2nd Annual Aligning HR & Internal Communications: Full Schedule

Proven techniques to unite your workforce, move from engagement to fulfillment, spark collaboration and enhance top-down communications
Venue, Pricing, and Registration Information

8:00am

Registration | Continental Breakfast + Networking

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and breakfast as you meet your workshop leader and fellow attendees.

Tuesday October 15, 2019 8:00am - 8:15am
TBA

Networking

8:15am

Workshop A: Communicating Culture for Maximum Impact - Dewpoint Communications

Every HR and Internal Communications leader knows that strong culture plays a vital role in employee engagement, productivity, safety, innovation, work quality, recruitment and retention.

One of the keys to delivering these tangible business results is consistent, strategic internal communication.

So, how do you fully leverage culture to really drive business results?
How do you make sure that your values aren’t just posters on a conference room wall?
How do you help everyone in your organization turn values into behaviors?

Leave this workshop with a renewed understanding of how to bring your culture to life, and make it a driving force in your business’ success, including how to:

Keep your culture communications strategy clearly linked to business strategy/outcomes
Support leadership in making culture real
Develop creative ways to live and breathe your values
Measuring success – making sure ‘soft stuff’ has an ROI

Victoria Dew, Founder
Dewpoint Communications

Speakers

Victoria Dew

Founder, Dewpoint Communications

Victoria’s more than 20 years of expertise span more than a dozen industries and verticals, both in the United States and Asia-Pacific. Clients range from creative solopreneurs, to startups and small businesses, to some of the world’s largest technology companies. She is passionate... Read More →

Tuesday October 15, 2019 8:15am - 10:15am
TBA

Interactive Workshop

10:15am

Morning Refreshments & Networking Break

Stand up and stretch and grab some refreshments as we switch over to the next workshop

Tuesday October 15, 2019 10:15am - 10:30am
TBA

Networking

10:30am

Workshop B: Navigating the Human Struggle of Change - Gagen MacDonald

Virtually every organization is either undergoing or planning some type of transformation. According to CEB / Gartner, the average enterprise has undergone five major changes in the last three years – a rate leaders expect to rise. Yet statistically, roughly half of all change initiatives fail – not because of lack of planning, but because of a tendency to underestimate the human struggle of change.

Discover the three things that change everything, and how HR and communications teams can activate them to achieve meaningful business outcomes, including:

Overcoming the pervasiveness of change and resulting change fatigue
Understanding the human struggle and why it matters
Identifying the three things that change everything and activating them in your organization

Steve Astle, Senior Advisor
Gagen MacDonald

Speakers

Steve Astle

Senior Advisor, Gagen MacDonald

Tuesday October 15, 2019 10:30am - 12:30pm
TBA

Interactive Workshop

12:30pm

Lunch Break: On Your Own or with a Group

Interested in dining out with a group? Be sure to sign-up at the registration table. Want recommendations on where to a grab a quick bite and get some work done? See an ALI representative for ideas! *Everyone is financially responsible for their lunch.

Tuesday October 15, 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm
TBA

Networking

2:00pm

Workshop C: HR and Comms Can Collaborate to Create an Employee Experience Twist - Integral Communications Group

Discover and discuss what it truly means to activate, inspire and enable employees. We will share insights about the digital drivers changing the nature of relationships between employees and employers and explore how disruptions to these expectations impact the work of HR and communications teams.

In this workshop, you will complete an interactive exercise identifying how HR and Comms can collaborate to create the ultimate employee experience.

Learn how to impact the work of your HR and communications teams by:

Recognizing the digital drivers pushing us to move from an "internal communications" model to an employee engagement model
Identifying areas of opportunities to collaborate with your HR or Comms counterpart
Setting priorities for your team back at the office

Ethan McCarty, CEO and Founder
Integral Communications Group

Julia Race, Director of Strategy
Integral Communications Group

Speakers

Julia Race

Director of Strategy, Integral Communications Group

Ethan McCarty

CEO, Integral Communications Group

For twenty years Ethan has held roles — at IBM, Bloomberg and elsewhere — where the idea of the “internality vs externality” of organizational constructs and information flows have been pressured both intentionally and unintentionally. He founded Integral Communications Group... Read More →

Tuesday October 15, 2019 2:00pm - 4:00pm
TBA

Interactive Workshop

4:00pm

Close of Workshop Day + Networking Reception

It's been an information-packed first day! Workshop Day participants and speakers are invited to join us in the hotel lobby bar for continued conversation and cocktails.

