Why This Conference Matters

More Content Is Not the Answer.
Better Communication Is.

Audiences are overloaded. Approval processes flatten good writing. AI makes generic content easier than ever to produce. What stands out now is communication that is clear, credible, human, useful, and worth paying attention to.

One focused afternoon devoted to the communication skills that matter now.

Brian Malone welcomes attendees and previews an afternoon focused on clearer writing, stronger storytelling, persuasive communications, AI-era PR, media relations, and more human corporate writing.

Brian Malone Founder, The Event Nexus View Biography →

Strong writing begins with knowing exactly what you are trying to say. Joel Schwartzberg shows communicators how to identify the real point and express it with greater clarity, brevity, and impact.

You'll learn how to:

• Distinguish between a topic and a true point
• Identify what the audience actually needs to know
• Simplify complex ideas and eliminate unnecessary language
• Create stronger openings and clearer calls to action

Joel Schwartzberg Workplace Communications & Presentation Coach, Author and Keynote Speaker View Biography →

12:50–12:55 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

Most communicators are handed assignments, not stories. Learn how to think like a journalist, ask better questions, uncover the people and stakes behind routine information, and turn ordinary corporate assignments into stories audiences actually want to read.

• Stop treating the assignment itself as the story
• Ask the questions a journalist would ask
• Find people, tension, stakes, and consequence
• Turn routine organizational information into stronger stories

Jim Ylisela Co-Founder and Brand Journalism Consultant, Ragan Consulting Group View Biography →

1:25–1:30 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

The press release’s role is expanding in the age of Generative AI search results. A strong release still needs to give journalists a clear, credible story. At the same time, it becomes part of the public information that search engines and AI answer engines use to understand a company, its products, its expertise and its place in the market.

In this session, Brandi AI CEO and Co-Founder Leah Nurik will share how to write press releases for people first while structuring them so important facts, proof points and attribution are easier for search and AI systems to find, understand and cite.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Structure releases around clear answers to the questions journalists, customers and other audiences are asking
• Write stronger headlines, subheads and leads for human readers and AI-driven discovery
• Use original facts, statistics, attribution, proof points and quotable language to strengthen credibility and authority
• Avoid promotional language and generic AI-generated copy that can weaken differentiation and trust
• Understand how press releases, earned media and owned content work together to influence search visibility, AI citations and how a brand is represented in AI-generated answers

Leah Nurik CEO & Co-Founder, Brandi AI View Biography →

2:00–2:05 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

AI has made polished, competent content incredibly easy to produce. But sounding good is no longer enough. Nick Leighton explores why influence increasingly depends on authority, evidence, specificity, genuine expertise, and a point of view worth paying attention to.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Build authority through evidence, specificity, and genuine expertise
• Distinguish persuasive communication from polished but generic content
• Develop a clear point of view that earns attention and trust
• Use AI to test and strengthen ideas without manufacturing authority
• Create messages and calls to action that give audiences a credible reason to respond

Nick Leighton Agency Entrepreneur, Business Strategist, Bestselling Author & Global Speaker View Biography →

2:35–2:40 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

AI can research, organize, analyze and accelerate the work surrounding the writing process. But should it actually do the writing? Drawing on more than two decades as an executive speechwriter, Brent Kerrigan explores where AI belongs in the writing process—and where human judgment, originality and authorship still matter most.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Recognize generic, formulaic and AI-generated language
• Protect organizational, executive and individual voice
• Use AI as a powerful writing assistant without surrendering authorship
• Apply human judgment to determine when—and when not—to use AI
• Use AI to identify information that requires verification without relying on AI as the final authority

Brent Kerrigan Executive Speechwriter & AI Communications Trainer View Biography →

3:10–3:15 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

Earned attention no longer comes from journalists alone. Today’s PR professionals must understand how to reach reporters, creators, influencers, and other trusted voices without relying on generic outreach or mass pitching.

• Identify the right journalists, creators, and influencers for the story
• Lead with relevance, audience value, and a clear reason to care
• Write outreach that feels personal rather than mass-produced
• Understand how credibility, reputation, and relationships affect response
• Use AI for research and personalization without making outreach generic

Brandi Boatner Global Influencer Marketing, Corporate Affairs at IBM View Biography →

3:45–3:50 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

Steve Crescenzo closes the conference with a practical look at eliminating jargon, committee writing, and lifeless corporate language while bringing clarity, personality, and humanity back into organizational communications.

You'll learn how to:

• Eliminate corporate jargon and clichés
• Write conversationally without becoming unprofessional
• Write for audiences rather than approval processes
• Bring personality and humanity back into organizational content

Steve Crescenzo Communications Consultant, Speaker, Trainer and Author View Biography →

Final takeaways, replay information, survey and certificate details, and closing remarks from Brian Malone and The Event Nexus.

Brian Malone — The Event Nexus