Keynote Speaker: Mandi Stanley
No Panic Presentations Skills for PR Professionals: How to Speak Confidently and Compellingly Anywhere.
With more than 27 years of experience on the seminar circuit, Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works primarily with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers. She has traveled throughout North America entertaining and educating more than 75,000 seminar participants, totaling more than 7,000 platform hours. Some of her repeat clients include:
Campbell’s Soup
United States Air Force
Kimberly-Clark’s World Headquarters
Nuclear Energy Institute
McDonald’s USA
Godiva Chocolate
National Football League (that’s right—the NFL!)
In 2003, Mandi was designated a CSP, Certified Speaking Professional. Fewer than 9 percent of all worldwide speakers have earned this designation, and Mandi is the first Mississippian in history to receive this honor through the National Speakers Association.
She’s a summa cum laude graduate from Mississippi State University with concentrations in English, communication, and management, and served as a faculty member of the American Management Association for five years. Mandi is the author of The No-Panic Plan for Presenters: An A-to-Z Checklist for Speaking Confidently & Compellingly Anywhere, Anytime, which was named a Finalist in the Career category at the Independent Book Publishers Awards in New York. Audiences appreciate her platform enthusiasm, interactive style, and content-rich messages. For more on Mandi go to https://mandistanley.com/meet-your-presenter/
Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Jenkins
Tell Your Story – how a small team can do big things by capturing an audience and communicating effectively.
Jennifer Jenkins is a public relations strategist, entrepreneur, and a huge fan of Dolly Parton. A small-town girl from Alabama, she believes the power of storytelling is what grows brands.
In May 2010, Jennifer made a bold move to leave the hustle of the big agency world to create a life and career she loved. A wife and mom of three, she launched JJPR to balance her passion for helping others communicate and her love of family. She also wanted to create a company that provided a compassionate workplace, was deeply tied to the community, and connected strongly with clients.
Since that time, JJPR has grown from an upstart, solo public relations firm with one client to a team of eleven serving dozens of clients. JJPR ranked as one of the top three PR firms in the state by Business Alabama last year, and the agency’s client roster includes Alabama State Port Authority, AM/NS Calvert, BASF Corporation, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Children’s of Alabama, Cirque du Soleil, City of Gulf Shores, Elisabeth Hays Creative Collective, ellenJAY, and Harvest Jewels, to name a few. Her firm has received more than 50 industry awards, and she has consistently earned recognition and leadership roles in her industry as well as in her community.
Jennifer was named Top 40 Under 40 by Mobile Bay Magazine and has received the Professional Achievement Award from both the Public Relations Council of Alabama and the Southern Public Relations Federation.
A summa cum laude graduate of The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing, she has more than 20 years professional experience in the field of public relations, marketing, advertising, research and communications planning. Throughout her career in public relations, Jennifer saw many businesses struggling with their public relations and marketing efforts, throwing away money on brochures, paid advertisements and other tactics that used the wrong message aimed at the wrong people. Jennifer founded JJPR with the goal of creating measurable public relations and marketing programs for businesses that produce results and drive their bottom line.
Tell Your Story – how a small team can do big things by capturing an audience and communicating effectively.
Jennifer Jenkins is a public relations strategist, entrepreneur, and a huge fan of Dolly Parton. A small-town girl from Alabama, she believes the power of storytelling is what grows brands.
In May 2010, Jennifer made a bold move to leave the hustle of the big agency world to create a life and career she loved. A wife and mom of three, she launched JJPR to balance her passion for helping others communicate and her love of family. She also wanted to create a company that provided a compassionate workplace, was deeply tied to the community, and connected strongly with clients.
Since that time, JJPR has grown from an upstart, solo public relations firm with one client to a team of eleven serving dozens of clients. JJPR ranked as one of the top three PR firms in the state by Business Alabama last year, and the agency’s client roster includes Alabama State Port Authority, AM/NS Calvert, BASF Corporation, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Children’s of Alabama, Cirque du Soleil, City of Gulf Shores, Elisabeth Hays Creative Collective, ellenJAY, and Harvest Jewels, to name a few. Her firm has received more than 50 industry awards, and she has consistently earned recognition and leadership roles in her industry as well as in her community.
