The 2018 PRSA Southeast District Conference promises to be three incredible days for public relations and communications professionals across the region. More than 30 speakers will be presenting on a wide range of topics.
Sarah Hattman, APR, is leading the North Carolina chapter in putting the conference together. She is also the chapter’s 2018 president.
Hattman has a passion for storytelling. From a decade in television news to creating award-winning campaigns for her clients, she is always searching for a memorable way to tell the story. As a PR expert, she provides clients guidance in all aspects of public relations, from planning and messaging to social media integration.
We asked Hattman to tell us more about what to expect from this year’s event:
The theme this year is Relevance, Influence & Communication. What does that mean? How are they connected?
Great question! When we sat down to determine this year’s theme, three words – relevance, influence and communication – kept resurfacing. We quickly realized how intertwined these words are with public relations and decided they were great focal points for the conference. Attendees at this year’s PRSA’s Southeast District Conference will learn about relevant trends in the industry and PR’s relevance to the business world, the influence that PR has on people and brands, and how PR folds into so many facets of communication.
Who are some of the highlighted speakers this year?
This is a tough one because we have a full lineup of excellent speakers! (We actually added extra sessions to accommodate all the fantastic content.) However, I have to admit I am very excited that PRSA’s 2018 National Chair Anthony D’Angelo will be presenting a pre-conference session (included in the registration cost) to discuss the future of the industry. The conference will feature other respected professionals and gifted speakers including Kipp Bodnar, CMO of HubSpot and Graham Wilson, former press secretary for N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and many others. To view the full speaker lineup and register for the conference, please visit http://prsasummit.org.
What kind of after hours fun can attendees expect?
We’re going to have a lot of fun exploring the Oak City and showing attendees what all Raleigh has to offer!
On Wednesday evening, we’re heading downtown to The Raleigh Beer Garden for drinks, small bites and networking. The Raleigh Beer Garden has a world-record-breaking 366 individual taps, with almost half of those coming from N.C. After the event, we encourage attendees to explore Raleigh’s Glenwood South or Downtown neighborhoods for dinner and drinks.
Then on Thursday evening, North Hills’ Midtown Events will host attendees at the opening night of their Beach Music Series featuring the Embers. Enjoy music, drinks, and light fare as you mingle with other PRSA attendees. After the concert, attendees will want to explore North Hills for dinner, drinks and maybe even some shopping!
What’s Raleigh like? Any places we should see or photograph.
Raleigh is full of friendly people and hidden (and not so hidden) treasures. For photo ops and iconic vistas, my top spots are:
- Looking north down Fayetteville street in Downtown Raleigh to the Capitol
- Boylan Bridge offers a great view of the Raleigh skyline
- The globe at the NC Museum of Natural Science
- Horseshoes in the field at the NC Museum of Art
There’s also plenty to do! I’d love to help you figure out all the best spots for you whether your interested in shopping, eating and drinking, museums, or enjoying the fresh air under Carolina blue skies – Go Tarheels!
Final pitch. Go!
This truly is a conference that anyone in the field of communications will benefit from attending. We have the trifecta: learning, extracurricular activities and networking! We look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks!
The PRSA Southeast District Conference takes place April 18-20, 2018, in Raleigh, N.C. For more information or to register, visit prsasummit.org.