2023 Annual Conference
Westin Hotel
2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Check-In Desk Open (Lobby)
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. New Member Orientation (River Rock)
5:00 p.m. - 7 p.m. Opening Reception (River Rock + patio)
7 p.m. Dine Arounds (Selection of dinner options guided by CCPIO Board - walking
distance)
2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Check-In Desk Open (Lobby)
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. New Member Orientation (River Rock)
5:00 p.m. - 7 p.m. Opening Reception (River Rock + patio)
7 p.m. Dine Arounds (Selection of dinner options guided by CCPIO Board - walking
distance)
Monday, July 31
Chase Center on the Riverfront
Chase Center on the Riverfront is a 92,000 square foot convention center in Wilmington, Delaware. It hosts various local concerts, conventions, and banquets for the Wilmington area.
Rise and Shine! 6:30 a.m. early-risers each morning may join a “walk and learn” opportunity to get to know a seasoned CCPIO member, learn more about the work of a court PIO, and make a few new friends.
6:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Breakfast (buffet)
9 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Delaware Chief Justice Collins Seitz Jr. (bio)
9:30-10:30 a.m. PIO Showcase: Sharing New Projects and Ideas
Moderator: Jennifer Bundy, public information officer, West Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals
10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. CCPIO business meeting/elections
12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch with informal discussions
1:30-2:15 p.m. DIY Public Relations: Telling Your Story on a Zero-Dollar Budget
Presenter: Dan Shortridge, author, storyteller, consultant
2:30-3:20 p.m. Breakout Session (choose A or B)
Session A: Successful Media Marketing
How to Lead a Reporter to Water (It’s Up to You to Make Them Drink)
Presenter: Paul Flemming, director of public information office, Florida Supreme Court
- and -
How to Market Your Public Information Office to Internal Audiences
Presenter: Kathryn Dolan, chief public information officer, Indiana Supreme Court
- OR -
Session B: Dissecting Social Media and Website Analytics
Presenter: Tiarra Earls Haas, communications supervisor, Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County, AZ
3:30-4:20 p.m. Breakout Sessions(choose A or B)
Session A: Organizing a PIO PR Plan (basic)
Presenter: Susan Emmanuel, director of public information, Florida Office of State Courts Administrator
- OR -
Session B: Disarming Disinformation: A Tabletop Exercise (advanced)
Presenters: Heather Teter, online engagement and social media manager, National Center for State Courts, and
Jessica Fotinos, general counsel and public information officer, Clerk of the Superior Court of Maricopa County, AZ.
5 p.m. Evening options with mentor group
7 p.m. Dine Arounds
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1
Field-Trip Day
6:30-9 a.m. Breakfast (buffet)
6:30 a.m. Morning “walk and learn”
9 a.m. Buses depart for News Journal/Delaware.com offices
950 West Basin Road, New Castle
9:15-10:15 a.m. All About the Media: How to Pitch and Gain Traction for Stories, for Veteran Reporters and Rookies Alike
Moderators: Rachel McCarthy, public information analyst, Multnomah County Circuit Court, OR and
Alberto Rodriguez, communications director, Arizona Supreme Court
11:30 a.m. Buses depart for Historic New Castle
11:45 a.m. Group Photo – Court House Museum
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch with informal discussions
1:15-2:45 p.m. Guided tours of Historic New Castle and Old Court House Museum
3 p.m.-4:45 pm. Telling the Story of History: Interpretation, Events and Outreach
Court House Museum
Moderator: Beth Riggert, communications counsel, Supreme Court of Missouri
5:00 p.m. Buses depart for hotel
6:30 p.m. EVENING ACTIVITIES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2
Chase Center on the Riverfront
6:30 a.m. Morning “walk and learn”
6:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Breakfast (buffet)
9-10:30 a.m. From Elon to Dominion/Fox to Britney: Success Stories from Managing a Multitude of High Profile Cases
Moderator: Julie Van Hook, communications and public affairs officer, San Bernardino Superior Court, CA
Presenters:
Los Angeles Superior Court PIO team discussing Britney Spears conservatorship case:
10:45-11:45 a.m. Trends in Communications with the Public
Presenters: Benita Jones, public information officer, Kansas City
