Read The Byline
Member Log In
Member Log In

Spring 2025 Regional Workshop May 14th in Chicago!

The program for this one-day event in Chicago on May 14 is packed with a great lineup of speakers who will enhance your skills and provide practical tips for your daily communications work.

Register Here

Information

Join agricultural communications professionals for a day of networking, professional development and skill-building in Chicago at the McDonald’s Headquarters that will leave you saying, “I’m Lovin’ It”.

This one-day workshop, led by leaders in the ag and news industry will feature:

  • Tips on how to write on sensitive topics
  • Pointers on writing and photography
  • Networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders
  • Commodity market insights for this crop season and beyond

The address is 110 N. Carpenter St., Chicago IL, 60607.  

Who Should Attend? ACN members and content creators working across the agricultural industry who want to enhance their communications skills and collaborate with others.

 Questions? Contact Katie Knapp at [email protected]

Cost

ACN Members: $115

Non-Members $250

Students: $49

Schedule

8:00 – 8:30 Coffee and Networking

 

8:30 – 8:35 Welcome and logistics for the day – Katie Knapp, Workshop Organizing Committee and ACN Board Member https://www.theagphotographer.com/

 

8:35 – 8:40 Welcome to McDonald’s – Luke McKelvie, Global Supply Chain and Food Sustainability Strategy for McDonald’s https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukemckelvie/

 

8:40 – 8:50 ACN Updates – Pam Caraway, ACN President https://www.farmprogress.com/author/pam-caraway

 

8:50 – 9:00 IFAJ Updates – Addy Rossi, IFAJ Vice President https://www.ifaj.org/what-we-do/the-ifaj-presidium/

 

9:00 – 9:50 Beyond the Headlines: Strengthening Media Partnerships – Jenn Norrie, North American and Europe Communications Manager for Alltech https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-norrie-a35aa712/?originalSubdomain=ca

 

10:00 – 10:50 – Challenging light and busy backgrounds: Visual storytelling with Christopher Dilts, freelance photojournalist https://www.christopherdilts.com/

 

11:00 – 11:20 – Break to check out McDonald’s brand store and/or net-work

 

11:30 – 12:20 Reporting on Ever-Changing Storylines – Patrick Pfingsten, public affairs communications “wizard” https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickpfingsten/

 

12:30 – 1:20 Door prizes and lunch from McDonald’s global restaurant with discussion on how you are using AI in your workflow

 

1:30 – 2:20 – How to Cover Today’s Tough Topics

The afternoon will be a long-form, hands-on session about covering economics/trade/policy related topics. Rather than a news-maker panel (which we all know will be old news by the time we head home that day) this session allows ACN members to gain confidence in effectively covering these turbulent and vast topics from whichever side of the desk or industry you work. There will be opportunities to ask expert sources about potential story angles, discuss ways to fact-check and ensure stories are balanced, and practice getting audio and video clips. 

 Please note: This session is truly a skill-building session. It is not a press conference. The sources will not be doing traditional interviews during the session; their comments will be off the record. You will go home with plenty of background information, ideas, and deeper relationships to call upon for future stories and projects.

Moderated by Mike Pearson, Farm Progress Broadcast Director https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-pearson-826b2721/

 

2:30 – 3:15 – McDonald’s innovation lab tour

 

3:30 – 4:20 – How to Cover to Today’s Tough Topics (continued)

 

4:20 – 4:30 Door Prizes and Goodbyes

Hotel

Hotel:

Crowne Plaza: Chicago West Loop

25 South Halsted Street
Chicago, Illinois  60661

The hotel is a half mile (10-15 minute) walk to the McDonalds office, where the workshop will be held.

Overnight Parking:

Parking at the hotel is available but pricey: $54 for overnight guests with in and out privileges. For a better rate (without in and out privileges) it is recommended to park nearby. Use the website/app SpotHero (https://spothero.com/) to reserve a spot ahead of time. 

 

Parking Day of Workshop:

To ensure you can park quickly and easily when you arrive for the workshop, use the website/app SpotHero (https://spothero.com/) to reserve a spot ahead of time. There are limited visitor parking spots at the McDonalds office and numerous surface lots and parking ramps nearby. 

McDonalds visitor entrance is at 110 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60607.

Transportation:

For those of you near an Amtrak route, consider taking the train instead of driving. https://www.amtrak.com/plan-your-trip.html 

Union Station is a half mile (10-15 minute) walk to the hotel. There is also a bus route that goes from Union Station to the McDonalds building.

For those of you flying in, the train is also an easy option from O’Hare. Uber, Lyft, or a taxi will be easier and likey faster from Midway.

McDonalds visitor entrance is at 110 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60607.

Thank you to our sponsors!

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 workshops often 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 example, 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.”