Join IABCLA for Communications Lab, a monthly midday chat about comms topics. The next session will be on Friday, June 25 at 12 p.m. PST via Zoom, and the topic will be podcasting.

Whitley Crawford, a marketing professional and a chapter board member, hosts Comms Lab. Whitley will be joined this time by Bill Spaniel, ABC, a podcaster, writer, and public relations consultant. Bill will discuss the following: how to record a podcast, the necessary equipment and software to capture a recording, and distribution channels for your final piece.
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Click here to sign up for what will be a fascinating and informative conversation!
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(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president/president-elect, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

​“Master the Three Principles of Audience-Centric Communication” 

Would you like to learn how to design comms campaigns that’ll inspire audiences? 

Then attend “Master the Three Principles of Audience-Centric Communication” on Thursday, April 15 at 12 p.m. via Zoom. Ed Kamrin, SCMP, founder and principal consultant at Kamrin Communications, will lead the discussion. The cost is $5 for IABC members, and $10 for non-members. 

Sia Papageorgiou, FRSA, SCMP, vice-chair of the Global Communication Certification Council, will also be there to provide an overview on the value of GCCC certification.

IABC Orange County will host. This is the final event in the Communications Management Pro Series, a collaboration between five California IABC chapters – Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley – in preparation for the Communication Management Professional (CMP) and Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) exams. 

Testing will be offered as pandemic conditions allow on Saturday, June 19 in Irvine, California.

Click here to sign up for “Master the Three Principles of Audience-Centric Communication.” 

Speed Mentoring

Would you like to broaden your network of communications experts? Are you in need of comms advice, or would you like to share your insights with others? 

Then attend IABC San Francisco’s Speed Mentoring on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The event is in collaboration with IABC’s Los Angeles, Orange County, Seattle, and Silicon Valley chapters. 

The one-hour gathering will consist of three, 10-minute virtual small group sessions providing participants with three opportunities to network with comms professionals across various industries and specializations. 

The event is free for IABC members and students; non-members are asked to give a donation. 

Click here to sign up for Speed Mentoring.

Communications Lab: “Team Management & Structure”

​What makes for a high-performing team? 

Jenny Matkovich, IABCLA’s president and a marketing director, will discuss “Team Management & Structure,” when she hosts the chapter's Communications Lab on Friday,
April 30 at 12 p.m. PST via Zoom. Jenny will touch on the elements of an efficient group. 

Comms Lab, a fast-paced midday chat about communications topics, is held on the last Friday of every month. Participants share issues, insights, and perspectives on the ever-changing landscape of comms.

Click here to sign up for “Team Management & Structure.”


(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president/president-elect, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

March is IABC Member Month! Now through April 18, the organization is offering a 20 percent discount on international dues for those renewing, joining, or rejoining. 
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Membership gives you access to these resources: 
- Chapter and regional events, for face-to-face connection and continued learning on topics that span the communication profession.
- The Job Centre, to help land your next big opportunity. IABC members get exclusive access to job listings the first seven days after they’re posted.
- The Hub, to save time and more easily deliver results with at-your-fingertips access to peers and resources from around the world. In the past three months, over 500 discussions have taken place there on more than 100 communication topics.
- Monthly webinars, to help you stay informed and up-to-speed on the latest trends, with instruction from experts in the field. Monthly webinars are for IABC members only and recorded if you can’t join live.
- Online content, like case studies and research from industry thought leaders, to help you stay sharp and informed.

To learn more about IABC Member Month, click here.

The association recognizes this past year has been challenging, so if you’re in professional transition or face other issues, please reach out to the group — member_relations@iabc.com — and arrangements can be made. 
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IABC has the resources, community and connection you need to be successful, no matter the stage in your career.

(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president/president-elect, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

IABC San Francisco will host the third session in the 2021 Communication Management Pro Series – “Framework for Developing a Communications Plan” – on Thursday, March 18 at
12 p.m. PST. 