Tuesday October 15, 2019 4:00pm - 5:00pm
TBA

Networking

TBA

Day 1, General Sessions

We have over 10 HR & internal communication professionals sharing their success stories & challenges today. Fill up your coffee, grab a seat, and get your notebooks ready!

Wednesday October 16, 2019 TBA
TBA

Conference Format

8:00am

Registration: Badges, Bagels, & Beverages

Sign-in, pick up your materials and enjoy a continental breakfast before we start the day.

Wednesday October 16, 2019 8:00am - 8:30am
TBA

Networking

8:30am

Bonus Breakfast Session: Listen Better, Hear More - Waggl

Our workplaces will thrive only when people respect and trust each other. This connectivity can be accomplished by listening to each other’s needs and challenges.

Discover how Waggl can help you get a pulse on what your employees are feeling, the information they crave, and ways to improve productivity.

Kim James, Head of Events
Waggl

Speakers

Kim James

Head of Events, Waggl

Waggl creates radically better employee engagement, powered by employee voice. The platform delivers real-time insight for leaders, enabling deep alignment and informed decision-making across the organization.

Wednesday October 16, 2019 8:30am - 8:45am

Interactive Session

8:45am

Chairperson's Welcome & Speed Networking

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Aligning HR & Internal Communications conference. In this fast-paced forum you'll get to know your fellow peers, their biggest HR & internal communications challenges, and a few fun facts.

Ethan McCarty, CEO and Founder
Integral Communications Group

Speakers

Ethan McCarty

CEO, Integral Communications Group

Wednesday October 16, 2019 8:45am - 9:30am
TBA

Networking

9:30am

Increasing Transparency Across HR and Communications Channels During Times of Transition to Improve Organizational Culture - San Diego Zoo Global

Beginning in April 2019, San Diego Zoo will have no giant pandas on exhibit for the first time in 25 years. The zoo has used this challenge to strengthen its internal culture while celebrating its conservation successes, enhancing teamwork, and clarifying its vision to end extinction.

Learn how to provide communication transparency with your employees throughout times of transition, including how to:

Include EVERY employee in reaching your company vision
Make your organization’s mission and vision come alive
Encourage support for communication to build culture
Maintain hope throughout the organization during difficult transitions

Becky Lynn, Director of Human Resources/ Employee Communications
San Diego Zoo Global

Speakers

Becky Lynn

Director of Human Resources/Employee Communications, San Diego Zoo Global

Becky Lynn, Director of Human Resources/Employee Communication, has had an extensive career with San Diego Zoo Global. She is passionate about communication, managing all aspects of internal communications for the 3,000-plus employee organization. She edits award-winning internal... Read More →

Wednesday October 16, 2019 9:30am - 10:05am
TBA

General Session Case-Study

10:05am

Building Engaged Employee Fans Through Communications - Microsoft Bay Area

When employees are fans, they are the company’s staunchest advocates and help carry your message to the world.

In this session, we’ll explore how Microsoft is building employee fans through a communications approach that helps employees feel empowered by their work and engaged with the organization.

Learns how Microsoft uses communications best practices to enable the ongoing creation of engaged employees, including how to:

Encourage your employees to support your message
Drive employee engagement through strong employee communications worldview

Desmond Rice, Head of Employee Communications for Microsoft Silicon Valley + San Francisco
Microsoft Bay Area

Speakers

Desmond Rice

Head of Employee Communications, Microsoft Bay Area

Desmond Rice is a senior communications manager at Microsoft. In this role he leads employee communications, culture activities, and engagement initiatives for more than 2,300 Microsoft employees in the San Francisco Bay Area. Desmond has 15 years of progressive experience across... Read More →

Wednesday October 16, 2019 10:05am - 10:40am
TBA

General Session Case-Study

10:40am

Morning Refreshments & Networking Break

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers. Be sure to stop by and visit your sponsors.

