Utah PRSA

February Luncheon
2026-02-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Denver) | Zions Bank Headquarters – Founders Room, 1 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT, 84133, United States
Utah PRSA • February Luncheon (Online)
When Information Moves Faster Than Facts
Preparing People for What They Don’t Want to Think About
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • Online-Only

SIGN UP NOWATTENDANCE OPTIONSMEET THE SPEAKER

When a crisis hits, information spreads instantly—often before facts are confirmed. Drawing on experience as lead
Public Information Officer during the March 18, 2020, Magna earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic, this session examines
the realities of communicating in fast-moving, high-pressure situations.
Attendees will explore the challenge of preparing people on “blue sky” days—when readiness messaging feels easy to ignore—
and why that work directly impacts how messages are received during an emergency. We’ll also share practical strategies for
managing misinformation, responding to rumors without amplifying them, and maintaining message discipline when information
is moving faster than facts.

Event Details

Date
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Format
Update: Online (Zoom)
Price
$5–$28 (varies by attendance option)

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Choose How You Attend

In-person Luncheon — Salt Lake City
Zions Bank Headquarters — Founders Room
1 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84133
Parking: City Creek Center parking garage. Proceed to the Founders Room on the 18th floor.

In-person Watch Party — St. George
Utah Tech University
225 S Univ Ave, St. George, UT 84770

Online — Zoom
Join virtually from anywhere.
Zoom link will be provided upon registration for online ticket holders.

Guest Speaker

Tina Brown
Tina Brown is the PIO/JIC Manager for Salt Lake County Emergency Management (since July 2018), responsible for the operation of the county’s Joint Information Center (JIC). Before SLCo EM, Tina served as Communications Specialist / Public Information Officer for the City of South Jordan. She previously worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Washington, DC, and has collaborated with local and national news outlets, including KUTV Channel 2 where she helped write and produce stories for “Get Gephardt.”Tina holds a Master’s Degree in Public Information and Technology from Colorado State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Utah. She is also a certified Type III Wildland Firefighter.

Ticket Options

In-person SLC (Member): $20
In-person SLC (Nonmember): $28
St. George Watch Party: $18
Student (Either Location): $12
Online (Zoom) Member: $5
Online (Zoom) Nonmember: $10

Utah PRSA Spring Conference
2026-03-27 07:30 - 17:00 | Utah Valley University (Clarke Building), 800 W University Pkwy, Orem, UT, 84058, United States
Utah PRSA • Annual Professional Development Conference
Utah PRSA Spring Conference
March 27, 2026 • Utah Valley University (Clarke Building) • Orem, Utah

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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

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

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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 Era – Lisa Kelley, Executive Business Strategist, SALES:CREATIVE, and Carlos Jasso, Creative Director, SALES:CREATIVE
From Classroom to Career: The PR Playbook for Your Final Year – Brooke 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.

Utah PRSA April Luncheon
2026-04-15 11:30 - 13:00 | Zions Bank Headquarters – Founders Room, 1 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT, 84133, United States
Utah PRSA • April Luncheon (Hybrid)
Degrees of Reputation: A Guide to Public Relations in Higher Education
A Panel Discussion with Professionals from Utah Universities
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 • Hybrid (Salt Lake City + St. George + Online)
SIGN UP NOW
ATTENDANCE OPTIONS
MEET THE PANEL

Join public relations professionals from universities across the state for a discussion about the challenges of communicating about higher education.
Topics include recent legislative changes affecting Utah universities, changing student demographics and strategies for reaching diverse audiences,
communication trends in higher education, and the future of public relations at Utah universities. The audience can ask the panel questions throughout the session.

Event Details

Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Format
Hybrid: In-person (SLC) + In-person (St. George) + Online (Zoom)
Price
$0–$28 (varies by ticket type)

SIGN UP NOW

Choose How You Attend

In-person Luncheon — Salt Lake City
Zions Bank Headquarters — Founders Room
1 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84133
Parking: City Creek Center parking garage. Proceed to the Founders Room on the 18th floor.

