Free virtual event
Welcome to the Wild West
days
hours
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Supporting partners
About this event
Communicators have long been the underdogs at organizations, but they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve.
With innovative strategies, adaptability, and savvy use of emerging tech, internal communicators have set a new standard in an ever-evolving landscape. Leadership is paying attention. Budgets are growing. Now, all eyes are on them to make the next big moves.
Join us at CommConnect, where industry leaders share their unfiltered opinions on winning at internal comms.
What you’ll learn:
Practical tips for building incredible employee experiences
Storytelling to drive vision and motivate your team
Transparent leadership’s impact on trust and long-term planning
How AI can personalize team engagement
Fun ways to gamify your hybrid workspace
Get to know our experts
25+ years of leading the way in workplace culture, engagement, and AI.
Amanda Todd
Sr. Director of Communications
Expel
With over 8 years of expertise in communication and employee engagement, Amanda shines in efficiency. From working in PR for high-tech startups to launching a global intranet at car2go, she’s done it all, including shaped cybersecurity culture during the remote work shift.
Pinaki Kathiari
CEO
Local Wisdom
With 20 years of experience with global Fortune companies and startups, Pinaki boosts brand reputation, sales, and productivity. He also serves as VP of Professional Development for IABC New York Tristate and co-hosts the podcast “Why Does It Feel So Wrong To Be Human At Work?”
Ann Melinger
CEO
Brilliant Ink
For 25 years, Ann has helped organizations boost employee engagement to strengthen their business. She currently leads a fearless team in enhancing workplace experience across the entire employee lifecycle, from hiring to ongoing communication and development.
Sara Forner Howland
Head of Strategy
Brilliant Ink
With nearly a decade as a driving force at Brilliant Ink, Sara has been the forefront of transforming how companies communicate, collaborate, and connect with their most valuable asset: their people. From startups to global enterprises, she excels at pinpointing client needs and delivering results.
Preston Lewis
CEO
Intactic and TechVerified
With over 20 years of expertise in employee experience design, internal communications, and the modern digital workplace, Preston is a highly sought-after expert. He leads strategies for more than 125 of the world’s most reputable companies, including Intel, Starbucks, CHANEL, and Stanford Medicine.
Advita Patel
CEO & Communications and
Inclusion Strategist
Comms Rebel
Advita is the founder of CommsRebel, where she helps organizations build inclusive cultures through effective communication, ensuring every colleague feels they belong and can thrive. With over 20 years of experience under her belt, she shows leaders how communication transforms workplace culture.
Priya Bates
President and Owner
Inner Strength Communication
Priya is an award-winning communicator, who helps organizations drive performance through strategic internal communication, engagement, and transformational change. Her expertise spans multiple sectors, including technology, retail, healthcare, and finance.
Rebecca Bultsma
AI Literacy Consultant & Educator
Rebecca Bultsma Consulting
Rebecca is an AI trainer, thought leader, and consultant with over 15 years of experience in strategic communications and public relations, espeically in K12 education. As an executive board member of the Canadian Association of Communications in Education and Director of Communications for Westwind School Division in Alberta, she’s a highly-sought-after expert in AI and ethical communication.
Chris Lee
VP, Employee Experience &
Internal Communication
Gallagher and IABC Toronto
With more than 25 years in marketing, brand, and communications, Chris is all about creating standout employee experiences. His approach blends strategic thinking, head-turning creativity, and a deep commitment to valuing employees—all to deliver memorable experiences.
Kristin Hancock
VP, Community & Engagement
Icology
Just a small-town girl living in a fabulous world, Kristin is always on the lookout for those magical moments in employee experience. With 15 years in corporate communications, she brings a unique perspective on work, life, and how human connection improves both.
Shauna Fields
Senior Manager of Internal Communications
GoDaddy
With over 20 years in communications and marketing, Shauna has supported teams from 10 to 10,000 employees. She’s passionate about understanding the employee experience and building scalable, sustainable communication processes.
Isabella Moore
Corporate & Internal Communications
ResultsCX
Isabella is a communicator with 7+ years of experience across industries in Brazil and the U.S. She’s a people person who loves aligning internal communication strategies with business goals to boost employee satisfaction.
Ed McClendon
Director of Internal Communications
Early Warning
Ed leads internal comms at Early Warning Services, the team behind Zelle® and Paze℠. With 14+ years in the game, he’s all about crafting strategies that connect employees and drive business goals. Ed’s social media background with Fortune 500 clients adds a fun, engaging twist to his work today.
An agenda like no other
12:00–12:15 PM
Welcome
Scott Pielsticker, CEO of ContactMonkey
Join Scott and our host as we kick off CommConnect with a warm introduction to today’s topics and ways to win exciting cash prizes and swag throughout the day.
12:15–12:55 PM
Keynote: Give the People What They Want! Crafting Personalized Communications in the Age of AI
Ann Melinger, CEO at Brilliant Ink
Sara Forner Howland, Head of Strategy at Brilliant Ink
Discover how to overcome the challenge of engaging a diverse workforce by crafting personas you’ll actually use and how to use AI to scale communications.
1:00–1:35 PM
Debate: AI Vs. Human Touch: Who Will Own the Future of Communications?
Rebecca Bultsma, AI Literacy Consultant & Educator at Rebecca Bultsma Consulting
Chris Lee, VP, Employee Experience & Internal Communication at Gallagher and IABC Toronto
Explore the impact of AI on communication roles, addressing concerns about job security, ethical transparency, governance, and the quality of AI-driven content.
1:40–2:15 PM
Fireside Chat: If They Don’t Trust You, They Won’t Hear You
Advita Patel, CEO and Communications and Inclusion Strategist at CommsRebel
Priya Bates, President and Owner of Inner Strength Communication
Master leadership communication by discovering the essential strategies for building trust, simplifying complex ideas, and tailoring your message to enhance influence as a leader.
2:15–2:40 PM
Ask Me Anything: Activating a Human-Centric Employee Experience
Preston Lewis, Founder & CEO of Intactic and TechVerified
Explore how to reframe communication strategies, modernize systems and processes, and evolve channels and technology to keep the human touch in a tech-driven workplace.
2:40–3:00 PM
Networking
3:00–3:40 PM
Case Study: The Ultimate Strategy Guide for Your Internal Communications Team
Pinaki Kathiari, CEO of Local Wisdom
Amanda Todd, Sr. Director of Internal Communications at Expel
Explore an updated framework based on the team maturity model to gain actionable insights to articulate business impact and drive leadership buy-in.
3:40–4:00 PM
ContactMonkey Demo
Katie Rezek, Account Executive, ContactMonkey
A run-through of ContactMonkey’s internal email platform and how it helps organizations create measurable impact and boost employee engagement.
4:05–4:55 PM
Panel Discussion: AI x Internal Communications: How IC Pros Are Using AI In Their Organizations
Kristin Hancock, VP of Community & Engagement, Icology
Join the conversation on how AI—as scary and cool as it can be—enhances meaningful engagement, streamlines workflows, and improves communicators’ content accuracy.
4:55–5:00 PM
Conclusion
Announce the winners of our cash prizes and swag.
@ 2024 ContactMonkey Inc.