Modern Communicator Conference
Friday, September 25
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Capital University
Join PRSA Central Ohio for its ninth annual year professional development conference, where we welcome the brightest minds in communications and marketing for a full day of learning and collaboration!
We invite our colleagues in public relations, communications, marketing, or any similar field to join us for innovative ideas, transformative discussions, and unparalleled opportunities for growth and development. The conference is open to ALL professionals – residing in Central Ohio and beyond. With numerous breakout sessions, a media panel and a fantastic catered lunch, this day-long conference promises to provide valuable insights and information that will help you excel in your role, regardless of your years of experience.
SPEAKER LINE-UP
Keynote Meet the Media Panel
Moderator: Colin Wylie, President, PRSA Central Ohio; Social Media Manager, The Ohio State University
Panelist: Angela An, News Anchor, 10TV
Angela is an eight-time Emmy award-winning journalist who begins the evening news lineup on WBNS
Prior to 10TV, Angela worked at KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, where she was one of the first journalists in the market to certify as a wildland firefighter. Angela also co-founded a news magazine program, China Near and Far, based out of New York City. Her journalism career began at KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. Angela is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She also has a master’s degree in strategic public relations from George Washington University. Angela is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and plays classical piano. She loves to golf and is proud to call central Ohio home.
Panelist: Amelia Robinson, Opinion and Community Engagement Editor, The Columbus Dispatch
Amelia Robinson has been the Columbus Dispatch's opinion and community engagement editor since 2021. The avid community volunteer is currently a member of the Columbus Metropolitan Club Board of Directors, E.W. Scripps Journalism Advisory Board at Ohio University, the Governing Board of Miami Valley Public Media (WYSO), the Society of Professional Journalists Central Ohio Pro Chapter Board, and the Columbus Association of Black Journalists. She is the founder of Columbus Journalists in Training, a partnership between The Dispatch, Columbus City Schools, CABJ and SPJ Central Ohio pro chapter.
Robinson has won numerous awards for column, editorial and feature writing from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, Ohio APME and Press Club of Cleveland’s All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards.
Crisis Comm & Reputation Management
From Helicopters to Habitats: Communication Lessons from High-Trust Organizations
Amanda E. Winget, Communications Supervisor, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
What can aviation and wildlife conservation teach us about communication? More than you might think. In organizations where public trust directly impacts outcomes, communication is about far more than delivering information. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across high-stakes industries, I'll share practical lessons on building credibility, communicating with clarity, and earning trust before it's needed. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen relationships, navigate uncertainty, and build lasting confidence in their organizations.
Measurement
The ROI Question You're Answering is Wrong: Connecting Communications to Real Business Outcomes
Elizabeth Kennedy, Vice President, Client Engagement, Fahlgren Mortine
Communicators are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate ROI, but what happens when success can't be measured by immediate conversions or revenue? In industries like economic development, tourism, higher education, public sector, and place branding, the outcomes that matter most often take months or years to emerge. This session explores how communicators can build measurement frameworks that connect strategic communications efforts to long-term organizational goals. Attendees will learn how to identify leading indicators, uncover actionable insights, and move beyond reporting metrics to making strategic decisions. Through real-world examples, participants will gain practical approaches for demonstrating value when results take time.
Social Media & Influencer Strategy
Influencer Marketing Panel
Moderator: Brooke Cavallo, CEO & Founder of Bee Ariel Consulting, Creator Strategist at Unreasonable Studios
Brooke Cavallo is the Founder of Bee Ariel Consulting and an influencer marketing strategist with 9+ years of experience leading creator programs for global brands and agencies. She specializes in influencer strategy, creator partnerships, campaign management, contract negotiations, and performance analysis, with experience overseeing multimillion-dollar programs across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and paid media. Through Bee Ariel Consulting, Brooke serves as a strategic partner to agencies and brands, helping teams build and execute scalable, results-driven influencer marketing programs.
Panelist: Breanne (Bre) Eickholt, Downtown Columbus Inc. Marketing Coordinator
Breanne supports a variety of marketing and communication efforts including advertising, social media content creation and strategy, earned media and community outreach for Downtown Columbus and Columbus Commons initiatives. Before joining Downtown Columbus, Inc. in 2024, Bre was part of the team at OSU’s Urban Arts Space where she worked with a variety of teams including exhibition installation, marketing and social media, education and community outreach. Breanne earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from The Ohio State University.
