ABOUT WEBINAR

When: Wed., Feb. 10, 2020; 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual Webinar

FEES
Registration for Chicago chapter members is FREE.
Registration for non-members is $10 (proceeds will support the Young Professionals Network).

Not able to attend the live virtual webinar? Register for the event, and we’ll send a link to the recording after the live event.

PROGRAM DETAILS
From the pandemic to the social justice movement to the presidential election, the events of 2020 changed the world of public relations in countless ways. As we kick off the new year, which PR trends are here to stay? Which trends might be a passing fad? And where do we go from here?

Join us for a discussion with communication leaders from the hospitality, retail, healthcare, public affairs and corporate reputation industries discuss the impact of 2020 on their companies and the outlook for 2021.

SPEAKERS

Brandon Carter
Marketing & Communications Manager | Sand Valley Resort
@Sand_Valley
@sandvalleygolf
@offthemownpath

Brandon Carter, an Illinois native with a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Sand Valley, an all-seasons resort. Sand Valley sits on 10,000 acres in the tumbling prehistoric sand dunes of central Wisconsin and contains three top-ranked golf courses making it a premiere golf destination in the Midwest. In addition to the world-class golf, Sand Valley also offers a collection of outdoor activities from hiking, fishing and fat-tire biking, to cross-country skiing, ice skating and snowshoeing in the winter months. In his role of Marketing and Communications Manager, Brandon is responsible for PR, content creation, website management, social media and all onsite photography, which is utilized in marketing efforts across the board such as email campaigns, social media and a variety of print and digital ads.

Maura Farrell
Managing Director | Kivvit
@TeamKivvit
@maurafarrellPR

Maura has spent 20 years in the communications industry. She works with clients to tell their stories through media relations, digital communications and social media. Her clients include universities, energy companies, financial industry leaders, foundations and commercial real estate. She specializes in media, executive speaking and corporate social responsibility.

Prior to joining Kivvit, Maura was a TV journalist running the assignment desk at Fox and CBS in Chicago. She also worked at Hill & Knowlton as a managing director and media trainer. She founded a boutique PR firm specializing in litigation marketing for ten years before selling it to Kivvit in 2014.

Maura attended Marquette University, lives in Evanston with her three kids and is an avid Diet Coke drinker.

Deborah Song
Director of Public Affairs | Cook County Health
@CookCoHealth
@DebSong

Deb Song has more than 20 years of experience in media relations, social media strategy, content development, crisis communications and brand reputation management for some of the top medical centers, health systems and medical universities in the U.S. including Northwestern Medicine and Aurora Advocate Health. She currently serves as the director of public affairs for Cook County Health, which is one of only three large public health systems in the U.S. and the busiest Level I trauma center in the Midwest.   

In this role, she is responsible for internal and external communications, social media and marketing for the health system which includes the department of public health and correctional health and representing Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Song has managed crisis communications for large, complex health systems and universities. The biggest crisis she has managed to date is the public health communications for the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this role, Song served as Interim Director of Media Relations for Rush University Medical Center.

Kelli Teno
Director, Pharmacy and Healthcare Services Communications | Walgreens
@Walgreens
@kkteno

Kelli Teno’s experience spans global and U.S. communications supporting pharmaceutical, retail and healthcare brands and companies. As director of Walgreens Pharmacy and Healthcare communications, Kelli helps internal and external audiences understand Walgreens rapidly expanding role in patient care through the delivery of innovative pharmacy, telehealth and primary care services. Kelli is currently spearheading efforts for the communications around administration of COVID vaccines through Walgreens pharmacies, as well as the expansion of healthcare services in communities throughout the nation.

MODERATOR

Peggy Austin
President and CEO | GoldStar Communications
@Pegaustin

Peggy Austin started GoldStar Communications in 2009 in the height of the recession with a mission to work with brands focused on health and wellness. A veteran with over 27 years of experience in marketing, public relations and strategic events, she works with Fortune 200 companies, health and educational institutions, as well as non-profit and government clients. She is trusted by leading healthcare brands and non-profit clients to not only achieve their objectives, but to over-deliver on promises. Austin has served as a lead strategist on numerous high-profile campaigns and what sets her apart is her deep network of contacts across media, faith-based institutions, as well as government and civic leadership.

She is often recognized for her work in healthcare, receiving numerous awards, including a commendation from the Illinois World AIDS Day Committee for her pioneering work for Walgreens. She has been recognized six years in a row by “Who’s Who in Black Chicago” for outstanding achievement in business and was recognized by the Chicago Defender as one of Chicago’s Top 50 Women of Excellence.

Austin is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and has dedicated her firm to work only with brands that do the same. 

Questions? Please send an email to Kelsey Schroeder, Kevin Thiel and Catherine Turco, 2021 Programming Committee co-chairs, at [email protected].

Program Details

Refunds:
All ticket sales are final. Substitutions may be made at any time.