MAY 9-11, 2018SURF BALLROOM | CLEAR LAKE, IOWA

HOST HOTEL - BEST WESTERN HOLIDAY LODGE

Wednesday, May 9th 2018

9-10a Registration 10-10:30a Welcome CLMayor,CLChamber,&MWTravelBloggers10:30-11:30a SEO&SEMKimBultsma 11:30a-12p NetworkingBreak 12-1:30p LunchSession CreativeMarketingSolutionsUsing TechnologyLeifPettersen 1:30 - 2:30p BREAKOUTS PitchtoWinCindyLadage // FAMTrips_______Ford 2:30-3p NetworkingBreak 3-4p GallivantYourWayToSuccess JayJaytheIowaGallivant 4-5p BestPracticesSaraBroers,LibbeyHohn &LisaTrudell Evening DinnerTheater&Entertainment attheSurf

Thursday, May 10th 2018

8-9a Registration&Breakfast 9-10a EveryBusinessHasaStory CassiePeterson 10-10:30a NetworkingBreak 10:30 - 11:30a BREAKOUTS GettingPublished DarcyMaulsby // DMOTopic SheilaScarbourough 11:30a-1p LunchSession SavingYourTownWithTourism& BloggerPartnershipsDebBrown 1 - 2p BREAKOUTS Monetizing MichelleMarine // ReachingNicheMarkets 2-2:30p NetworkingBreak 2:30 - 4p Optional Surf Ballroom Tour 5-9p DineAroundClearLake(Trolley) SignupatCLbooth.

Friday, May 11th, 2018

8-9a Registration&BreakfastBuffet 9-10a VideoonaShoestring 10-11a WorkingwithTraditionalMedia ColleenFrein

Geared toward Writers • Geared toward Destinations

SPO

NSO

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DINE AROUND CLEAR LAKESIGN UP AT THE CLEAR LAKE BOOTH

SignupforyourpreferredrestaurantattheClearLakeboothnearregistration.BoardtheMainStreetTrolleyattheBestWestern(hosthotel)startingat5p,whichwilltakeyoutoyourrestaurant.TheTrolleywillpikcupstartingat8pforthereturntriptothehosthotel.

BREAD & BUTTERCRÉMEAlocaldestinationbakery&eatery,Bread&BUttercrémefeaturesfinefood&drinks,weekendbrunchandaSurfsidepatio.Bakeryitemsavailabletogo.444NorthShoreDrive•(641)357-1250•breadandbuttercreme.com

FIELDHOUSE

Experiencetheflavorsoffarm-to-tableatFieldhouse,locatedindowntownClearLakenexttobeautifulCityPark.Fieldhousefeaturessimple,seasonalfarerangingfromseafoodtobeef,andsouptosandwiches.Completeyourmealwithfresh-bakeddessert,aclassiccocktail,orcraftbeer.OurgoalatFieldhouseistoofferguestsacomfortableplacetoenjoyanauthenticdiningexperienceamongfriends,aswellasintroduceyoutoareagrowers&producerswhomakemanyofourdishespossible.14North3rdStreet•(641)357-5030•fieldhousecl.com

GE-JO’S

Handmadespecialtiespreparedtheold-worldwayawaityouatGe-Jo’s.Theyarefamousforhand-stretchedpizzasandthreevarietiesof18-ounceItalianMargueritesservedinafrostyschooner.NamedasexyoutdoordatespotbyCosmopolitanmagazine,dineonthepatiooverlookingCityParkandthelake,shareanorderofhand-breadedmozzarellasticksandwatchtheworldgoby.12North3rdStreet•(641)357-8288

SURF DISTRICT ROCK & ROLL GRILL

ImmerseyourselfinthemusicandhistoryoftheSurfBallroominawholenewway!Featuringanever-changingarrayofmusicmemorabiliafromartistswhohaveperformedattheneighboringSurfBallroom,youaresuretosatisfyyourappetiteformusicandgreatfoodattheSurfDistrictRock‘nRollGrill!Enjoyburgers,salads,wrapsandmore,inanauthenticrock‘nrollthemedatmosphereforabrandnewClearLakediningexperiencethatrocks!619BuddyHollyPlace•(641)357-1222•surfdistrictgrill.com

