Hire Sandy to Speak
Keynote Talks to Educate, Inspire, and Get Your Team Into Action
Conferences and Speaking Events
With over 20 years of experience in marketing, economic development, and tourism, I’m committed to helping your event to be a success, and giving your attendees new ideas they’ll be excited to implement. I work with your organization to craft a presentation that’s customized for your conference or event. I speak with the attendee in mind — giving talks that are both informative and interactive; educational and entertaining.
Training and Workshops for Your Organization
Need Marketing and PR expertise that your staff can implement? I lead workshops for organizations who need an outsider who understands you like I’m on the inside! My workshops are based around empowering your team with actionable strategies and steps — so that they can take what they’ve learned to take action in your organization.
Sandy was an engaging, educational, and inspiring keynote speaker at our Quad County Business Summit.
Sandy provided helpful thoughts and tips on how businesses could grow with the power of collaboration throughout COVID. She led an open Q&A session at the end of her talk and connected with our audience in a fun, interactive way. Our attendees walked away with tactical ideas and inspiration on how to thrive during the upcoming year.
We could not have chosen a better Opening Speaker!
Sandy was one of our keynotes at the Chambers Women’s Expo, and we could not have chosen a better Opening Speaker! She knocked it out of the park! I truly appreciate Sandy for taking the time to make our event a success!
Speaking Topics
Speaking Topics Include:
Communicating Across Generations
The world is changing fast and the millennials are the faces of the future. And technology seems to be changing faster than we can keep up with it.
Rather than fighting change, the key is to adapt to it — and learn how to work with these changes versus against them.
In this talk, you’ll learn how to bridge communication across generations so that we’re working together with the future generations both in-house and in the marketplace.
This talk includes tips for ALL generations to communicate more effectively.
Key Takeaways:
- Communication tips to use across generations in the workplace (and at home!)
- Powerful mindset shifts that allow you to appreciate the differences and nuances that other generations have to offer (to make your life easier and smoother!)
- How to break down the barriers of frustration that the other party is always to blame for problems — and how to solve common issues at home or in the office
- Practical tips on how to communicate more effectively so you are heard, you get your desired result, and the relationship improves
Length of Speech Available:
- 1 Hour Keynote
- ½-Day Workshop
From Untapped Resource to Secret Weapon: How to Build a Relationship with Your Local EDO and Thrive With Their Support
Did you know that your local and state Economic Development Office is a powerful resource that can help your business thrive? In this talk, you’ll learn how to collaborate with your local Economic Development Organization so you can receive their support with business growth and your bottom line. With 20 years experience as a marketing consultant and publicist for Economic Development Organizations, Sandy provides insider knowledge about how to benefit from this often untapped resource.
Key Takeaways:
- Exactly what an Economic Development Organization (EDO) does for businesses like yours
- How to build a win-win relationship with your local EDO that benefits both your business and the community
- How to tap into the wealth of connections that an EDO can provide you with, which can lead to new opportunities and collaborations for your business
- How to get help from your local EDO if you are trying to grow, expand, or are facing challenges with financing, workforce, site selection, government permits (and the list goes on)
- Why being top of mind with your local EDO is important (hint: so they can brag about you) — and concrete steps to do so.
Length of Speech Available:
- 1 Hour Keynote
- ½-Day Workshop
Clarifying the Terrifying: Social Media Solutions for Your Business
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – oh my! With millions of people on social media, you know you should be utilizing it for your business or organization. In this presentation, I’ll share how to identify the best social media networks for you, and then – exactly what you should be doing there to get fans who turn into customers.
Key Takaways:
- Identify the social media sites your target audience is using and find out how to get in front of them there.
- How to make the most of the opportunities of each site, and navigate the challenges of each platform.
- How to plan for social media success using content calendars and best-utilizing staff resources and time.
- What it means to create a “dialogue” on social media… instead of “preaching” or being “salesy”.
Length of Speech Available:
- 1 Hour Keynote
- ½-Day Workshop
- Full Day Workshop
Changing Perceptions: How to Create Positive Perceptions of Your Community in the Eyes of Your Target Market
As an Economic Development Organization, how do you change the perception of your community? The good news is the power is in your hands! You have control over the perception you create, and in this talk — I’ll give you the keys to getting in the driver’s seat.
Key Takaways:
- Your #1 secret weapon — that already exists in your community — to shifting perceptions.
- How to openly embrace the uniqueness of your community and understand your own assets and effectively use that in your marketing.
- How to use different communication techniques to communicate that message, including social media, PR, and video.
- What to do with local stakeholders FIRST before beginning your outside communication strategy.
- How to effectively communicate the assets of your community so you can expand your workforce and attract the next generation of employees.
