Four questions for Mary Boone

Get a sense of what to expect from the CCM 2010 Annual Conference with our “Four questions for…” speaker series. Today’s guest is Mary Boone, President, Boone Associates.

1) Tell me about yourself and what you do.

I help senior executives understand how innovative approaches to communication can help them achieve their business goals, strategies and objectives.  In particular, I’m interested in how to exploit large meetings and interactive technologies to manage change in complex organizations.

2) What is one thing CCM Conference attendees will learn that they didn’t know before your presentation?

They will learn about the intersection between complexity theory, leadership, and communication and they’ll have a practical, hands-on experience with some of the methods that are used to address this intersection.

3) After your session, what will attendees be able to immediately bring back to their job and implement?

They will walk away with exciting new ideas about how their leaders can use large meetings to manage complexity and advance communication and business strategies in their organizations.

4) What’s in your crystal ball for “What’s Next” in Communications for 2010 and beyond?

In the near term, you will see Communications playing an increasingly important role in the executive suite.  This role will go far beyond the typical role in which the senior communicator helps with “messaging.”  Instead, CEOs will be looking to Communications to assist heavily in strategy formation and execution.  In the longer term, I think you are going to see a full integration of the Marketing and Communications functions in organizations, and you will see many, many more CCOs moving into the CEO slot.

Interview conducted by Teryl O’Keefe.

An evening at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

On Thursday evening, those attending the conference are invited to gather for cocktails and dinner in the unique and elegant ambience of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), the nation’s oldest art museum and school, and a National Historic Landmark.

A stunning architectural achievement, the Academy is the perfect setting for our informal networking, with its rich collection of masterpieces by great American artists, including Thomas Eakins, Charles Willson Peale, Mary Cassatt, and Benjamin West.

During the evening, we’ll be given a private tour of the exhibition of Hudson River School Masterworks, on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Museum docents will take us through the exhibit and  teach us about these beautiful works of art.

There’s no additional charge for this event, and we’ll have the entire facility to ourselves.  Transportation to and from the museum will be provided.

Don’t miss this special event where you can see another special feature of the wonderful, history-rich city of Philadelphia!

Four questions for Bob Kelleher

Get a sense of what to expect from the CCM 2010 Annual Conference with our “Four questions with…” speaker series. Today’s guest is Bob Kelleher, Founder, The Employee Engagement Group; Former Chief Human Capital Officer, AECOM.

1) Tell us a little bit about you.
I founded The Employee Engagement Group after acting as the Human Capital Officer for AECOM, a Fortune 500 professional services firm with 43,000 global employees, and EVP and COO for ENSR, a global environmental consulting firm. ENSR was acquired by AECOM in 2005.

While at ENSR, I introduced and spearheaded cutting edge employee engagement, communication, and workforce initiatives. I saw what happens when you communicate openly, honestly, and frequently with your employees – both good and bad news. I saw what happens when you invest more in the development of your staff than your competitors. I saw what happens when you include employees in the development of your strategic plan – they help you get there (because they own it)!

2) What is one thing CCM Conference attendees will learn that they didn’t know before your presentation?
You’ll hear about “The Sustainable Organization” – 13 trends all leaders need to focus on. I’ll outline today’s most pressing workforce trends, including workforce demographic changes, generational differences, globalization, employee engagement, corporate social responsibility, social networks, and innovation.

3) After your session, what will attendees bring back to their jobs?
Attendees will take away a renewed sense of urgency that we need to do something today to ensure our workforce is sustainable for tomorrow. Although many of my 13 trends are familiar, the recession has dulled the urgency to take action and has put a filter on potential aggregate ramifications of these trends, including the upcoming effects of globalization and workforce demographic changes.

4) What’s in your crystal ball for “What’s Next” in Communications for 2010 and beyond?
I believe the war for talent will resume with a vengeance, and many employers will be caught by surprise. The demographics don’t lie – boomers will start to retire, and the generation in its wake is considerably smaller. Corporate communication processionals will increasingly get involved with internal employee engagement branding strategies. Enlightened organizations will spend as much time marketing their employer brand as they currently do their service and/or product brand.

