There are two things that internal communicators can count on in their futures: communicating change to internal stakeholders will define the value we provide to our employers, and any communicator who doesn’t develop the skills to enable change through communication will become obsolete in a few short years. That’s the bold truth that Mark Dollins brings to IABC April 20 in his presentation “Change Communications; the new currency for strategic internal communicator.”
Join us for Mark’s presentation, which walks through the definition of change communication, explain critical change models, highlight the competencies we need to further develop, deliver case studies to illustrate concepts in action, and provide insights on how employee communicators can step in to lead change, not solely be asked to communicate it. With more than 35 years in corporate communications with companies like Quaker Oats, PepsiCo and DuPont, combined with global award-winning consulting strategies for Fortune 50 clients, Mark has the expertise and experience to package a compelling message about a significant career growth opportunity. Further, as an adjuct professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, he brings additional expertise as an educator to the table. His consultancy, North Star Communications Consulting, won “2022 Communications Agency of the Year - East Coast” from Prestige international and was named “Top 10 National Talent Development Firms for 2022” by HR Tech Outlook Magazine. His new book, Engaging Employees Through Strategic Communication, is a new top-selling text, and the first-ever created for university teaching at both the graduation and undergraduate levels.
Virtual Webinar
Thursday, April 20, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (EST)
Chapter Members: $5
General Admission: $10
Students: Free
Mark Dollins
President, North Star Communications Consulting
Mark Dollins is president of North Star Communications Consulting, a consultancy with core capabilities in communications talent development, and in employee/change communications strategy. Founded in 2011, North Star has provided corporate communications consulting services to clients that include Visa, Toyota, Louis Vuitton, Xerox, United Technologies/Raytheon and Signet Jewelers, among others.
Mark’s previous corporate experience spans more than 30 years with Fortune 500 companies. It includes serving as head of Executive & Global Employee Communications for DuPont, where he created and executed communication strategies that engaged 35,000 employees in the Company’s growth initiatives, and empowered 8,000 people leaders to measurably engage their teams during the company’s $130B merger with Dow. He and his team drove communications strategies for the CEO and Senior Executive Team -- internally and externally -- and change management communications for the enterprise. In 2017 and 2018, his team earned the industry’s highest honors for communications excellence. This includes six IABC Gold Quills and two PRSA Silver Anvil awards for change management, employee engagement and employee communications. In 2018, PR Week awarded DuPont its highest honor for employee communications in North America, nominated his team’s work for best campaign of the year, and bestowed its “High Commendation” award for employee communications in its 2018 Global Communications competition. Mark’s college text book, “Engaging Employees through Communication,” was published globally by Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group Press in Fall 2021, and in 2022 his agency was named best East Coast Communications Consultancy by UK-based Prestige Awards.
Mark previously spent 17 years in executive communication leadership roles with PepsiCo. He was SVP and Chief Communications Officer at Pepsi Beverages and PepsiCo Americas Foods; and SVP of global internal communications, among other senior corporate roles. He led communications for PepsiCo’s 2011 acquisition of its anchor bottlers and ran merger communications for PepsiCo’s acquisition of The Quaker Oats Company, where he was VP of Corporate Communications. While at Quaker, he led both Corporate Communications and brand communications for Quaker, Life and Cap’n Crunch cereals, Aunt Jemima syrups and mixes, Rice-A-Roni, Gatorade and Tropicana juices. He also led corporate public relations, internal communications, government affairs, philanthropy and community relations.
His career with PepsiCo followed 10 years in the energy sector, running Corporate Communications for Northern Indiana Public Service Company, and leading employee communications for Indiana Michigan Power/American Electric Power.
Mark began his career in broadcast and print journalism, working with ABC News and other print news outlets. He currently serves on the national advisory council of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, served for eight years on LSU’s journalism advisory board for the Manship School of Communications, and has held a seat on The Conference Board’s Change & Transformation Council.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Radio/TV from The George Washington University, and a master’s degree in organizational communications from Purdue University. He also is certified in Prosci Change Management, is a silver-level certified USA Wrestling coach, and three-time national USA Wrestling masters folk style champion.
Virtual Webinar
Thursday, April 20, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (EST)
Chapter Members: $5
General Admission: $10
Students: Free
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