Learn from the experts how search is more critical than ever for communicators
ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool that responds to queries just like your online searches do today. But it will enhance search strategies by providing more accurate and relevant results to users.
Google is already the most trusted source of news and information in America and much of the world. New AI will improve search results, making them even more important and impactful. But just imagine how much more content will be created with a host of AI tools that keep getting better and better and ultimately undetectable vs. human generated news stories, blogs and social posts.
ChatGPT and Google’s upcoming Bard and other AI tools will make the professional communicator's job more challenging managing those already all-important results.
MODERATOR
Jesse Jacobs, Chief Technology Officer, Lightbox Search
Jesse Jacobs serves as Chief Technology Officer of Lightbox Search where he drives product development. Jesse works closely with both the technical team and clients to ensure Lightbox meets evolving objectives.During his decade with Lumentus, he has led cross-platform content creation as a creative strategist with expertise in search engine optimization (SEO), digital reputation management and brand building.Jesse is passionate about technology and design and holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts and Entertainment and Strategic Communications from Elon University.
GUESTS
Raoul Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Ascendant Group Branding
CEO of the Ascendant Group (ascendantgroupbranding.com), award winning CEO branding firm. Ranked #3 world wide out of 11,400 branding agencies on Ad World Masters top agencies list and #1 ranked minority owned PR firm by Clutch and Manifest. Ascendant offers one of the most integrated agency models in the world including brand strategy, PR, literary representation, design, social media, video, photography, and strategic relationships. Ascendant clients are Fortune 500 executives, INC 5000 CEOs, high performing and high potential entrepreneur brands, and bestselling self-help Authors looking to amplify their reach.He has participated in entrepreneur forums at the White House, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Senate. Davis regularly provides content on Forbes.com and is the author of the book Firestarters: How innovators, initiators and instigators can inspire you to ignite your own life.
Catherine Hernandez-Blades, SVP,Marketing & Communications, SAIC
Catherine Hernandez-Blades is a Communications, Marketing, Public and Government Affairs, Transformation, and Crisis Management executive spending half of her career in the C-suites of Fortune 500 companies as the top Communications and Marketing professional in the organization. Her experience is in highly regulated sectors with large, global footprints, and she is currently in the top Marketing and Communications role at SAIC, where she also has P&L responsibility for a revenue generating function. Previously she served at the CMCO and Chief ESG Officer at Aflac and Flextronics.
Other interesting facts about Catherine include that she has been a contributor to six books and profiled as an industry expert in Diana Booher’s “What More Can I Say?” and the PR Museum’s “Diverse Voices, Profiles in Leadership.” She is also an EMMY winner, PR News Hall of Famer, Forbes Top 50 Most Influential Global CMO, inaugural inductee in the Women in Communications Hall of Fame, two-time Cannes Lion winner, ExecRank Top 30 CMO, and a 2017 inductee into the PR Week Hall of Femme as well as the first American to win the Relations 4 the Future Medal at the Communications 4 the Future awards at Davos. Named to the Latino Leaders’ Latina 100 (2020), as the first PR Week Most Purposeful CCO (2019), and the 2019 Latina Style Corporate Executive of the Year. On the 2020 PRovoke Influence 100, the 2019 Holmes Report Influence 100, and Moves Magazine Power Woman lists, and the winner of the 2018 Innovation SABRE for Most Innovative Marketing Communications Professional – Brand, and the 2018 Outstanding In-house Professional of the Year by PR Week.
Ray Kerins, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, The Next Solutions Group
Former SVP of Corporate Affairs for Bayer Corporation where he managed communications, government relations and policy for the company's main businesses – Agricultural, Consumer, Pharmaceuticals and Animal Health. Member of the U.S. Country Leadership Team and the Bayer Global Leadership Council.
Previous chair of Bayer’s political action committee and oversaw the Bayer Foundation.
Former VP of Public Affairs & Worldwide Communications for Pfizer Inc. and former executive director of Public Affairs at Merck & Co.
Executive Committee member of the board of directors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Chair Emeritus of the Chamber’s Global Innovation Property Center focused on advancing and protecting innovation and IP rights.
Board member of the Congressional Award, U.S. Congress’ only charity focused on American youth. Long-standing advisor the National Press Foundation and the Assoc. of Foreign Correspondents. Member of the National Press Club.
Active lecturer at universities and business schools.
Michael J. Lamp, Chief Digital & Social Officer, Hunter:
After joining HUNTER in 2008, Michael specialized in traditional PR before establishing the Social & Digital Media Group in 2011. This team of one quickly grew into a robust group of more than twenty-five social strategists, community managers, media planners/buyers, copywriters and digital account managers. As HUNTER’s Chief Digital & Social Officer, Michael now oversees the entire Digital Group, providing ongoing counsel and acting as lead architect of client digital strategies.
Michael excels at elevating PR programs with social campaigns that earn consumer attention across every conceivable channel. He’s led digital campaigns for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including TABASCO, Diageo, Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Kraft and countless others. In 2018, Michael was named to PRSA New York’s 15-Under-35 List, an annual industry award that recognizes emerging talent in the Greater New York area. He also co-created HUNTER’s immersive Social Boot Camp workshops in 2011, an ongoing effort that helps the agency’s clients develop and articulate their unique brand personality in the social space.
Chad Latz, Chief Innovation Officer, Global President, Digital, BCW Global
Chad is a leader in trendspotting technology innovations that inspire new opportunities for engagement between stakeholders and brands. Under his leadership, the agency has 400 digital specialists in the business, providing clients with tighter integration of digital, social media, and technology into their strategies. He established the Artificial Intelligence Global Working Group at BCW and company received early recognition for its work in AI in 2019. Chad advises Fortune 500 clients across a broad range of communications and reputation issues.
In 2016, Chad was recognized as one of the industry's 25 Most Innovative Professionals by Provoke Media and, in 2017 was named among the 50 most powerful and influential communications professionals globally in the PRWeek Power Book 50. A leadership voice and spokesperson in the Marketing and Communications industry, Chad is frequently published in top industry outlets, is a keynote speaker, and expert commentator. Chad was the headliner speaker at the global ICCO Summit - Be the Change in Dubai 2022 and was recently a featured expert on Generative AI and Deepfakes in PRWeek.
Chad is an advocate of media for social change and a delegate to the U.N.
Scott Thomsen, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Ventura County Fire Department, Immediate Past President, National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC)
Scott Thomsen is the director of communications and public affairs for the Ventura County Fire Department in Southern California and the immediate past president for the National Association of Government Communicators. Scott is recognized as an expert in government communications and social media. His government communications career followed 20 years as an award-winning journalist for a variety of news organizations, including The Orange County Register and The Associated Press. He is an advocate for honest, ethical communications that enable people to participate effectively in their communities and democracy.