Shel Holtz to Keynote Sixth Annual YouToo Social Media Conference Focusing on Social Visualization and Gamification

Principal of Holtz Communication and Technology Shel Holtz will discuss social visualization and gamification strategies and tactics as the keynote speaker at the Akron Area Public Relations Society of America’s YouToo Social Media Conference on Friday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall.

“The rise of social visual communication, with platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, require communicators to think about how images can convey messages, tell stories and engage audiences when they stand alone,” Holtz said. “Gamification also presents communicators with new ways to engage audiences, adding game elements to more mundane activities. The question for both is, how do communicators apply them so they won’t just be another shiny object in the communications toolkit but rather help move the needle?”

Five-time winner of IABC’s Gold Quill award, Holtz has nearly 35 years of experience in organizational communications in corporate and consulting environments. His experience includes corporate public relations, crisis communications, media relations and more. Holtz also has expertise in strategic communications planning, communications research and the integration of technology into communications strategies. He speaks frequently on different topics, such as strategic organizational communication and the application of online technology. Holtz just celebrated his eighth year of podcasting with For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report.

Kevin Dugan will serve as the opening speaker at the social media conference. Dugan is the director of marketing at Empower Media Marketing and founder of the Bad Pitch Blog. He has won six national awards for his work in public relations. Dugan is an expert in social media, marketing communication, public relations and media relations.

The conference, co-sponsored by Akron Area PRSA and the Kent State Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), also will have breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon as well as panel discussions by experts discussing social visualization and gamification more in-depth.

YouToo Conference sponsorship is open to both businesses and individuals and supports the YouToo Scholarship Fund, the Kent State University PRSSA Chapter and the Akron Area PRSA Chapter. For more information, contact Sarah Lane at slane@uakron.edu or 330-972-7429.

For more information, conference pricing and updates about the YouToo Social Media Conference, visit www.youtoosm.com. Also, find YouToo on Facebook, Twitter or via email at youtoosm@yahoo.com.

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The Akron Area Chapter of Public Relations Society of America is part of the world's largest organization for public relations professionals helping to advance the profession and the professional. Its nearly 115 local members represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.akronprsa.org.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Kramer, jlkramer@kent.edu, 330-714-8302