IABC Houston Articles RSS Feed

Get People's Attention With Your Communications Plan

Allyson Neal — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:00:00 GMT

How do we get people’s attention when implementing a communications plan? Robin McCasland of Brain Biscuits provided great insight into how to develop an effective communication plan and implement it successfully. She emphasized the importance of having a clear plan that is easy to understand. And, contrary to popular methods, she recommended that instead of running away from your cynics when launching a new plan, invite them to lunch and capture their valuable feedback to help you achieve your goals. Some of the other highlights of Robin’s workshop included:

Foundations of a Good Plan

There is no “right” way to develop a strategic plan. You have to develop it in a way that makes sense for your organization.
Strategic vs. tactical – tactical is getting it done: more action oriented events. Strategic changes behavior, influences how people perform tasks and is not a one-shot deal. It’s implemented over a period of time.
Strategic analysis – stakeholders – evaluate who they are and incorporate them into the plan. The communications will be different for each stakeholder audience. Use the SWOT approach: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Write them down, capture them and make decisions based on your findings.

What You’re Up Against

Employees are more likely to be focused on their own goals and self-interest.
Employees think, “This is just another program.”
It’s NOT about YOU – It’s about your audience.

A Refreshed Planning Approach

After you’ve developed the plan, test it with employees. Get user feedback.
Keys to your plan: who, what, when, where, why and how much it will cost.
Budget – you may need to use external resources and do different things to accomplish your goals. Identify what can be done with internal resources and what requires external support.

Engagement Strategy

You must engage employees to reinforce the message.
Social media impacts engagement, and you must develop a social media strategy.
Keep media fresh and engaging. Don’t let the information become dated.

Cultural and Social Considerations

How do you wish to be perceived (internally and externally)?
What is your brand?
What distinguishes you from your competitors?

To download the presentation, visit the IABC slide share: http://www.slideshare.net/IABCHouston/mccasland-strategic-communications-planning.

26-Jul-10 12:00 PM

Beyond the 2-Minute Elevator Pitch

Nicolette Beard — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Personal branding is just a 21st Century coined expression for what most of us recognize as building our professional reputation. Today, hard-earned repuations can be damaged, or even destroyed, online. Building and managing our online reputation has become more important than ever. That's why being clear and concise about your qualities and contributions is so critical because our personal brand lives forever on the Web.

Here's a summary of Robin's advice:

Be choosy. Be specific. Be memorable. What are the distinctive qualities that set you apart?
Your ego is your friend. There's a difference between showcasing and contributing and sharing your knowledge.
Describe yourself in 3 words. Then have someone who knows you well describe you. Is there a match? Are you consistent in how you present yourself?
Be involved. Join and participate in organizations you value and where you can contribute. The people you'll meet and the friendships you make will go a long way in solidifying your personal brand.

Susan also posed thought provoking questions to help clarify our strengths and identify qualities in ourselves we may not have considered.

What have you been asked to teach or demonstrate?
For what things do people rely on you?
If someone took my job today, what role would they have trouble filling?

Once you've identified your strengths, create your own personal tagline and post your profile on as many relevant communities as you can. Then, no one can take your reputation away.

Overall, it was an entertaining and valuable overview of learning how to cement our personal brand.

25-Jul-10 6:00 PM

Suzanne Salvo, Houston VP Chapter Growth & Development, Named IABC Southern Region Member of the Year

Betsy Pasley — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:15:00 GMT

At the mid-winter Houston IABC board meeting, the board collectively determined that monies collected, which were above our normal operating budget, should be reinvested into the local chapters. Suzanne Salvo’s creativity and sense of humor helped make real the idea of bringing world-class speakers and professional development to the South Region chapters.

Salvo offered to lead the effort, worked up a plan and used her vast resources and relationships to line up excellent IABC speakers. Thus, the “Traveling Circus” was born.

By the end of 2010, Houston IABC will have reinvested $10,000 of its reserves to delivering speakers and content to 11 chapters representing almost half the chapters in the Southern Region.

Suzanne has gone above and beyond with her leadership, creativity, persistence, organization and energy in spearheading this exceptional service to our customers – the local chapters!

