Professional certification through the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise—and provide evidence of your outstanding abilities. Here's information on benefits, preparation and steps to becoming certified.

Early-bird registration is open and keynote speakers have been announced for the 2019 IABC Heritage Region Communication Conference. With the theme "Drive the Future," a slate of top-notch marketing and communication keynoters and breakout speakers will share their insights and interact with communication professionals in the Motor City. This year's Communication Conference takes place Sept. 22-24 at the Greektown Casino-Hotel in Detroit, Michigan.

From now until April 12, the Heritage Region is accepting nominations for scholarships to attend the World Conference in Vancouver. Don't miss out on this great professional development opportunity.

Now is the time to enter your best work in one or more of 28 categories. Online entry is easy and convenient. You can start your entry, save it, and edit it at any time prior to the final submission. Winners will be recognized with an engraved award, an announcement on the IABC Heritage Region website and a presentation at the IABC Heritage Region Conference, to be held in Detroit, Michigan, Sept. 22-24.

IABC Heritage Region Conference scholarship recipient Shannon McCarthy reflects on her experience at the conference in Richmond, Va. Shannon is the co-director of social media for the Detroit Chapter of IABC. She and the Detroit board can't wait to host the 2019 conference.

Marie Kilbane-Seckers, a Heritage Region member-at-large, shared her observations from the 2018 World Conference.

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.