SPEAKERS“Every Business has a Story”CassiePeterson,aClearLake,Iowanative,isaChef/Baker/EntrepreneurbydayandWriter/Mom/Worldclassshut-inbynight.Shedreamsoflivinginaworldfilledwithinnovativebusinesses,90’sfashionallthetime,andaforcefieldaroundherwindowsthatrepelshersticky-fingeredtoddler.Asaself-taughtbaker,sheopenedherfirstbakery‘TheCupcakeStore’attheageof21afteranautoaccidentleftherwitharealizationthatlifeisshort,andpassionsaremeanttobepursued.AfterstrikingupadealwithHy-Vee,sellingher‘CupcakeStore’recipestopilottheirnew‘SweetShop’GourmetDessertBakeriesinthetrendyMinneapolisstores,itwastimetomoveonandpursueanewpassion,cooking.ThisledCassieallthe

CASSIE PETERSONBREAD & BUTTERCRÉME

waytosunnyLosAngelesandintotheMasterChefkitchenwheresheearnedaspotinthetop20hopefulswhocookedtheirwayintoGordonRamsay’sheartonMasterChef,Season7-onFOX.Herjourneyendedwhenapotatosaladdishdidn’tgettheattentionofChefWolfgangPuck.Takinghomeanincredibleexperienceandavastamountofculinaryknowledge,itwastimetorekindletheflame.Literally…Cookingandbakingwereapassion,butwithafeistyentrepreneurspirit,shewasreadytohitthegroundrunningonceagainandbringthosetwopassionstogetherbyopeningupher2ndventure,‘Bread&Buttercreme-Patisserie/Eatery’inherhometown,nexttothelegendarySurfBallroom.Attheageof27,she’sproudtosayshe’sfailedmanytimesandlearnedfromeachexperiencetobuildultimatesuccess.Spendingabout25hoursaday,and8daysaweekinthekitchenraisinghernew‘baby,’shelovestotravelandvisitlocalyoungentrepreneursandaspiringbakers/chefstopursuetheirpassions,celebratetheirfailures,andtoembracetheirentrepreneurialtraits.ShehopestoreturntoLAinthefuturetogivecookingshowsanothertry,butfornowyoucanfindherwhippingupadeliciousgluten-freetreat,creatingthenextInsta-worthybrunchdish,andrunningaroundinadirtychefcoatyellingthequestion“why”fortheeleventy-bajillionthtime.StopintoB&Bandsayhello,nightordayforBrunch,Tapas,&thePotatoSaladWolfgangPuckwould‘sendback’ifheordereditatarestaurant.Hermomwoulddisagree,praisingitas,‘delightful.’Althoughbusinessownershipisn’teasy,orfunattimes,Cassiewilltellyouit’sabsolutelyworthitwhencustomersturnintoregulars,andeachdaybringsnewandexcitingadventures!breadandbuttercreme.com

“Working with Traditional Media”ColleenFreinisanativeofRochester,MNbuthasadoptedMasonCityasherhometown.FreingraduatedfromSt.CloudStateUniversityin2007andwentontoworkasatelevisionjournalistfornearlyadecade.Shereceivedanumberofawardsforherworkcoveringawiderangeofstories,includingpresidentialelections,record-settingweatherevents,militarydeployments,andcommunityissues.FreinspentthemajorityofhercareeratKIMTNews3–firstasamulti-mediajournalistandlaterasthemorningnewsanchor.ShealsospenttimeasareporterinWaterloo,IAandBatonRouge,LA.In2015,FreinleftthefieldofjournalismtoworkfortheMasonCityChamberofCommerce.Inthisrole,shefeelssheisabletomakeadirectimpactonhercommunity,ratherthanreportingonothersdoingthiswork.CurrentlyservingastheMembershipDirectorandCommunityConcierge,FreinisresponsiblefortherecruitmentandretentionofChambermembersandalsoassistsemployersintheireffortstorecruitandretainexecutive-levelemployeestoNorthIowa.masoncityia.com

COLLEEN FREINMASON CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“Pitching to Win”Cindyisalwayspitchingtowinwhenitcomestoherwriting.Hertipswillinspireandencourageyoutopitchtowin.CindyLadageisfarmer’swife,apresenterandanaward-winningcolumnistforFarmWorld,in2016shewontheAmericanWomeninCommunicationsClarionawardforhercolumn“WrenchingTales”.Cindywritesforantiquetractorandtoymagazines,anantiquepublicationandspecializesintravelstoriesforseveralpublications,suchasSeniorNews&TimesofIllinoisandmore.Cindy’stravelblogisTravelingAdventuresofaFarmGirl,whereshareshertravelsonthebackroadsandbyways.YoucanalsojoinheronTwitterat@CindyLadage,Instagramat@CindyLadage,andTravelingAdventuresofaFarmGirlonFacebook.Cindyisalsoanauthorofchildren’sbooksandadultfiction.WelookforwardtoCindysharingtipsthathavehelpedherinhercareerasapublishedauthor,asshewillgiveyouideasthatyoucanrunwith.