Michele Landry, CEO and owner of Tanis Communications, Inc., will lead the discussion. She’ll dive into how proper research, strategy tactics, and measurement can ensure comms success. 

The cost is $5 for IABC members and $10 for nonmembers.

The series is a collaboration between five California IABC chapters – Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley – in preparation for the Communication Management Professional (CMP) and Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) exams. Testing will be offered as pandemic conditions allow on Saturday, May 1 in Irvine, California.

To sign up, click here. 


​(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president/president-elect, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

IABC San Diego will host “Communication Strategy: Up Your Game” on Thursday, February 18 at 12 p.m. PST. Cason Lane, ABC, will discuss the anatomy of a communications strategy.

Lane, who’s spent 25 years in strategic communications, will explore what separates strategic thinkers from tactical ones and provide real world examples of what strategy looks like in action – from internal communications to marketing to corporate social responsibility.

The session is part of the 2021 Communication Management Pro Series, a collaboration between five California IABC chapters – Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley – in preparation for the Communication Management Professional (CMP) and Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) certification exams. 

Danielle Bond, SCMP – Vice Chair IABC Executive Board, will answer questions about CMP and SCMP certification following Lane's presentation. 

Testing will be offered as pandemic conditions allow on Saturday, May 1 in Irvine, California.


(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president/president-elect, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

By Deborah Hudson, ABC
IABCLA Vice President, Member Retention; Past President

We’ve seen our share of crises in 2020 – personal, medical, professional, political. So, an hour with Jim Lukaszewski, America’s Crisis Guru®, IABC fellow and co-author of 
The Decency Code, was just what the doctor ordered. ​

I came to the workshop with some experience in crisis communications working with risk management for insurance companies – tabletop exercises, scenarios, training, after action reports. But from the beginning of Jim’s presentation, I added substantially to my understanding.

What is a crisis? According to Jim, crises are “show-stopping, people-stopping, product-stopping, reputation-redefining, trust-busting situations that create victims or explosive visibility.”

Victims? 

Looking at crisis management as caring for victims opens up new insights and approaches. And new timelines. Move fast… the “golden hour” for victims is 60-120 minutes. Minutes. After that, accusations of being manipulative, secretive and inauthentic complicate relationships and the path to resolving the crisis grows longer and twistier.

Jim points out that apology and empathy are the ethical and practical approaches to a crisis. “Apologies,” he said “tend to stop bad things from starting and starting bad things to stop.” And empathy is a positive, constructive action that demonstrate decency and integrity. And, according to Jim – and who would argue with him – empathy speaks louder than words possibly can. And that is critical for communicators to keep in mind. Empathy first, then speeches and releases.

In a rich presentation and discussion, these are just two highlights. 

This is the first of four presentations in the Communication Management Pro Series – covering strategy, measurement, and audience-centric communications. Use the series to work toward your CMP or SCMP certification in 2021 (the exam will be held following the series) or simply use it to refresh or improve your communication management knowledge and practice. Find out more at iabcla.com/events.

Thank you to all who came to the 2021 Communication Management Pro Series: “Ethical and Unethical Crisis Management" on January 21. The webinar was hosted by IABCLA in partnership with the IABC San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County, and Silicon Valley chapters. 

Jim Lukaszewski, America’s Crisis Guru®, IABC Fellow and co-author of “The Decency Code," led a fascinating discussion. The content Jim shared demonstrated IABC’s Code of Ethics in practice. The session offered preparation for the CMP and SCMP® exams to be offered in Irvine in May as pandemic conditions allow. 

Victoria Dew, SCMP, IABC International Executive Board member, was also on hand. She shared her insights on the certification journey and its career-boosting value. 

IABC San Diego will host the next workshop in the series — "Communication Strategy: Up Your Game" — on February 18. Cason Lane, ABC and principal of Cason Lane Strategic Communications, will be the speaker. To sign up, click here. 

Thanks again for supporting IABC and its certification initiative. To learn more about the program, visit this page.

(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president/president-elect, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)