Throughout the past few years, widening political divides have introduced new challenges for public affairs practitioners. These challenges affect how PR pros approach communications for elected officials – from public speeches to everything in between. Learn more about public affairs and the speechwriting process during our conversation with Pete Seat, Bose Public Affairs Group’s vice president of strategic communications, and Jennifer Wagner, founding principal and owner of Mass Ave PR.

We’ll discuss what it’s like to act as a spokesperson for an elected official, speechwriting tips and how to navigate working on behalf of advocacy groups or for advocacy positions. 

Register: 

• • Register for the event at this link: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vbs7mrlab&oeidk=a07ehvmmudy86161d05

About our speakers:

Pete Seat, vice president of strategic communications, Bose Public Affairs Group

As a vice president of strategic communications at Bose Public Affairs Group, Pete leads client accounts from a variety of industries at the local, state and national level utilizing his expertise in public relations, strategic planning, media relations and crisis communications. Pete previously served as the executive director of strategic communications and talent development at the Indiana Republican Party where he oversaw the planning and execution of earned, social and digital media, in addition to serving as a spokesperson for the party and governor in state, regional and national media outlets.

Jennifer Wagner, founding principal and owner, Mass Ave Public Relations

Jennifer is a former Indianapolis Star reporter who has previously served as communications director for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and deputy director of public affairs for National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and the largest nonproliferation program in the world. She served for more than five years as spokesperson for the Indiana Democratic Party and has worked on a number of issue-based and political campaigns, including Freedom Indiana and several K-12 education reform initiatives. She regularly appears on INFocus, a weekly political show that airs on FOX59 and CBS4, and she writes a monthly column for the Forefront section in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Event details:

• • Wednesday, May 12
• • 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
• • This is a hybrid event! 
  • – Join us in-person at Tinker House Events, 1101 E 16 St. Indianapolis, IN 46202
  • – Or, join us virtually. We’ll be livestreaming the event. 
• • Cost: 
  • – $10 virtual ticket or in-person ticket with no lunch (members and students)
  • – $22 in-person ticket with classic boxed lunch (choice of turkey, ham, roast beef) 
  • – $24 in-person ticket with veggie boxed lunch
• • Parking instructions:
  • – There is a parking lot at Tinker House Events, or you can park in the gravel area along Lewis Street.

Please note: 

• • Boxed lunches are from Illinois St. Food Emporium and include a sandwich, chips and cookie. 
• • All in-person ticket options include unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. 
• • If you purchase an in-person ticket without lunch, there is food available to purchase at Provider, the first-floor coffee shop.  If you choose this option, remember to reserve plenty of time to order food ahead of the program.