniest places - Mark Katz, The Soundbite Institute
Leading the skilled, confident speechwriting team: What new managers need to know - Jonathan Sack, Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago
Crafting the unforgettable speech with powerful anecdotes - Patrick Kelly, J.B. Pritzker’s 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign & transition
(Closing Keynote) The rise and fall of the bully pulpit - Robert Schlesinger, author “White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters” *
Track 2 - Advanced speechwriting and executive communications
March 14
How to use videos for leadership communications in times of change - Kim Clark, Ragan Consulting Group
Before you write a word: Managing the details that make your speech a hit—with your speaker and your audience - Kerry Moore, Boeing
The Speech as a Meal: Preparing, cooking and eating food as a tasty metaphor to craft delicious prose - Randy Lee, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Getting creative mileage out of your content - Lily Chow and Noam Neuser, 30 Point Strategies
March 15
Spinning straw into gold: How to make your life pay off for you as a speechwriter - Desson Thomson, Motion Picture Association *
(Panel) Turn boring topics into great speeches - Panelists: Stacy Carlson, Caterpillar Inc.; Christian Nwachukwu Jr., Bloomberg Philanthropies; Rob Friedman, Ragan Consulting Group *
* No slide deck is available for this session
Interested in learning about that Communications Leadership Council you saw in those blue folders? Click here.
