2019 AMA Leadership Summit

Registration and AMA Support Center Resource Tables Open

Connect with AMA staff to learn about the resources, benefits and activities AMA Support Center provides for chapter volunteers, members and customers.

• Chapter and Membership Operations 
• Member Engagement and Experience
• Programming, Content and Certification
• Sponsorships and Partnerships
• Academic Content and Community 
• Collegiate Community and AMA Foundation

Conference Kick Start (Optional): "Culture is an Improvisational Art"

While many businesses talk about the importance of culture, few actually provide any sort of scaffolding upon which culture can be built and maintained. Kelly Leonard uses his experience leading the world famous Second City Theatre and draws from his best-selling book “Yes, And,” to provide a compelling and interactive keynote on how improvisation practices can help embed the kind of behaviors that promote the culture you want: a culture that is fearless, caring and adaptable. 

Summit Kick Off, Opening Luncheon and CEA Celebration

Our opening celebration of award winning chapters is sure to motivate and inspire you! Help us launch our big, bold weekend with Chapter Excellence Award winners’ stories combined with powerful collective energy and camaraderie.

Summit Overview

Learn how to maximize your AMA Leadership Summit experience.

AMA Support Center Update

Learn about what exciting changes are underway and what lies ahead for the AMA as we are in the midst of a transformation to improve our value proposition and become the essential community for marketers.

General Breakout

Board in a Box Session

We’ll break out into leadership roles for a session discussing what YOU’d like to hear from other chapters regarding your roles. We’ll vote on topics of interest and discuss the most pressing with a “been there, done that” approach.​

• Presidents 
• Elects
• Membership
• Programming 
• Communications
• Sponsorship/Finance 
• Collegiate/Foundations

Prerequisites: 2+ years prior Summit attendance; not filling role of first-time President or President-Elect this year

SAVVY Track: National Involvement Opportunities

AMA’s ‘boots on the ground’ are our chapter volunteers and our SAVVY track Summit attendees know that better than most, having been engaged with chapters for years. But did you also know you can contribute in other areas of AMA? Attend this session to learn how. We’ll answer questions like, “How does someone get on the PCC?” or “How does AMA’s Board of Directors work?” We’ll also discuss AMA’s many different Councils beyond the PCC and other national volunteer opportunities, such as task forces to support key initiatives or content contribution opportunities for chapter leaders. Having just launched a new platform that cultivates member engagement better than ever, we’d also love to hear your ideas for how we can help chapter volunteers continue their AMA leadership journey in new ways. If you’re an experienced AMA leader with an appetite for more, join us for the discussion.

keynote

What’s Next: Owning Change, Talent, and Influence in Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Marketing Landscape

Marketing leaders, maybe more than any other professionals, need to tune in their NEXT skills. We all face crowded and noisy landscapes, with technologies that change exponentially, in an age when consumers have never had more power, making decisions with data that’s more babble than signal, all while managing young, hungry, creative minds who demand agency over their lives. It isn’t just about understanding marketing trends. It’s about finding and nurturing talent that keeps teams on the front of the curve, and it’s about cultivating cultures that thrive on change. This panel brings together three front-line marketing change agents who understand the challenges and power of change and will help you keep your NEXT skills sharp.

LOUDtables

The energy is infectious and so are the ideas! Share and learn with your chapter peers in one of the highest rated events of AMA Leadership Summit. Topics include:

• Board Recruitment & Succession Planning 
• Board Management & Operations
• Beyond the Board: Utilizing Volunteers & Committees
• Implementing Project Management Tools 
• Financial Management 
• Data & Reporting (Insights)
• Participating in Chapter Excellence Awards
• Communications Best Practices 
• Social Media Strategies
• Membership Value 
• Membership Retention 
• Bridging the Collegiate/Young Professional Gap 
• Executive Programming 
• Offering the Right Programming Mix 
• Speaker Recruitment Strategies 
• Hosting Chapter Awards Programs 
• Recruiting Sponsors
• Developing Sponsorship Packages 
• Giving Back to Your Community 
• SAVVY: Keeping Past Presidents Engaged

General Breakout

Role Sessions

We’ll break out into leadership roles for a session discussing what YOU’d like to hear from other chapters regarding your roles. We’ll vote on topics of interest and discuss the most pressing with a “been there, done that” approach.​

• Presidents 
• Elects
• Membership
• Programming 
• Communications
• Sponsorship/Finance 
• Collegiate & Community Relations

Prerequisites: 2+ years prior Summit attendance; not filling role of first-time President or President-Elect this year

SAVVY Track: Second City Storytelling Workshop

Humans have craved stories since the first cavemen gathered around the first fire and talked about how they discovered fire. It’s in our DNA. And yet, from sales reps to senior executives, storytelling falls victim to scripted pitches and underwhelming memos. Bring your product, processes, ideas, and data to life with this interactive workshop by Second City Works.