Length of Speech Available:
- 1 Hour Keynote
- ½-Day Workshop
- Full Day Workshop
I highly recommend Sandy’s training!
After attending Sandy’s social media workshop, I feel much more confident and much less stressed about juggling social media. Sandy’s confidence, warmth, and expertise made the training enjoyable and the information accessible. The session was fun from start to finish. I highly recommend this training!
Customized for Your Needs
I’m also happy to customize a presentation based on your organization’s specific needs. My expertise includes the areas of:
- Marketing for Small Businesses
- Communications Plans for Economic Development and
- Tourism Industries
- Public Relations
- Social Media
- Producing Events and Gaining Event Publicity
- And more!
Past Speaking Engagements
Sandy regularly speaks at entrepreneurial conferences and Chamber of Commerce events, as well as annual training conferences for economic development all over the mid-Atlantic region. Sandy’s past speaking engagements include:
- IEDC Marketing and Attraction Courses – International Economic Development Council
- Digital Marketing Trends for 2023 and Beyond – Apple Processors Association
- Communicating Across Generations – Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce
- Communicating Across Generations – Ocean City Hospitality
- Fostering Talent and Developing Our Internal Economic Development Leaders – Ignite Talk at the IEDC Annual Conference
- Economic Development & The Airport Industry – Virginia Aviation Annual Conference
- Augmented and Virtual Reality – IEDC Webinar
- Communicating Effectively for Manufacturers – Composite Can & Tube Institute
- Communicating Across Generations – Maryland Workforce Development Conference
- Secrets to Generating Buzz – The Power Conference – Women Doing Business
- Building Your Brand – Main Street Hagerstown
- Digital and Social Media Fundraising Techniques – West Virginia Rivers Coalition – Eastern Panhandle Watershed Group Gathering
- Put Your Best Foot Forward: Marketing Tourism – International Economic Development Council Webinar
- Digital Marketing and SEO Strategies – Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce News@Noon Session
- Digital Deep Dive – Downtown Frederick Partnership
- Using Social Media to Engage Customers – Frederick County Office of Economic Development (Ag Development)
- Using Social Media on the Jobsite to Expand Your Reach – Sisler Stone
- Marketing Your Main Street – Main Street Maryland
- Site Selection Data Resources and Tools Panel – MEDA 2018 Fall Conference
- Generational Marketing for Stronger Communities – IEDC 2018 Annual Conference
- #SoInfluential: Helping the Social Media Entrepreneurs in Your Community – IEDC 2018 Economic Future’s Forum
- Finding Your Unique Story – MEDA 2018 Annual Conference
- LinkedIn: Making it work for you and your business – Martinsburg/Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce
- Social Media Strategies – Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
- Five Data Points To Help You Better Tell Your Community’s Story – IEDC Webinar
- Facebook v. LinkedIn: Which is Better for Your Organization? – webinar
- Social Media Strategies – Town of Bel Air
- Lunch & Learn: Social Media – Main Street Middletown
- Clarifying the Terrifying: Social Media Solutions for Your Business – Women’s Network
- Top Marketing Channels for Entrepreneurs to Use – Eastern Panhandle Technology Innovation Center / APUS
- Effective Marketing of Small Business – Eastern Panhandle Entrepreneurs Forum
- Marketing & Business Attraction – Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course, Baltimore, MD
- The Power of Print in Integrated Marketing – Small Business Retreat, Lord Fairfax Community College
- Effective Marketing of Small Business – Eastern Panhandle Entrepreneurs Forum
- Creating the Connection: Better Government Through Better Outreach – Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)
- Lunch & Learn: What is Public Relations and Why Does it Matter? – SCORE Western Maryland Chapter
- Lunch & Learn: Public Relations in a Social Media World – Cowork Frederick
- 10 Steps to Build Your Personal Brand in Just 10 Minutes a Day – Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce/Women’s Network
- Personal and Professional Social Media for the HR Manager – Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM)-Eastern Panhandle
- PR Trends – American Advertising Federation (AAF) – Greater Frederick
- Professional Communication and Social Media – New Jersey Veterinary Technicians and Assistants (NJVTA) Conference
- How to Get Published – North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC)
- How to Generate Event Publicity – Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau – Moorefield, W.Va.
Sandy’s energy and enthusiasm make her the perfect after-lunch keynote
At the Virginia Aviation Conference, Sandy provided an economic development perspective that our aviation community really needed to hear. She was able to relate to our audience and provide them with actionable strategies for collaboration between aviation and economic development – two industries that should be working together every day, but often get stuck in their own silos. She provided examples of successful collaborations in airports across the country, along with customizing specific suggestions for our audience. Her energy and enthusiasm make her the perfect after-lunch keynote.