CINDY LADAGE[BUSINESS]

“Saving Your Town with Tourism and Blogger Partnerships”DebBrownwillshareideasthatwilltakeyourblogand/ordestinationtothenextlevel.Shewillinspireyoutokickupyourgameandchangethewayyouthinkaboutthecommunitiesaroundyou.DebBrown,co-founderofSaveYour.Town,sharesstoriesandadviceaboutworkingandlivinginasmalltownandcreatingthekindofcommunityyouwanttolivein.Youmightrecognizeheronlineas@debworks.Shegrewupinatownof141people,Geneva,Iowa.Debtellsstoriesofrealworldexamplesofhowpeoplearechangingtheirsmalltownintothekindofplacethecommunitywantstolive,workandplayin.SaveYour.TownisapartnershipwithDebBrownand

DEB BROWNBUILDING POSSIBILITY

BeckyMcCraywheretheysharethepassionforsmalltownsandbringyoupracticaladviceonhowtoshapeabrighterfutureforyoursmalltown.Herprogramsonsmallbusiness,whattodowithemptybuildings,customerservice,marketingandeconomicdevelopmenthavebeenreceivedbychambers,economicdevelopers,tourismspecialists,museumexperts,businessgroups,andsmalltownconferences.DebhaskeynotedatRevivingRuralDowntownsinAdamsCounty,Washington,RuralXSummitinAberdeen,SD,TEDxBrookings,MichiganRuralEconomicDevelopmentConference,RoscommonCountyMichigan,CentralIowaTourismAnnualMeeting,MilbankSouthDakotaChamberAnnualDinnerandseveral140CharacterConferences.AdditionalpresentationsincludeWesternIowaTourism,IowaBywaysAssociation,IowaMuseumAssociation,SouthernIllinoisEconomicDevelopment,andPreserveIowaSummit.

“The Ins and Outs of Getting Published”Wanttoknowtheinsidesecretsofthepublishingworld?DarcyDoughertyMaulsby(Iowa’sStoryteller)hasanswers.Darcyistheauthorofthreenon-fictionIowahistorybooks,including“DallasCounty”(ArcadiaPublishing,2017);“ACulinaryHistoryofIowa”(TheHistoryPress,2016),and“CalhounCounty”(ArcadiaPublishing,2015).FromherfarmnearYetter,Iowa,Darcyhasalsowrittenforlocal,state,nationalandinternationalclientsinthefoodandagri-businesssectors.Duringher20-yearcareer,heraward-winningfeaturestories,essays,photosandmorehavebeenpublishedinnewspapers,magazinesandonlinesitesfromtheDesMoinesRegistertoRodale.Anavidhomecook,Darcy’sculinaryjourneyhasbeenfeaturedin“OurIowa”magazine.Shehascookedwith

DARCY MAULSBY[BUSINESS]

“AmericanIdol”winnerTaylorHicksonthenationalTVprogram“StatePlate.”Darcyearnedherdegreesinjournalism/masscommunicationandhistory,alongwithanMBA,fromIowaStateUniversity.darcymaulsby.com.

“Gallivant Your Way to Success”JayGoodviniswellknownacrossthestateofIowaandthemidwest.HeispassionateaboutallthingsrelatedtoIowaandlovespromotingRAGBRAI!Thisguyhasbeenaround,man!WhileJayJay’sfamilylivedinGrundyCenter,IA,hewasborninMarshalltownbackin1978.Later,JayandhisfamilymovedtoMarion,IA,andthentoIowaCity.In1999,Jaytookoffonan11yearculinarycrusadethatledhimtoArizona,Montana,CapeCod,TheFloridaKeys,TheBlackHills,Austin,CentralIllinoisandbacktoIowaCityin2010.Hisloveoftravel,food,andfamilydrivesTheIowaGallivantwhichbeganinJulyof2014.Sincethefirstpost,TheIowaGallivanthasseenamazinggrowtheveryyear.HewritesaboutIowa.What’syoursuperpower?theiowagallivant.com

