Pension Communications Summit Education
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
As of 11/13/23
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21As of 11/13/23
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Registration
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Introductions & Networking
- Get to know your fellow pension communications professionals during this informal kickoff session
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Journalist Fireside Chat: State of the Industry
Speakers: Alicia McElhaney, Institutional Investor
- Hear the journalist perspective on the state of the industry
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Networking Reception
MONDAY, JANUARY 22
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Registration
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Tips for Communicating with Members at Various Life Stages
Speaker: Olivia Applegate, SBCERA
- From onboarding to retirement, you have a responsibility and opportunity to engage with your members.
- Learn how to address various communication preferences and different levels of technological savviness.
- Learn how you can improve member engagement at various life stages.
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM Case Study: Building Trust in a DB Plan
Speaker: Marty Karlon, New Hampshire Retirement System
- Find out how the New Hampshire Retirement System implemented an effective communications strategy to correct misinformation and build trust in the system
- Get tips for taking control of your plan’s narrative
- Learn strategies for building trust in your pension’s investments, administration
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Breaking Down Complex Investment Topics for All Audiences
- How to effectively communicate about complex topics – such as investment strategies or pension administration - with various audiences
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Networking Break
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Engaging Your Employers: The ROI of a Dedicated Communications Specialist
Speakers: Shawn Harper and Jonathan Yost, Oregon PERS
- Find out how Oregon PERS significantly reduced their call center volume with an employer communications specialist
- Get ideas for improving data and reducing call volume
- Learn scalable strategies to optimize communications to employers and improve the experience for plan participants and retirees
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Do’s and Don’ts for Your Next Website or App Launch
Speakers: Mehrin Rahman, COAERS; Patrick von Keyserling, Colorado PERA; and Sandeep Mehta, PensionX
- Learn from the experience of peers who recently went through a website redesign or app launch
- Learn more about the transformational impact of self-service apps and portals
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Networking Lunch
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Optimizing Your Fund's Social Media Strategy
Speaker: Karen Doron, CalSTRS
- Strategies for building and engaging followers
- Evaluating which channels are best to pursue; different use cases for social media
- How to set effective internal policies around social media
- The role of social media in your overall communications strategy
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM How to Effectively (and Responsibly) Use AI in Your Communications
- Opportunities to use AI in your communications
- Tools and programs to consider
- The importance of having an AI policy in place (and tips for developing a thought policy)
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM The Cybersecurity Landscape: Responding to a Data Breach
- A look at the current cybersecurity landscape
- Proactive policies and procedures to consider implementing
- Responding to a data breach (internally and externally)
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM Networking Break
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM The Role of the Communications Team During a PAS Replacement or Transition
Speaker: Laurie Mitchell, Tegrit
- How a new pension administration system (PAS) creates opportunities for improved member communications
- Establishing your role in the transition or replacement process
- Tips for making the communications transition a success
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Change Management and Communications Leadership
- Demonstrating the value of the communications role internally
- Working effectively across teams and managing up
- Tips for effective change management and leadership
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM Honoring the 2024 Public Pension Communicator of the Year
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Closing Remarks and Facilitated Networking
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Joint Communications Summit and Legislative Conference Networking Reception
