Capitalizing on Effective Communication:  How Courage, Innovation and Discipline Drive Business Results in Challenging Times

Presenters:  Gail Samuelson, Towers Watson
                     Anna C. Thomasson, Towers Watson

Recent research has found that companies that communicate with courage innovation and discipline - especially during times of economic challenge and change - are more effective at engaging employees and achieving positive business results than those that don't.  And firms that communicate effectively with employees are also the best financial performers.

• What are high-achieving companies doing to engage employees in these difficult times?
• How can communication programs help your organization take the lead as the economy recovers?
• We will answer your questions and facilitate a discussion among peers who share your communication challenges.

Gail Samuelson is a senior consultant with Towers Watson.  Her areas of expertise include:  Communication Strategies/Implementation, Leadership Coaching, Change Management, Human Resource Communications, Group Facilitation and Training and Development.

Over the past 20 years Gail has helped hundreds of companies communicate their unique vision, purpose and brand with employees.  Her projects ranged from attracting and retaining employees to training organizational leaders to helping employees understand their benefit and compensation programs.  A few of the clients Gail has served include:  Western Union, City of Hope, Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Rio Tinto America, Owens-Illinois, Watson Pharmaceutical and MGM MIRAGE.

Her passion for affecting change within organizations and individuals led her to obtain a certification as a personal and business coach.  She received her training through the Academy for Coach Training and Coach U and has been a coach for over five years.

She has served on a number of Steering Committees and Boards, including the Western Pension and Benefits Conference and the Foundation for Children's Health Care.

Gail has been published in the Journal of Compensation & Benefits, and has written a number of white papers on communication issues and is noted for her engaging and informative public speaking.

A consultant in the Firm's change implementation line of business, Anna C. Thomasson specializes in human resources, organizational change and communications consulting.  She joined legacy Tower Perrin in 1994 after eight years with legacy Watson Wyatt serving as office manager and human resource consultant.

Her expertise is in developing communication and organizational change plans to support business objectives.  Anna's assignments have included facilitating strategic planning retreats, designing and developing a comprehensive benefit communication campaign, implementing new compensation programs, planning and executing merger integration communications, implementing employee branding campaigns, and designing and launching health care consumer education campaigns.  Before becoming a consultant, she spent six years in corporate finance and human resource management in both the manufacturing and health care industries.

Anna has a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Oregon and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.  She has won numerous awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and speaks on organizational communications and change issues.

Last day for online registration is May 14, 2010