Wednesday October 16, 2019 10:40am - 11:00am
TBA

Networking

11:00am

Why Doing Good is Good for Engagement: Building Stronger Cultures Through Corporate Responsibility - McKesson Corporation

How do you build a corporate responsibility program that connects employees to your business’ mission – especially when they work in hundreds of locations around the world? The answer is to find a focus area that resonates with your employees and leaders.

Learn how McKesson built and grew its program year after year – and made a meaningful difference for the nonprofits it supports.

Discover why communications is more important than ever before to successfully execute corporate responsibility, including how to:

Connect your corporate responsibility program to your employees’ day-to-day work
Create rich experiences for employee volunteers – whether they’re in an office, a production facility, or on the road
Build and nurture a network of ambassadors and influencers
Measure success and speak the language of the C-suite

Ed Kamrin, Communications Manager for Corporate Citizenship
McKesson Corporation

Speakers

Ed Kamrin

Communications Manager for Corporate Citizenship, McKesson Corporation

Ed Kamrin is Communications Manager for Corporate Citizenship at McKesson. He leads communications for the company’s corporate responsibility, philanthropy and volunteer programs. Ed has twenty years of communications experience and has worked with companies including Amgen, SunPower... Read More →

Wednesday October 16, 2019 11:00am - 11:35am
TBA

General Session Case-Study

11:35am

Interactive Session: The Secret Sauce for Engaging Employees - Integral Communications Group

This session will unmask the frequent challenges companies face when it comes to employees and social media, the errors often made, and how you can change the script and create a successful social media program for your employees that drives engagement, employee retention and -- crucially -- recruitment!

Key takeaways you will gain from this session:

Why and how an organization would choose to mobilize its employees on social networks
Why employees would engage with social media programs at their company
What technologies, policies, and skills are needed to get an employee social media program off of the ground
How to ensure you are not putting your company at risk with a social media program

Ethan McCarty, CEO and Founder
Integral Communications Group

Speakers

Julia Race

Director of Strategy, Integral Communications Group

Wednesday October 16, 2019 11:35am - 12:10pm
TBA

Interactive Session

12:10pm

Lunch on Your Own, but Not Alone - Reservations Have Been Made!

Reservations have been made at a number of local restaurants. Don't miss this opportunity to have lunch with your peers at a local San Francisco hot spot!
**Everyone is financially responsible for their own lunch.

Wednesday October 16, 2019 12:10pm - 1:40pm
TBA

Lunch Outing

1:40pm

Engaging Employee Voice Across the Most Critical Parts of Your Organization - Waggl

Adam Tanner, Co-Founder & Head of Product

Waggl

Speakers

Adam Tanner

Co-Founder & Head of Product, Waggl

Wednesday October 16, 2019 1:40pm - 2:20pm
TBA

General Session Case-Study

2:20pm

A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way.. How to Recharge Employee Morale in the Face of Change – MidPen Housing Corporation

Speakers

Michelle Wagner

Employee Communications Manager, MidPen Housing Corporation

Michelle's career in communications spans nearly two decades. She currently manages employee communications for MidPen Housing, a Bay Area-based nonprofit affordable housing developer that dedicates a vast part of its mission to provide high-quality housing to those in need.Prior... Read More →

Wednesday October 16, 2019 2:20pm - 2:55pm
TBA

General Session Case-Study

2:55pm

Afternoon Refreshment Break

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers. Be sure to stop by and visit your sponsors.

Wednesday October 16, 2019 2:55pm - 3:10pm
TBA

Networking

3:10pm

How to Rebrand HR Through an Employee Value Proposition - The University of Notre Dame

With 6,000 employees, the HR Communications team at The University of Notre Dame faced a challenge to connect its large workforce effectively through a new messaging and positioning platform.