20-Jul-10 3:15 PM

2010 Silver Quill Award Entries Due July 1

Merrisa Turner — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:00:00 GMT

The 2010 IABC Silver Quill call for entries is now available, with entries due July 1, 2010.

The Silver Quill Awards are presented annually by IABC to recognize excellence in communication within a geographic region. All communications professionals are invited to enter. Those who truly "communicate with byte" will be presented awards at the region's conference in Atlanta Oct. 28-30.

15-Jun-10 3:00 PM

IABC/Houston Honors Two With Communication Leadership Award

Hattie Horn — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Greg Garland, for leading a successful internal communications campaign—“A Formula for Greatness.”

Mr. Garland assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of Chevron Phillips Chemical in 2008. He had served the company previously as a senior vice president. In 2009, he launched his strategy—to communicate better and elevate the company from good to great.

Chevron Phillips Chemical employees and contractors work around the globe on five continents. Online video distribution became the centerpiece of Mr. Garland’s communications program.

Each month, every employee around "The Chemisphere" receives an email from Mr. Garland with a link to his "CEO Journal." In it, he provides a recap of 1) safety performance, 2) corporate expenses as a percent of plan, 3) enterprise-wide plant capacity utilization and 4) gross revenues. These "CEO Journals" also provide an opportunity to praise high-performing units and to urge more attention where performance is lagging.

Mr. Garland spoke plainly and often, connecting with his worldwide team. As a result, at the bottom of the industry cycle and in the face of a global recession, the company realized a stellar year. Chevron Phillips Chemical's two shareholders, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, agree that in 2009 their joint venture enterprise was the top-performing asset in their respective portfolios.

The company's total, all-in safety record, as defined by OSHA's Recordable Injury Rate (RIR) for 2009 -- was 0.18. This is an astonishing best-in-class performance. It included a 74 percent reduction in transport incidents. On the balance sheet, expenses were 24 percent less than plan and earnings 57 percent better than plan. Manufacturing rates worldwide were five percent better than target and total greenhouse gas intensity was down 12 percent. Also, total air emissions were reduced by 43 percent.

This all amounted to earning employees the highest salary bonus in the history of the company—the average payout was 12.5 percent!

An employee survey conducted mid year by a third party reports that more than 80 percent of the employees say Chevron Phillips Chemical is a good or great place to work. Mr. Garland and his leadership team plan to keep the messages coming.

Mr. Garland began his career with Phillips in 1980 as a project engineer for the Plastics Technical Center. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1980. He is a member of the Chemical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board for Texas A&M University. Mr. Garland serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committees of the American Chemistry Council, the National Petrochemicals and Refining Association and Junior Achievement.

Bob Hale, for leading a successful integrated communications program. Mr. Hale has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) since 1988. Through his leadership, HAR has grown to become the largest trade association in Houston and the largest local REALTOR® association in the country, with more than 24,000 members.

Thanks to his vision and drive, HAR.com is a household brand in the greater Houston area and the most frequently visited Web site for Houston real estate, with more than one million visitors each month.

Mr. Hale has led HAR to be progressive in its use of communication media. HAR has a Facebook page, which has about twice as many fans as the next REALTOR® association in the U.S. The page provides local market updates and news to consumers and REALTORS® alike. Mr. Hale also has his own Facebook page and Twitter account and posts his presentations on slideshare.net. The HAR YouTube Channel features more than 300 videos all shot in HAR’s inhouse studio and editing suite.

Among the videos are 61 that are part of HAR’s Consumer Knowledge Series, programming designed to educate consumers on real estate transactions and home ownership. The series has been so well received that the National Association of REALTORS® purchased 20 of them for use by associations across the country.

HAR is one of the few associations that still publishes a monthly print magazine as it continues to make a profit. “The Edge,” a weekly e-newsletter, is sent to brokerage sales managers informing them about the latest marketing trends. Another e-newsletter, “Five-Minute REALTOR®,” is sent to the full membership and staff as notification of general news and events.

Mr. Hale is a native Texan and a graduate of the University of Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, majoring in International Business, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Upon graduation from UT Law School, Bob served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Texas Association of REALTORS® in Austin.

