Communication for Impact
ATD Hawkeye Chapter 50th Anniversary Conference
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa, Coralville
September 30, 2026
Join us for a dynamic one-day conference focused on one powerful skill: communication that moves careers forward. Celebrate 50 years of leadership and growth while gaining practical strategies to elevate your voice, presence, and professional influence.
▶ Event Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Meal Sponsor
▶ Keynote: Show Up and Show Out: Communicate with Clarity, Confidence, and Career-Defining Presence
In this high-energy opening keynote, Bridgett McGowen will challenge you to raise the standard of how you show up in classrooms, boardrooms, and high-stakes conversations -- so your ideas are heard, supported, and acted on.▶ Breakout Sessions: Communicating for Impact
Attendees will select one of the three tracks below and will attend the corresponding breakout sessions offered within that track throughout the day. Each track is designed to build on a consistent theme, so choose the path that best matches your current goals and professional needs.
▶ Track 1: Show Up
Confidence • Executive Presence • Authenticity
Leadership presence is more than confidence—it is how people experience you before you even begin speaking. This track focuses on helping professionals strengthen executive presence, communicate with authenticity, and project confidence in high-pressure situations. Sessions in this track explore mindset, visibility, emotional intelligence, credibility, and the small communication habits that build trust and influence. Participants will learn practical techniques to show up with clarity, professionalism, and purpose in meetings, presentations, conversations, and leadership moments.
Ideal for: leaders, emerging leaders, trainers, HR professionals, and anyone ready to increase their professional presence and confidence.
▶ Track 2: Speak Up
Presentation • Facilitation • Storytelling • Engagement
Great communicators do more than share information—they create connection, energy, and action. This track is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their speaking, training, facilitation, and audience engagement skills. Sessions focus on presentation delivery, storytelling, audience interaction, message clarity, and communication techniques that improve retention and participation. Participants will discover how to move beyond simply delivering content to creating memorable experiences that inspire learning and engagement.
Ideal for: trainers, facilitators, presenters, educators, leaders, and professionals who communicate to groups or teams.
▶ Track 3: Move People
Influence • Persuasion • Leadership Communication • Change
Communication has the power to shape culture, influence decisions, and move people toward action. This track explores the strategic side of communication—helping leaders communicate vision, strategy, navigate change, build buy-in, and influence others with intention and credibility. Sessions will focus on persuasive communication, stakeholder conversations, difficult discussions, change messaging, and leading through communication. Participants will leave with tools to communicate in ways that inspire trust, alignment, and forward movement.
Ideal for: organizational leaders, managers, project leaders, change champions, HR professionals, and talent development professionals.
▶ Breakfast, Lunch, & Networking Included
Connect, collaborate, and continue the conversation during breakfast and lunch — provided for all attendees.
Register Now:
For Conference Questions:
Contact Marcie Van Note, Ms. Ed
VP Events
Hawkeye Association of Talent Development
marcievannote@hawkeyeatd.org
For Registration Support:
Contact Kirkwood Continuing Education
contactce@kirkwood.edu
319-398-1022, option 5
Contact Marcie Van Note, Ms. Ed
VP Events
Hawkeye Association of Talent Development
marcievannote@hawkeyeatd.org
For Registration Support:
Contact Kirkwood Continuing Education
contactce@kirkwood.edu
319-398-1022, option 5