"Bring Out Your Champion" took more than 18 months to develop to ensure success in its projected launch in October 2019 as part of a university-wide rebranding campaign.

Discover best practices on how to launch a communications overhaul, including how to:

Convey important information to your audience
Transform data into something your audience will want to read, connect with and absorb
Engage with benefits and culture details
Learn why employees enjoy their positions to help retain and attract more talent

Anna McKeever, HR Communications Program Manager
The Unversity of Notre Dame

Speakers

Anna McKeever

HR Communications Program Manager, The University of Notre Dame

Wednesday October 16, 2019 3:10pm - 3:45pm
TBA

General Session Case-Study

3:45pm

Whiteboard to Reality: Turning Mission, Vision and Values into Business Results - Compt + Dewpoint Communications

Compt is an employee benefits SaaS startup on the fast-track to disrupting and transforming the employee experience. To do this, they knew they needed crystal clear Mission, Vision and Values statements that truly articulated their purpose, inside and out. Learn how Compt was able to clarify their vision for the company and gain clarity on the team they needed to build for growth and impact.

Discover how you can turn your mission into business results, including how to:

Articulate your Mission, Vision and Values statements
Help scale and grow your company by living and breathing your company’s values
Seek clarity on your company’s vision to streamline HR and communications

Amy Spurling, CEO and Co-Founder
Compt

Victoria Dew, SCMP, CEO,
Dewpoint Communications

Speakers

Victoria Dew

Founder, Dewpoint Communications

Amy Spurling

CEO and Co-Founder, Compt

Amy Spurling is the Co-Founder and CEO of Compt, which gives companies the ability to personalize their perks programs. Named Boston’s “CFO of the Year” by the Boston Business Journal in 2016, she is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned executive with more than 15 years... Read More →

Wednesday October 16, 2019 3:45pm - 4:20pm
TBA

General Session Case-Study

4:20pm

Communications and Culture: Panel of Experts Share Insights Into Making an Employee Experience a Success

Still have questions? Get them answered now. Dive into topics you want to hear more about and insight from an expert panel of HR pros and communicators.

Moderator:
J.D. Norton, Internal Communications Lead
Thumbtack

Panelists:
Yumi Clevenger, Communications Manager, Panelist
DPR Construction

Vanessa Shaw, CEO and Founder, Panelist
Human Side of Tech & The Workplace Lab

Michelle Wagner, Employee Communications Director, Panelist
MidPen Housing Corporation

Speakers

Vanessa Shaw

CEO, Human Side of Tech

Vanessa Shaw is the CEO of Human Side of Tech, and founder of The Workplace Lab - the first of its kind design thinking online incubator and community for HR & Talent leaders to prototype and build new people practices. She interfaces daily and supports leaders at companies like Lyft... Read More →

Michelle Wagner

Employee Communications Manager, MidPen Housing Corporation

Yumi Clevenger

Corporate Marketing and Communications Leader, DPR Construction

Yumi Clevenger works at DPR Construction -- which exists to build great things® -- DPR Construction’s company purpose. It serves as a guiding light for everything the multi-billion-dollar company does as seen through the eyes of its employees and customers. As the leader of DPR’s... Read More →

J.D. Norton

Internal Communications Lead, Thumbtack

During his more than 15 year career in employee engagement/internal communications, J.D. has touched all facets of the employee experience. This includes working as Director of Internal Communications for Fitbit, Symantec, leading employee events and rewards programs for eBay’s... Read More →

Wednesday October 16, 2019 4:20pm - 5:00pm
TBA

Interactive Session

5:00pm

Close of Day & Networking Reception

Don't stop the conversation! Join your peers and sponsors in the adjacent room for an open-bar networking reception. We'll have raffles, sign-ups for dinner, and an outside terrace so you can get some fresh air as you keep the conversation going.

