Crafting a Culture of Ownership

Business culture can be described simply as “The way things get done.” Every business has a culture; it’s essential for organizational success. It’s perhaps more tangible, prevalent and impacting on the bottom line than any person or documented policy. Unfortunately, though, few businesses set out to create their cultures intentionally. So how do you transform your work environment in a way that catapults productivity and efficiency?

Join us March 26 as Greg Hawks will help you discover how to deliberately design a culture that produces growth. In this session, he will help you understand the five elements that communicate caring to every employee; discover the four foundational pillars that foster engagement and productivity; and, realize the three benefits from having an intentionally crafted business culture.

REGISTER TODAY!

All about Greg

Greg Hawks is the lead agent for Hawks Agency in Oklahoma City. With a leadership portfolio spanning both nonprofit and for-profit worlds, he has spent his life investing in people. Through Hawks Agency, he challenges and empowers leaders, teams and organizations to reach for greatness. His history is broadly dynamic. Speaking on platforms around the nation, creating mentoring networks, leading small and large teams, real estate investing, running summer camps, hosting leadership events and producing city-wide projects have equipped Greg to be uniquely qualified to serve you, your people and your business.

When
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 11:30 AM  – 1:00 PM

Where
The Summit Club – Bank of America Building
Governor’s Suite – 30th Floor, 15 W 6th Street, Parking ticket validated, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Fees
IABC/Tulsa Meeting (Member Fee) $25.00
IABC/Tulsa Meeting (Non-Member/Guest Fee) $35.00

RSVP
Monday, March 24, 2014

REGISTER TODAY

Wed., Feb. 19, 2014 11:30 AM  – 1 PM
The Summit Club – Bank of America Building
Governor’s Suite – 30th Floor, 15 W 6th Street, Parking ticket validated
IABC/Tulsa Meeting (Member Fee) $25.00
IABC/Tulsa Meeting (Non-Member/Guest Fee) $35.00

RSVP    Monday, February 17, 2014

Do you work for a publicly traded company? Are you responsible for communicating financial information to investors or employees? Do you have investments in stocks and bonds or just want to learn more about the financial markets?

If so, then this meeting is for you!

Andrew Ziola, vice president of investor relations and public affairs at ONE Gas, Inc., (NYSE: OGS) will provide a unique perspective on the roles of investor relations and business communications and how the two functions can work together to add value to your business.

Andrew is a “numbers guy” by degree, but has transitioned into a senior-level communications role at ONE Gas, which recently spun-off from ONEOK, Inc. Andrew has mastered the art of effectively communicating complicated financial subjects.

What you’ll learn:

• An insider’s perspective on how communications and investor relations teams can work together to market a business and reach key audiences.
• Messaging strategies for financially-focused information and how to make it accessible and understandable to the average reader or investor.
• “Must-know” financial terms – for communicators AND every-day investors.
• Basics about the stock market what contributes to a stock’s price.

Andrew will also share insight into the process of spinning off a new, publicly traded company and how his team juggled all aspects of communications prior to, during and after the spin.

About Andrew:

Andrew is vice president of investor relations and public affairs of ONE Gas. He is responsible for the company’s investor relations, communications and community investments functions. Prior to ONE Gas becoming a standalone publicly traded company separated from ONEOK, Inc., he served in a similar role as vice president of investor relations and communications of ONEOK and ONEOK Partners.

He joined ONEOK in 2004 as the manager of financial planning and analysis and also served as the manager of investor relations. He began his career in the energy industry in 2003 as a financial planning specialist of Northern Border Partners, L.P. headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. He is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and on the board of directors of the institute’s virtual chapter. He also is a member of IABC/Tulsa and the Tulsa Press Club. A native of California, Andrew earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance in 1991 from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and a Masters of Business Administration degree in 2007 from Creighton University in Omaha.

REGISTER TODAY!

When our jobs challenge us to be creative on demand, we must develop novel, useful ideas that will keep our organizations competitive. For anyone who struggles with creativity, or who makes excuses for delaying the work of innovation, David Burkus will help you overcome your obstacles to finding new ideas with his presentation, The Myths of Creativity.

Based on the latest research into how creative individuals and firms succeed, David will highlight the mistaken ideas that hold us back and show how anyone can embrace a practical, grounded approach to finding the best new ideas. He’ll answer questions such as, “What causes us to be creative in one moment and void in the next?” and he’ll debunk several common myths about creativity.

