Thom Fladung Named 2017 Communicator of the Year

Thom is a vice-president for Hennes Communications, one of the few firms in the U.S. focused exclusively on crisis management and crisis communications. He advises some of Greater Cleveland’s largest companies, agencies and other organizations about how to protect their reputation, often during bet-the-farm, existential crisis situations.

Thom has served as editor or managing editor at some of the nation’s largest newspapers such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Detroit Free Press, as well as the Akron Beacon Journal and St. Paul Pioneer Press.

He is currently chairman of the board of the Press Club of Cleveland and is teaching an undergraduate journalism class at Case Western Reserve University.

Join Us October 24th to Celebrate Our Communicator of the Year

On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, join area communicators for a night of conversation, great food, and celebrating Communicator of the Year, Vision Award winners, and others recognized for their outstanding communication efforts starting at 6:00PM at Lockkeepers, 8001 Rockside Road, Cleveland, OH 44125. The cost is $15. Register Now!

More About Thom Fladung

Thom’s experience includes managing hundreds of reporters in some of the great newsrooms of the U.S. and mentoring young journalism students to the advice he now gives to corporations, government agencies and nonprofits.

Fladung played a lead role in evolving newsrooms into the digital age. He is intimately familiar with the relentless content requirements of the 24/7 news cycle, and understands the necessity and nuances of communicating on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. He recognizes the crucial role social media plays as a first alert for many consumers of information and as a place where reputations can be bolstered – or blistered. In fact, his work at The Plain Dealer was instrumental in the newspaper’s migration to digital platforms, including web, social media and handheld digital devices.

He is expert at crafting effective, strategic messages on hard deadlines. He is also experienced at quickly evaluating, assembling and disseminating information – crisis management skills that are critically important for clients coping with reputation management issues and breaking crises.

A native of Canton, Ohio, Fladung is a graduate of the University of Dayton. He previously served on the board of the Ohio Newspaper Association among other organizations.

The Long & Short of Creating Short-Form Video Content

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-long-short-of-creating-short-form-video-content-tickets-35249235412

Online video viewership is on the rise. By 2020, it’s expected to account for 79% of global internet traffic. Are you cranking out a steady stream of video content for your target audiences? Or are you inching through lengthy video production processes and approvals?

While there’s a time and place for long, polished video productions, short-form videos can help you fill the content gap. You just need some basic equipment, your smartphone and a few pointers.

Takeaways

In this presentation, you’ll learn about:

• Equipment you’ll need to produce quality short-form video – all for about $100
• Video editing software you should consider
• Different types of short-form videos you can produce
• Video scripting, shooting and posting tips

Tip Sheet

Attendees will receive a tip sheet to help them produce short-form videos for their organization.

Biography

Brad Kostka, Senior Vice President, Roop & Co. Strategic Integrated Communication

Brad has more than two decades of experience in strategic, marketing, interactive and crisis communications; branding and rebranding; media, investor and employee relations; video production and event planning and management. He counsels organizations ranging from global, publicly traded corporations to local startups.

Prior to joining the firm, he held public relations and event management positions with the 1996 U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship, Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio University Office of Alumni Relations.

Brad serves on the executive committee of the Cleveland Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and leads its branding function. He is past president of the Greater Cleveland Chapters of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America. He earned a BSJ degree from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University.

You can contact him at: 216.902.3800, bkostka@roopco.com, or @bkostka on Twitter.

Understanding Millennials -- Feb. 28 Lunch Program

11:30am-1:30pm, Corporate College East 4400 Richmond Road Warrensville Heights, OH 44128

Millennials are not some vast unsolvable mystery. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, they earn $2,000 less than their parents did at a comparable age, they are more likely to live in poverty, and they are more likely to live at home. But, Millennials are tired of getting a bad rap. The Millennial generation are sick of being called lazy, entitled or high maintenance simply because they played on T-ball teams in which everyone got a trophy and grew up drenched in a constant stream of praise from adults. That was years ago. Now, they’re starting families — or starting to think about it — in the face of an economy that hasn’t grown robustly in more than a decade. So what do we do as professionals with a large cohort of Millennials in the workplace? Read more on the Upcoming Events page.

