Fall 2024 Regional Workshop Nov. 19 in Omaha!

The program for this one-day event in Omaha, Neb. on November 19 is packed with a great lineup of speakers who will enhance your skills and provide practical tips for your daily communications work.

Draft Agenda

8:00 am- Registration and Breakfast

8:30 am- Welcome with Pam Caraway, President and Liz Hodges, Organizing Committee Chair 

8:45 am- Enhance Your Headlines for SEO (Eric Braun, Farm Progress)

9:45 am- Collecting Quality Video (Bill Dodd, Market Journal)

10:30 am- Networking Break

10:45 am- Storytelling

11:45 am- Lunch (sponsored by Nebraska Soybean)

12:30 pm- Photography Insights (Travis Heying – Wichita Eagle)

1:45 pm- Networking Break

2:00 pm- Newsmaker Session- Capitalizing on Biofuel Opportunities (Scott McPheeters, Nebraska Ethanol Board, Blaine Groth, Continuum Ag, and Reid Wagner, Nebraska Ethanol Board Executive Director

3:00 pm- Ethical AI in Journalism (Lei Guo, University of Nebraska Omaha and Cassie Mallette, University of Nebraska Omaha)

4:00 pm – Thank you and adjourn

Register Here

Hotel

Aloft Omaha West
215 South 181st St.
Omaha, NE

Reservations for the Event will be made by individual attendees directly with Reservations at (531) 772-0247. Reference: ACN Regional Workshop

The rate is $99.95 plus tax and fees for Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19.

BOOK BY OCTOBER 25 FOR THE DISCOUNTED RATE.

Parking and internet services are complimentary.

5 Reasons to Attend ACN Regional Workshops

Skill Enhancement

ACN Regional Workshops are designed to provide hands-on training and practical experience in a specific area. By attending, you can acquire or improve valuable skills that are directly applicable to your profession. The knowledge and skills gained in an ACN Workshop are often immediately applicable to your work. You can start using what you’ve learned right away, which can lead to improved job performance and outcomes.

Knowledge Expansion

ACN Workshops often delve deep into a particular subject matter, so they provide in-depth information, insights, and the latest updates in your field, allowing you to stay current and well-informed. As you acquire new knowledge and skills, your confidence in your abilities tends to grow. This newfound confidence can positively impact your work and career progression. ACN Workshops are highly interactive. You can engage in discussions, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback from instructors and fellow participants. This active learning approach often leads to better understanding and retention of information.

Networking Opportunities

Workshops bring together professionals with similar interests and goals, which is conducive to creating new connections and building meaningful connections with peers, industry experts, and potential collaborators. ACN Workshops can also open doors to new career opportunities. They may introduce you to potential employers, clients, or mentors who can help advance your career.

Professional Development & Personal Growth

Attending workshops can be valuable to your professional development. Many employers value employees who actively seek opportunities for skill development and growth.  Beyond the professional benefits, workshops can contribute to your personal growth. They challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, learn from others, and adapt to new situations. If you have a particular issue or challenge in your work, workshops can provide tailored solutions and strategies that you can apply directly to address these issues.

Inspiration

ACN Workshops often feature guest speakers or thought leaders who can inspire you with their experiences and success stories. This inspiration can motivate you to set higher goals and strive for excellence in your field. In today’s rapidly evolving world, lifelong learning is essential. ACN Workshops offer an accessible and practical way to engage in continual learning and personal development.

How to Get Your Company to Pay for Your Professional Development and Training

Tell them what learning opportunities you’re interested in.

Learning opportunities come in various formats, from webinars and courses to workshops and conferences. Let your employer know which topics interest you and will add to your professional development.

Show the return on investment. 

After telling your employer what trainings are beneficial to you, you need to show them the return on investment you receive, but also what the company receives.

For example, our Regional Workshop in Omaha, Neb., on November 19 will cover topics such as photography, writing, artificial intelligence, design and more. You can tell your employer you’ll become a more well-rounded professional by learning the latest in these fields. This can make you more effective at work, which can increase sales and lead generation.

Make a specific request. 

Give your employer the details for the training, whether it’s a book, a link to an event, or an email you received. Tell them the time off you’ll need and when. Lastly, don’t forget to include associated costs like travel, meals, registration costs, and lodging. Provide all the information in one ask to your employer with a timeline, why this training is important, and a financial estimate.

For our Omaha, Neb,, workshop on November 19, you might say:

“If the company pays the registration cost of this ACN workshop at $XXX, I estimate I can increase sales and lead generation in the company, improve my skills in writing, design, photography, and source organic and relevant stories for the company, while also creating connections that will benefit myself and the company in the future and staying up to date with the latest in the industry.”

2023 St. Louis Workshop Recap

ACN Regional Workshop in St. Louis, MO

We had a great event in Springfield, IL!

From writing to photography, social media to investigative journalism, our speakers were amazing, and attendees had multiple take aways.

Read part 1 and part 2 of our interactive user-generated-content session on writing tips.

Click here to see the equipment list from Jamie Cole’s one man band presentation.