12-Jun-10 1:00 PM

Congratulations, 2010 Bronze Quill Award Winners!

Hattie Horn — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 17:00:00 GMT

STUDENTS:

Category I: SOCIAL MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
Thao Pham
Houston Aero’s Blog
Award of Merit

Category 3: DESIGN/PUBLICATION
Mariam Guessous
I Quit
Award of Merit

DIVISION 1: COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
BEST IN DIVISION 1 AWARD WINNER: Susan Reeves, Prism Design, for “BP Wellness Brand”

Category 5: MEDIA RELATIONS
Clint Woods
Pierpont Communications
A Generation of Forgotten Vietnam Veterans: Campaign for
Recognition
Award of Merit

Category 6: MULTI-AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION
Stan Sehested
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Hatching An Advantage With Recordkeeping
Award of Merit

Category 6: MULTI-AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION
Kathryn Butcher
Neighborhood Centers, Inc.
$20 Million in 12 Weeks
Award of Merit

Category 10: HUMAN RESOURCES AND BENEFITS COMMUNICATION
Clarissa Green & Lynn Hogan
Hewitt
BP Condition Management
Award of Excellence

Category 10: HUMAN RESOURCES AND BENEFITS COMMUNICATION
Jennifer LaBarge
Buck Consulting
BP eSPD project for the LifeBenefits website
Award of Excellence

Category 10: HUMAN RESOURCES AND BENEFITS COMMUNICATION
Lynn Hogan
Hewitt Associates
BMC Software, Inc. 2010 Annual Benefits Enrollment
Award of Merit

Category 11: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PROCESSES
Gabriela Segura
KBR, Inc.
KBR Monthly Media Analysis
Award of Excellence

Category 11: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PROCESSES
Edward Lallo
The News Group Net
The Imperial Sugar Newsroom: Recalibrating a Corporate Image
(http://www.iscnewsroom.com)
Award of Excellence

Category 11: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PROCESSES
Sondra Johnson
HP
Administrative Assistants Change Readiness
Award of Excellence

Category 12: BRAND COMMUNICATION
Susan Reeves
Prism Design
BP Wellness Brand
Award of Excellence

Category 16: ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
Andrew Mears
Bill Young Productions
LifeBenefits video email
Award of Excellence

DIVISION 2: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
BEST IN DIVISION 2 AWARD WINNER: Joi Lecznar, for “A leader then, a leader now”

Category 18: ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
Edward Lallo
The News Group Net
The Imperial Sugar Newsroom: Recalibrating a Corporate Image
(http://www.iscnewsroom.com)
Award of Merit

CATEGORY 18: ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
Anadarko Communications
Anadarko Petroleum
ASPIRE Online Magazine
Award of Excellence

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Michael Corcoran
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
A Prescription for Safety
Award of Merit

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Michael Corcoran
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Keep It nMotion: Year-End Episode
Award of Merit

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Paola Guyer
Paola Guyer Consulting
BP College Recruiting Video
Award of Excellence

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Paola Guyer
Paola Guyer Consulting
BP Newly Eligible Video
Award of Merit

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Stan Sehested
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Unbeatable!
Award of Merit

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Michael Corcoran
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Hatching An Advantage From Recordkeeping
Award of Merit

Category 19: AUDIOVISUAL
Andrew Mears
Bill Young Productions
BP LifeBenefits video email
Award of Merit

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Lisa Whitlock
Port of Houston Authority
Port of Houston Authority 2008 Annual Report
Award of Excellence

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Joi Lecznar
BG Group
A leader then, a leader now
Award of Excellence

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Donna Giles
CMS/Creative Marketing Services
Houston Public Library 2008 Annual Report
Award of Excellence

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Nancy Mills
The Mills Agency
Celebrating 50 Years, City of Sugarland
Award of Excellence

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Robin Beckwith
Greenwood Valley Communications
luminosity
Award of Excellence

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Guy Rankin
Harris County Housing Authority
Harris County Housing Authority 2008 Annual Report
Award of Merit

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS

BHP Billiton Petroleum External Affairs
BHP Billiton
Commitment. Delivered.
Award of Merit