All about David

David Burkus is assistant professor of management at the College of Business at Oral Roberts University, where he teaches courses on creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and organizational behavior. He is the founder and host of LDRLB(pronounced “leader lab”), a podcast that shares insights from research on leadership, innovation and strategy.

His work on leadership, creativity and innovation has been published in numerous scholarly journals and practitioner publications. He also is a contributing writer for 99U, Creativity Post and the Harvard Business Review blog. As a presenter, he has spoken on leadership and innovation to a diverse set of audiences, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies to the U.S. Naval Academy.

David is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Oklahoma. He also holds a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Regent University.

When:       Wed., Jan. 15, 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where:     The Summit Club
15 W. Sixth Street, 31st floor, Renaissance Room
Bank of America Building (parking garage entrance located on Boulder Avenue)

Fee:           Event Registration
IABC/Tulsa Meeting (Member Fee) $25
IABC/Tulsa Meeting (Non-Member/Guest Fee) $35

RSVP:        Monday, Jan. 13, 2014

The 2013 IABC International Chapter of the Year is thrilled to offer a full-day workshop with Ann Wylie of Wylie Communications Inc.

If writing is an important part of your job and you’ve never had the opportunity to participate in an Ann Wylie workshop or seminar; you’re in for a treat! And if you’re already familiar with Ann, you’re probably checking your calendar and looking for the registration link.

Ann has worked with clients around the globe and is consistently recognized as a top-rated speaker at IABC and PRSA conferences and meetings from coast to coast. Join us as she brings her “Catch Your Reader” full-day workshop to Tulsa.

Expect to leave this event inspired and motivated – ready to return to the office with fresh ideas and new tools that help you:

• Think like a reader and move your audience to act
• Go beyond the inverted pyramid and master the feature-style story structure
• Cut through the clutter and make every piece you write easier to read and understand
• Rev up your readership and lift your ideas off the page or screen with display copy

This may be the most valuable professional development opportunity you’ve had this year – or may even have next year. And IABC Tulsa is offering this workshop to members and non-members alike.

Members: $59 | Non-Members: $99 | Student Discount: $55

The registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and parking in the Bank of America building’s parking garage (enter from Boulder Ave.).

RSVP by: Monday, November 18, 2013

Wed., Sept. 18, 2013 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
OSU-Tulsa
700 N. Greenwood, North Hall

Register Today!

In today’s fast-moving, media culture, a tweet can become newsworthy and a news interview can become tweet-worthy. This half-day conference will give you strategies and tools to best communicate during good times and crisis times, improve media training for your organization, plus let you hear from local communications pros on a variety of interesting and important topics.

Featuring Brad Phillips, author of “The Media Training Bible” and “Mr. Media Training” blog

Skill-building sessions:
•    Message management
•    Crisis communications
•    Social media strategies
•    Employee communications
•    Brain Drain: Speed brainstorm with some of the sharpest local PR and communications minds

Expert Panel:
When the Spotlight Burns: Managing internal and external perceptions during a crisis

Registration info: Early-bird rate by Sept. 13: Members $69 | Non-members $79 | Students $19

After Sept. 13: Members $79 | Non-members $89 | Students $29

Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Phillip Harris by email or phone at 918-573-1593.

Register Today!

What’s Your Thing? 
Search “personal brand” online and see what comes up in your results. It’s a popular catch phrase currently. There’s plenty of information available about developing your personal brand, growing it and protecting it.

But, what really is your personal brand? There are the skills and experience you bring to a role. There are also personal qualities and traits only you possess that make you more desirable and marketable. And, in the age of social media, it’s critically important to build and protect a great reputation among peers, employers and clients.

Come join us on July 17 as we learn from 2013-2014 IABC Chair Robin McCasland about how to fully recognize and maximize the intangible qualities that enhance our reputation and make us more valuable and marketable communication professionals. You’ll also learn why it’s worthwhile to go “ego surfing” online to ensure your reputation is solid.

All about Robin
Robin McCasland is the 2013-2014 Chair of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). She is an accomplished communication professional, recognized among her clients and colleagues for creative approaches to internal communication, specializing in employee engagement strategies and internal branding. Robin is serving currently as the Employee Engagement and Internal Communication Leader for the Services division of Dell, Inc., in the Dallas area. Before joining Dell, she owned her own communication consulting practice. Previously, Robin was a director in the communication practice of Buck Consultants, a Xerox Company. Earlier in her career, Robin spent several years in internal communication, marketing and public relations roles with Texas Instruments and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Robin is a past chair of the IABC Research Foundation and has also served on the IABC Southern Region board. She has been president of the Dallas and Fort Worth IABC chapters and was honored as an IABC Dallas Communicator of the Year. She has received an IABC Gold Quill, Silver Quill and several Bronze Quill awards over the past two decades. She has earned several Communicator Awards for her work on clients’ recruiting and benefits communication projects. Robin is a Leadership Texas alumnus, and received her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America.

