Communication Strategies: Mergers & Acquisitions Edition

IABC/Tulsa Professional Development Luncheon for Communicators
Thursday, August 14 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Central Library | Downtown Tulsa

Professional communicators and students are invited to join us for lunch refreshments and a compelling session focused on communication strategies surrounding mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This month’s featured speakers, Darren Wallis and Becky Carver of ONEOK, will share firsthand insights and best practices from their experience leading internal and external communications through high-stakes change.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to approach M&A communications with clarity and confidence.
• Ways to align leadership, employees and stakeholders during transitions.
• Communication tactics that build trust and reduce uncertainty.
• This is a complimentary event for IABC/Tulsa members, professional communicators and students studying marketing, communications or PR. Lunch refreshments will be provided.

Agenda:

11:30 – 11:45 a.m. | Check-in & Refreshments
11:45 – 12:45 | Presentation and Q&A
12:45 - 1:00 | Optional Networking

Reserve your free spot today! Admission is free for professional communicators and students. RSVP is required.

About the Speakers

Darren Wallis serves as Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Relations at ONEOK, a leading midstream service provider. In this role, he oversees all aspects of internal, external and digital communications, as well as community relations, brand and community investment initiatives. Prior to joining ONEOK, Darren was Vice President of Communications for the North American region of the Crop Science Division at Bayer, where he led corporate reputation, media relations, employee communications, digital strategy and issues management. His extensive background also includes corporate and agency roles at Monsanto Company, Weber Shandwick and FleishmanHillard. Darren brings a wealth of experience in strategic communications, particularly in navigating complex organizational changes, such as mergers and acquisitions.

Becky Carver, SCMP® is the Director of Communications at ONEOK, where she leads the organization's executive and external communications functions and served as the communications lead for integration for the Magellan, Medallion and EnLink acquisitions. Paired with a strong background in employee communications and graphic design, Becky has a proven track record of crafting effective communication strategies that resonate with diverse audiences. Her expertise lies in aligning messaging across various platforms to support organizational goals and enhance stakeholder engagement. She previously worked at Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma and is a past board member and volunteer with IABC/Tulsa.