Thank you, sponsors!

This year, the Annual CCM Conference will add even one more way for you to network with the best minds and find out What’s Next.  On Wednesday evening, May 5, we will be hosting a networking session with our current members, potential new members from the East Coast and some of the best minds in the consulting business, who have chosen to sponsor this year’s CCM Conference.

Knowing that all CCM members have at least 10 years of experience and over 60% have 20+ years of experience, this is definitely an event not to be missed.  Where else can you find that much brain power and knowledge in just one room!  In addition, for this event, our sponsors will be sharing their best practice tools, tips and case studies.  This year’s sponsors include:

• Platinum sponsors:  The Grossman Group and Pfizer
• Gold sponsor:  Sinickas Communications, Inc.,
• Bronze sponsors:  Connect Consulting Group, Rhoades Communication, ROI Communication and Bridge Consulting and CNA
• Event sponsors:  Snap Communications and Mt. Royal University

It’s the support of these sponsors that make it possible for CCM to continue to provide learning and networking opportunities for the best minds in the business. If you’d like to add your name to this prestigious list of sponsors, we still have opportunities available.

Be sure to include this networking event as a “must do” when planning your conference itinerary!

Figures, So Sexy It Hurts

Income statements, balance sheets and cash flow, Oh My!  It may not be as sexy as Lady Gaga or other hot topics of 2009, but financial communication is no longer limited to top management and the nerdy investor relations folks.  It’s hot for business.  Companies are discovering that there is a distinct competitive advantage to be gained by communicating financial information with all of their employees.

Study after study has demonstrated that actions and words of leaders are the biggest drivers of employee engagement, morale and productivity.  So if the language of leaders is accounting, why are senior communicators constantly translating these messages into cute, condescending, ‘What’s In It For Me’ campaign speak under the pretense of making it more meaningful?

Employees aren’t stupid- they create budgets, balance their bank accounts, negotiate home and car purchases, and make sophisticated 401K decisions.  They aren’t toddlers either, and are more than capable of spotting corporate smokescreens. So all the cutesy and clever acronym G.O.O, goo, GaGa, Ra Ra Change Management talk really does nothing other than create bigger barriers and greater distrust.

If the Why for change is based on numbers, it’s better to save your creative interpretation for Karaoke night and communicate the core financial information directly with your employees.

Don’t take my word for how steamy this topic has become… Ethan McCarty, editor-in-chief of IBM’s global intranet, will be sharing solutions in effectively communicating financial information with employees in over 100 countries at the Annual 2010 CCM Conference May 5-7 in Philadelphia PA.

Regards,

Rick Spratley (member since 2009)

Come sample CCM!

You know you can’t pass it up—a free sample. If you’re a communication leader working anywhere from Stamford, Connecticut to Richmond, Virginia, be our guest at a talk by Richard Nacht on the Future of Social Media, the panel discussion that follows on social media case studies, and our opening day cocktail reception—on the house!   Richard Nacht is a senior research fellow and chairman of the Education Committee at the Society for New Communication Research.  The social media panel consists of speakers from:

• Walmart
• General Electric
• Sun Microsystems
• Day & Zimmerman

If you like what you experience, you’re welcome to join us for the rest of the conference at a special day rate of $600 before December 15, 2009; $700 after.

The general session with Richard Nacht begins at 3:00pm on Day One of the conference—Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

Our annual conference isn’t just a program of talks and presentations.  It’s a three-day exchange of ideas, experience, and insights among people who are knowledgeable about their profession and passionate about their work.

We think, in fact we feel pretty confident, that when you sample our two greatest strengths – knowledge-sharing and networking with other senior-level communicators – you’ll want to be part of our special organization.

