Communicate Stronger 2026

Communicate Stronger 2026

The Local Edge: Insights, Ideas, and Innovation from Local Communicators

Join us at the area’s newest venue for a day built around real conversations, real insights, and the people doing the work right here in your community.

This year’s lineup brings together an incredible group of local communicators. What does that mean for you? Fresh ideas, practical insights, and the lessons communicators are learning right now, plus a few tools and trends you’ll want to bring back to your own work.

What else can I expect?

• No choosing this year! General sessions that will leave you with practical advice and insights from local experts.
• Swag and giveaways from our sponsors.
• Affordable headshots for a limited number of attendees courtesy of Tosha Roshelle Photography. (pre-registration required)
• Networking! Catch up with old friends and make new ones over coffee, lunch, or happy hour.

Info: One of the leading causes of leadership failure and employee burnout is stress. In this keynote, it's time to learn simple, proven steps to overcome the trap of stress when it shows up.
Key Takeaways:
How to move past the three myths of pausing to rest.
What stress really looks like, feels like, and sounds like in your body.
The 5 steps of P.A.U.S.E so managing stress becomes a life-long practice.

Info: In this session, we’ll cut through the nonsense to show what AI can and cannot do for marketing and communications teams today. Using real workflows and examples from inside Silicon Plains, you’ll see how AI is already being used to improve clarity, speed, and decision-making without sacrificing accuracy. You’ll walk away with a practical, step-by-step approach to turning on AI for your business—without sacrificing brand voice, trust, or control.

Info: Panel discussion. Panelists TBD

Info: Do your nerves take over before a big meeting or presentation? Ever passed up a career opportunity just to avoid speaking in public? You’re not alone—but here’s the truth: you can do this! Public speaking isn’t a talent reserved for a fearless few—it’s a skill anyone can learn, including you. In this upbeat and practical session, we’ll tackle the fears that hold you back and replace them with tools that build confidence.

Info: HexaHive partnered with Dakota Medical Foundation to shape the 2026 Giving Hearts Day campaign. Instead of focusing only on the “ask,” the strategy centered on community identity, belonging, and shared responsibility.

In this session, hear how the team evolved the campaign narrative, launched new initiatives, and partnered with the client team to bring the strategy to life. They’ll share key lessons and how intentional messaging can move audiences from awareness to participation.

Leave with ideas for campaigns that build connection, encourage engagement, and create momentum beyond a single moment.

Info: Building a brand before the doors open is equal parts exciting and terrifying. In this live "Brand In Motion" episode, host Ashton Hauff sits down with the team behind Eclipse, downtown Bismarck's newest premium event venue, to talk honestly about what it actually took to bring this brand to life. The strategy that shaped it, the creative decisions that weren't always obvious, and yes, even the moments of doubt that made the clarity feel that much sweeter. You'll walk away with both tangible takeaways and anecdotal lessons for your next brand refresh, campaign, and more.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher IABC Great Plains