Category 20: PUBLICATIONS
Anadarko Communications
Anadarko Petroleum
Energize Your Future
Award of Merit

Category 21: WRITING
Nancy Mills
The Mills Agency
Stroke Survivor Inspires Others
Award of Merit

DIVISION 3: CREATIVE
BEST IN DIVISION 3 AWARD WINNER: Bethany Haley, for “2008 Pride International Annual Report”

Category 22: PUBLICATION DESIGN
Bethany Haley
Savage
2008 Pride International Annual Report
Award of Excellence

Category 22: PUBLICATION DESIGN
Terry Teutsch & Susan Reeves
Prism Design
BP Wellness Calendar
Award of Excellence

Category 22: PUBLICATION DESIGN
Robin Beckwith
Greenwood Valley Communications
luminosity
Award of Merit

Category 22: PUBLICATION DESIGN
Ted Bowen
City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department
Updated & Improved Brochure, George R. Brown Convention Center
Award of Merit

Category 22: PUBLICATION DESIGN
Jincy Jose
The Salvation Army
2008 Annual Report
Award of Merit

Category 22: PUBLICATION DESIGN
Bethany Haley
Savage
Sysco 2009 Annual Report & Sustainability Campaign
Award of Merit

Category 23: OTHER GRAPHIC DESIGN
Terry Teutsch & Susan Reeves
Prism Design
BP Wellness Brand
Award of Merit

Category 23: OTHER GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sandra Porter
Hines
Hines Sustainability Suite: Setting the standard for a sustainable future.
Award of Merit

Category 24: INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN
Michael Corcoran
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Make a Positive Start
Award of Merit

Category 24: INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN
Michael Corcoran
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Ringing in The New Year
Award of Merit

Category 24: INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN
Bethany Haley
Savage
Alagasco Website
Award of Merit

Category 24: INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN
Mary Francis
Hardin-Francis Enterprises
Legacy Trust Company web site
Award of Excellence

12-Jun-10 12:00 PM

Two CEOs Recognized for Communication Leadership

Theresa Parker — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

IABC/Houston will present the 2010 Communication Leadership Award to Bob Hale, president & CEO, Houston Association of REALTORS ® and Greg Garland, president & CEO, Chevron Phillips Chemical. Mr. Hale did not shy away from advances in digital technology, he embraced them. HAR is now the trade association others look to for communications best practices. Mr. Garland set a goal to communicate plainly and often during his first year as president & CEO. His CEO Journal videos became the centerpiece of his strategy to move the company from good to great. The result: Chevron Phillips Chemical had a stellar year despite an industry downturn and looming global recession.

Final Week to get Tickets for Bronze Quill Awards

Hattie Horn — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Don't miss IABC/Houston's annual party with a purpose - to celebrate simply the best communicators at the 2010 Bronze Quill Awards - on June 3 at the Parador.

Join us and emcee Sharron Melton, morning anchor for KTRK TV/ABC 13, for this annual event to honor the outstanding efforts of Houston and Southeast area's top communication professionals and their unique talent, creativity, and resourcefulness.

Special individual awards to be presented include the Communication Leadership Award to an outstanding CEO or senior executive leader. Click here to see ticket prices. Click here to register for the event.

For questions, please e-mail houstonbronzequill@gmail.com. To learn more about the Bronze Quill Awards program, visit the IABC/Houston website at www.iabchouston.com.

12-May-10 6:00 AM

Bronze Quill Awards Early Bird Winner: Nancy Mills

Hattie Horn — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Nancy Mills, winner of the 2010 IABC/Houston Bronze Quill Awards Early Bird entry contest! She will receive two free tickets to the Bronze Quill Awards dinner, to be held on Thursday, June 3, at The Parador, 2021 Binz.

Nancy is president of the Mills Agency, a firm specializing in public relations and marketing communications for educational institutions and non-profits. A veteran communicator with more than 30 years experience, Nancy has been an IABC member since moving to Houston in 1998, and has entered the Bronze Quill Award competition numerous times.

“IABC has been a great resource for my professional development,” she explained. Nancy enters the competition not only because some clients put a lot of stock in awards, she feels also that it can be helpful to receive unbiased feedback on her firm’s work through the judging process.

