Convergence Summit 2026

Convergence Summit 2026 Voice, Vision & Velocity: Shaping the Future of Communication

Voice, Vision & Velocity: Shaping the Future of Communication

Convergence Summit 2026 will be held on Thursday, April 23 at Donaldson Company in Bloomington, Minnesota. Join us to hear from compelling speakers and connect with your marketing, communications and PR peers.

FIND OUT how other organizations are evolving their communications practices

GATHER TIPS to use in your every-day practice

EXPLORE IDEAS on how to adapt to a changing business environment

GET PRACTICAL ADVICE from experienced communicators

Stick around after the conference!

Convergence Summit will be followed by happy hour from 4:30 - 6 pm. Join us at Green Mill at 1201 W 94th St, Bloomington, MN 55431.

Our high-impact presentations and dynamic speakers include:

• “Go With the Flow: What a Decade of Hockey Hair Teaches Us About Creative Marketing” – John King, Co-founder of OWNER / Pulltab Sports
• “Leadership Case Study: How Thrivent Transformed its Communications Team to Support the Business” - Jenna Reck, Vice President, Enterprise Communications at Thrivent
• "News in Transition: The Evolution of Minnesota's Local Media" - Meg Martin, Associate Director of the Minnesota Journalism Center at the U of MN
• "From Challenge to Catalyst: How Purpose Brands Unified Communication Amid Merger and Platform Change" - Tammy Nienaber, Director, Global Communications at Anytime Fitness
• “Storytelling in a Sea of Sameness: Creating Human Connection in the Age of AI” – Ellen O’Brien, Hudsons Media Founder
• “Why Your Personal Brand is Your Only AI-Proof Asset” - Cheryl Tan, Media Trainer, Show Launch Strategist and former TV News Anchor
• “Engaging Polarized Audiences Through Storytelling” - Lynn Melling, Content Strategist and Video Storyteller
• “Your Influence is Bigger Than Your Title: A Communicator's Guide to Leading Change” – Tonia Whitney, Operations Director of the MN Change Management Network; Andrew Craven, Management Consultant, Craven Business Development Company; Nicki Gibbs, Chief Strategy Officer, Beehive Strategic Communications; Paul Feikema, Senior Transformational Change Architect & Organizational Effectiveness Leader; Mallory Precht, Change Management Practitioner, Fairview Health Services
• “The Future of Healthcare is Still Human” – Erika Mayerle, Senior Account Manager, Marketing Operations & Creative Services, Mayo Clinic and Erika Brask, Group Creative Director, Brand Design & Creative Strategy at Mayo Clinic
• “Are Internal Communications Teams Becoming an Endangered Species?” – Chris Lee, Vice President, Employee Experience & Internal Communication Practice, Gallagher Communication
• “Between Routine and Rupture: What Americans Say About ICE, Police, and the News Media” - Tony Cheevers, Customer Success Officer at Researchscape International; Anetra Henry, founder of Anetra Henry ; Tonya McKenzie, founder of Sand & Shores; and Paul Omodt, founder & principal of Omodt & Associates Critical Communication

Full descriptions of the presentations are available on the IABC MN website.

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Convergence Summit 2026 is grateful for our sponsors!