IMC Connect! Offers Industry Insights, Career Preparation Tips

Annual conference provides opportunities for students to connect with communications professionals

Several of the nation’s top communications professionals will share insights and offer advice to students later this month at the third IMC Connect! conference at the University of Mississippi.

The event, hosted by the School of Journalism and New Media, is set for March 25-27, 2024, at various locations across campus. It is a student-led event that provides opportunities for students to connect with communication leaders from well-known brands representing different industries.

This is the third year that Caroline Tibbs, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Diamondhead, will attend IMC Connect!.

“Every IMC Connect! session I’ve attended over the past few years have been informative about potential career options and much more,” Tibbs said. “I’ve learned many great job tips and advice.”

Students enrolled in Amanda Bradshaw‘s event planning class, including Tibbs, organized the conference, gaining valuable experience in the process.

“Through planning IMC Connect!, students learn the invaluable lesson of how to remain productive and make progress despite uncertainty,” said Bradshaw, assistant professor of integrated marketing communications. “This includes how to pivot in real time due to the unexpected challenges that arise when you have a catering quote come in too high, a speaker unexpectedly back out or sponsor come on board at the last minute – all of which has happened this year alone.

“Our students are learning the life skills of not only event planning and logistics, but also professionalism, stress management and the art of flexibility, which is required behind the scenes when planning events of all sizes.”

The Public Relations Student Society of America has designated this year’s event as a district conference. Students and faculty from at least four other universities plan to attend, Bradshaw said.

“IMC Connect! is not just an opportunity to learn; it’s a gateway to the future of media and public relations,” said Oakley Weedle, vice president of chapter development for the PRSSA national committee.

IMC Connect! will feature two dozen panelists, many of whom are Ole Miss alumni, from a variety of roles and industries during the three-day event. Among the list are:

• Jennifer Anderson, chief marketing officer, C Spire
• Chris Chiames, chief communications officer, Carnival Cruise Line
• C. Heidi Grether, former communications and external affairs lead for Deepwater Horizon response, BP/Swift Worldwide Resources
• Will Kiss, senior director of media relations, National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders
• Marti Powers, vice president of communications, Boeing Defense, Space and Security
• Jenny Robertson, senior vice president of integrated marketing and communications, FedEx
• Radina Russell, U.S. chair for corporate affairs advisory and general manager for the Atlanta Southeast market, Edelman
• Elizabeth Whittington, director of executive communications, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Yanique Woodall, vice president of corporate affairs and strategy communication, CVS Health

Those panelists will provide insights related to crisis communication; branding and visual communication; internal communications; corporate social responsibility; diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and navigating a media landscape with artificial intelligence, deepfakes and other emerging concerns.

Tatum Chenen, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Middleburg, Virginia, said she is looking forward to hearing Kiss share his insights on sports communication.

“I am intrigued to learn about the insights of the NFL and what goes behind the scenes of game days that we don’t see on TV,” Chenen said.

Attendees are encouraged to follow @olemissjourimc on Instagram for program updates. Check the conference website for schedule updates and other information.

The full agenda, maps, speaker contact information, direct messaging service and more can be accessed on Whova.

The conference is free to Ole Miss students, faculty and staff, who can register here. For out-of-town participants, register here. Attendees can also reserve a room at the conference venue, The Inn at Ole Miss, here.

IMC Connect! is supported by the Office of the Provost as an official event of the university’s 175th anniversary.

By Carleigh Holt Harbin