Panelist: Daniel Moroyoqui, Influencer/Content Creator (@danielmoroyoqui)
Daniel is a Columbus-based personality, recipe creator, visual storyteller, art and fashion aficionado, and community builder whose work explores food as a powerful bridge between culture, language, and human connection. Born in Sonora, México, and now living in Ohio, Daniel brings a global perspective shaped by years of travel, engineering training, and a deep appreciation for art, design, and personal style as forms of expression.Whether behind the camera, in the kitchen, or gathering people around a shared table, Daniel celebrates food, art, and fashion as inclusive, connective forces that spark dialogue, inspire creativity, and foster a sense of belonging.
Panelist: Brea Spencer, Digital Producer at ABC6, Host for the Columbus Crew, Power Columbus 107.5, and Influencer/Content Creator (@beautyisbreeze
Brea “The Boss Babe Breeze” Spencer is an award-winning media personality, entrepreneur and educator from Columbus, Ohio. An on-air talent at Power 107.5, she is also a Digital Content Producer for ABC6/FOX28 and made history as the first Black woman to serve as a Match Day Host for the Columbus Crew. As the founder of The House of Boss Babes, Brea empowers others through mentorship, events, and community engagement. Whether she's behind the mic, on the field, or on stage, Brea brings energy, authenticity, and a passion for connecting with people through media, sports, entertainment, and culture.
Media Relations
From Trend to Headline: How PR Pros Create Media Opportunities
Devin Getz, Account Supervisor, Communications, Outcast
The best PR professionals don’t wait for opportunities. They create them. In this session, Devin Getz shares real-world examples from work with TikTok, Ring, and Entrata that led to coverage in CNBC, Rolling Stone, and on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Through these examples, attendees will learn how agency teams identify trends, uncover media opportunities, develop creative campaigns, and create news that drives results. Through examples spanning earned media, thought leadership, and award-winning campaigns, attendees will gain practical strategies for uncovering opportunities, developing stronger story angles, and driving media results for their organizations and clients.
Digital Trends & the Future of Work
Garden Theory: Find Your Work Style Archetype and What You Need to Thrive
Dilara Casey, Career Strategist | Educator | MBA, Organizational Leadership, Ohio University
Garden Theory introduces a new framework for understanding why talented people thrive in some environments and struggle in others, even in roles that look identical on paper. Just as different plants need different conditions to grow, people need different combinations of communication, culture, recognition, autonomy, leadership, and development to do their best work. This session walks through Garden Theory's nine "plant archetypes" and six growth conditions, giving PR and communications professionals a fresh, human-centered vocabulary for understanding burnout, fit, and what people -- and the teams they lead and communicate with -- need to thrive.
PRSSA Student Chapter Connection Session
Meet the Central Ohio PRSA Student and New Professionals liaisons and connect with fellow student leaders from across the region. This student-focused session will share best practices for collaborating with PRSA throughout the year, building stronger chapter connections and bringing new ideas, resources and opportunities back to your campus.
Inclusivity
Communicating Sensitive Issues with Confidence and Care
Emily Steinberg, Communications Coordinator, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
Whether responding to tragedy, sharing personal stories, discussing mental health, or addressing community concerns, communicators are increasingly navigating sensitive topics in public-facing spaces. This session explores practical strategies for communicating with care while balancing empathy, ethics, cultural awareness, and organizational goals. Through real-world examples, video case studies, and lessons learned from statewide suicide prevention campaigns, attendees will gain actionable tools to create content that informs, engages, and builds trust while minimizing harm and supporting audience well-being.
Leadership Development
Development Duality: The Mutual Collaboration Necessary to Cultivate Next-Gen Leadership
Aaron Helton, Owner, Integrated Leadership Systems
In this presentation, participants (mentees, rising stars, mentors and leaders) will learn their respective roles, as well as the tools necessary, for creating a culture of leadership development in their business, particularly regarding the promotion, succession and upskilling of next-generation leaders.