In-person Luncheon — St. George
Utah Tech University
225 S Univ Ave, St. George, UT 84770

Online — Zoom
Join virtually from anywhere.
Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Panel

The panel will consist of professionals from:

University of Utah
Utah State University
Brigham Young University
Weber State University
Utah Valley University
Southern Utah University
Utah Tech University

Ticket Options

In-person SLC (Member): $20
In-person SLC (Nonmember): $28
In-person St. George (Member): $18
In-person St. George (Nonmember): $28
Student (Either Location): $12
Online (Zoom) Member: $0
Online (Zoom) Nonmember: $10

Utah PRSA May Luncheon
2026-05-13 11:30 - 13:00 | Utah Tech University, 225 S Univ Ave, St. George, 84770, United States
Utah PRSA • May Luncheon (Hybrid)
When the World Flips: Who You Really Are Shows Up
How communicators build trust before it’s tested
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 • Hybrid (Salt Lake City + St. George + Online)
SIGN UP NOW
ATTENDANCE OPTIONS
MEET THE SPEAKER

When pressure hits, we like to believe we’ll rise to the occasion. In reality, we reveal what we’ve practiced.
In communications and PR, those moments show up as crisis, conflict, missed expectations, and opportunities to build
or lose trust. This presentation challenges the idea that trust is built in the moment and reframes how it’s actually
developed through small, everyday interactions long before it’s tested. Drawing from real-world experience, attendees
will learn how intentional, consistent behaviors shape credibility, strengthen relationships, and prepare them to show up
when it matters most.

Event Details

Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Format
Hybrid: In-person (SLC) + In-person (St. George) + Online (Zoom)
Price
$0–$28 (varies by ticket type)

SIGN UP NOW

Choose How You Attend

In-person Luncheon — Salt Lake City
Mountain America Credit Union
9800 S Monroe St., Sandy, UT 84070

In-person Luncheon — St. George
Utah Tech University
225 S Univ Ave, St. George, UT 84770

Online — Zoom
Join virtually from anywhere.
Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Guest Speaker

Ticket Options

In-person SLC (Member): $20
In-person SLC (Nonmember): $28
In-person St. George (Member): $18
In-person St. George (Nonmember): $28
Student (Either Location): $12
Online (Zoom) Member: $0
Online (Zoom) Nonmember: $10

Utah PRSA May Luncheon
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00
Utah PRSA • June Event (Online Only)
How to Stop the Scroll: Leveraging Social Media for Real Results
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Online Only • 12–1 PM
SIGN UP NOW
EVENT DETAILS
MEET THE SPEAKERS

In today’s fast-moving digital world, attention is everything. Join social media professionals from Utah Tech University and Southern Utah University for a conversation on how organizations can use TikTok and Instagram to create meaningful engagement, build authentic connections, and achieve real results.

Event Details

Date
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time
12–1 PM
Format
Online (Zoom)
Cost
$0–$10 (based on ticket type)

Zoom Access
Zoom link will be provided upon registration. (Link is only available after registration for the Zoom option.)

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How to Attend

Online — Zoom
Join us virtually from anywhere. Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Tip
After you register, check your confirmation email for access details (and save it for the day of the event).

Guest Speakers

Haley Webster
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement • Southern Utah University
Haley Webster is a creative strategic communicator and graphic designer. She prides herself on asking, “but… why?” so often that a simple design review can quickly become a group therapy session. At Southern Utah University, she serves as the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement, leading communications and media for the Governor’s One Utah Summit and the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, transforming large statewide events into meaningful experiences. Guided by a people-first philosophy, Haley focuses on understanding what inspires audiences and on crafting content that continues to resonate. Her work helps organizations move beyond “we should post something today” and toward media that truly connects, engages, and builds lasting relationships. When she is not crafting content strategies, Haley can be found wiping her kids’ noses or planning an aggressively themed party.

McKinley Hatch
Social Media & Digital Marketing Coordinator • Utah Tech University
McKinley Hatch is the Social Media & Digital Marketing Coordinator at Utah Tech University, where she leads strategic digital storytelling and audience engagement efforts. With experience across three higher education institutions, she specializes in social media strategy, content creation, branding, and analytics-driven growth. McKinley holds a bachelor’s degree in media studies with an emphasis in public relations from Utah Tech University and a master’s degree in professional communication from Southern Utah University. She is passionate about creating content that builds community, strengthens brands, and connects with Gen Z audiences in meaningful ways.

Ticket Options

Online (Zoom) Member: $0
Online (Zoom) Nonmember: $10
