Communications

WORD OUT CONFERENCE 2022

A look at what the 2022 conference has in store for parish marketing and communications.

Clockwise, from top: Lindsey Nickel, Ben Hodous, the Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail, Grier Ferguson LINDSEY NICKEL, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, DIOCESE OF SWFL

Growing up in Sarasota, Lindsey has lived in the area for more than 30 years. She is a graduate of Eckerd College where she received a B.A. in Communications and Religious Studies. Kicking off her career, she worked with international brands including Starbucks, Pedigree, and Mars Food at Ketchum Public Relations in London. Over the following 16 years, she has continued to work with notable organizations including Visit Florida, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Bayfront Medical Center, and Omni Hotels & Resorts. A passionate educator, she worked as a faculty member for Ringling College of Art & Design from 2012-2017. Lindsey is a mother of two and celebrates her love of music and art as a performer at the Florida Studio Theatre and the Players Center for the Performing Arts.

BEN HODOUS, PRINCIPAL DEVELOPER, GRAY SWAN SOLUTIONS

THE REV. LIZZIE MCMANUS-DAIL, CURATE, EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE CROSS, AUSTIN

The Diocese of Southwest Florida will host its annual Word Out conference on January 18. This fourhour communications conference assists congregations in marketing and communications best practices and emerging trends. For 2022, the diocese is offering a variety of practical training in communication planning, the use of public relations for your parish, ministry through social media and its value, marketing apps such as Canva and Ripl that can ease the burden of creating graphics and promotions, and optimizing your website for ease of user experience and content navigation. What to expect: The pandemic thrust many of our churches into the fast lane of online communications. The who, what, when, where and why of this will be addressed during this interactive and engaging communications workshop. Word Out will activate your creativity and raise your awareness of both fresh perspectives on trusted media tactics, and emerging ways for your church to connect with parishioners. Ben is the owner and founder of Gray Swan Solutions, a web consulting company based in Chicago and Sarasota that specializes in web development, graphic design, marketing and writing. Starting his career in technical writing, he transitioned into web design and development, user experience and analytics. He founded Gray Swan Solutions to provide customers with individualized plans to maximize the potential of their app, website or brand.

The Rev. Lizzie Mcmanus-Dail used to teach art in bars and wait tables. Now, as an Episcopal priest in a church plant in Austin, TX, she uses the skills she learned in the service industry to foster meaningful connections with people on social media. Her academic background is in Womanist and Feminist theological studies, which she draws on to make videos online. She and her spouse have two enormous cats and are expecting their first child in February.

GRIER FERGUSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, SARASOTA

Grier Ferguson was born in Atlanta and grew up in Sarasota. After earning a degree in journalism with a minor in leadership from the University of Florida, she worked at an advertising, public relations and marketing agency in Sarasota as an account executive and copywriter. She then worked as a freelance writer and editor, creating content for corporations, communications agencies and nonprofit clients. Grier previously served as the Sarasota-Manatee editor of the Business Observer newspaper, interviewing corporate and community leaders and writing articles about entrepreneurs, executives and businesses in a variety of industries. She became director of communications at Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota in April 2021. 13