Join us for StoryConnect: The Conference, now rescheduled to March 12-14, 2018! The conference, which had been scheduled for September, was postponed due to Hurricane Irma. It was a difficult decision, but a necessary one. Many of our registrants were highly affected by the storm and needed to be available to assist their teams in restoration and relief efforts.

Now that the lights are back on, we’re proud to announce that our new dates (March 12-14, 2018) and open registration.  We are planning for the conference to offer the same wonderful lineup of speakers, panels and activities, and it will still be held at The Westin located at Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.

For hotel pricing and other information, click here. If you were registered for StoryConnect: The Conference and requested that we keep your registration information, then you DO NOT have to register again, you only need to reserve your room. However, if you cancelled your registration, you will have to re-register in order to attend.

Those who’ve attended StoryConnect: The Conference say one of the best things about the event is the perspective they gain from professionals outside the electric and telecommunications industries. This year will be no exception, as Clay Coleman shares his interesting story. Clay is vice president of the Huntsville Havoc — a hockey team in the Heart of Dixie. Creating hockey fans in a region where it’s not a traditional local sport is no easy task, but it’s a challenge the Huntsville Havoc staff have embraced. A former radio personality who has worked with the Dave Ramsey Show, Clay will share the Havoc story of engaging and educating an audience that did not understand the product he and the staff were marketing.

When you aren’t picking up new ideas and inspiration from StoryConnect’s speakers or enjoying the accommodations of the Westin Hotel, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Bridge Street Town Centre’s array of shopping and dining experiences.

The Westin, located in the heart of Bridge Street Town Centre, is the site of StoryConnect: The Conference, hosted by WordSouth — A Content Marketing Company. This unique conference presents targeted programming for communicators within the electric utility and telecommunications industries. (Register here.)

Bridge Street offers more than 70 upscale shops and restaurants, all just outside the conference center and within easy walking distance. You can even take a stroll around the 5-acre lake or embrace your inner child with a ride on the carousel.

Food

Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining or casual eats, Bridge Street’s main avenue has something for your taste. Enjoy premium quality at Connors Steak and Seafood, Texas de Brazil and Cantina Laredo. Or, explore new takes on favorite dishes at Urban Cookhouse and Pieology. After dinner, get a pick-me-up with a fresh cup of coffee from Cafe 153 or indulge your sweet tooth at The Chocolate Crocodile, Maggie Moo’s and Steel City Pops.

Shopping

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better selection of shopping destinations all within minutes of each other. Techies can lose themselves perusing the latest gadgets at the Apple Store, while fashion junkies find a new look at H&M or White House Black Market. If you’re in a more intrepid mood, you can even visit Mountain High Outfitters to gear up for your next adventure. And be sure to leave time to stop by one of our favorites, the new Southern Living Store.

This is just a sampling of everything there is to explore at Bridge Street Town Centre. Be sure to check out the full directory and map before joining us to plot out your visit.

StoryConnect: The Conference is designed especially for communicators at electric utilities and telecommunications companies. We reached out to some past participants to describe their experiences with past conferences:

Mcxie Hurst, Peoples Telephone Cooperative (Quitman, Texas)

Each year at StoryConnect we have an “ah-hah” moment. The content is always great. The break out sessions from last year were very informative (CrowdFiber and photography were my favorites). The WordSouth team does an amazing job bringing us together to give us a chance to network and affirm that we are not alone, that other companies have similar successes and struggles.

The best part of StoryConnect 2016 was hearing the Chick-fil-A story. I literally wiped tears away three times during the presentation — not because it was sad, but because it was inspiring. I know that as a utility company obtaining Chick-fil-A status would be very hard, but when we walked out of class that day… we wanted Peoples to be Chick-fil-A. We wanted our team to understand our mission and our culture. We wanted to be better.

This is why StoryConnect is so important. With all the regulatory challenges, upset customers, disgruntled employees and just general day-to-day business, you need to step away and be reminded of how important your story is and how telling it can make a difference.

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Lisa Fannin, Mountain Rural Telephone Cooperative (West Liberty, Kentucky)

After attending my first StoryConnect, I knew it would be an annual event for me. Whether it’s our company’s history or our latest, greatest new service, we all have a story to tell. StoryConnect always features presenters and sessions that not only motivate me but inspire me to tell my story in a manner in which the customer can relate. It’s simple: if no one understands your message, why bother. The WordSouth team has a way of driving home the importance of clean, simple communication between you and your customers.

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Vicki Watts, Scottsboro Electric Power Board (Scottsboro, Alabama)

The StoryConnect conference is one of a kind. It always exceeds my expectations!  I look forward to attending this conference all year. From great content to networking, it is jam-packed with new and fresh ideas to take back and use in the workplace. If you work in the electric or telecom industries, this is a must-attend conference.

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Create your own special story at the 2017 conference. Visit StoryConnect: The Conference, and register today!