From Chaos to Clarity:
Craft Your Communication Legacy

The Region’s Definitive Communication and Marketing Conference
April 17 & 18, 2024
Radisson Blu, Fargo, ND

The North Dakota Professional Communicators’ 2024 conference was held April 17-18 at the Radisson Blu in Fargo, ND.

The conference kicked off on Wednesday evening with a welcome reception, offering a chance for reconnecting or making new communications friends and winning a door prizes during the happy hour and networking event.

Thursday began with the annual NDPC Business Meeting and continued into a full day of presentations, networking and our awards luncheon. Topics included crisis communications, internal employee communications and engagement, and digital accessibility. 

Keynote Speaker, Paul Omodt
"The Right Message, Method and Motivation: Communications That Inspire"

For more than thirty years, Paul Omodt has used the power of communication to manage crisis situations, drive change and make a difference. Whether it is being front-and-center when the 35W bridge collapsed, unrest gripped Minneapolis, or protestors challenged the Super Bowl, Paul has brought a lifetime of experience and skill as a communicator to move the right messages at the right time, to the right people. 

Paul is the founder & principal of Omodt & Associates Critical Communication, a full-service communication firm dedicated to telling your story when communication is critical to your success. Omodt & Associates is known for managing communication in high profile crisis situations as well as strategic reputation building programs. 

Paul is also an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas where he teaches in both the undergraduate Strategic Communication program and the university's MBA program. His academic research papers and studies have been presented at local, national and international conferences. He is an active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) where is a member of the prestigious College of Fellows. 

Featured Speaker, KJ Trooien
“The Accessibility Imperative: Cultivating Inclusive Spaces, Stories, and Strategies”

Accessibility: a term that's become ubiquitous in the marketing world. But when we strip away the buzzwords and try to create genuinely accessible media, strategies, and processes, we often find that cultivating "accessibility" is anything but accessible. What does it truly mean to be "accessible"? And, once we've defined it, how do we embody "accessibility" in our work?

Content specialist KJ Trooien demystifies "accessibility," guiding you through its definitions, the diverse spectrum of disability, and actionable insights (both big and small) to rethink "accessibility" in practical, approachable terms. From uncovering and addressing personal biases to unveiling strategies you can implement immediately. Trooien promises to equip you with a fresh perspective and tools for becoming truly "accessible" as a professional communicator.

Conference Agenda

Wednesday, April 17
4 p.m. — Registration Opens
5-7 p.m. — Welcome Reception with Happy Hour & Networking

Thursday, April 18
7:30-8:30 a.m. — Breakfast Bar & Networking
8 a.m. — NDPC Annual Business Meeting
8:30-9 a.m. — Opening Session & Welcome
9-10 a.m. — Featured Speaker, KJ Trooien: The Accessibility Imperative: Cultivating Inclusive Space, Stories, and Strategies
10-10:15 a.m. — Networking
10:15-11:15 a.m. — Bridging the Gap: Fostering Engagement through Effective Internal Communicaton
11:15-11:30 a.m. — Networking
11:30-1 p.m. — NDPC Awards Ceremony Luncheon
1-1:15 p.m. — Networking
1:15-2:15 p.m. — Small Team, Big Results: Achieving Goals with a Lean Team
2:15-2:30 p.m. — Networking
2:30-4 p.m. — Keynote Speaker, Paul Omodt: The Right Message, Method and Motivation: Communications That Inspire
4-4:30 p.m. — Wrap Up & Depart

View Full Agenda

Sponsors

Lou Richardson