Attending this conference earns you one B109 credit toward your NTCA certificate. 
Learn more about NTCA certificate programs.

AGENDA
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SUNDAY, APRIL 28

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION

1:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Preconference Workshop: Digital Marketing Strategies*
Beth Trejo, Chief Executive Officer, Chatterkick

Dig into digital marketing strategies that work for you. This full afternoon of interactive sessions with Chatterkick CEO Beth Trejo and her team will take you through the fundamentals of today’s digital marketing channels.

• How Much to Spend and Where?
• Determining and Setting Your Social Media Advertising Budget
• 7 Digital Marketing Hacks Used by Big Brands
• Taking Your Chat Bots to the Next Level
• Instagram Stories: Learn What's Working Now

*Additional fee required to attend workshop

5:15 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
First Time Attendee Session

MONDAY, APRIL 29

7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION

7:45 a.m.–8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:15 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
OPENING GENERAL SESSION
 

Data Revolution: Redefining Business Today
Christopher Kingsley, Chief Creative Officer, Firespring

Discover how data is redefining business today and changing the way we market. Learn to analyze data-driven decision-making and discover how new tools and practices can elevate organizations of any size.

 

Customer Feedback and Reviews: Part Deux—Consider Unhappy Customers a Gift to Learning
A lesson learned is that “proactive” is the name of the game. Positive or negative, mean tweets or praise, every day we see it all. A group of NTCA Marketing Committee members share tips and tricks for staying out in front of the gauntlet of social media reviews.

 

Smart Rural Community 2.0
Jackie Petersen, Director of Products and Services, Rainbow Communications
Joshua Seidemann, Vice President of Policy, NTCA
Laura Withers, Vice President of Strategic Communications, NTCA
Since 2014, Smart Rural Community has broadcast the achievements of rural broadband on Capitol Hill and throughout the country, highlighting rural technological endeavors supporting education, health care and economic development. Get ready for new opportunities as you witness the unveiling of SRC 2.0.

 

10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
Peer-to-Peer Roundtables
Popular and in-demand—Join one of three roundtable discussions assigned by company size, so you can network with peers who understand your challenges. This unique opportunity introduces you to colleagues you didn’t know you had to exchange invaluable advice and perspectives.

11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
 

Marketing Excellence Awards Ceremony Luncheon
Join us in celebrating the best and creative talents to your peers in this signifying awards competition. The Marketing Excellence Award (formerly TeleChoice Awards) showcases creative prowess at its greatest; recognizing work in the following categories: marketing, branding, public relations, sales, publications, website and broadcast advertising.

 

1:15 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS A (do not repeat)
 

 

 

Websites That Convert
Discover what makes great websites work. This session covers what’s important when it comes to features and functions, customer experience, and using social proof in your efforts.

 

 

Marketing OTT
Insiders know the TV industry is planning for an all-app future, and the tables are being set for it now. One key strategy is providing robust broadband while uncovering tactics to upsell subscriber packages. Hear what it takes to educate your customers on streaming before someone else does.

 

 

Be Prepared and Always Ready
Storms, fires and flooding—telcos and utility networks are being tested like never before. Peers share their recent experiences about how to respond to the unexpected and what it takes to recover. Learn to identify your weak areas, understand your role as the public face of your telco and hear successful communication practices to keep the public informed.
 

2:15 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS B
 

 

 

The Many Flavors of Partnerships
Business combinations of all kinds continue to thrive this year as many companies, old and new, scramble to support unserved rural areas. Learn how telco partnerships with third parties have culminated in success and hear about the other side of the story you don’t often hear.

 

 

How to Build a Sales Team and Culture
Successful companies today will say they are first and foremost a sales organization recognizing that sales culture starts at the top. However, as part of the communications team, you play an integral role in the company’s successful adoption of a total sales culture. This session helps you understand not only how to build the sales team you need, but also how to support senior execs with building an enduring sales culture.

 

 

Customer Experience 2020
The buzz phrase in retail last year was “customer experience,” and it is not going away any time soon. Hear how a few telcos have outdone themselves in this area and what it takes to build lasting changes in customer experience.
 

3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS B (repeat)

4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
WELCOME RECEPTION + SOLUTION PROVIDER SHOWCASE

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

7:45 a.m.–8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION

8:30 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS C
 

 

 

Innovation Ignition
Ashley Spinks, Communications Coordinator, NTCA
Rural broadband has many stories of innovation to share, and you’ll hear many of them told at a rapid pace. Using the “Ignite” format, speakers have five minutes and 20 slides to share their most creative rural telco marketing ideas.

 

 

Using Analytics to Boost Sales
Marketers are collecting more data about customers and prospects than ever before, but what good is it just sitting in a database? Learn how others are connecting the dots and letting data guide them in sales strategies. Discover how your existing data sets can drive sales conversations and help make your job easier.

 

 

Soup to Nuts: Fundamentals of the Complete Successful Marketing Campaign
Surprise! You’re now the marketing director. Find out how to conceive, create and execute successful marketing action plans and campaigns. From the fundamentals of defining goals and strategies to delivering and analyzing results. This fast-paced comprehensive session helps you to set the table for marketing success.
 

9:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS C (repeat)

10:30 a.m.–Noon
CURBSIDE CONSULTATIONS
Pull up a chair for intimate and informal conversations about relevant issues for marketing professionals. Five topics will be crowdsourced by attendees days before the conference to bring you the most top-of-mind issues for discussion. Every 30 minutes attendees are encouraged to rotate rooms providing the opportunity to engage in four networking experiences with your peers on the topics critical to you.

Noon–1:00 p.m.
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS D

 

 

Selling Hosted Voice—Leading Rural Providers Share their Stories
Learn how to grow your hosted voice (VoIP) business from cutting edge companies. This  panel of pros will tell you how they got started, how they have grown, and valuable lessons they have learned on their hosted voice journey.

 

 

Upselling the Smart Home
Some telcos were a bit ahead of their time a few years ago by selling smart home tech and devices before customers were ready for it. As smart home tech continues to gain awareness and popularity subscribers are adding devices to their network, and it is now becoming apparent to them that smart home solutions are necessary. Position yourself as the smart home solution provider, help these consumers figure it all out, and bring in some additional revenue while you’re at it.

 

 

Get Smart and Show It
Amy Harrelson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Pineland Telephone Cooperative
Bryan Kell, Marketing and Sales Manager, Ben Lomand Connect
Joshua Seidemann, Vice President of Policy, NTCA
Laura Withers, Vice President of Strategic Communications, NTCA
This session covers everything you wanted to know about the Smart Rural Community Showcase Award and how it can help to tell your story.

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS D (repeat)

3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

Being Small(er) and Mighty
Emily Soccorsy, Co-founder, Strategist, Root+River

The trend of big brands dominating all market share may seem stronger than ever, but the truth is this is the best time to be a small(er) or regional brand. Examining lessons from the localism movement, the democratization of information and the ability to tell stories, we will see how small(er) brands can become mightily connected to their audiences and remain connected for years to come.

4:00 p.m.
CONFERENCE ADJOURNS