2026 Ignite Conference: Stories That Shape Us

The 2026 Ignite Conference will explore how narrative influences perception, builds trust, and drives meaningful impact. From Montana’s rich cultural legacy to the cutting-edge strategies shaping modern communication and PR, we’ll uncover how authentic storytelling drives engagement in an era of rapid change

Check out the agenda at a glance.

Review the complete conference program, including session times and presenter bios.

Info: Conference check-in, get your name badge, and welcome bag. Enjoy coffee, tea, and light breakfast bites before we kick off at 9am.

Info: Sarah Calhoun has been called a woman of courage, a community mobilizer, and an inspiration. The unlikely story of a farm girl turned national award-winning entrepreneur has resonated with audiences across the country and serves as a powerful reminder that great ideas can come from unexpected places.

In this inspiring opening keynote, Calhoun shares the story of how Red Ants Pants came to be. How success was found by simply working hard and listening to her gut. How big things can happen in small towns.

Info: Good communicators know when to say yes. Great ones know what to quit. When everything sounds the same and AI slop is everywhere, taste, curiosity, and genuine attention are what make a story stand out. Drawing on 15 years as a professional “hater,” Stacie shares real lessons on the tiny, differentiating details that make your brand worth paying attention to - and gives you permission to be a little more discerning about the work you put into the world.

Info: Newsrooms are shrinking just as misinformation spreads faster than ever. This session goes inside the real challenges of rumors spinning out of control on social media and why shrinking newsrooms have changed the calculus on what gets covered and fact checked. Plus, what PR and comms professionals can do to be part of the solution.

Info: Join PRSA Secretary Jacque Tescher, APR, for an introduction to the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential. Whether you're considering accreditation or simply want to learn more, this session will provide valuable insight into the APR journey and its benefits.

Info: An exclusive guided tour of the Montana Heritage Center will showcase the building’s design, engaging exhibits, and unique spaces that bring Montana’s history and stories to life. Attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for the people, places, and events that have shaped the state while exploring the beautiful venue hosting Ignite 2026.

Info: When the need for a new state history museum was identified, no one could have predicted the 20-year journey to bring the Montana Heritage Center to life, or the central role strategic communications would play along the way. This session explores that journey, from early legislative funding efforts and the landmark 2019 Montana Museum Act to a multi-year capital campaign, institutional rebrand, and the communications strategies that sustained public support through years of construction and closure. Attendees will gain a candid look at the partnerships, pivots, and storytelling efforts that helped turn a long-held vision into reality, and how that momentum continues to drive audience engagement as the Heritage Center shares Montana's stories for generations to come.

Info: In this exceptional time of change on personal, political, business, and community landscape, we need to lean into our own personal power to help us navigate the uncertainty with inner confidence, grace, and commitment to our deeper values. This workshop is focused on participants revealing their own behaviors, beliefs, and experiences that make them feel powerful in order to enable you to bring out your best, most positive, and most committed energy and performance.

This two-part course includes time for personal reflection, skill building, relating to colleagues and friends at the forum, and ways to catalyze action. Participants will leave this workshop with a clear understanding of their own relationship with power as well as a foundational understanding of their own power.

Info: Join fellow communicators for an evening of networking at the historic Myrna Loy. Enjoy drinks and appetizers while connecting, sharing ideas, and building new professional relationships in one of Helena’s iconic cultural venues.

Info: Artificial intelligence is changing how people find information, creating new opportunities for PR professionals to influence both AI-generated responses and traditional media coverage. This session explores why PR is having a major moment and how earned media can drive business and client success. Attendees will learn how to test whether their earned media strategy is working across AI platforms and discover new ways to use press releases, top-tier media coverage, and trade publications to influence large language model (LLM) responses and strengthen brand visibility and credibility.

Info: How did the Montana Department of Commerce build a new state brand that represents the people, places, and stories of Montana? In this session, you'll learn how research, strategy, and storytelling came together to create a brand that authentically reflects Montana's identity and resonates with audiences across the state and beyond. Discover how audience insights helped shape the brand development process and explore the role communications professionals play in building meaningful connections through purposeful storytelling.

Info: Some of the most valuable business relationships don’t start as strategy; they start as chance. This session shows how to intentionally build from those moments. Personal “heritage and authentic moments” can translate into long-term business impact and success.

Participants will learn how to recognize high-potential relationships early, nurture connections without forcing them, turn trust into meaningful collaboration, and apply lessons from real-world examples.

Info: Join Marie Torosian, Program Director, with the Three Chiefs Culture Center for a fireside chat exploring the importance of telling stories through Indigenous voices and perspectives, and the role of collaboration in ensuring cultural narratives are shared respectfully and truthfully. Attendees will gain insight from firsthand experiences in museum storytelling and exhibition development.

Info: The RPIE model—Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation—has guided public relations professionals for decades, but its principles remain as relevant as ever. This session explores how communicators can apply this timeless framework to today's fast-paced environment, helping teams develop strategic campaigns, measure impact, and drive meaningful results.

Info: Most people don’t struggle with content...they struggle with starting, staying consistent, and knowing what actually works. In this keynote, Brandon Smith shares a behind-the-scenes look at building The Missoula Podcast—the messy start, the momentum, and the lessons learned from showing up week after week. No theory. Just real reps, real conversations, and what happens when you commit to using your voice on purpose.

Event venue & nearby stays

Montana Heritage Center, 225 Roberts Street, Helena, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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