Leadership, Network and Knowledge Series, President's Message January 20, 2020 0

January 2020 — President’s Letter: Cara Raffele

Cara Raffele, President, IABC/OC 2020
Cara Raffele, President, IABC/OC

2020: A New Decade with Renewed Influence

As we begin 2020 with renewed energy and set our sights on achieving new heights, we can all benefit from continuing education to help us advance professionally and personally. More than ever before, information is the key to achieving and maintaining influence in an ever-changing and rapidly evolving communications landscape.

In addition, it’s no longer sufficient to simply own our own areas of expertise. We also must evolve as integrated communications professionals who drive digital transformation throughout organizations, and commit to mastering a broad spectrum of disciplines, from video content to global communications and everything in between­ — whether or not we are personally responsible for execution.

As I step into the role of president this year, I’m proud to say that the IABC/OC board of directors is planning exceptional opportunities for mid- to senior-level communication professionals to learn from their peers and experts leading local and global companies. In addition to covering video as a storytelling tool earlier this month, this year our programming includes a deep dive into the science of communications, executive communications, a case study in corporate social responsibility, as well as a look at successful tactics for local through global communications, and much more.

IABC members have access to many additional resources from online learning and conferences to highly regarded industry certifications. There’s also an online community, The Hub, where members can connect and ask questions to help them find solutions to challenges small and large.

In a world of digital connection, our interpersonal relationships take on a deeper meaning and have become even more critical in our personal lives and professional success. IABC/OC provides opportunities for communications professionals to connect face-to-face and deepen meaningful bonds, and not only with those in the same discipline but also in the others in complementary fields. So reach out and learn this year!

I encourage you to attend our events and connect with the incredible pool of talented people in our industry. And if you have any questions or would like an introduction, don’t hesitate to contact me at craffele@manifest7.com.

Here’s to a year of influence!

Cara Raffele
President, IABC Orange County

 

December 2019 — President’s Letter
Events, Leadership, Network and Knowledge Series, President's Message December 8, 2019 0

December 2019 — President’s Letter

Thanks! And cheers for a new decade of IABC

Don’t look now, but here come the ‘20s. It’s shaping up to be a roaring decade for IABC Orange County.

Cara Raffele, this year’s IABC/OC president elect and ManifestSeven‘s VP of marketing, is in the wings, ready to take over as president in January. Laura Perdew, senior director of communications at the Greater Irvine Chamber, is on the ballot to be IABC/OC’s 2020 VP of communications and president-elect. And Elaine Marshall, president of Empowered Public Relations, is stepping up to lead our IndyComm program. Elaine succeeds IABC/OC legend and IndyComm founding mother Claudia Miller, who is retiring after 30 years on our board (wow!).

Cara, Laura and Elaine have been superstars in 2019, so I know they will propel us to the next level in the new year and beyond.

Before we leave the 20-teens, though, I want to say thank you to you. As I wrote back in May, you are the IABC/OC brand.

Thanks for being with us for a year of innovative events — as we broke a few eggs. We experimented with new topics, new venues, new formats, and a range of price tags to meet the changing needs, desires, and schedules of 21st-century Orange County communicators.

Highlights for me included cycling on a July afternoon with you and Don DiCostanzo, CEO and co-founder of Pedego Electric Bikes, after picking his brain in an enlightening panel discussion about marketing, branding, and publications. A month earlier, a large crowd of you turned out for IABC/OC’s first ever breakfast event, as we explored what communications professional can learn from O.C.’s emerging cannabis industry. And last month, at our annual Communications Forecast, you showed that classic lunch events are still convenient and engaging for many working professionals.

When we started 2019, I asked the board, “Why do we do this?” What makes IABC so important to us?

A big part of the answer was this: We belong to IABC for the opportunities to learn. But even more important, we’re here for the opportunities to support one another in our careers and lives.

So I’m most proud of the events that tackled that mission head-on:

  • In May, we held our Midyear Career Reboot networking event at the Center Club, and collaborated with local career-transition organizations to make sure the event was accessible to communicators in search of new jobs.
  • Then we ended the year by turning our annual holiday celebration into a party with a purpose. Thanks to all of you who attended, we raised more than $700 for the Laura’s House Spirit of Empowerment program.

So thank you to my brilliant friends on the IABC/OC board and committees! Special thanks to Claudia, for her relentless passion, creativity and dedication to our organization.

And thank you for being the heart to IABC/OC. It has been a pleasure serving as your president, and I look forward to serving next year as your senior delegate to IABC International.

Happy New Year! We’ll see you in the ‘20s.

It will be the bee’s knees, and the cat’s pajamas. And how!