Infographics - Developing information for your communication goals April 24, 2017

Corporate College East 4400 Richmond Road Warrensville Heights, OH 44128

IABC Northeast Ohio is sponsoring an infographics lunch and learn on Monday April 24, 2017, 11;30 am, at Corporate College. Dana Anderson of thebeehivestudio.com is going to offer insight and advice about developing infographics to meet the demands of your audience. This will be a great chance to learn how graphic design can impact your communication goals.  To join IABC for this event, click this link:

IABC Infographics Lunch and Learn 4/24/2017

About Dana Anderson

Dana Anderson is an experienced graphic designer and creative director born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She has a BFA in Visual Communication & Design from Kent State University. Working in the design & creative field since 2001, past experience includes American Greetings, Nesnadny & Schwartz, Flourish Agency, and Karen Skunta & Co. She has been the owner of The Beehive Studio, LLC. a small design collaborative based in Lakewood, Ohio since 2007 (ten years!). Her design experience includes publications, marketing collateral, branding, event graphics & materials, and large format installations. Current client list ranges from small start-ups to large non-profits and corporations. She also volunteers for and serves on the Board of Directors for LakewoodAlive, a local non-profit.

Understanding Millennials - February 28, 2017

Corporate College East 4400 Richmond Road Warrensville Heights, OH 44128

Millennials are not some vast unsolvable mystery. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau (PDF), they earn $2,000 less than their parents did at a comparable age, they are more likely to live in poverty, and they are more likely to live at home. But, Millennials are tired of getting a bad rap. The Millennial generation are sick of being called lazy, entitled or high maintenance simply because they played on T-ball teams in which everyone got a trophy and grew up drenched in a constant stream of praise from adults. That was years ago. Now, they’re starting families — or starting to think about it — in the face of an economy that hasn’t grown robustly in more than a decade. 

Yes, they continue to struggle to move up the corporate ladder while older workers delay retirement and hold tight to the reins of power. They want to be recognized for their contribution to their employers, despite measly starting salaries and zero job security. They yearn to work for managers who treat them fairly and respectfully, to form positive connections with colleagues and feel proud of what they do and its impact on the world.

Join Northeast Ohio IABC on February 28, 2017 as we host Sonya Weiland and Amy Shanon who will share their insight about how Millennials will be a key part of our future employee population. You learn how to flex your  leadership style to meet the Millennials’ expectations. Our objectives include:

• Discover the perceived “Gap” between Millennials and their Employers
• Identify, understand, and  discuss ways to align with Millennials’ values
• Understand the demands Millennials have of employers
• Recognize the use of social media by Millennials as a means of communication and disseminating information
• Create strategies to support Millennials’ ambitions and professional development

Sign up to attend at: https://neoiabcmillennials.eventbrite.com

About Amy Shannon and Sonya Weiland 

Amy B. Shannon, President, Pinnacle Leadership Solutions,  LLC, serves  as the Organizational Development, Coaching and Training Expert for Your Partner In HR. For the past eleven years, Amy has been an Organizational Development (OD) consultant working with clients in manufacturing, service, financial and healthcare industries. Most recently, Amy served as the Executive Director II/Vice President of Corporate College where she built robust leadership training curriculum to serve clients throughout the Greater Cleveland Ohio area. Prior to her OD work, she spent six years as a Human Resources Manager in service and manufacturing organizations, and then she moved into Director level positions with Western-Southern Enterprise and at Kendle International, Inc. In both of these organizations, Amy built competency-based corporate universities that were recognized on a national level as well as noted numerous times in trade magazines.

Sonya Weiland, Founder of Your Partner In HR and President of WeilandWorks Consulting, has focused her career on building positive team environments and is a recognized strategic partner in HR to many organizations in the Cleveland Area. Sonya has partnered with Senior Executives to develop talent management and HR solutions with a clear link to business results. Her expertise includes the design and implementation of training, creating HR systems, performance management systems and talent management. She has worked in a variety of industries including manufacturing, service and not-for-profit. Sonya also does Public Speaking; provides keynote speeches, leads local career seminars and contributes to business development groups. Prior to establishing WeilandWorks Consulting, she was an HR Manager for Macy’s Department Stores as well as an Operations & Sales Manager for multiple organizations.

DRIVING TO CORPORATE COLLEGE EAST 

From the West

I-480 East toward I-271 North LOCAL to Harvard

Road exit. Turn left onto Harvard Road. Turn left onto Richmond Road and pass Tri-C’s Eastern Campus. At the stoplight, turn right into Corporate College and follow the driveway around to the front entrance.

