February Program and Luncheon

Join us for our February 2nd Program & Luncheon

Topic: Part 2: Corporate Marketing Integration: Merging Traditional and Digital Media

Speakers: Jesson Zafar and Sara Lowery Anderson

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 for members and full-time students; $30 for non-members.

Location: H&A Architects & Engineers, 4800 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060

Register Here

Description: Corporate Marketing Integration: Merging Traditional and Digital Media
In our evolving "digital world" - companies and organizations are faced with how to integrate traditional marketing methods with the many new digital media resources that continue to appear on the web.

During our February luncheon, come for an expanded follow up on last month's program on Search Engine Optimization and Social Media marketing and learn how your firm or organization can make the most of this new digital marketing technology.

About Our Speakers:

Jesson Zafar
Jesson has over seven years of marketing experience with a focus on new media and digital technology. He previously worked for several companies in the architecture, engineering and construction industries in marketing and business development roles. Currently, he serves as the SEO Specialist for Southern States Cooperative, Inc., a billion dollar company with over 900 retail locations in the United States. His responsibilities include managing corporate strategy and production for all Search Engine Marketing & Online Advertising.

In addition, he is the Owner & Creative Director of The Orange Marketing Group, a marketing consulting company for small to mid-sized businesses. Jesson has a BA in Business Communication from James Madison University.

Sara Lowery Anderson
So the story goes, Sara has been comfortable talking to and in front of strangers since she was a chatty and curious child. Perhaps this explains her passion for communication in any and all forms. In her roles as a marketing professional, Sara has coordinated initiatives for the production of marketing collateral and proposals, strategic teaming communication, business development, market research, and more. A social media advocate, Sara enjoys driving the initiatives for a substantial social media marketing strategy for forward-thinking firms and organizations.

Sara is the acting Online Community Coordinator for Southern States Cooperative and enjoys managing the corporate Social Media Initiatives and helping to drive the related marketing strategies that push Southern States’ positive messages out to their current and potential customers. She holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing with a concentration in Business to Consumer and a Minor in Conflict Analysis and Mediation Studies from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Mark Your Calendars/Save the Date - March Program and Luncheon

Mark your calendars for our additional programs on March 1, April 5, May 3 and June 7. Read more about our March 1 program below.

Topic: Lessons Learned from Communicating in a Crisis: Staying Calm when the Earth Shakes Your Workplace Apart

Speaker: Dr. Deborah Pettit, Superintendent of Louisa County Public Schools

Date: Thursday, March 1, 2012

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 for members and full-time students; $30 for non-members.

Location: H&A Architects & Engineers, 4800 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060

Register: Click here to register now

Dr. Deborah Pettit Superintendent of Louisa County Public Schools, will share some of the challenges she faced after the 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the little town of Louisa and made two schools completely unusable. As the central spokesperson for the crisis, she had to provide ongoing information on a timely basis to a wide variety of audiences.

Dr. Pettit will give tips about how to handle crisis communications and how to deal with local and national news as well as other media sources.

We’ll learn:
• If she followed a crisis communication plan or whether she had to wing it
• Her support system for getting information
• Her role in helping the county come together quickly to resolve a bad situation

About Dr. Pettit
Throughout her educational career, Dr. Pettit has served as a teacher, reading specialist, principal, central office administrator, and now the Division Superintendent for the past five years. She received a Master’s Degree in Reading and a Doctorate in Instruction from The University of Virginia and has served as an adjunct professor for UVA as well.

It is Dr. Pettit’s goal as Superintendent to support teachers and staff as they provide a world class education for our students. In efforts to maintain a close relationship with the school’s staff members, Dr. Pettit personally makes a weekly visit to each school, takes pictures of students and teachers at work, and then sends a letter by email about those visits. She also shares these experiences with her local community by posting the same information, along with a slide show, on the school division website. In addition, it is Dr. Pettit’s joy to attend as many school events as possible, so that she can get to know the families whom the local school system serves.

One of Dr. Pettit’s greatest pleasures in life is spending time with her grandchildren – Moriah, age 9 and Mack, age 4.

January Program and Luncheon: "Corporate Marketing Integration: Merging Traditional And Digital Media"

Join us for our January Program & Luncheon

Topic: Corporate Marketing Integration: Merging Traditional and Digital Media
Speaker: Jesson Zafar
Date: Thursday, January 5, 2012
Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 for members and full-time students; $30 for non-members.
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 4 at 5pm
Location: H&A Architects & Engineers, 4800 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Register: Click here to register now


Jesson Zafar has over seven years of marketing experience with a focus on new media and digital technology. He previously worked for several companies in the architecture, engineering and construction industries in marketing and business development roles.

Currently, he serves as the SEO Specialist for Southern States Cooperative, Inc., a billion dollar company with over 900 retail locations in the United States. His responsibilities include managing corporate strategy and production for all Search Engine Marketing & Online Advertising. In addition, he is the Owner & Creative Director of The Orange Marketing Group, a marketing consulting company for small to mid-sized businesses.

Mr. Zafar has a BA in Business Communication from James Madison University.

October Program & Luncheon with IABC Chair Adrian Cropley

Topic: Making Managers Better Communicators

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Date: Thursday, October 6, 2011

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: H&A Architects & Engineers | 4880 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060 | Click here to view map

Cost: $25 for members and full-time students; $30 for non-members. 

Register : Click here to register now.

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Managers are our key channel for communications in any organization today; are they however the best equipped to deliver effective communication? Do we train them? Do we actually support our managers?

In this session we look at how as communicators we can improve the communication skills of our line managers in their business. You will gain an understanding of the key role managers play in organizational communication and develop the knowledge and skills to build a compelling business case for line manager training.

In this session you will explore:

• what employees expect from their managers 
• a concise model of employee communication needs 
• building a business case for manager communication skills training 
• how you can take a lead role in improving manager communication skills

Speaker: Adrian Cropley, ABC, IABC Chair, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Adrian is the Principal for Cropley Communications in Melbourne. Australia and has over 20 years communication experience in the private and public sectors. Adrian has been in roles from HR Management, Change and Organizational Development Manager to heading up corporate Internal Communications.

Adrian works with a variety of clients on change and internal communication strategies and programs. He is also an executive coach working with organizations including Ernst & Young, Shell, as well as universities and various government organizations. He is a sought after facilitator, lecturer coach and has spoken across the globe at various conferences and forums. He is widely published with a number of articles appearing in industry magazines globally.

Adrian is currently the Chairman of the International Executive board of IABC and has held a number of voluntary roles. He was named IABC’s Volunteer Chapter Leader of the Year in 2008 and has been instrumental in the growth and development of chapters across the Asia/Pacific Region. Adrian is passionate about the communication profession and IABC, however in his spare time Adrian loves to perform, working as an extra on television and film.