Strategic Communication for Small Business Success

As the owner of a small business, you’re a busy person. Multiple demands for your attention throughout the day can leave little time for strategic communications planning. Yet, spending some time thinking about a communications strategy for your firm can actually save you time – and very likely money – in the long run. This session will give you an overview of what an organizational communications plan can do for you – from clarifying your brand promise to carefully targeting your important audiences with the right messages and channels to reach them.

Janet (Jan) M. Botz

Janet (Jan) M. Botz is an accomplished professional with over 35 years of corporate and higher education experience. Currently serving as the program director for The Conference Board’s Corporate Communications Strategy Council and Internal Communications Council, Jan brings a wealth of knowledge to her role.

Corporate and Academic Background:

Beginning her career as a newspaper reporter in Michigan, Jan later spent 29 years in corporate roles at a major chemical manufacturer. She transitioned to Corporate Communications and held global positions, including an ex-pat assignment in Brussels, Belgium, and ultimately serving as the Chief Communications Officer for the company.

Retiring from the corporate world, Jan ventured into higher education, spending three years as Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at the University of Notre Dame. In 2012, she founded her own communications consulting company. Besides her role at The Conference Board, Jan is a trained voiceover actor.

Educational Achievements and Contributions:

Jan holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a liberal arts undergraduate degree from Saginaw Valley State University. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, she received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 and established the Botz Liberal Arts Fellowship at SVSU in 2013.

Community Involvement:

A dedicated community servant, Jan has served on various volunteer boards, including the University’s Foundation Board of Directors and its Alumni Board. She is an avid supporter of Public Media, having served as the president of the Friends of PBS Wisconsin. Currently, she is a member of the U.S. Army War College Foundation Board, co-leading the development committee.

Jan resides in Green Bay with her husband Tom Lippert, a retired trial attorney.

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