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2026 Annual Conference Schedule

Note: Session times and topics are subject to change.

Tuesday - September 8, 2026

4:00 p.m.

Board of Directors Meeting 

Wednesday - September 9, 2026

Pre-Conference

8:00 a.m.

Pre-Conference Registration 

8:30 a.m.

Pre-Conference Sessions

  • Build Your Own AI Comms Teammate (Without IT Panic) - Mineral D/E/F/G
  • Governing Social Media in Government: Navigating First Amendment Rules & Building Defensible Moderation Operations - Centennial F/G/H
  • Leadership for a Lifetime: Turning Experience into Impact - Mineral A/B/C
  • Training the Trainers: Building Confident Communicators and a Culture of Strategic Communication - Centennial A/B/C

11:00 a.m.

Pre-Conference Luncheon - Centennial D/E

General Conference

11:00 a.m.

General Conference Registration Begins 

12:00 p.m.

Gathering for First Timers - Centennial A/B/C

12:30 p.m.

Opening Session - Centennial D/E

Yellow Means Go: Leading Through Communication When Silence Isn’t an Option
Government communicators are operating under unprecedented pressure with mounting distrust, misinformation, and nonstop scrutiny. The work is exhausting but it’s essential.

In this opening keynote, Julie Parker delivers a direct, motivating message for city and county communicators who are leading in high-stakes moments with limited time and complicated approval chains. Drawing on her experience inside government and during moments of national and international crisis, Julie makes one thing clear: communication is leadership.

The keynote introduces the Yellow Means Go movement which centers around a hard truth communicators already understand: silence is a decision, and hesitation carries risk. Trust isn’t built by excessive waiting; it’s built through clear, timely, intentional communication.

Through story-driven real-world examples, Julie shows how forward motion stabilizes organizations, builds credibility, and strengthens public trust.

Attendees will leave empowered, energized, and equipped with:

  • Clear language to advocate for action
  • Practical tools to explain why action beats silence
  • A framework that reinforces the leadership they’re already exercising

Because when the light turns yellow, leaders don’t stop. They go.
Presenter: Julie Parker, President & CEO, Julie Parker Communications

2:30 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

  • Crisis Communications and Critical Incidents on Campus - Centennial A/B/C
  • If Communication Fails, Everything Fails - Centennial F/G/H
  • Engagement Isn’t Optional: Strengthening Municipal Communication Through Public Participation - Mineral A/B/C
  • Don’t Panic, Plan It: Building a Digital Accessibility Plan That Delivers - Mineral D/E/F/G

3:30 p.m.

Networking Break - Centennial Foyer

4:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

  • When Did Communications Get Hot? Tales from the EOC - Centennial A/B/C
  • Breaking Through the Noise: Creating a Centralized Newsroom for City Communications - Centennial F/G/H
  • Super Fun, Wicked Cheap Major Project Engagement - Mineral A/B/C
  • From 5,000 Pages to 600: A Smarter Website, Built From Scratch - Mineral D/E/F/G

5:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception - Centennial Foyer

6:30 p.m.

Evening Networking Event - Denver Milk Market (Pre-registration Required)

Thursday - September 10, 2026

7:30 a.m.

Breakfast - Centennial D/E

8:30 a.m.

General Session - Innovation Forum - Centennial D/E

Designing for Trust: How Visual Communication Builds Public Confidence
In an era where residents expect clarity, transparency, and quick access to reliable information, strong visual communication has become essential to effective government outreach. This session explores how compelling, on-brand visuals, supported by consistent branding, accessible design, and clear storytelling, can foster public trust and enhance resident engagement. Discover how Canva for Government empowers government marketing and communications teams to create professional, trustworthy content at scale, with brand controls that ensure consistency and tools that make design accessible to everyone. No formal design training required!

Attendees will walk away with:

  • Practical strategies for using visual storytelling to simplify complex topics and improve public understanding
  • Techniques for building trust through consistent branding and accessibility-first design
  • Guidance on leveraging Brand Kits, Brand Templates, and centralized asset management to streamline workflows and maintain brand consistency
  • Ready-to-use ideas for scaling visual communications across departments, from social media to annual reports
  • A clearer understanding of how visual consistency enhances transparency and strengthens community confidence

Presenter: Joseph Beaver, Head of North American Government, Healthcare, and Nonprofit, Canva

9:45 a.m.

Concurrent Session

  • Built to Flex: Leading a Municipal Communications Team Through Constant Change - Centennial A/B/C
  • They Actually WANT to Be on Camera: Turning Government Employees into Your Best Content Creators - Centennial F/G/H
  • Building the Buzz: How to Turn Internal Communications into a Culture Driver - Mineral A/B/C
  • Every Interaction Matters: Where Communication Meets Customer Service - Mineral D/E/F/G

10:45 a.m.

