This annual event brings together communication professionals from local governments and public agencies across Central Ohio.
Join us for MORPC’s Social Media Summit, a dynamic half-day event bringing together communications professionals from across Central Ohio to explore the latest trends shaping social media today.
This year’s summit will focus on building meaningful connections with your audience, navigating the evolving landscape of misinformation and artificial intelligence, and creating engaging content that drives real impact. Attendees will also gain insight into how organizations are leveraging AI in real-world social media strategies to enhance communication and reach.
Whether you’re managing social media for a local government, organization, or community initiative, this event offers practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and valuable networking opportunities to help you strengthen your digital presence.
Agenda
8:30 AM – Registration
9:00 AM – Program Begins
9:15 AM – Workshop I
- Charles Newman, Assistant Director, City of Columbus Public Service
10:00 AM – Workshop II
- Tracey Sigers, Director AI and Digital Skills Initiatives, NCUS TEC
10:30 AM – Workshop III
- Sara Sandoval, Communications & Creative Content Director, Orange Barrel Media
11:15 AM – Fireside Chat
- Heather Whaling, Founder and President, Geben Communication
- James Anderson, Vice President of Growth & Innovation, Geben Communication
12:00 PM – Closing Remarks & Networking
- Food Truck available for purchasing lunch
For questions about the program, contact Madison Scheiderer at mscheiderer@morpc.org.
Speakers
James Anderson
James Anderson, Vice President of Growth & Innovation at Geben Communication
James Anderson is Geben’s Vice President of Growth & Innovation, bringing 13 years of industry experience, including 8+ years at Geben, across B2B, nonprofit, and mission-driven organizations.
James joined the Geben as a Social Media Manager and, through consistently strong performance, took on expanded leadership — first leading the social team, then helping evolve that function into a broader digital discipline. Today, he leads Geben’s Growth & Innovation practice, focused on helping clients maximize the impact of their advertising and communication investments.
At his core, James balances strategic vision with practical implementation. His work centers on developing and executing data-informed advertising strategies that drive measurable results for complex B2B organizations. He brings deep experience in paid media, audience strategy, and lead generation, with a particular focus on helping clients make smarter decisions about where to invest, how to optimize performance, and how to translate insight into action.
James also plays a key role in integrating emerging tools and technologies — including AI — into Geben’s work in practical, responsible ways. His focus is not experimentation for its own sake, but improving efficiency, performance, and clarity for both clients and internal teams.
Before joining Geben, James worked in customer relations and social media roles, building a strong foundation in audience engagement and brand communication. At Geben, he now helps shape growth-focused strategies that balance creativity, data, and execution — ensuring campaigns don’t just build awareness, but support conversion and long-term impact.
Charles Newman
Charles E. Newman, MPA, Assistant Director, City of Columbus Department of Public Service
Charles Newman is an accomplished Public Relations professional with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and forging impactful connections with diverse audiences. Known for his strategic insight and cultural fluency, Charles possesses an exceptional ability to navigate today’s ever-evolving media landscape, consistently delivering messaging that resonates, engages, and drives results.
Charles’s professional journey in public relations began with the City of Columbus, where he honed his skills in strategic communication, media relations, and public engagement. He currently serves as an Assistant Director with the City of Columbus Department of Public Service, providing leadership in engagement, outreach, and strategic communications initiatives that strengthen trust between government and the communities it serves.
With an impressive portfolio of work alongside local and regional government agencies, nonprofits, and community-centered organizations, Charles has demonstrated a proven ability to tailor creative PR strategies to meet the needs of diverse demographics and stakeholders. Renowned for his strategic thinking and deep cultural awareness, he excels at developing comprehensive campaigns that seamlessly blend traditional media, digital platforms, and grassroots engagement.
Charles’s expertise spans multiple sectors, including government relations, nonprofit advocacy, and faith-based initiatives, where he is particularly skilled at identifying core messages that shape public perception, mobilize communities, and inspire action.
In addition to his professional work in communications and public service, Charles serves as the Senior Pastor of Antioch Jordan Columbus, where his leadership is defined by vision, unity, and transformational impact. He was also elected in 2025 to the Pickerington Local School Boad.
His dual experience in public relations and pastoral leadership uniquely positions him to communicate with authenticity, clarity, and purpose across civic and faith-based spaces.
Beyond his career, Charles is an avid traveler and a dedicated supporter of community outreach initiatives. He draws inspiration from exploring new cultures, cultivating a global perspective, and investing in opportunities that enrich the lives of others. Charles resides in Pickerington, OH, with his wife, Janna, and is the proud father of five energetic sons.
Sara Sandoval
Sara Sandoval, Communications & Creative Content Director at Orange Barrel Media + IKE Smart City
Sara Sandoval is the Communications & Creative Content Director at Orange Barrel Media + IKE Smart City, where she leads a multidisciplinary team delivering content across social media, photography, videography, and earned media. With over a decade of experience in marketing and creative communications, Sara has built and grown brand presences across a range of industries; from retail giants like Victoria’s Secret PINK and Lane Bryant, to Watershed Distillery and Seventh Son Brewing, where she launched accounts to strong organic followings and led a fundraising campaign that generated over $2 million in earned media. A Los Angeles native now based in Columbus, Sara brings a data-driven, visually-led approach to social strategy and content creation.
Heather Whaling
Heather Whaling, Founder and President of Geben Communication
Heather Whaling is an entrepreneur, strategist, and investor who helps organizations accelerate growth and impact. As founder and CEO of Geben Communication, she has built one of the Midwest’s most respected PR and digital agencies – recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Firms and by Ragan as a Top Women in Communication honoree.
A values-based innovator, Heather has a track record of building what’s needed next. In 2009, she launched Geben on the belief that PR and digital work better together, and turning that integration into a competitive advantage for clients. Since then, she’s made two acquisitions to help fuel the agency’s growth. She launched The Visibility Lab to help nonprofits share their stories when resources were scarce. And most recently, she introduced a modern research offering that blends AI with human rigor to help leaders make faster, smarter decisions amid shifting audiences, evolving narratives, and emerging threats. Heather is known for combining hustle and strategy – moving quickly, but always with intention and impact.
A former EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Heather brings that same entrepreneurial energy to her board and community work. She currently serves on the boards of The YWCA of Central Ohio, and The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio (which she previously chaired). Heather was also appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Columbus Women’s Commission and the COVID-19 Recovery & Resiliency Committee.
A vocal advocate for paid family leave and modern workplace policies, Heather has testified before the Ohio Legislature and been featured in NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur.com, and CNN.com. Whether in the boardroom or behind the mic, Heather’s mix of candor, curiosity, and conviction makes her a trusted voice on leadership, innovation, and building organizations that spark impact.