Communication Directors Institute Schedule

10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Registration

1:00–1:30 p.m.: Event Kick-Off & Welcome

• Kevin Juliano, 2024 NAR Communications Directors Chair, Chief Growth Officer, Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®
• Mantill Williams, Vice President of Public Relations and Communication Strategy, National Association of REALTORS®

1:30–2:30 p.m.: The Rob Jones Journey

• Rob Jones, Retired Marine Sergeant, Paralympic Bronze Medalist and Endurance Athlete

Since being discharged honorably from the Marines, Rob Jones has continued to motivate himself to achieve new heights. He shares his story of perseverance and the values-based belief system he uses to stay inspired and keep reaching—including his battle-tested view that the best way to overcome any obstacle, accomplish any goal, and improve yourself is by embracing selflessness. Rob shares his inspiring personal story and, with a thought-provoking and incredibly moving first-hand story, hammers home the importance of acting in the best interests of those around you and the causes that you care about. Rob has lived this value, as evidenced by his recovery and achievements since his time in the Marines.

2:30–3:10 p.m.: Icebreaker

• Brenda Fisher, Communications Director, Lubbock Association of REALTORS®

3:10–3:30 p.m.: Break

3:30–4:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

Breakout A: Narratives and Numbers: Enhancing Member Value with Every Communication

• Brenda Fisher, Communications Director, Lubbock Association of REALTORS®
• Erika Landeros, Communications Manager, San Antonio Board of REALTORS®

Breakout B: Affiliate Engagement and Communications

• Katie Fletcher, Vice President of Operations, Sierra Nevada REALTORS®
• Jessica Gauthier, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Arlington Board of REALTORS®

Jessica Gauthier (Go-Tee-Yay) and Katie Fletcher are excited to present an informative and interactive presentation on breaking through the noise for amplified affiliate programs at associations.

Jessica will focus on how to improve relationships with affiliates through the affiliate committee and their involvement in events, networking, and educational opportunities to give maximum benefit on their investment of time and money. Katie will focus on breaking apart old and standardize partnership and sponsorship programs to create opportunities for events, networking, and educational opportunities to give renewed value to membership at an association as an affiliate.

Together they will take you through a breakout session focused on breaking down your biggest pain points to create one actionable item for you and your association to implement to begin to add value and increase retention with your affiliate members.

4:35–4:40 p.m.: Day One Recap and Announcements

• Kevin Juliano, 2024 NAR Communications Directors Chair, Chief Growth Officer, Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®
• Chris Barnhart, 2024 NAR Communications Directors Vice-Chair, Vice President, Strategic Communications, Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®

4:40–6:00 p.m.: Free Time

6:00–7:30 p.m.: Welcome Reception at Omni Hotel

Sponsored by Realtor.com and Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®

7:45–8:45 a.m.: Breakfast & Networking

Sponsored by Agency McKenna

8:45–8:50 a.m.: Day Two Kickoff and Announcements

• Kevin Juliano and Chris Barnhart

8:50–9:50 a.m.: Evolving Communications: A Conversation with NAR Interim CEO Nykia Wright

• Nykia Wright, Interim CEO, National Association of REALTORS®
• Kristi Olds, Director of Communications, Connecticut REALTORS®

Join Nykia Wright, Interim CEO of the National Association of REALTORS®, and Kristi Olds, Director of Communications at Connecticut REALTORS®, for a forward-looking discussion on thriving through challenging times and the critical role state and local associations play in member communication.

9:50–9:55 a.m.: Break

9:55–10:45 a.m.: Breakout Sessions

Breakout A: Social Media Breakout Session #1

• Mckenzie Allen, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, North Carolina REALTORS®
• Taylor Gray, Director of Communications, Boise Regional REALTORS®
• Cristina Schaefer, Director of Social Media, Houston Association of REALTORS®

Learn secrets to social media success with content strategies like member spotlights, interactive questions, engaging with trends, effective community management, consumer campaigns and showcasing the REALTOR® value.

Breakout B: In the Eye of the Storm: Communicating Calm Amid Chaos

• Mitch Turner, Director of Communications and Marketing, Greater Nashville REALTORS®

In times of crisis, effective communication is essential for managing and mitigating challenges. This presentation will delve into the art of Crisis Communication, focusing on strategies to maintain composure, project calmness, and convey confidence amidst chaos. Participants will explore the psychology of crisis communication, learn key components of crisis management strategies, and discover the power of authenticity in building trust with stakeholders.