Wednesday October 16, 2019 5:00pm - 6:30pm
TBA

Networking

6:30pm

Dinner With Your Peers & Take In The Sights Of San Francisco

Wednesday October 16, 2019 6:30pm - 9:00pm
TBA

Optional Outing

TBA

Day 2, General Sessions

Thursday October 17, 2019 TBA
TBA

Conference Format

8:00am

Breakfast, Bagels, & Beverages

Coffee will be hot and breakfast will be available at 8:00 a.m. Feel free to check your bags downstairs with the hotel staff or bring them to the conference meeting room and place them in the back of the room.

Thursday October 17, 2019 8:00am - 8:30am
TBA

Networking

8:30am

Day 2 Kick Off and Chairperson's Address: 10 Trends in Employee Communications and How to Capitalize on Them - Integral Communications Group

Do you ever find yourself asking or being asked...

How many employees read the latest newsletter article? Did you generate awareness about open enrollment? Has the CEO's strategy video gone viral on your intranet yet? Wait. Who cares?!

In an age of diminished institutional credibility, all organizations have a powerful, often-overlooked asset to directly influence customers, industries, and communities: their employees.

Ethan McCarty will share 10 trends on employee communications that his company, Integral Communications Group, sees emerging across industries and how HR and Comms teams can team up to capitalize on these opportunities.

Ethan McCarty, CEO and Founder
Integral Communications Group

Speakers

Ethan McCarty

CEO, Integral Communications Group

Thursday October 17, 2019 8:30am - 9:15am
TBA

General Session Case-Study

9:15am

Building Blocks of Culture: How to Know Them and Influence Them – Kaiser Permanente

You will learn how corporate cultures are formed and reinforced—and ways organizational change management can influence that culture.

Using examples taken from digital teams within a large healthcare organization that strives to retain talent and remain a leader in the industry, we’ll dive into the lessons learned and discuss how behaviors and actions are the first breath in the evolution of a culture.

Gain insights and tips about how to begin influencing your own corporate culture, including how to:

Dive into the culture at your company
Advantages and disadvantages of where you start your cultural change process
Show progress in your quest for culture change

Jennel McDonald, Senior Manager, Organizational Change Management
Kaiser Permanente

Speakers

Jennel McDonald

Senior Manager, Kaiser Permanente

Jennel McDonald is a senior manager of Organizational Change Management with the Chief Digital Office of Kaiser Permanente. In this role, she advises senior executives on strategies to achieve goals and objectives using an OCM framework, leads the digital transformation of several... Read More →

Thursday October 17, 2019 9:15am - 9:50am
TBA

General Session Case-Study

9:50am

Morning Refreshments & Networking Break

Thursday October 17, 2019 9:50am - 10:10am
TBA

Networking

10:10am

How to Align External and Internal Brand Perceptions for Cohesive Storytelling - PVH Corp.

PVH is one of the most admired fashion and lifestyle companies in the world with a portfolio of iconic brands such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. Over the years, the team has elevated the PVH brand, most recently with the launch of “The Power of PVH.” Through the launch of this narrative, PVH is telling the story of their history, business and culture, and engaging directly with associates.

The partnership between PVH’s communications staff and its HR team emerged as an essential ingredient to establishing the company’s presence on social media and, over time, developing deploying the programs, content, and technology to put PVH’s most authentic voice -- that of its people -- to work for the brand.

You will learn how to:

Mobilize your employees on social networks
Get employees to engage with social media programs at your company
Discover what technologies, policies and skills are needed to get an employee social media program off of the ground
Ensure you are not putting your company at risk with an employee social media program

Tiffin Jernstedt, Senior Vice President of Communications
PVH Corp. (Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger)

Speakers

Tiffin Jernstedt

Senior Vice President of Communications, PVH Corp. (Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger)

Tiffin Jernstedt is Senior Vice President of PVH Communications, where she is responsible for the implementation of a global communications strategy that connects associates of PVH businesses around the world.Prior to joining PVH, Jernstedt served as Senior Vice President of Global... Read More →

Thursday October 17, 2019 10:10am - 10:45am
TBA

General Session Case-Study

10:45am

Interactive Panel: Strategies to Partner HR and Comms to Achieve Effective Results - LEVI STRAUSS & CO., LAM RESEARCH