This year’s Bronze Quill Awards event will be an evening to celebrate communications excellence with colleagues and friends. Don’t wait to get your tickets. The deadline for event registration is May 20. Click here to register today!

10-May-10 6:00 AM

Celebrate with The Best!

Hattie Horn — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:00:00 GMT

You are Cordially Invited

2010 IABC/Houston Bronze Quill Awards

Presented by

We've reserved the best place in town to celebrate the best communicators in Houston and Southeast Texas! It’s an event for all communicators, whether you entered the competition or not! Click here to access event details and to register.

10-May-10 6:00 AM

Houston's Mark Schumann Judges Gold Quill

Nancy Trowbridge — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:00:00 GMT

If you know Mark Schumann, ABC, you know he's a quality guy.

As a past Gold Quill winner, Mark participated on the 37-member IABC Blue Ribbon Panel round of final judging for the annual international contest. The panel judged nearly 280 entries in two full days while in San Francisco.

Mark will complete his presidency of IABC at the annual conference June 6-9 in Toronto, Canada.

30-Apr-10 1:00 PM

Discount! Be 'progressive!'

Nancy Trowbridge — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Through April 30, you can order titles from the IABC Knowledge Centre for 20% off. Use coupon code MEMT20 when ordering online.

There are lots of applications for the Centre's resources. Managers, order new tools for your junior staff. Learn best practies to prepare for a targeted job. Or strengthen your measurement to show leaders the ROI provided by your communication strategies.

28-Apr-10 1:00 PM

Why Mobile Matters: New Trends in Mobile Marketplace

Nicolette Beard — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Consumers increasingly are using mobile devices as their primary source for the internet, and with these devices come a multitude of applications that can improve the experience. Can a mobile app work for your business or client? What details need to be considered for mobile apps? And how can mobile marketing make a difference?

About ChaiONE - One of Houston's primary providers of software solutions for mobile devices. Their consulting and advisory services help clients understand how to apply new technology to their business goals. With a strong background in business transformation consulting, they create Web, Facebook, and iPhone applications which help take your business to the next level.

16-Apr-10 2:00 PM

Announcing the Updated ESIG Directory

Ben Wheatley — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:00:00 GMT

IABC/Houston’s ESIG (Entrepreneur Strategic Interest Group) soon will be updating the listings in its directory (now called the Freelancer Directory), which can be found on the chapter’s website. Listings in ESIG directory are limited to those communication entrepreneurs who are members of IABC/Houston. Listings of those individuals who are not current chapter members as of July 1 will be deactivated. New listings for the directory will be accepted after July 1.

7-Apr-10 12:00 PM

Jones Partners Thought Leadership Series: Leading During Crisis

Nicolette Beard — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:00:00 GMT

John will share the details of his Company’s crisis response and what he has learned from the experience as an individual and leader.

Join Terry Hemeyer, Adjunct Professor in Management, JGSB; Senior Lecturer, Uof T; Executive Counsel, Pierpont Comm. in this Thought Leadership Series, Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at the Jones Graduate School of Business, McNair Hall, Rice University for a reception and presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m.

There is NO CHARGE for this event.

2-Apr-10 4:00 PM

Open to the Public: FREE Entrepreneurship Seminar April 7th With THE George Foreman

Mike Emery — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

George Foreman will be the featured guest at the University of Houston's 5th Annual Veterans Entrepreneurship Seminar on April 7th. He and other speakers will offer insight and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Houston Room of UH's University Center (Entrance 1 off Cullen Boulevard).

This event is presented by UH's Veterans Services Office, the Bush Cares Project, Houston Think Tank, the UH student chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and UH's Veterans Collegiate Society.

"I think entrepreneurship is the one thing America represents," Foreman said. "There is no better way to make a living in America than owning your own business. If you can sell, you can be successful."

The seminar's speaker schedule is as follows:

8 - 9:30 a.m.: MaryJane Mudd, principal of Full Tilt Communications

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.: James Evans, assistant director of UH Small Business Development Center

11 - noon: George Foreman

This event is FREE for all UH faculty, staff, students and the general public!

