IABC/Chicago Presents ''Using Engagement to Drive Communication Excellence'' at Oct. 20 Luncheon.

CHICAGO -- As part of its 2004/2005 luncheon series, The Chicago Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/Chicago) is proud to present Hewitt Associates' (NYSE:HEW) Jon Leatherbury and Ray Baumruk, industry leaders in the area of Employee Engagement research. They will speak about "Using Engagement to Drive Communication Excellence" on Oct. 20, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Maggiano's Little Italy, 516 N. Clark St., Chicago.

Leatherbury, Hewitt's Director of Associate Research and HR Measurement, and Baumruk, Hewitt's Global Employee Listening Practice Leader, will share their insights--gleaned from Best Company and engagement research--with business communicators who want to learn how to marry employee needs with business needs to improve organizational results.

The audience will find out why employee surveys can be a communicators' worst nightmare or their most powerful communication driver. In addition, they'll learn the difference between measuring what makes employees "happy" and what engages them to "Say, Stay, and Strive" at an organization. Plus, Leatherbury and Baumruk will talk about the trend that has business leaders and Wall Street looking at engagement as a predictor of future business success.

Reservations can be made on the IABC/Chicago Web site at www.iabcchicago.com. Cost for the event is $15 for students with valid ID; $30 for members with reservations; $35 for member walk-ins; and $40 for non-members. No-shows will be billed. VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are accepted.

About the Speakers

Jon Leatherbury is experienced in a wide range of research areas including organizational culture, associate engagement, merger and acquisition, global sourcing, organizational effectiveness, and internal client satisfaction. He is an emerging leader in the HR community on the topic of human capital measurement and is currently an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management. Leatherbury has been characterized as a thought leader on employee research and measurement by the HR Management Association of Chicago and the Fulcrum network of subject matter experts. Leatherbury holds a BA in Psychology from Ripon College and a MS in Human Resources from Loyola University.

Ray Baumruk has extensive experience in a diverse range of topics including organizational culture, talent management, workforce measurement, human resource strategy, employee engagement/attitudes, as well as benefits, compensation, and work/life programs. Prior to joining Hewitt, he held market research and strategic market planning positions with DDB Needham Advertising and Technomic Consultants International. Baumruk is a contributing author to The Compensation Guide and frequently quoted in business periodicals including Fortune Magazine, Business Week, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on programs for CNBC, CNN and Lifetime. Baumruk earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a M.S. in Marketing and Strategic Management from Purdue University.

About IABC/Chicago

IABC/Chicago is the Chicago Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the premier international knowledge network for professionals engaged in strategic business communication management. Through networking events, monthly professional development programs, a bi-monthly PRISM newsletter, Web site www.iabcchicago.com and annual Spectra Communication awards, IABC/Chicago helps Chicago-area individuals achieve professional excellence and drive success of their organizations through effective communication strategies and practices. With more than 500 members, it's one of the oldest and largest chapters in the world.

The event is sponsored by Melcrum Publishing and Video Replay. Melcrum is a research and information company with offices in London and Chicago. Through publications, research, training materials and events, Melcrum gathers best practices from businesses around the world to help practitioners make better business decisions. Founded in 1996 by Victoria Mellor and Robin Crumby, Melcrum has seen rapid but steady growth through the development of a global and extremely loyal customer base. Melcrum has customers in over 90 countries and an international reputation not only for editorial and research products of the highest standards, but also for tracking important trends in corporate communication, human resources, and corporate responsibility.

Video Replay provides a wide range of audio visual services including, equipment rentals, editing, duplication and broadcast conversions. Established in 1975, Video Replay has offices in downtown Chicago and suburban Lombard.