JAYJAY GOODVINTHE IOWA GALLIVANT

“Video On A Shoestring”Videoishot!Learntipsandtrickstohelpyoulooklikeaprofessionalvideographerwithoutgoingbroke.Jameonreceivedhisbachelor’sdegreeinwebcommunicationdesignfromHastingsCollege.HegainedprofessionalworkexperienceservingastheAssistantVicePresident/MarketingDirectorforHeartlandBankfrom2011–2017.InthisroleJameoncoordinatedandoversawthebank’smarketingdepartment.Inthespringof2017,JameonleftthebanktomanageandoperateOptixDigitalMediafull-time.Withamarketingandwebdesignbackground,Jameonunderstandshowdigitalvideomarketingcanhelpabusinessmeettheirmarketinggoals.Inadditiontoproducingcommercialprojects,Jameonisalsoanadventurevlogger.YoucanfollowalongonhismanyadventuresatJourneyUnbound.com.

JAMEON RUSH[BUSINESS]

“Blogging for SEO”KimBultsmaisacoffee-lovingSEOcontentwriterfromOmaha,Nebraska.SheteachespeoplehowtoproducebettercontenttogrowtheirbusinessoveratACupofContent,acontentdevelopmentlearningacademyforsolopreneurs.Whenshe’snottrainingfor50Ktrailruns,she’sliftingheavystuff,beingadancemom,andwatchingherhubbytrickyo-yo(yes,it’sathing!).Contentisalltheragethesedays,butit’stoughwhenthere’soh-so-muchcompetition.Inthissession,you’lllearn:• ThefundamentalsofSEOintermsyoucan

understand• Simplewaystocheckyourwebsite’srankings• Howtothinklikeyourreadersdoinordertocreate

contenttheywillengagewith• Our7stepprocessonhowtowriteanSEO-driven

blogpost...andhowtowriteitsoitconverts• Actionabletipsforbeingconsistent(akaSTRATEGY!)

andtostopbeinga“token”blogger• Howtomakeyourblogscontinuetoworkforyou

afterthevirtualinkisdryacupofcontent.com/

KIM BULTSMA[BUSINESS]

“Creative Marketing Solutions Using Technology”LeifPettersenisanaward-winningtravel&tourismmarketingprofessional,author,humorist,andworldtravelerfromMinneapolis,Minn.Hehastraveledthrough56countriesandlivedinSpain,RomaniaandItaly.Pettersenwasasilvermedalistatthe2014InternationalJugglers’Associationchampionships,loveschocolate,hatespickles,typeswithexactlyfourfingers,andcanescapefromastraitjacket.Hehasnotvomitedsince1993,makinghimaconsummatetraveljournalistandexcellentpartyguest.Hisfirstsolo,book-lengthproject,BACKPACKINGWITHDRACULA,isavailableonAmazon.leifpettersen.com

LEIF PETTERSENLEIF PETTERSEN P.R.

“Best Practices for CVB’s and Bloggers”LisaandherhusbandTimblogonTheWalkingTourists.Togethertheywillbelaunchingtheirfirstpublishedbook,“100ThingstoDoinOmahaBeforeYouDie”beingreleasedforpublicationinApril2018.Lisawasinthetravelindustryforover16yearsinitiallyworkingforahotelcompanyandlaterasatravelagent.Todayherfull-timejobisasanOnlineMarketingSpecialistfortheHomeHealthCareCompanyRightatHomeinOmaha.Theyhavetraveledforbusiness,forsportingevents,extendedfamilytripsandofcourseforfun.ThereasonfortheWalkingTouristsnamejustindicatesthatweliketotakeourtimewalkingtomostlocaldestinationsoncetheretobeabletodiscoverthelittlethingsalongtheway.