Jennifer was named Top 40 Under 40 by Mobile Bay Magazine and has received the Professional Achievement Award from both the Public Relations Council of Alabama and the Southern Public Relations Federation.
A summa cum laude graduate of The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing, she has more than 20 years professional experience in the field of public relations, marketing, advertising, research and communications planning. Throughout her career in public relations, Jennifer saw many businesses struggling with their public relations and marketing efforts, throwing away money on brochures, paid advertisements and other tactics that used the wrong message aimed at the wrong people. Jennifer founded JJPR with the goal of creating measurable public relations and marketing programs for businesses that produce results and drive their bottom line.
Discussions: IHLs with Caron Blanton and Community Colleges with Co-Lin CC’s, Natalie Davis
Caron Blanton, APR
Caron Blanton, APR, serves as the Director of Communications for the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. She served previously as the Director of Legislative Services and Director of Communications for the Mississippi Department of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Randolph College, formerly Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, in Lynchburg, Va., and a master’s degree from the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
A native of Tupelo, Miss., Blanton has served as president of the Southern Public Relations Federation, the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, the Central Chapter of PRAM and the Mississippi School Public Relations Association. She serves on the Board of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
She became accredited in 2005 and received the state Professional Achievement Award from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi in 2007. She was appointed by SPRF to serve on the Universal Accreditation Board, a diverse group of educator, military public affairs personnel and public relations professionals who oversee the Accreditation program. During her three-year term, she served as Chair of the Examination & Preparation Work Group for two years and as Chair of the Eligibility & Appeals/Policies & Procedures Work Group for one year.
A Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Jackson, Blanton was selected to participate in the League’s Leadership Institute in 2014 and selected by the Mississippi Economic Council to participate in Leadership Mississippi in 2017. She and her husband, Danny, reside in Madison and are members of Madison United Methodist Church.
Natalie Davis, Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Natalie Davis has served as the Director of Public Relations and Sports Information at Copiah-Lincoln Community College for 21 years. She also serves as co-advisor of the Trillium yearbook.
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Davis attended Wesleyan College (Georgia) and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Davis is a member and has served as past president of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) and is currently a board member. She is also a member of the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), College Sports Information Directors of America (CPRAM) and is a past member of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Davis is currently vice president of the Mississippi Community College Marketing Association.
She was the recipient of the Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa’s Faculty Scholar Award, Co-Lin’s High Performance Award, and the Ann Bradberry Award. Davis has received numerous awards from the Mississippi Press Association and CPRAM.
She and her husband, Stephen, are the parents of two adult children, Leah Glenn (John) and Paul (Katie). Davis has two grandchildren, Sam and Hannah Glenn and is expecting her third grandchild in September.
Caron Blanton, APR
Caron Blanton, APR, serves as the Director of Communications for the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. She served previously as the Director of Legislative Services and Director of Communications for the Mississippi Department of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Randolph College, formerly Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, in Lynchburg, Va., and a master’s degree from the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
A native of Tupelo, Miss., Blanton has served as president of the Southern Public Relations Federation, the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, the Central Chapter of PRAM and the Mississippi School Public Relations Association. She serves on the Board of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
She became accredited in 2005 and received the state Professional Achievement Award from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi in 2007. She was appointed by SPRF to serve on the Universal Accreditation Board, a diverse group of educator, military public affairs personnel and public relations professionals who oversee the Accreditation program. During her three-year term, she served as Chair of the Examination & Preparation Work Group for two years and as Chair of the Eligibility & Appeals/Policies & Procedures Work Group for one year.
A Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Jackson, Blanton was selected to participate in the League’s Leadership Institute in 2014 and selected by the Mississippi Economic Council to participate in Leadership Mississippi in 2017. She and her husband, Danny, reside in Madison and are members of Madison United Methodist Church.
Natalie Davis, Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Natalie Davis has served as the Director of Public Relations and Sports Information at Copiah-Lincoln Community College for 21 years. She also serves as co-advisor of the Trillium yearbook.
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Davis attended Wesleyan College (Georgia) and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Davis is a member and has served as past president of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) and is currently a board member. She is also a member of the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), College Sports Information Directors of America (CPRAM) and is a past member of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Davis is currently vice president of the Mississippi Community College Marketing Association.