municipal court, MO
Eunice Siegler, public relations director, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida
Noon-12:30 p.m. Lunch with informal discussions
12:30-1:15 p.m. Face-to-Face Listserv
Moderator: Darren Toms, community outreach coordinator, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, OH
1:15 p.m. Closing
CCPIO President: Darren Toms
6:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Breakfast (buffet)
9 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Delaware Chief Justice Collins Seitz Jr. (bio)
9:30-10:30 a.m. PIO Showcase: Sharing New Projects and Ideas
Moderator: Jennifer Bundy, public information officer, West Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals
10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. CCPIO business meeting/elections
12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch with informal discussions
1:30-2:15 p.m. DIY Public Relations: Telling Your Story on a Zero-Dollar Budget
Presenter: Dan Shortridge, author, storyteller, consultant
2:30-3:20 p.m. Breakout Session (choose A or B)
Session A: Successful Media Marketing
How to Lead a Reporter to Water (It’s Up to You to Make Them Drink)
Presenter: Paul Flemming, director of public information office, Florida Supreme Court
- and -
How to Market Your Public Information Office to Internal Audiences
Presenter: Kathryn Dolan, chief public information officer, Indiana Supreme Court
- OR -
Session B: Dissecting Social Media and Website Analytics
Presenter: Tiarra Earls Haas, communications supervisor, Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County, AZ
3:30-4:20 p.m. Breakout Sessions(choose A or B)
Session A: Organizing a PIO PR Plan (basic)
Presenter: Susan Emmanuel, director of public information, Florida Office of State Courts Administrator
- OR -
Session B: Disarming Disinformation: A Tabletop Exercise (advanced)
Presenters: Heather Teter, online engagement and social media manager, National Center for State Courts, and
Jessica Fotinos, general counsel and public information officer, Clerk of the Superior Court of Maricopa County, AZ.
5 p.m. Evening options with mentor group
7 p.m. Dine Arounds
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1
Field-Trip Day
6:30-9 a.m. Breakfast (buffet)
6:30 a.m. Morning “walk and learn”
9 a.m. Buses depart for News Journal/Delaware.com offices
950 West Basin Road, New Castle
9:15-10:15 a.m. All About the Media: How to Pitch and Gain Traction for Stories, for Veteran Reporters and Rookies Alike
Moderators: Rachel McCarthy, public information analyst, Multnomah County Circuit Court, OR and
Alberto Rodriguez, communications director, Arizona Supreme Court
11:30 a.m. Buses depart for Historic New Castle
11:45 a.m. Group Photo – Court House Museum
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch with informal discussions
1:15-2:45 p.m. Guided tours of Historic New Castle and Old Court House Museum
3 p.m.-4:45 pm. Telling the Story of History: Interpretation, Events and Outreach
Court House Museum
Moderator: Beth Riggert, communications counsel, Supreme Court of Missouri
5:00 p.m. Buses depart for hotel
6:30 p.m. EVENING ACTIVITIES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2
Chase Center on the Riverfront
6:30 a.m. Morning “walk and learn”
6:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Breakfast (buffet)
9-10:30 a.m. From Elon to Dominion/Fox to Britney: Success Stories from Managing a Multitude of High Profile Cases
Moderator: Julie Van Hook, communications and public affairs officer, San Bernardino Superior Court, CA
Presenters:
- Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen Saint Jude McCormick, discussing Musk/Twitter and Musk/Tornetta
- Sean O’Sullivan, chief of community relations, Delaware Courts, discussing Dominion/Fox
Los Angeles Superior Court PIO team discussing Britney Spears conservatorship case:
- Julie Van Hook, communications director
- Rob Oftring Jr., media and legislative affairs administrator
- Arlene Vasquez, communications assistant
10:45-11:45 a.m. Trends in Communications with the Public
Presenters: Benita Jones, public information officer, Kansas City
municipal court, MO
Eunice Siegler, public relations director, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida
Noon-12:30 p.m. Lunch with informal discussions
12:30-1:15 p.m. Face-to-Face Listserv
Moderator: Darren Toms, community outreach coordinator, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, OH
1:15 p.m. Closing
CCPIO President: Darren Toms