Trust & Influence: Being the Communicator Your Company Needs

Trusted to be a Voice at the Table

Nov. 18–19, 2026 | Atlanta, GA

Overview

Trust is no longer assumed … it must be earned, reinforced, and protected. The corporate communicators who earn trust play a critical role in shaping business decisions and organizational direction.

This November, we’ll gather PRSA members at The Coca-Cola Company’s global headquarters for two immersive days focused on elevating our role as strategic partners. Through hands-on learning, real-world scenarios and candid peer discussions, you’ll gain practical insights on using data to tell stronger stories, influencing leadership, navigating complexity and leading confidently during moments of pressure.

Our Event Host:

The Coca-Cola Company Global Headquarters
Atlanta Office Complex (AOC)
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30313

Registration

Registrant Type	Saver By 10/16	Regular After 10/16
Corporate Communications Section Member	$595.00	$695.00
PRSA Member	$695.00	$795.00
Nonmember	$995.00	$1095.00

Accreditation Information

Participants with the APR credential earn 2.0 CEUs for this event. Learn more about Accreditation.

Event Agenda

Tuesday, Nov. 17
7–9 p.m.	Optional Dine-Around Casual dine-arounds grouped by industry or area of focus (participants will be able to sign up for industry-specific dining groups for deeper conversations; costs not covered by PRSA or event registration).
Wednesday, Nov. 18
8 a.m.–5 p.m.	Building Access Check-In and Registration
8–9 a.m.	Breakfast — Open Networking
9–9:45 a.m.	Keynote Address *Leading Through Influence: A Fireside Chat with Communications Executives* Featuring: Alison Glenn, senior vice president, global communications and business integration, The Coca-Cola Company Scott Leith, vice president, financial and corporate communications, The Coca-Cola Company Moderated by: Tricia Taylor, vice president, corporate communications and change management, Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services An interactive conversation about lessons learned on building trust, guiding organizations through complexity and creating stronger connections with stakeholders and leadership teams.
9:45–10 a.m.	Break
10 a.m.–12 p.m.	Strategic Communications Workshop From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner: Elevating the Role of Corporate Communications - Strategy, Data, Creativity and Influence in Action Presented by Crescenzo Communications Overview: This hands-on workshop is designed to help communications practitioners define a clear practical communication strategy that aligns internal and external efforts around shared goals. Themes: Proving value, thinking strategically, influencing leadership and clearly connecting corporate communications’ work to business outcomes. Part One: Identifying and Framing Communication’s Value Being busy does not automatically mean being valuable … and leaders know the difference. Participants will learn how to connect their communication work to real business priorities not just activity lists and deliverables. The focus is on shifting the conversation from what we produce to how we contribute to organizational success. Objectives: Bridge the gap between communication activities and business priorities Identify strategic opportunities where communications can demonstrate value Understand the difference between output and outcomes in internal and external communications Topics Include: Why “we’re busy” is not the same as “we’re valuable” How to connect communication efforts to what leaders actually care about The difference between what you produce and what it changes Part Two: Data-Driven Storytelling: Demonstrating Impact with Metrics Data does not speak for itself; communicators do. This section focuses on choosing the right metrics making sense of numbers and turning data into stories that help leaders make decisions. Objectives: Equip participants with tools to measure what matters Learn how to talk about metrics in a way that resonates with leadership Topics Include: Choosing the right metrics and avoiding meaningless ones Translating data into clear compelling stories Moving from dashboards to decision-driving insights
12–1 p.m.	Lunch Break — Open Networking
1–3 p.m.	Strategic Communications Workshop Continues Part Three: Creativity Meets Strategy — Engaging Audiences Effectively Creativity works best when grounded in strategy. Participants will explore messaging visuals and campaign thinking to make communications clearer more engaging and easier to act on. Objectives: Understand how creativity strengthens not replaces strategy Learn how messaging visuals and storytelling improve engagement Topics Include: Why strategic creativity matters more than “flashy” ideas Crafting messages that respect audience time and attention Using visuals and storytelling to make information stick Use AI to quickly generate message variations craft headlines or build your strategy Part Four: Influencing Leadership and Building Strategic Partnerships This section focuses on building confidence and skills to move from order-taker to trusted advisor using better questions stronger framing and clearer recommendations. Objectives: Position communications as a business partner rather than a service function Build confidence in advocating for resources priorities and recognition Topics Include: Shifting from order-taker to advisor Asking better questions to influence decisions upstream Navigating pushback and competing priorities
3–3:30 p.m.	Afternoon Snack Break — Open Networking
3:30–4:30 p.m.	Keynote Address: Leading Through Change: Trust, Transformation & the Future of Communications Featuring: Deisha Barnett, President of Global Communications & Chief Communications Officer, UPS Moderated by: Tricia Taylor, Vice President, Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services An interactive fireside chat to close Day One with an inspiring, forward-looking conversation focused on leadership, transformation and the evolving expectations of communications professionals.
4:30–5:15 p.m.	Coca-Cola Company Global Headquarters Guided Tour 50 attendees max (participants will be able to sign up in advance of the event).
Thursday, Nov. 19
8–9 a.m.	Building Access Check-In
8–9 a.m.	Breakfast — Open Networking
9–9:45 a.m.	Crisis Communications Keynote Address Featuring: Todd Blecher, Senior Director, Media Relations, Leidos Towanda Long, Director, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company
9:45–10 a.m.	Break
10 a.m.–12 p.m.	Crisis Communications Workshop Crisis Communications. Better. Faster. Presented by Gerard Braud, CEO, BraudCommunications The clock is ticking. Your company has a breaking news crisis event. Start the clock: What is the length of time from the flashpoint of your event until corporate communications learns about the event? How long does it take to gather the details needed to write a first statement? Someone writes the first statement. How long does the writing take? There is the review. How much time is spent on approval? Are you forced to submit a second draft? How much more time is added to the process? HR and Legal weigh in. How much time does that add? From flashpoint until the release of your first statement, how much time has passed? The media arrive for interviews. How much time passes from flashpoint to news conference? Chances it is all taking too long. It’s time for you to adopt methods that are faster and better. In most crisis events, the initial narrative is set by a random human with a cell phone who posts a video of your crisis to social media in under 60 seconds. If you are ready to manage crisis communications at the speed of social media, this workshop is for you. We’ll dig into the five steps of effective crisis communications. Vulnerability Assessments Crisis Communications Plans Pre-written statements Media Training Crisis Drills In this interactive program you will: Examine your crisis communications funnel for gathering information Dive into the power of a proper hub and spokes model Analyze your existing systems and whether they are built for speed Deconstruct past crises to find opportunities to be better and faster Re-examine writing techniques used to create a statement Discover key secrets for faster approvals Map the steps you need to take on a clear sunny day to be better and faster on your worst day
12–1 p.m.	Lunch Break — Open Networking
1–2 p.m.	Crisis Communications Workshop Led by Gerard Braud, CEO, BraudCommunications Continues

Nearby Hotels

Glenn Hotel, Autograph Collection
110 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 521-2250

Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park
267 Marietta Street
Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 223-2300

W Atlanta Downtown
45 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 582-5800

Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park
190 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 659-0000

The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta
210 Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 659-1400

Ellis Hotel Atlanta
176 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 523-5155

Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center
800 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 347-9440

The Georgian Terrace Hotel
659 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 897-1991

Bellyard, West Midtown Atlanta
1 Interlock Ave NW, 30318
(404) 806-8333

Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center
159 Northside Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 223-4414

Hotel Phoenix Atlanta
70 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 850-2473