She was the recipient of the Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa’s Faculty Scholar Award, Co-Lin’s High Performance Award, and the Ann Bradberry Award. Davis has received numerous awards from the Mississippi Press Association and CPRAM.
She and her husband, Stephen, are the parents of two adult children, Leah Glenn (John) and Paul (Katie). Davis has two grandchildren, Sam and Hannah Glenn and is expecting her third grandchild in September.
Andrea Farmer, Executive Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Hinds Community College
You Are the Voice - Now Yell!
Andrea understands the value of working with the community at large to market a mission. “Hinds Community College is continuing its traditions, values and beliefs,” Farmer said. “Even though our gears may sometimes shift, our principles remain the same. My focus now and in the future is to continue the relationships with our communities and expand on our opportunities to grow as we never have before. The purpose of marketing is for us to help support the Hinds Community College story and lead students on a pathway to excel in their chosen profession as they aspire to become a success.” Her background is in the healthcare industry where she primarily focused on cardiovascular and surgery services, internal, primary care and specialty clinics. Her experience includes telecommunications and pharmaceutical sales for 10 years and with the American Heart Association as the Heart Walk Director, raising funds for lifesaving medical research to help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. She created awareness to employees of organizations around metro Jackson along with educating school-aged children with CPR training and helping them to develop a healthy lifestyle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in business from Belhaven University. Away from work, she enjoys vacations and staying active with her husband, Greg, and daughter, Zoe Claire, 11. They also have two dogs, Dexter and Hercules, and a cat, Princess.
You Are the Voice - Now Yell!
Andrea understands the value of working with the community at large to market a mission. “Hinds Community College is continuing its traditions, values and beliefs,” Farmer said. “Even though our gears may sometimes shift, our principles remain the same. My focus now and in the future is to continue the relationships with our communities and expand on our opportunities to grow as we never have before. The purpose of marketing is for us to help support the Hinds Community College story and lead students on a pathway to excel in their chosen profession as they aspire to become a success.” Her background is in the healthcare industry where she primarily focused on cardiovascular and surgery services, internal, primary care and specialty clinics. Her experience includes telecommunications and pharmaceutical sales for 10 years and with the American Heart Association as the Heart Walk Director, raising funds for lifesaving medical research to help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. She created awareness to employees of organizations around metro Jackson along with educating school-aged children with CPR training and helping them to develop a healthy lifestyle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in business from Belhaven University. Away from work, she enjoys vacations and staying active with her husband, Greg, and daughter, Zoe Claire, 11. They also have two dogs, Dexter and Hercules, and a cat, Princess.
Dr. Jay Allen, President of Itawamba Community College / Education Achievement Council Chair
Ascent to 55%. Increasing Postsecondary Attainment in Mississippi
Dr. Jay Allen became the seventh president of Itawamba Community College on July 1, 2017 after serving as president and chief executive officer of Hopkinsville Community College in Kentucky since January 2014.
A native Mississippian, Dr. Allen has served in several leadership positions at Hinds Community College and as a senior-level administrator for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College – Perkinston and the George County Center – for a combined total of 25 years. He earned the Associate of Arts degree in May 1991 from Hinds;
the Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 and the master’s degree in 1995, both from Mississippi State University; and the doctorate in higher education administration, from the University of Mississippi in 2009.
His experience includes both academic and career and technical education, student services, institutional development, information technology, business services, athletics, workforce and other non-credit areas. He currently serves on numerous local, state and national boards. He serves as Chair of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges State Workforce Education Committee, Chair of the Mississippi Education Achievement Council responsible for the statewide educational attainment goal, Co-Chair of the HERDI South Executive Board, Mississippi representative on the Community Colleges of Appalachia Board of Directors and most recently named as a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors. He was nominated in 2019 by students and awarded the national Paragon Award recognizing college presidents who show exceptional dedication and support of student success by emphasizing academic achievement, leadership and service among high-achieving students at their college.
Dr. Allen and his wife, Belinda, have two daughters, Emma Grace, 18; and Mollianne, 13.