To learn more about this event, contact the UH Veterans Services Office at 713-743-5490 or Olivia Bush of the Bush Cares Project at 832-212-4297

30-Mar-10 9:00 AM

Nominations for IABC/Houston Communications Leadership Award Now Open

Theresa Parker — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Think about the challenges your company or organization faced in 2009. Layoffs? A merger or business downturn? Now think about the leaders of your company or organization. Did they communicate those changes well? Did you feel engaged in company happenings? Did you feel confident in your leader? Were you kept well-informed? If you answered "yes," then you need to nominate your leader(s) for the 2010 Communication Leadership Award. For the past 10 years, IABC/Houston has recognized a business leader for his or her communication leadership. Nominations will be accepted until April 30, 2010, and the winner will be recognized at the Bronze Quill Awards Dinner on June 3. New this year is a simpler process for submitting a nomination. Read more.....

24-Mar-10 10:00 AM

Merger Ahead? Playing a New Role? IABC Provides Answers!

Nancy Trowbridge — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Many of us know that networking with your IABC colleagues via social media can provide ideas on how to tackle our personal/professional dilemmas. But, did you know that IABC National makes tools available at the click of a mouse? If you're uncertain about your communication role after a merger, for example, or playing a new role heading up a crisis management team, remember you have research-based tools at your fingertips through the IABC Knowledge Centre.

You can download the tool kit immediately as a PDF file. Now, you can be equipped to help your company or organization with a communication plan based on best practices from IABC's global resources and Research Foundation.

19-Mar-10 1:00 PM

Rice MBA Marketing Club & AMA Houston Invite You to Market Research Symposium

Nicolette Beard — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:00:00 GMT

AMA Houston Marketing Strategy SIG
April 2, 2010
Marketing Research Symposium at Rice University

3rd Annual Marketing Symposium

The Rice MBA Marketing Club and AMA Houston invite you to participate in a morning of marketing research and networking with top marketing experts and scholars. In today's economic environment, marketers need to know how to efficiently and effectively connect with customers.

Through a compelling lecture series, you will learn to:

* Generate strategic insights from customer data in a B2B environment
* Understand the strategic advantage of brand and customer understanding
* Develop strategies and metrics for measuring brand value

Who should attend?

* Marketing managers and market researchers seeking new tactics for deriving customer insights
* MBA students interested in a marketing career
* Marketing scholars wishing to sharpen their marketing research knowledge
* Individuals interested in exploring a career in marketing

Agenda

7:30 am Registration and Breakfast
8:30 am Opening Remarks
8:45 am Session 1: Strategic B2B Engagement: Insights from Marketing Research at Waste Management
10:10 am Session 2: Innovation: The Engine Behind P&G Growth
11:30 pm Session 3: Using Research to Understand Brand Value
12:45 pm Lunch and Reception

Speakers

Clinton Clark, Strategic Programs Manager, Waste Management - Session 1
Pablo Orta, Marketing Manager Fabric & Home Care, Procter & Gamble International Operations - Session 2
Rajan Sambandam, Chief Research Officer, TRC - Session 3

18-Mar-10 2:00 PM

Member News

Susie McMichael — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Lange Brandino, ABC, is IABC/Houston’s newest accredited member. She earned her accreditation by submitting a portfolio of some of her best work and passing a rigorous written and oral exam.

Jennifer's achievement was celebrated at the chapter meeting on March 25 with the presentation of her Accredited Business Communicator certificate, issued by IABC's international headquarters, as well as an ABC lapel pin.

Jennifer, Corporate Communications Manager at Service Corporation International, joined IABC in 1999 when she lived in New Orleans. She moved to Houston in March 2007 and joined SCI in May 2007. She previously worked at non-profit organizations and at an ad agency.

Accreditation is an IABC professional development program. It offers communicators a way of demonstrating to employers, fellow communicators and themselves their ability to successfully manage and perform those tasks essential to effective organizational communication. Candidates meeting all requirements of the program earn the designation Accredited Business Communicator (ABC).

If you are interested in accreditation and want more information, please contact Susie McMichael or call her at 713-260-0716. Or you can learn more about the accreditation process at http://www.iabc.com/abc.

17-Mar-10 12:00 PM