Category: Speakers

Events and speakers for the current conference

Michael Harshbarger

Michael Harshbarger

Senior Accessibility Trainer
Deque Systems Inc.
michael.harshbarger@deque.com

Session: Future Trends and Innovations in Accessibility
Time: April 5, 1:30 pm

For Michael, accessibility is both a professional and personal passion. Having family members with disabilities, Michael understands deeply the challenges they face in an unequal world. Before joining Deque, he spent 20+ years at State Farm Insurance. In growing from developer to project manager and finally program manager, he was involved in many of their critical accessibility efforts. His personal connection to the disability community and real-world experience with driving accessibility as a standard corporate practice inform his work with customers. Two fundamental principles guide Michael’s life: to leave the world a better place than he found it and to be the individual that his dog believes him to be. He has found that making the world a more accessible place is one important thing he can do to live by those principles.

Kate McGowan

Kate McGowan

Content and SEO Specialist
Carnegie
rhofstetter@carnegiehighered.com

Session: Preparing for Google’s SGE: How to Optimize Your Content for the Snapshot Carousel
Time: April 5, 1:30 pm


Kate McGowan is a Content and SEO Specialist at Carnegie. With over five years of experience writing and editing in multiple genres including digital marketing copywriting, Kate creates and executes web content and SEO strategies for colleges and universities, telling the story of each institution through content writing and information architecture design. She has a deep interest in the emergence of generative AI and has spent time educating others on how to leverage AI tools as SEOs, writers, and marketers. In her free time, she reads and volunteers in community gardens.

Rebecca Hofstetter

Rebecca Hofstetter

AVP, SEO and Content
Carnegie
rhofstetter@carnegiehighered.com

Session: Preparing for Google’s SGE: How to Optimize Your Content for the Snapshot Carousel
Time: April 5, 1:30 pm

As AVP, SEO and Content at Carnegie, Rebecca Hofstetter works with colleges and universities to enhance their search engine visibility, create data-driven content strategies, and deliver a positive web user experience to prospective students. She regularly runs SEO writing workshops for institutions and has presented on SEO at dozens of conferences. She has worked in higher education marketing for over seven years and was an adjunct professor of writing before that. She has a passion for education and considers herself a lifelong learner.

Lea Peck

Lea Peck

Associate Director of Social Media & Digital Strategy
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
leapeck2@illinois.edu

Session: Building Trust in the Digital Age: Social Media Crisis Management and Reputation Strategies
Time: April 5, 11:00 am

Lea Peck is the strategic mind behind the @uofillinois social media handles. Whether deciphering algorithms or crafting clever captions, Lea transforms #ILLINOIS stories into captivating narratives that resonate with both the curious and the committed. Outside of work, she enjoys reading (and napping) with her two kittens, exploring new cities in search of the best gluten free pastry, and embracing new hobbies on a whim.

August Schiess

August Schiess - director of social media, Public Affairs

Director of Digital Strategy
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
aschiess@illinois.edu

Session: Building Trust in the Digital Age: Social Media Crisis Management and Reputation Strategies
Time: April 5, 11:00 am

As the director of digital strategy for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I help lead the vision and brand for our university social media, digital marketing, graphic design, and web development teams. We work with a team of content creators, photographers, and videographers to create strategic content for our channels. Previously, I worked as a communicator for the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology and the Coordinated Science Lab, two research facilities at Illinois. I received a bachelor’s degree in English publishing studies from Illinois State University, and a master’s in advertising from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Bobbi Hardy

Bobbi Hardy

Communications and Customer Relations Coordinator
University of Illinois, Grainger College of Engineering, Engineering IT
battleso@illinois.edu

Session: Metta Meditation or LKM: An Exercise in Empathy
Time: April 5, 11:00 am

Bobbi has been a part of the IT community at the University of Illinois for 15 years. Her current role with Engineering IT (EngrIT) allows her to focus on creating rewarding experiences for EngrIT customers and staff by bringing positivity and support to everyday interactions. She is continuing to develop her meditation practice. Bobbi also hosts regular focus and meditation times for colleagues. She has earned degrees in Rhetoric, Library and Information Sciences, and Social Work. Her MSW concentration is on Mental Health. Bobbi loves reading, LEGO, and yarn crafts.

Jennifer Watson

Jenn Watson

Owner
Jennifer Watson Consulting
jen@jenwatson.biz

Session: Incorporating Storytelling into Your Online Strategy
Time: April 5, 11:00 am

Jen is a science nerd at heart. Upon receiving her degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, she thought she would spend her career in a lab. However, life had other plans. Instead, she discovered a passion for helping businesses tell their stories and growing those around her. Four years ago, corporate America left her, and her hidden entrepreneurial spirit emerged, leading her to start her consulting agency. Outside of work, she’s a board gamer and tennis captain, and serves several non-profits in the C-U area. She is married to her husband Doug, and servant to her pack of five (yes, five!) dogs.

Christy Moss

Christy Moss

VP of Marketing and Membership
University of Illinois Alumni Association
chrmoss@illinois.edu

Session: Harnessing AI for Digital Marketing and Communication Professionals
Time: April 5, 9:45 am

Christy Moss, the Vice President of Membership and Marketing at the University of Illinois Alumni Association, embodies the spirit of innovation with nearly two decades of experience in higher education marketing and advancement. An AI evangelist at heart, Christy’s fascination with the blend of human connection and technology has driven her to explore user experience and human-centered design. Her passion lies in crafting warm and meaningful philanthropic experiences that resonate on a personal level. A published author, engaging public speaker, and an influential figure with organizations like CASE and AGN Fundraising Resources, Christy’s storytelling ability allows her to connect with diverse audiences, inspiring others to embrace the endless possibilities that technology and empathy can offer in the realm of fundraising and marketing.

Jason Rambeck

Jason Rambeck

Senior Consultant
Pixo
jray@pixotech.com

Session: Designing CMS Authoring Experiences
Time: April 5, 9:45 am

Jason is a Senior Consultant at Pixo focusing on strategic implementation of CMS systems. With over 20 years of web design and development experience he provides leadership and direction to complex content website projects, advocating best practices in performance and user experience. Outside of work hours Jason loves to read, write and spend time with his family on their 4 acre farm.

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