Barin von Foregger, Trustmark Digital Media Expert
Instant Impact Through Video Content Strategy
Higher education communications teams have been hustling to incorporate digital videos into their strategic plans to promote and market their institution's products and offerings, increase engagement on their digital and social channels, constantly inform students, parents and faculty, and reach a new audience with an ever-popular medium. Barin will show you how to create a viable strategic plan around video that can be launched and tracked quickly, without asking for added budget expenditures.
Barin von Foregger is Digital Media Campaign Manager with Trustmark Bank in Jackson. He has been working in the digital media field since 2005, with vast experience in video and web development. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Brandon, and have two boys, Gavin (16) and Garrison (12).
Tracy Duncan, CPRAM President
Tracy Duncan is currently in his seventh year doing the sports marketing at Hinds Community College, where he has handled marketing and advertising for Eagle athletics. This includes sports publications, photography and video projects for use on the HCC social media outlets.
The San Antonio, Texas native has spent just over two decades on the Raymond Campus, where he has also served as the district graphics specialist at Hinds. This role has had him in a variety of roles, including advertising, graphic design/production and digital photography for collaterals for use to promote one of the largest institutions of higher learning in Mississippi.
Tracy has been a member of the American Advertising Federation of Jackson (formerly Jackson Advertising Federation) serving for many years on the board as a director, secretary, treasurer and ADDY Awards Chair and was the recipient of several national and regional Club Achievement Awards as communications and diversity categories chairs. The Jackson club was selected multiple times as national and regional club of the year while Duncan served on its board.
Prior to his 21-year stint at Hinds, Duncan worked at Laser Tech Color, Inc., in San Antonio from 1995-1999, where he managed the first digital photography studio for HEB Grocery store chain's main office, receiving products and sending out digital photos on disk for placement in HEB's weekly advertising circulars.
Duncan spent the years of 1993-1995 working for Supervision, Inc. in the San Antonio area, where he created digital 3D wireframe models and digital/print graphics for video games using various computer platforms and rendering engines. He also had two stints of one-year apiece as a graphic artist and as an architectural designer in the state of Texas.
He graduated from the University of Texas in 1986, earning a bachelor of science degree in advertising, with a concentration in architecture. He also received an additional associate of arts degree from Hinds CC in occupational education with an emphasis in automotive collision repair in 2015.
Duncan lives in Florence and is the father of three children, sons Aidan and Benjamin, and daughter, Laura.
Tracy Duncan, CPRAM President
Tracy Duncan is currently in his seventh year doing the sports marketing at Hinds Community College, where he has handled marketing and advertising for Eagle athletics. This includes sports publications, photography and video projects for use on the HCC social media outlets.
The San Antonio, Texas native has spent just over two decades on the Raymond Campus, where he has also served as the district graphics specialist at Hinds. This role has had him in a variety of roles, including advertising, graphic design/production and digital photography for collaterals for use to promote one of the largest institutions of higher learning in Mississippi.
Tracy has been a member of the American Advertising Federation of Jackson (formerly Jackson Advertising Federation) serving for many years on the board as a director, secretary, treasurer and ADDY Awards Chair and was the recipient of several national and regional Club Achievement Awards as communications and diversity categories chairs. The Jackson club was selected multiple times as national and regional club of the year while Duncan served on its board.
Prior to his 21-year stint at Hinds, Duncan worked at Laser Tech Color, Inc., in San Antonio from 1995-1999, where he managed the first digital photography studio for HEB Grocery store chain's main office, receiving products and sending out digital photos on disk for placement in HEB's weekly advertising circulars.
Duncan spent the years of 1993-1995 working for Supervision, Inc. in the San Antonio area, where he created digital 3D wireframe models and digital/print graphics for video games using various computer platforms and rendering engines. He also had two stints of one-year apiece as a graphic artist and as an architectural designer in the state of Texas.
He graduated from the University of Texas in 1986, earning a bachelor of science degree in advertising, with a concentration in architecture. He also received an additional associate of arts degree from Hinds CC in occupational education with an emphasis in automotive collision repair in 2015.
Duncan lives in Florence and is the father of three children, sons Aidan and Benjamin, and daughter, Laura.