From the South

I-271 North to Harvard Road exit. Turn left onto Harvard Road. Turn left onto Richmond Road and pass Tri-C’s Eastern Campus. At the stoplight, turn right into Corporate College and follow the driveway around to the front entrance.

From the North

I-271 South to exit OH-175/Richmond Road exit. Corporate College is across the street from the exit ramp.

Jan. 28 Lunch Program with Marketing Communications Pro

Attend the Jan. 28 lunch program and learn from Matt Collister, a local freelance writer, editor, storyteller, content creator, and leader with 15+ years of marcomm experience—and IABC member! 

Matt Collister embarked on a freelance writing career in early 2015. Before that, he racked up more than 14 years in marketing communications at Progressive—one of the area’s largest employers, and one of the country’s leading insurance brands. Join us as Matt shares some of the experiences that have influenced the way he writes for a variety of audiences. He’ll also offer some general insight into what’s helped him be a successful marcomm professional.

This program will benefit anyone who has to produce copy for a living -- from writers, editors, non-profit leaders, to small business owners. Registration closes at 2pm 1/27.

When: Jan. 28; lunch and networking start at 11:30 am; program begins at noon. 

Where: Crowne Center, 5005 Rockside Road, Lower Level Amphitheater, Independence, OH 44131

Includes: Attendance includes a boxed lunch of your choice. 

Costs: Early-bird (ends Jan. 22) costs for IABC members, $10; non-members, $15; students and professionals-in-transition, $10.

From Jan. 22-26: IABC members, $15; non-members, $20; students and professionals-in-transition, $15.

Writing Tips of a Marketing Communications Pro--Jan. 28 Lunch Program

Matt Collister, Jan. 28 Program SpeakerAttend the Jan. 28 lunch program and learn from Matt Collister, a local freelance writer, editor, storyteller, content creator, and leader with 15+ years of marcomm experience--and IABC member! 

Matt Collister embarked on a freelance writing career in early 2015. Before that, he racked up more than 14 years in marketing communications at Progressive—one of the area’s largest employers, and one of the country’s leading insurance brands. Join us as Matt shares some of the experiences that have influenced the way he writes for a variety of audiences. He’ll also offer some general insight into what’s helped him be a successful marcomm professional. Registration closes at 2pm 1/27

This program will benefit anyone who has to produce copy for a living -- from writers, editors, non-profit leaders, to small business owners. 

When: Jan. 28; lunch and networking start at 11:30 am; program begins at noon. 

Where: Crowne Center, 5005 Rockside Road, Lower Level Amphitheater, Independence, OH 44131

Includes: Attendance includes a boxed lunch of your choice. 

Costs: Early-bird (ends Jan. 22) costs for IABC members, $10; non-members, $15; students and professionals-in-transition, $10.

From Jan. 22-26: IABC members, $15; non-members, $20; students and professionals-in-transition, $15.

Schultz Named 2015 Communicator of the Year

Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz is the IABC Northeast Ohio 2015 Communicator of the Year! Schultz is being recognized for the effects her writing – which frequently focuses on Cleveland, common sense, and social justice, often at the same time – has on the Northeast Ohio community. In addition to her fresh and topical writing, this year Schultz was the guest interviewer of Michelle Knight, one of three women held captive by a Cleveland man for almost a decade, at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center annual luncheon. She interviewed Ms. Knight in front of an audience of 1,500 people and humanized the story, showing compassion and caring through a professional and thoughtful lens. Schultz's work through print, online, and social media tells stories that are part of the daily discourse.

Join Us October 7 to Celebrate Our Communicator of the Year
On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, join area communicators for a night of conversation, great food, and celebrating Communicator of the Year, Vision Award winners, and others recognized for their outstanding communication efforts starting at 6:00PM at Chinato, 2079 E. 4th, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. The early-bird cost of $10 for IABC members and $15 for non-members, and $15 for students and professionals-in-transition. Register Now!

More About Connie Schultz
Schultz is currently a nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate and a contributor to Parade Magazine. She worked at The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper from 1993 to 2011, where she won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for commentary and was a finalist for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing.

Schultz has won a number of additional honors, including the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Social Justice Reporting, the National Headliner Award's Best of Show and journalism awards from both Harvard and Columbia universities. In 2004, Schultz won the Batten Medal, which honors "a body of journalistic work that reflects compassion, courage, humanity and a deep concern for the underdog." She also is the author of two books, Life Happens: And Other Unavoidable Truths and ...and His Lovely Wife.