Networking Break - Centennial Foyer

11:15 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

  • Beyond the Screen: Where Great Design Actually Comes From - Centennial A/B/C
  • Clear Message, Calm Mind: Stress Resilience for Public Communicators - Centennial F/G/H
  • Practical AI for Government Communicators - Mineral A/B/C
  • Lights. Trust. Action: Building Executive Confidence Through Municipal Video - Mineral D/E/F/G

12:15 p.m.

Savvy Awards Luncheon - Centennial D/E

2:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

  • How We Broke Up with Boring & Fell in Love with Fun: A Local Government Story - Centennial A/B/C
  • Am I Even Making a Difference? - Centennial F/G/H
  • Wait, You’re Using Canva Like THAT? - Mineral A/B/C
  • Mind Mingle Live! - Real Talk with Gov Comm Pros - Mineral D/E/F/G

3:00 p.m.

Networking Break - Centennial Foyer

3:30 p.m.

General Session - Centennial D/E

Demystifying Digital Accessibility: Small Changes that Make a Big Impact
For local government communicators, digital accessibility is no longer optional—it’s essential to delivering equitable, effective, and compliant public service. From city websites and emergency alerts to council agendas, social media posts, and internal documents, the way information is created and shared directly impacts who can access it—and who is unintentionally left out.

This session breaks down digital accessibility in a practical, approachable way for local government teams of all sizes. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the legal requirements shaping accessibility today—including Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and evolving WCAG guidelines—while also learning how small, manageable changes can have an immediate impact on usability, compliance, and community trust.

Through real-world local government examples, this session will highlight how accessible communication supports core priorities such as transparency, public engagement, and crisis response. Whether you're updating a website, creating a social media graphic, or preparing a public meeting document, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to reduce barriers, improve clarity, and better serve all members of your community.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the role of digital accessibility in promoting equitable public access to government information and services.
  • Recognize the critical impact of accessibility regulations on federal, state, and local agencies, and understand their responsibilities under current accessibility laws.
  • Identify common barriers to accessibility in official documents, web content, and public communications.
  • Implement simple, evidence-based strategies for improving accessibility in everyday federal tools (e.g., Microsoft Office suite, content management systems, PDF creation).
  • Evaluate agency digital content using accessibility audit tools and proactively address compliance needs.
  • Foster a proactive, agency-wide communication culture by embedding accessibility into the lifecycle of content creation and dissemination.

Presenter: Dr. Ann Knettler, Vice President, Consulting, GrackleDocs

5:30 p.m.      Evening Networking Event - Denver Flight Club (Pre-registration Required)

Friday - September 11, 2026

7:30 a.m.

Breakfast & 3CMA Business Meeting - Centennial D/E

9:00 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

  • After the Headlines Fade - Managing the Aftermath of a Crisis - Centennial A/B/C
  • When Neighbors Say ‘Not Here’: Tools for Calm, Clear, and Trust‑Building Community Dialogue - Centennial F/G/H
  • Leading with Creativity: How Storytelling Builds Trust When the Message Is Tough - Mineral A/B/C
  • From Formal to Relatable: Using Humor, Trends & Personality in Government Content - Mineral D/E/F/G

10:00 a.m.

Networking Break - Centennial Foyer

10:30 a.m.

Closing Session - Centennial D/E

How We Show Up Matters – The Quiet Power of Presence and Influence
In local government communications, influence doesn’t always come from the microphone — it comes from presence.

This closing keynote explores how the way we show up each day shapes trust, credibility, and impact. In high-pressure moments — crises, council meetings, public scrutiny, political transitions — communicators often serve as the steady center of gravity. Yet presence is rarely taught, even though it is one of the most powerful leadership tools we have.

Through thoughtful reflection and practical insight, attendees will examine how their energy, intention, and daily choices affect both their own wellbeing and the experience of those they serve. This session offers a meaningful and inspiring close to the conference — grounding participants in the quiet, consistent influence they carry back to their organizations and communities.

Participants will:

  • Understand how presence directly impacts trust, influence, and credibility
  • Recognize how their energy and emotional regulation affect team culture and public experience
  • Learn practical tools for staying grounded and intentional in high-pressure moments
  • Reflect on how daily leadership behaviors shape long-term professional impact
  • Leave with renewed clarity about the influence they hold — even when they are not the loudest voice in the room

Presenter: Cara Lenz, Founder and CEO, LeadWell Works

12:00 p.m.

General Conference Adjourns

  1. 3CMA Homepage

Contact Us

  1. City-County Communications & Marketing Association

  2. PO BOX 20278 | Washington, DC 20041

  3. Phone: 703-707-0830

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