10:45–11:00 a.m.: Break

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Unveiling the Potential: Unleashing Your Communication Excellence with ChatGPT

• Marki Lemons Ryhal, CAiO, ReMarkiTable LLC

Explore the practical applications of AI and specifically focus on ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. It is vital to stay updated with technology to gain a competitive advantage in the industry. By leveraging ChatGPT, you can save valuable time, enhance and repurpose all communications. This program will provide you with the knowledge and skills to effectively use ChatGPT, ensuring new ways to exchange information while expanding your reach through repurposing content.

• Understand the concept and significance of ChatGPT in the real estate industry.
• Identify the exploratory and actionable uses of ChatGPT for real estate tasks.
• Develop effective prompts and commands to generate valuable outputs from ChatGPT.
• Leverage ChatGPT to generate engaging blog posts, adhering to SEO best practices.
• Utilize ChatGPT to create video scripts, capturing potential attention.
• Explore alternative AI tools for real estate content creation
• Take actionable steps to implement ChatGPT and boost productivity and efficiency.

12:00–1:00 p.m.: Lunch & Networking

1:00–1:15 p.m.: CD Group Photo

1:15–2:15 p.m.: Designing Success: Mastering Canva for Real Estate Communications

• Marki Lemons Ryhal, CAiO, ReMarkiTable LLC

This program is crafted for communication directors eager to enhance their marketing visuals and streamline content creation processes. Learn to use Canva effectively and leverage its AI capabilities to elevate your association's communication strategy, ensuring your messages are compelling and visually engaging.

• Identify and navigate the AI features and tools within Canva essential for creating professional designs.
• Apply Canva’s AI-enhanced tools to automate design tasks, improving efficiency and consistency across communications.
• Utilize Canva's advanced features, such as animation and video editing, to produce dynamic content that captures attention.
• Adapt your designs to effectively fit various communication channels including email, social media, and print.
• Develop strategies to maintain brand consistency across all visual and textual communications created in Canva.

2:15–2:30 p.m.: 2025 CD Vice-Chair Election

2:30–2:45 p.m.: Break

2:45–3:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

Breakout A: Social Media Breakout Session #2

• Reya Christensen, Director of Marketing and Events, REALTORS® Association of Lincoln
• Sarah Hinman, Community Outreach and Member Engagement Director, REALTORS® Association of Lincoln
• Ashlee Kieler, Director of Marketing and Communications, Iowa REALTORS®
• Ashley Lupkes, Marketing Project Manager, Iowa REALTORS®
• Brandie Miner, Director of Communications and Marketing, Georgia REALTORS®

Harness the power of your social media to increase member engagement through seamless campaigns, member-centric Facebook groups, social recognition and storytelling, and more!

Breakout B: The Power of Collaboration and Future of Volunteerism

• Karla Murphy, Chief Strategy Officer, Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS®

Explore how to amplify your brand through strategic partnerships and innovative volunteer engagement. Learn to create and strengthen collaborations with industry, multicultural partners, and community organizations to elevate your association. Then you’ll discover a new way to tailor volunteer opportunities to evolving preferences, fostering a dynamic and inclusive experience. See how these approaches have increased involvement, attracted new volunteers, and heightened awareness of opportunities. Join us to enhance your association's impact through collaboration and modern volunteerism strategies.

3:30–4:15 p.m.: Roundtable Discussions

4:15–4:30 p.m.: Day Two Recap and Closing Announcements

• Kevin Juliano and Chris Barnhart

4:30–6:00 p.m.: Free Time

6:00–7:30 p.m.: Reception at Fassler Hall

Sponsored by MLSOK and REALTOR® Safety

7:45–9:00 a.m.: Breakfast & Networking

9:00–9:05 a.m.: Day Three Welcome and CDI 2026 Location Announcement

• Kevin Juliano and Chris Barnhart

9:00–9:45 a.m.: Wrap-Up Discussion: What Did You Learn?

• Kevin Juliano and Chris Barnhart

9:45–10:00 a.m.: Break

10:00–10:45 a.m.: Roundtable Discussions

10:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m.: Closing Remarks

• Kevin Juliano and Chris Barnhart