Lunch and Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award Presentation

To stay strong, you need a little down time, and a lot of motivation. Join us for a relaxing lunch, take time to chat with your tablemates, and hear from our inspirational Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award winner.

General Breakout

Challenge Sessions

This new curriculum is focused on the people and process part of board management. Split into two tracks, these topics will provide the opportunity to explore areas relevant to your chapter’s current situation and explore best practices with other chapter leaders, regardless of your board role. Check in with your PCC Leadership Advisor to identify the best track/session for your chapter:

• Metropolitan Challenges 
• Large Geographic Coverage Challenges 
• Stalled Community Engagement Challenges 
• Steering the Cruise Ship Challenges 
• Competitive Environment Challenges
• Starting Over Challenges

PREREQUISITES: 2+ YEARS prior SUMMIT ATTENDANCE; NOT FILLING ROLE OF first-time PRESIDENT OR PRESIDENT-ELECT THIS YEAR

SAVVY Track: The Rise of Social Purpose in Business

Across every dimension of the economy, there is a growing movement to integrate business strategy and social purpose. Investors are now measuring environmental and social impacts alongside financial returns. Companies are developing new products with the simultaneous goals of creating shareholder and societal value. And consumers are increasingly expressing their values through their buying decisions. What is behind this rise in socially conscious business? And how do we accelerate the movement from here?

Suggested pre-read found here.

Strategic Planning Overview

A strong strategic plan is the foundation for an effective board year, and it’s the culmination of everything you’ve learned at Summit. Gain a better understanding of the elements of a powerful and actionable strategic plan and the power of One Big Thing from the Robin Tooms, current PCC president, award-winning past Houston AMA President, and brilliant strategic thinker. You’ll leave with an enhanced strategic planning resource kit to help you set a strong foundation for your chapter year.

Action Plan Meetings (previously Strategic Planning Workshops)

You’re nearly done with the conference. You and your team are bursting with ideas and creative ways to attack your year. Now’s the time—while the iron is hot—to debrief with your team about what’s NEXT. To declare the three biggest takeaways to act on when you return to your chapter, and what your One Big Thing that you and your chapter will rally around this year. This is your starting place for your strategic plan, and what you’re committing to act on when you return. PCC Leadership Advisors are available to help you chart your course for the year ahead, but feel free to break off with your chapter on your own and discuss as a team.

AMA Dine-Arounds (Optional)

Interested in exploring Chicago and its neighborhoods but not sure where to start? Sign-up for a dine-around! We’ve made reservations at restaurants throughout the city to provide an informal opportunity for continued networking, stimulating conversation, and peer learning. Restaurants sign-up instructions will be revealed on-site and in the app.

Gene & Georgetti’s of Rosemont
Harry Caray’s Rosemont
Kizuki Ramen & Izikaya
The Dawson
Eris Brewery & Cider House

Leadership Skill Building

That was Yesterday!

Marketers are addicted to storytelling; and they are at risk of losing yet more of their portfolio as they have with sales, pricing, business analytics, supply chain, and distribution. This session will put you back in charge with what’s next for marketing leaders for 21^st Century brand-building; using Russ Klein’s new and original construct, Brand = Experience ^STORY

Leadership Skill Building

Leading the Creative Mind

As marketers, we’ve long know what businesses are just now catching up to: Creativity drives serious value in organizations. And those who know how to create a culture where creative minds can thrive—be it in a marketing context or otherwise—have a competitive advantage. Attracting, retaining, cultivating, and directing the creative mind is the leadership challenge of our times. Especially for marketing departments. Creative minds drive innovation, the ability to synthesize data, and solve problems in powerful ways outside the marketing discipline. This workshop will give you key insights, a fundamental approach, and basic skills for leading the creative talent in your teams.

keynote

VISION: NEXT

The innovation team of Big Muse & C’EST WHAT? will be producing a highly engaging, music-driven experience that inspires future-focused thinking and extraordinary action, placing everyone in the ideal frame of mind to create what’s coming next.

Closing Remarks