John Fabris
President, IABC Orange County

Articles, Network and Knowledge Series January 14, 2016 0

January 19: The Past, Present and Future of Internal Communications

“Is the amount of communication you receive about important information in the organization appropriate?”
That was a question a recent survey asked employees. The results they received aren’t necessarily bad, but interesting because it details one of the common challenges communicators have.
What researchers discovered is that…

  • More than 90 percent of executives and senior managers indicate the level of communication they receive about important information in the organization is appropriate.
  • 78% of mid-level managers responded favorably
  • 68% of line-level employees responded favorably

They call this the “irrigation effect.” As employees get further away from the source, the supply gets weaker. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for communicators. Following along with this irrigation approach, there are three main barriers to properly “irrigating” your communication:

  1. Technological barriers
    Technology is powerful in facilitating the flow of information. However, we cannot presuppose that “if we build it, they will come.” Don’t assume that because the information exists in bits and bytes (email, social media, company intranets, policy manuals, etc.), that employees will rush to access it.
  2. Structural barriers
    The further employees are from the source, the less likely they are to receive the information. Structural barriers include such factors as complicated organizational structures and levels, geographical locations and cultures, varying job types and differing work schedules (think day shift vs night shift).
  3. Human barriers
    Many leaders are surprised to learn that they are the barriers. This is not a surprise for communicators. We assume that we’ve communicated effectively when, in reality, the information we share is sparse, insufficient, infrequent, or simply inaccurate. If managers don’t make a conscious effort to facilitate the flow of information, rather than obstruct it, vital communication is likely to dissipate before reaching those parts of the field where it is needed most.

Attend my luncheon to hear about the relationship between the irrigation effect and new technology with internal communications. We’ll also talk about specific technology that internal communicators can jump on to get ahead of the curve.
Register Now!
Chuck Gose

Chuck Gose, Vice President & SME – Corporate Communications
STRATACACHE
Follow Chuck on Twitter

Chuck Gose is a self-proclaimed Skyline Chili connoisseur and Duran Duran fan who has 15 years’ experience in marketing, corporate communication, employee communication and sales. He’s passionate about helping companies improve their tactics and strategies to make the digital workplace all it can be. At STRATACACHE, he is the company’s subject matter expert in corporate communication, using his experience to help the company and their customers be better communicators. He’s previously held internal communication roles at both General Motors and Rolls-Royce and is currently the host of ICology, an internal communications podcast.
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Articles, Network and Knowledge Series November 6, 2015 0

The Power of Video Marketing

If you’ve been thinking about incorporating video in to your online marketing or communication strategies don’t miss hearing from our November Network and Knowledge Series speaker Melissa Ladaire who will discuss the Power of Video Marketing on Tuesday, November 10.
Learn about the power of video marketing, as well as how video can be used to:

  • improve internal communications
  • lower your employee training costs
  • improve your customer service and training
  • and get your clients, customers and fans to help you create sharable content

Our speaker will help unravel the complexity of video production on a budget with advice on:

  • the types of videos you should be making
  • the key attributes each video should include
  • how to convert viewers into clients by driving them down your sales funnel
  • how to reach your target market with your videos and get views

This promises to be an entertaining, educational and interactive experience. We hope you’ll join us!
View a personal invitation from our speaker by pressing the play button on the video below.

REGISTER NOW
When
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Where
Scott’s Seafood
3300 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, California 92626-1806 USA
Get Directions
(714) 979-2400
Costs
IABC Members $40.00
NAWBO Members $40.00
Non-member Registration $50.00
Student (with proof of full-time student status) $28.00
$15 increase at the door
Our Speaker
MELISSA LADAIRE
Founder, Video Producer, Video Marketing Expert
Gain Crowd Media
Melissa Ladaire
Melissa Ladaire is the Founder of Gain Crowd Media, a video production and online video marketing company. She is a graduate of the USC Entrepreneur Program and recipient of the USC Marsha Israel, Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Her early career began in restaurant and retail. She was the founder of Pacific Coffee House, Inc. then expanded into specialty retail, first with toy trends off kiosks in malls throughout California. Later she expanded to inline temporary retail locations at high-end retail malls including The Shops at Mission Viejo and The Irvine Spectrum with her concepts Fresh Lemonade Home & Garden and Lemonade Baby. Throughout her career she has been a consultant helping entrepreneurs develop business and marketing plans and implement marketing strategies.
Melissa is a Southern California native and the devoted mother of one daughter, Olivia Ladaire. She and Olivia have a love of entertainment and the arts, and were the hosts of an online radio talk show, Live with Livvey, that encouraged shared experiences, adventures and communication among families.
Through Gain Crowd Media, Melissa now shares her passion for entertainment, marketing, small business and entrepreneurship. Using creativity in video marketing, Melissa is able to help her clients rank high on local search engines, improve their online presence and gain a crowd of followers.