Agenda

Attendees are encouraged to login 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference.

The times listed in the agenda below are in Eastern Standard Time.

MONDAY, JULY 27

2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP

Board Communications Workshop
Molly McPherson, Public Relations Advisor and Host of Confident Communications Podcast
How do you navigate the power of a fickle public and turn it in your favor? Dovetailing with her closing keynote for the main program, Molly guides workshop participants through handling hot-button issues from the boardroom in today’s sensitive communications environment to maintaining positive and productive consumer interactions.
 

What you will cover:

• Humanize your brand and personnel to create goodwill that leads to good PR.
• Learn about the origins of “call-out” and “cancel cultures.”
• Discover proactive and vigilant measures for protecting a brand and its reputation during an online attack.
• Understand the mix of social media and public opinion — when it works well and when it goes sour.
• Hear board strategies for responding in public to unexpected angry consumer confrontations.
• Gain comfort with managing and responding to the press.

TUESDAY, JULY 28

 

3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
ORIENTATION
Kick off your virtual experience with this opportunity to explore the space prior to the meeting beginning on Wednesday. Follow the Attendee Orientation Guide to navigate through the conference spaces, build your profile, chat with exhibitors and fellow attendees, and earn achievement badges for a prize drawing.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29

 

10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Early Access and Solutions eXchange Open House
Start your morning by completing the Attendee Orientation Guide, greeting your fellow attendees via chat, and visiting the Solutions eXchange to see the latest products and services from your favorite companies.

10:30 a.m.–Noon
OPENING GENERAL SESSION

10:30 a.m.–10:40 a.m.
Welcome From NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield

10:40 a.m.–11:10 a.m.
OPENING KEYNOTE

It Is Your Call: Tools + Rules for Big-League Decision Making
Phillip Van Hooser, Leadership and Professional Development Expert and Author
Leaders do not intend to make bad calls, but they often struggle with decisions for a simple reason: they haven’t learned a solid decision-making process. Drawing from his training at Wendelstedt’s Professional Umpire School, his work in employee relations, human resources and safety and his experience as a leadership training expert for top U.S. companies, Phil will help you discover a step-by-step process for making smart decisions and better understand the factors affecting how and when to make “the call.”

11:10 a.m.–11:40 a.m.
Telco Mythbusting with AMAC
Directors are faced with many questions both in the boardroom and out in public about everything from buffering to privacy to 5G. Let us bust some myths and get to the real deal on current telco technology and terminology so you can help set the record straight when questions arise.
This session is brought to you by the NTCA Associate Member Advisory Council.

11:40 a.m.–Noon
Lessons from the Boardroom
Every time a board takes a vote, there is an opportunity to reflect on the decision-making process that led to the result. Hear from board officers at peer companies as they discuss valuable lessons from their experience in the boardroom.

Noon–1:30 p.m.
Solutions eXchange and Connection Corner Break
Connect with exhibitors in the Solutions eXchange, catch up with your fellow attendees via chat, work on your achievement badges, and remember to stretch your legs.

1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
SECOND GENERAL SESSION

1:30 p.m.–2:15 p.m.
Rural Broadband 101
Intended especially for new board members, but a great review for all, this session covers the basics of modern network technologies, an overview of players in the industry, and a look at financing and business models in rural telecom.

2:15 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Board Handbooks and Bylaws
Whether your board has not reviewed its policies in a while, or it doesn’t have any to review, learn about what goes into creating a board handbook, as well as some key points to review when considering updates to Bylaws.

3:10 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Roundtables
Gather with peers from similar-sized companies to discuss the topics that matter most. Share your stories and learn from others how telco boards across the country tackle common issues.

THURSDAY, JULY 30

 

10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Early Access and Solutions eXchange Open House
Start your morning by greeting your fellow attendees and NTCA staff via chat and visiting the Solutions eXchange to see the latest products and services from your favorite companies.

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
SPONSORED MORNING PRESENTATION 
Brought to you by Telcom Insurance Group
Mitigating Liability Exposure from Contractors
Board members have an important responsibility to ensure that their organizations are protected from exposure to various legal liabilities. One area of increasing risk is the contractors without proper contracts or insurance coverage. Learn about how to fulfill your duty of care by asking the right questions in the board room.

11:00 a.m.–12:30 a.m.
THIRD GENERAL SESSION

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
Board Preparations for Annual Meetings
Like it or not, they happen every year. Learn how to make your next annual meeting the most efficient and exciting yet with these successful practices for board planning and engagement with the membership.

11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Ethics and Integrity in Board Service
Time for an ethics tune up as we assess the integrity of current board activities, learn from some pitfalls of other boards, and capture good practices in policy to influence ethical behaviors for future boards.

12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Solutions eXchange and Connection Corner Break
Connect with exhibitors in the Solutions eXchange, catch up with your fellow attendees via chat, work on your achievement badges, and remember to stretch your legs.

1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
The Director’s Role in Public Policy and Advocacy
Hear an update on the current policy environment in Washington and learn what role you can take at various levels to engage with elected officials and promote positions that support your company.

2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Cybersecurity in the Boardroom
With cybersecurity as daily headline news, we all know this is not just an issue for IT staff. Board members play a crucial role in setting policy, following good cyber practices, and ensuring that resources are sufficient to support cybersecurity operations. Get the information you need to be a cyber-savvy director.

2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Secrets of Communicating in the Modern Age

Molly McPherson, Public Relations Advisor and Host of Confident Communications Podcast
As consumers find new ways to air grievances, the old rules of response no longer apply. Organizations must be prepared to handle any controversy while still engaging with consumers in as close to real time and with as much transparency as possible. Learn about the direct and indirect actions directors should take in today’s communications environment.

 

 

 

3:10 p.m.–3:40 p.m.
“What’s On Your Mind?” Virtual Town Hall
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA
Josh Seidemann, Vice President of Policy, NTCA
April Irwin, Vice President of Member Engagement, NTCA
Mark Marion, Director of Training and Development, NTCA
Join NTCA staff to wrap up the Symposium with a discussion guided by your questions concerning public policy, economic development, governance, and NTCA meetings, membership and education.