Moderator:

Ethan McCarty, CEO and Founder, Integral Communications Group

Panelists:

Richard Egure, Head of Employee Relations, Engagement, and Inclusion & Diversity, Lam Research
Natalie Ridsdale, Senior Manager Internal Communications, Levi Strauss & Co.
Jeff Stalcup, Director, Change & Communications, Levi Strauss & Co.
Chris Schwarz, Director, Global Employee Communications, Lam Research

Speakers

Natalie Ridsdale

Senior Manager, Internal Communications, Levi Strauss & Co.

Jeff Stalcup

Director, Change & Communications, Levi Strauss & Co.

Jeff Stalcup is the Director of HR Communications and Go-to-Market for Levi Strauss & Co. In this role, Jeff and his team partner with senior HR leaders to bring critical HR programs and services to the employee market – and with Corporate Communications to help bring the employee... Read More →

Chris Schwarz

Global Employee Communications, Lam Research

Chris Schwarz leads global employee communications at Lam Research, where he partners with organizations throughout the company to encourage employees to collaborate, engage, and bring their best selves to work. Through his career, he has been involved in public policy, corporate... Read More →

Richard Egure

Head of Employee Relations, Engagement, and Inclusion & Diversity, Lam Research

Ethan McCarty

CEO, Integral Communications Group

Thursday October 17, 2019 10:45am - 11:20am
TBA

Interactive Session

11:20am

Refreshment Break

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and other refreshments as you network with your peers.

Thursday October 17, 2019 11:20am - 11:30am
TBA

Networking

11:30am

Building an Internal Communications and Employee Engagement Strategy to Help a Start-up, Grow up - Blend

Preparing for a year of rapid growth from 170 employees to more than 300 employees, Blend invested in Internal Communications and Employee Experience to support the growth. By first assessing the needs of the company it was discovered that the overarching goal was to drive engagement, productivity and connection. These were areas that Blend hadn’t focused on yet, so Blend addressed them through the lenses of effective communication, educating its workforce, trust in leadership and building an engaged culture.

Learn how to enhance the employee experience during a period of rapid growth, including how to:

Create one team with the same goals (everyone who touched the employee experience was on the same team – internal comms, employee experience, facilities)
Develop and implement a CEO Engagement Strategy
Roll out a scalable monthly all-hands (instead of a weekly Engineering-focused stand-up)
Create a recognition program (top-down and peer-to-peer)
Measure employee satisfaction (through bi-weekly engagement pulse surveys)

Laney Erokan, Employee Experience Lead
Blend

Speakers

Laney Erokan

Employee Experience Lead, Blend

Laney Erokan is the Employee Experience Lead at Blend. In her role she oversees the Internal Communications, Employee Experience, and Facilities functions. She and her team provide high-level strategy and operational support across the organization, partnering with leadership to set, execute... Read More →

Thursday October 17, 2019 11:30am - 12:05pm
TBA

General Session Case-Study

12:05pm

The Secret Ingredients for Effective Leadership Communication - EllieMae

Speakers

Sara Holtz

Senior Director, Internal Communications, EllieMae

Thursday October 17, 2019 12:05pm - 12:40pm
TBA

General Session Case-Study

12:40pm

Action Plan for Returning to Your Office: Aligning HR and Internal Communication Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways

As a group share your 'golden nuggets' and what you plan to do first when you return to your office.

Speakers

Ethan McCarty

CEO, Integral Communications Group

Thursday October 17, 2019 12:40pm - 1:00pm
TBA

Interactive Session

1:00pm

Close of Conference - Thank You For Joining Us!

Thank you for joining us and making this conference a huge success! You will receive a follow-up email with a link to the Dropbox again next week. The Dropbox will contain speaker materials and a full contact list of all participants of this year's conference. We encourage you to stay in touch with one another and we look forward to having you join us again!

Thursday October 17, 2019 1:00pm - 1:05pm
TBA

Conference Format