Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

Utah PRSA Spring Conference

March 27 @ 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
$50.00 – $175.00
Utah PRSA Spring Conference

Utah PRSA • Annual Professional Development Conference

Utah PRSA Spring Conference

March 27, 2026 • Utah Valley University (Clarke Building) • Orem, Utah

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from experts in public relations, communications, and marketing.
This must-attend annual conference offers unmatched networking and professional development—from inspiring keynotes
to informative breakout sessions.

Event Details

When
March 27, 2026
Check-in begins 7:30 a.m.
Program starts 8:30 a.m.
Concludes 5:00 p.m.
Where
Utah Valley University — Clarke Building

800 W University Pkwy, Orem, UT 84058

UVU Clarke Building
Cost
  • $125 — PRSA Members & Utah PIO Association Members
  • $175 — Non-PRSA Members
  • $50 — Students
Includes
Lunch, Three Keynotes, One Media Panel, Nine Breakout Sessions, and Networking Breaks

Schedule at a Glance

Time Session
7:30 a.m. Registration Opens
8:15 a.m. Welcome and opening announcements
8:30 a.m. How to Identify and Land Nontraditional Media Placements – Michael Smart, CEO, MichaelSMARTPR
9:30 a.m. Networking Break
9:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions – 1

  • How to Teach ChatGPT Your Brand Voice to Produce A+ Communications – Emmy Bell, Director of Marketing & Communications, UVU Woodbury School of Business
  • Crisis is Inevitable—Trust is Not: Lessons from a Flagship University – Chris Nelson, Chief University Relations Officer, University of Utah
  • Lead Like a Person: Transforming Top Performers into Trusted Leaders – Mark Carpenter, Speaker, Author, and Master Storyteller
10:35 a.m. Networking Break
10:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions – 2

  • The Missing Link in Crisis Readiness: Preparing Crisis Spokespeople – Chris Thomas, Owner, Intrepid Agency
  • Prompt Responsibly: Using AI Without Losing Trust, Voice, or Your Job – Brock Damjanovich, Communications Manager, Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development
  • We Tried the Mr. Beast Method of Content Creation and Here’s What Happened – Wendy Coleman, APR, Director of PR & Content, Penna Powers and Abby Shemwell, Content Strategist, Penna Powers
11:35 a.m. Networking Break
12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:20 p.m. Everything Old is New Again: The Real Connection Challenge for Communications – Alan Samuel Cohen, Executive & Communications Coach, ASC Coaching & Speaking
1:20 p.m. Networking Break
1:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions – 3

  • Ouch! Media Mistakes Laid Bare – Rachael Van Cleave, APR, Communications Manager/PIO, City of South Jordan
  • Authentic Storytelling & Strategic Brand Narrative in the AI EraLisa Kelley, Executive Business Strategist, SALES:CREATIVE, and Carlos Jasso, Creative Director, SALES:CREATIVE
  • From Classroom to Career: The PR Playbook for Your Final YearBrooke Heath, MA, APR, Director of Public Relations, Southern Utah University, PRSA President; McKinley Hatch, Social  Media & Digital Marketing Coordinator, Utah Tech University; Natalie Grecu, PhD, Associate Professor & UVU Faculty Ombuds, Utah Valley University; Ellie Widdison, Public Relations Student at Utah Valley University
2:35 p.m. Networking Break
2:45 p.m. Media Panel – Moderated by Scott Trotter, APR
3:35 p.m. Networking Break
3:45 p.m. Closing Announcements
4:00 p.m. Mastering Narrative Strategy in the Age of Answer Engines – Lydia Dishman, SVP of Content Strategy, Method Communications
5:00 p.m. Conclude
6:00 p.m. Dine Around (optional add-on networking dinner)

Full agenda and speaker lineup will be announced mid-February.

Plan Your Visit

Parking
On-campus parking is available through the Passport app for $10/day.
Alternatively, a $5/day pass can be purchased online in advance for yellow permit parking areas.
Refer to the UVU campus map for the Clarke Building (CB) and nearby lots.
Hotel
Discounted rates are available at Hampton Inn & Suites Orem.
Use corporate ID #2692474 when booking.
Address: 851 W 1250 S, Orem, UT 84058.
Dine-Around
Following the conference, we encourage everyone to connect with their colleagues over dinner. There’s no organized dine-around, but grab a colleague or two and talk about what you learned over dinner.

Thank You to Our Sponsors


Interested in sponsoring?
Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Sponsors help make this conference possible—supporting professional development, meaningful connections, and
high-quality programming for communicators across Utah.

Details

  • Date: March 27
  • Time:
    7:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Cost: $50.00 – $175.00

Venue

Tickets

The numbers below include tickets for this event already in your cart. Clicking "Get Tickets" will allow you to edit any existing attendee information as well as change ticket quantities.
Tickets are no longer available