Dear IABC Tulsa members,

As the reigning International Chapter of the Year and three-time Small Chapter of the Year winner, there are so many things going really well for our Tulsa chapter. However, one thing our members and guests consistently ask us to consider changing is the location for our monthly meetings. Well, ask and you shall receive!

After many years, lots of research and several “test drives,” the board of directors is excited to announce that we are moving to The Summit Club for the majority of our meetings for the remainder of 2013. If you were able to attend the meeting last month at The Summit Club, then you were a part of a group providing us with rave reviews. From the room to the acoustics to the food (oh, the glorious food!), you had hardly any comments to share that weren’t positive.

We believe switching to this new location is the right thing for our growing chapter that is attracting top-notch speakers from around the country. In order to make this change, we have to raise the prices of our monthly luncheons. Beginning in June, the cost for a member will be $25, with a $35 charge for non-members. This fee covers the professional development and networking sessions offered at each meeting, along with a gourmet-quality lunch.

Despite the slight increase, our monthly meeting prices remain very competitive with other professional organizations, and at the low end of pricing compared to other IABC chapters around the globe. We’re excited this change allows us meet the demands of our customers – you! – and offer a more sophisticated locale for our meetings.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at iabctulsa@gmail.com. Thanks as always for your support of our chapter.

Sincerely,

Shannon Frederick, ABC
President, IABC Tulsa

By Shannon Frederick, ABC, IABC/Tulsa President

IABC/Tulsa’s Membership Co-Chair, Summer Austin, called a few weeks ago with some good news: our local chapter has reached a milestone with a roster that currently boasts 75 members.

Let me put that into perspective for you. Assuming we retain all of our current members and we add one more person, we’ll no longer qualify as a small chapter; we’ll be a medium-sized chapter.

This is great news, yes, and it forced me to do some deep thinking. In order for our chapter to add that one more golden member, we’re going to have to get out and recruit. What would make someone join IABC? Why did I join 13 years ago? Why do I stay a member? Here’s what I came up with:

• Networking – Expanding my social network, as well as fostering the strong relationships I’ve already built, is the No. 1 reason that I joined IABC and choose to keep my membership current. There’s always someone in the IABC family who can offer advice on a work situation, job search, chapter business or just about life in general. It’s nice to know so many people who share my passion for this industry!
• Accreditation – This won’t apply to all members (though I wish that it did), but those of us who have earned the distinction of Accredited Business Communicators must retain our membership. It’s simply part of the deal with nearly any professional organization that offers accreditation. No complaints here, though. Being an ABC has opened my eyes to a whole new crop of talented professionals within the profession – and you’ve already heard how much I like networking.
• Professional development – When you’re at your desk all day, it’s hard to stay current on trends in the industry and find time to learn new skills. IABC/Tulsa offers some of the best professional development opportunities in the world. It’s true – remember we received an award for our PD efforts. And let’s not forget the conferences, distance learning opportunities and published materials that IABC affords to its members.
• Mentoring – When I was first getting my toes wet as a professional communicator, it was through involvement in IABC that allowed me to build relationships with some amazing mentors. These seasoned professionals helped me to build my skills for work; fostered my passion for IABC and encouraged me to take on leadership roles at the chapter level; and one very important mentor (you know who you are) pushed me to prepare for the ABC exam. Wouldn’t you like someone to take an interest in your career and help you to be the best you can be?!

Do these thoughts resonate for you? If they don’t, and even if they do, please visit our Facebook page and tell us why you choose to be a member of IABC.

Then let’s all get to work recruiting member No. 76 and pushing our Small Chapter of the Year* to medium-sized!

*P.S. We were also the 2013 International Chapter of the Year…just in case you haven’t heard.

Join the online community for IABC’s biggest event of the year. Connect with fellow attenders and speakers, upload photos, post and comment on blogs and discussions, and stay updated on conference news. Get a preview of great content from articles and discussions with featured speakers.

Visit wc-connections.iabc.com to enter the conversation.

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