The Business Communicators Summit, the Midwest’s best all-day event for professional communicators, is held annually by KC/IABC. This year’s event, on Feb. 2, has concluded. Watch the highlights video below and read the agenda to see what you missed. We’re already planning our 2013 event.

Details from our 2012 event

KC/IABC is one of the only IABC chapters nationwide to offer a major local conference. Now in its eighth year, BCS is the largest annual professional gathering for communicators in the Midwest.

KC/IABC hosted its 2012 BCS on Thursday, February 2 at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kan., in the newly constructed BEST Building.

Former chapter president Megan Neher was interviewed at the event. Watch the video here:

 

Our three keynote speakers for 2012 were:

Ann Handley MarketingProfs.com
Ann Handley of MarketingProfs, and co-author of the best-selling book, “Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business,” will open the program with “From Boring to Story: How to Make Your Content Rule.” Relying on her love of writing and j-school roots, Ann will share how the principles in Content Rules will help communicators excel in this rich and storied social world, and not fall into the traps that relegate content to the din of mediocrity.

Ann is a 12-year veteran of creating and managing digital content. As Chief Content Officer, she writes for MarketingProfs as well as its blog, the MarketingProfs Daily Fix, a blog in the top 20 of the Advertising Age Power150. Ann can also be found at The Huffington Post, American Express OPEN Forum, her personal blog Annarchy and Twitter @marketingprofs. She writes a monthly column for Entrepreneur magazine.

Lisa Qualls, CEO, Fresh ID
Lisa Qualls, vice president, interactive strategy at Summit Marketing, is up after lunch to share real-world examples of how businesses are winning and retaining customers across a variety of social channels. She’ll review the importance of a strategic approach and also cover proven tactics and tools for implementing and managing social programs in “From Concept to Outcomes: Effectives Strategies, Tactics and Tools for Social Media Success.”

 

 

Panel of experts
KC/IABC BCS ends with a fast-paced, don’t-head-for-the-parking-lot-just-yet session featuring digital tech expert Simon Kuo, PhD, media consultant Mary Padilla and entrepreneurial executive Jeff Xouris. Moderated by KC/IABC’s president Melanie Deardorff, our panel speakers will cover a wide range of topics – the state of business communications today; new technology opportunities; how to take your career to the next level; and innovative ideas to inspire long after you leave the session.

In addition to our three keynotes, BCS offers breakout sessions throughout the day. These sessions cover a variety of current topics for communication professionals, including communications strategy, message development, social media, grammar and writing, as well as internal, mobile and crisis communications. BCS also includes free breakfast and lunch.