Marilyn T. Keyes (moderator)
Panel: Barbara Puffer, ABC, Mara Samuels, Donna Herrle, Daria Steigman
Starting Up or Staying In Business During a Recession: The Questions You Were Afraid to Ask

During an economic downturn, communicators sometimes decide to start their own businesses after losing their positions. Others may have made a more conscious decision to go out on their own. If you have started your own consultancy or are thinking about starting up, you no doubnt have questions, concerns and worries. What should you know about finding new business, setting up a consultancy, setting your rates, keeping your clients happy? Do you have the temperament for running your own business? Where should you go for advice? Come learn from a panel of independent communicators who have survived more than one downturn in this highly interactive session that includes a panel discussion and Q&A from audience.

About The Panel

Marilyn T. Keyes is vice-chair of the IABC Research Foundation and served on the IABC international executive board from 2006-2009. Her most recent business venture, Keyes Communications, LLC, provides strategic marketing for corporate, nonprofit and government projects. She also served as director of Research and Strategy for JDG Communications, Inc., a Falls Church, VA marketing agency. In earlier years she served as vice president for marketing at software firms and owned her own advertising agency.

Barbara Puffer, ABC, started Puffer Public Relations Strategies in 1998, after a 25-year corporate career spanning all aspects of communications management. Additionally, she is associate professor and communications course chair for University of Maryland University College, teaching undergraduate and graduate studies online since 2002. Barb’s many leadership credentials include first female president of American School for the Deaf; IABC Research Foundation chair, Executive Board member, and Region Director; and, numerous civic and professional honors.

Mara Samuels is past-director of the IABC Heritage Region, having served as 2008-2009 region director. Mara spent most of her career working in the corporate world. During a 2001 economic downturn she founded her own marketing consulting practice. Based on her work experience and skill sets acquired working at companies such as Cisco Systems and Novell, she focused her practice in three areas: strategic market planning, integrated communications and public relations. With more than 20 years experience, Mara’s particular strength is in developing and executing communications programs that help companies improve the bottom line.

Donna Herrle has more than more than 25 years of experience in graphic design, communications, and project management. Donna took what started as a part-time venture and launched Drawing Conclusions graphic design in 2002. Since then, she has grown its client base by 20 times, been honored by peers, was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Edge Radio. Drawing Conclusions won an international Gold Quill Award, as well as regional and local awards. Donna also founded and operates Touchpoint, a home-based business monthly networking group, and owns Know Where To Go publishing.

Daria Steigman, founder and principal of Steigman Communications, is a public affairs and marketing communications consultant with a 20-year track record of developing business solutions to help companies, associations, and international organizations communicate more effectively with their multiple stakeholders. Having weathered several economic downturns since founding her consultancy in 1989, she’s passionate about how savvy entrepreneurs can thrive in tough times. She is also the author of a bimonthly business column for IABC’s CW Bulletin and a blog of the same name, Independent Thinking. She is a past president of IABC/Washington.

To register for the 2009 Heritage Region Conference, click here.