If you’re a communicator in a position of leadership and you’d like to see first-hand what we’re all about, get in touch. I’ll send you information on how you can join us for an afternoon and evening to meet our people and experience the fun.

What do we mean by a position of leadership?  A typical CCM member has at least 10 years of experience, with at least three of them in management.  His or her current responsibilities include a high-level role in internal and/or corporate communications.

It’s the best we have to offer – our people and our annual conference.   For free!

Regards,

Bill Tavani (member since 1994)

What’s up for CCM 2010?

As this year’s conference chair, let me give you some info about the plans for 2010:

What’s up?The program is nearly complete and includes:

• Great speakers scheduled to speak with us about what’s happening in the world at-large, the latest trends in communication, and how companies have leveraged these new trends in the real world to get great results.
• An event specifically designed for NJ-NY-PA-DC communicators. We’re inviting “neighborhood” communication professionals to get to know us. Details are in the works and will be shared here on the blog.  Watch for more info from Bill Tavani and team.
• Two early bird rates and we’ve extended the first early bird deadline.  So if you register before Dec 15 you get the biggest savings—$400.  If you miss this deadline, you can still get $200 off if you register before March 1. If you apply for and complete your membership process as part of registration, you’ll qualify for CCM member rates. Call 866.463.6226 or start the membership process now.
• Early bird day rates for locals or those who can’t attend all three days.
• A special “scholarship” rate for those members in transition to make it easier for you to attend.  If that includes you, just give Fred Droz a call to get the details.

That’s what’s up for this year’s conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk about What’s Next. Register today.

What’s next from The Gen Y Guy?

Jason Dorsey, otherwise known as The Gen Y Guy, will be just one of many speakers who’ll talk with attendees about “what’s next?” for the communications profession.

This clip from 60 Minutes gives you a flavor of what to expect. Register now to get the full scoop—and save $400.

What’s next for Philly

While you’re in Philly learning “what’s next” for communication, you can stop by to see what’s next for Philadelphia: the new Barnes on the Parkway.

After much controversy and conversation, The Barnes Foundation is moving from Merion, PA to Philadelphia. Construction on this new space is planned for November 2009, with a planned completion in 2011. In its new home in Center City, the museum will join the Rodin Museum, the Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute, and, of course, the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Philadelphia’s Museum Mile.

Albert C. Barnes opened The Barnes Foundation in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts.”  Over many years, he created one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, with extensive holdings by Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, Renoir and Modigliani, as well as important examples of African sculpture. The sheer number of paintings by well-known artists is astounding: Pierre-Auguste Renoir (181), Paul Cézanne (69), and Henri Matisse (59), Pablo Picasso (46), Chaim Soutine (21), Henri Rousseau (18), Amedeo Modigliani (16), Edgar Degas (11), Vincent van Gogh (7), Georges Seurat (6), Edouard Manet (4), and Claude Monet (4).

If the quantity and quality were not enough to attract visitors, there’s always been the creative way Barnes displayed his art. His arrangements of paintings scale the walls, one over the other. They climb over door frames, windows, and each other.

While the new Barnes won’t be open for the CCM 2010 Annual Conference, those staying the weekend should be sure to book tickets to visit the original location. You’ll get a chance to see art as only Dr. Barnes imagined it.

The current location presents an opportunity to see Matisse’s mural, The Dance II, as it hangs in the main hall of the gallery.

Hold the date

Network with the best minds in the business and sharpen your technical and leadership skills when you attend the Council of Communication Management’s (CCM) 2010 Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

Our annual conference is for senior communication professionals, whether you represent a Fortune 500 company or a one-person consultancy. From this historical city, we’ll look ahead, focusing on what’s next in our industry and what skills and knowledge you’ll need to bring our profession, your organization and clients and yourself squarely into the future.

You can turn to this blog for information about the conference, to register, and to plan your stay in Philadelphia.

While we get our house in order, please mark your calendar so you’re free to attend.

Register now! You save $400 when you register by December 15, 2009.