LISA TRUDELLMIDWEST TRAVEL BLOGGERS

“Best Practices for CVB’s and Bloggers”LibbeyHohn,IOMistheTourismDirectorattheClearLakeAreaChamberofCommerce.Shehasworkedwithtravelwritersforseveralyears,andhaswontwostatetourismmarketingawardsforprojectshighlightingbloggercontent.Shelovestolearnnewmarketingtechniquesandsocialmediaskills,andisveryexcitedtobringtheBuildingCommunityConferencetoherhometown!Libbeyisalsoactiveinthestatetourismindustry,currentlyservingaspresident-electoftheTravelFederationofIowaandpast-presidentoftheIowaGroupTravelAssociation.LIBBEY HOHN

CLEAR LAKE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“Nine Different Ways to Monetize Your Blog”Wanttoearnmoremoneyonyourblog?Notsurehoworwheretobegin?Michellehasbeenbloggingsince2010andearningmoneysince2013.Shelooksforwardtosharinghowyoucanstartearninganincomethroughblogmonetization!Hertipswillprovideyouwiththenecessarytoolstohelpyougetstarted,orifyou’realreadyearningmoney,they’llhelpyoukickituptothenextlevel.Bloggingisfun.Butit’sabusinessandyouwanttoearnmoney!Inthissession,you’lllearnnotjustonebutninedifferentincomestreams,theimportanceofnetworking,andtipsandtricksforgrowingyourblogandsocialpresence.You’llwalkawaywithactionabletips,detailedlistsofsocialmediacompanies,advertisingnetworks,andaffiliatecompanies,andworkonyourone-minuteelevatorspeechtoperfectyourpitch.MichelleMarineisagreenlivingenthusiast,traveljunkie,andruralIowamomoffourandhaslivedonthreedifferentcontinentsandhasdrivenallfourkidsacrosstheentireUSA(byherself!).Shelovessharingfarm-to-tablerecipes,familytraveladventures,andhomesteadingandgreenlivingtipsonherpopularlifestyleblog,simplifylivelove.com.

MICHELLE MARINE[BUSINESS]

“Best Practices for CVB’s and Bloggers”SarablogsatTravelWithSara.SheresidesinNorthIowa,onthefamilyfarm,withherhusbandTodd.Theyhavetwogrownsonsandenjoytravelanywherethatthecar,train,planeorshipwillgo!SaraistheownerofSocialConnections,LLCandtheCo-OwnerofHomeGrownSocialMedia.SheisalsothefounderoftheNorthIowaSocialMediaBreakfastClub,whichisinits5thyear.Sarabelievesthatwhenpeopleofallagespartnertogether,magicalthingshappenwhenitcomestobusinessgrowth.Shehasseenthistimeandtimeagain,throughthepartnershipsthathaveformedthroughtheNorthIowaSocialMediaBreakfastClub.Sarahoppedonthesocialmediatraintowardstheendof2008andhasneverlookedback.

SARA BROERSMIDWEST TRAVEL BLOGGERS

“Keeping the Blogging Fires Burning Without Frying Your Brain”Haveyoubeenbloggingforanumberofyearsandarestartingtofindithardtostaycreative?Worryingaboutyourpostsgettingkindastale?Feellikeyou’reatriskoftakingabloggernosedive…”outofaltitudeandoutofideas?”Let’stalkaboutstayingontopofyouronlinepublishinggamewithevergreencontent,gettingmoreoutofyourarchives,andkeepingyourselfinspiredandmotivatedwhetheryou’reanindietravelbloggeroraCVB/DMOblogger.SheilaScarboroughisawriterandspeakerspecializingintourism,travel,andsocialmedia.She’swrittenformanyblogsandprintpublicationsandisalsoacertifiedNavyMasterTrainingSpecialist,withyearsofexperienceasaneducator.AlongwithLeslieMcLellan,SheilaispartoftheTourismCurrentsteam,offeringonlineandin-persontraininginsocialmediafortourismandhospitality.

SHEILA SCARBOROUGH[BUSINESS]

Winnerofthe“AustinAmerican-Statesman”TexasSocialMediaAwardandanAWC(AssociationforWomeninCommunications)Clarionaward,Sheilatrainsandspeaksregularlyaboutsocialmediatoavarietyofaudiencesincludingtourismandeconomicdevelopmentexperts,publicrelationsandmarketingprofessionals,andChambersofCommerce.SheisontheNationalProfessionalDevelopmentCommitteefortheAWC,co-foundedandstillwritesfortheaward-winningPerceptiveTravelblog,andservesontheProgrammingCommitteeforSXSWi(theSouthbySouthwestInteractivetechconference.)Sheisalsopartoftheorganizingteamfor#tourismchat,amonthlyonlineTwitterchataboutavarietyoftopicsrelatedtodestinationmarketing.AU.S.Navyveteranwhoismarriedwithtwochildren,SheilaisanNHRAdragracingfanbecausethereisonewinner,oneloser,andnowhining.

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