Event of Interest: 6th Annual WPO Chicago Summit 8/13/09

6th Annual WPO Chicago Summit

"The Engagement Imperative:
Communications Strategies for a Connected World"

Thursday, August 13, 2009
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

IBM Innovation Center
71 South Wacker Drive, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606

Sponsored By:








We are in the final stages of planning our Summit -- sponsored by Harris N.A. and IBM -- and our program is as follows:

AGENDA

10:30 a.m. - noon

Supplier Diversity Professionals (SDPs) and WPO Chicago members discuss how to work more efficiently together during tough economic times.

Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Light buffet lunch (includes special tribute to Patti Ross, retired IBM executive)

1:15 - 2:00 p.m.

Emilia DiMenco, Executive V.P., Harris, will present, “Retrench, Renew, and Reset: Navigating the current environment and positioning your business for success," which will help WPO Chicago members re-evaluate their business objectives and financial well-being in light of the current economy and economic forecast.

2:15 - 4:15 p.m.

Rick Murray, President, Edelman Worldwide Digital, will present, “The Engagement Imperative: Communications Strategies for a Connected World,” that paints the big picture on social media and word-of-mouth marketing. Opening remarks by Janet Cabot, President, Central Region, Edelman

4:15 - 5:00 p.m.

Networking (bring plenty of cards)

5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Dinner (offsite -- private)

This is a members-only event but it is not too late to join WPO Chicago provided you pre-qualify and we have space left in a chapter. Contact Laurel Delaney at the email address shown on our blog (right sidebar) or call 773-381-1700 for further information.

Special thanks to Harris N.A. and IBM for helping us make this year's event more relevant than ever.

We look forward to seeing or hearing from you soon!

P.S. WPO Chicago private wiki members register here.

Sound Advice: Consumer Leaders Report

"9 on 9" -- Edelman's Consumer Leaders Report is a fascinating look at how the year behind will shape the year ahead. Nine of Edelman's consumer experts weigh in across the globe.

The following topics are covered:

1. Time for some action
2. Without content there is no conversation
3. How Obama's campaign broke through
4. Mexican consumers gear into crisis mode
5. The merging of the ox and the consumer in 2009
6. 9 digital truths for 2009
7. It's about the daily moments of living, working and playing
8. Chinese consumers in 2009
9. An intimate globe, what will this mean in 2009?

Find out if your business is prepared for what's ahead.

Download the 20-page report immediately by clicking here.

News of Interest: WPO Boston Conference Update

Speaker, blogger, author and entrepreneur-extraordinaire Marilynn Mobley, Senior Vice President, Strategic Counsel at Edelman, considered the absolute best public relations firm on the face of the earth, gave a knock'm dead presentation at our conference on how to generate great ideas that drive innovation.

Marilynn continues to achieve standing-room only audiences (this is her third talk for WPO) because she has a way of captivating the audience with her knowledge and presentation skills. People arrive early to ensure they get in and they never seem to get enough of her despite the fact she's usually on for a good hour or two. Even I return to hear her presentations not once but twice (hence the very poor photo I took of her) because I know I will always miss a golden nugget of wisdom from her.

She really WOW'd us. Here's a post from Kristin Chessman at WomenEntrepreneur.com telling all about Marilynn's talk (scan to: Innovative Ideas to Reach Your Audience) and take a glimpse at some of the marvelous things Marilynn had to say (much nicer picture of her here I might add) about her WPO experience.

And rest assure that I am going to do everything in my power to see that Marilynn gets a main stage act at our 2009 conference in San Diego April 23-25th so everyone can be comfortably seated and experience her brilliance. She's worth it.