Go to National Conference. That’s an Order.
The PRSSA National Conference is the closest thing the public relations industry has to a super bowl.
Featuring an all-star cast of guest speakers from the likes of Southwest Airlines, IBM and SXSW and wrapped up in one of the country’s coolest cities, this year’s Conference certainly won’t disappoint.
So, as your PRSSA 2018-2020 National Professional Adviser— whose sole mission is to make sure you develop into an outrageously successful professional — you should do everything in your power to attend.
Here’s why:
- Connections to Last a Lifetime.
I was recently at a wedding and you know what blew me away (besides the beauty of the bride and groom)? The volume of PRSSA contacts in attendance.
Two living legends, countless thought leaders and more rising stars than you could challenge to a dance-off.
The groom had built these connections at one of several attended National Conferences. These are his mentors, his colleagues and his closest friends. And these connections have made the difference in his career and life.
Attend National Conference and you might very well have a similar story.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet peers from across the country and world, not to mention professionals at every turn.
And networking isn’t as hard as you think — showing up and saying hello is half the battle.
- Attend Friday’s resume critique and have a formal face-to-face.
- Go up to a speaker after their session.
- Ask a speaker out to coffee before/after their session
- Say hello, exchange a business card, send them a thank-you email and keep in touch by asking for their opinion and guidance.
- Immediately Applicable Knowledge and Ideas
National Conference is a summit of the most current ideas from our industry. The speakers are established, knowledgeable and full of wisdom.
You’ll be exposed to ideas that will literally change the way you fundamentally think.
- Curious about media relations? There’s a session for that.
- Crisis and conflict? Covered.
- Nonprofit? Done.
- Personal branding? You bet.
If you’re a notepad kind of person, you’ll need at least a couple. If you’re a tablet kind of person, you better clear some memory.
Trust me:
- Access to PRSA’s General Session
By attending PRSSA National Conference, you get access to PRSA’s General Session at no additional cost.
It’ll be a combination of PRSSA and PRSA members basking in knowledge from two, big-time speakers. Can you picture anything more poetic?
Ok — maybe Austin’s food scene. But that’s another story.
It’s Not Too Late — Sign Up Today
It’s still not too late. Sign up today.
And if you’re struggling to find a road to Austin, try one of the following options:
- Request sponsorship from your local PRSSA Chapter
- Request sponsorship from a local agency
- Talk to your professors or department heads
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Ben Butler, APR is the PRSSA 2018-2020 National Professional Adviser and founder of Top Hat—an award-winning marketing communications firm specializing in branding, web design/development and integrated campaigns.
Top Hat is widely known for its Silver-Anvil-winning “Will Work for Beer” campaign, where the agency offered to work for one brewery entirely in exchange for beer. The effort scored Lord Hobo — the fastest growing regional craft brewery in the country — as its first beer client. It also positioned the agency as a go-to for craft beer marketing attracting the likes of Pittsburgh Brewing— one of the oldest breweries in the country.
Ben’s been named a Top Under 40 Communicator, Pittsburgh Business Times 30 Under 30, PR Entrepreneur of the Year, one of Spin Sucks 10 PR Professionals to Follow and is Accredited in Public Relations (APR)—a distinction held by less than 20-percent of all practitioners.
