IABC Heritage Region Conference scholarships offer chapter leaders and members-at-large who have strong volunteering experience a great opportunity to explore the region's signature professional development and networking event. After a careful application vetting process, evaluators chose this year’s winners: Poonam Sharma, a proposal writer for ASSYST and VP of social media for the DC Metro Chapter, and KayAnn Taylor Rutter, AVP of marketing for United Way of Central Ohio and a member of the Greater Cincinnati chapter. Here are their experiences.

Two of the three exceptional IABC members who were named Fellows this year are from our Heritage Region, a 17-state area that pans from Kentucky to Michigan to Maine to Virginia. Take a look at the accomplishments of Lee Hornick from the New York chapter and Brenda Siler from the DC Metro chapter, as well as Cindy Schmieg, ABC, from the Minnesota chapter (Pacific Plains Region).

Networking with open, interesting people ... innovative discussion formats ... practical how-to tips and more: This year's IABC World Conference experience was outstanding for our two scholarship winners, Connie Feick from the Greater Cincinnati chapter and Janet Swaysland from the Boston chapter. Swaysland described it as a terrific experience, including the sessions, social and self-discovery aspects. Feick called it "the best professional development event of my life." Find out why—take a look at their recaps.

Here's a chance to build new skills, share your expertise with others and give back to the profession while networking with outstanding communication professionals. The IABC Heritage Region Board and Heritage Region Conference have several open volunteer leadership opportunities.

Two special programs help IABC members achieve their potential as volunteer leaders at various levels—local, regional and international.

Our Regional Leadership Institute in the fall provides an opportunity to share challenges, ideas and best practices with leaders from across the 17-state U.S. Heritage Region. This year's event takes place the afternoon of Sunday, November 5. If you are a chapter leader, a region leader or a member interested in volunteering in the future, please save the date.

In addition, the International Leadership Institute in February offers networking and best-practice sharing from communication professionals leading IABC chapters and regions around the world.

More details on both are coming soon. If you have questions, contact heritage-region@iabcheritage.com.

Learning, ideas and exploration ... every year the IABC Heritage Region Conference brings us new professional development and networking opportunities. Here are two experiences from the 2016 conference scholarship winners: Jennnifer Shatwell—CEO and principal consultant at KTNZ LLC and a regional volunteer—and Terri Wellman, who is communication manager at MediSync and IABC Greater Cincinnati Chapter board member.

Kip Soteres shares 3 things complicating health benefits communication. Discover employee communication sessions and much more at #IABCHRCONF, Oct. 9-11, in Columbus, Ohio.

Jerry Allocca will share how to not only track digital media but also to prove ROI and influence decision-makers who sign off on marketing budgets at ‪#‎IABCHRCONF‬. iabcheritageconference.com

Feel like you're banging your head against the wall in video communications? Rocky Walls shares a few practical smartphone video production tips. Discover how to make video less intimidating and complicated -- and a lot more rewarding -- at ‪#‎IABCHRCONF‬ iabcheritageconference.com