The first North Iowa Marketing Summit brought marketers, business owners, and community leaders together at the historic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 for a full day of learning, networking, and fresh ideas. Hosted in partnership by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce, with CL Tel as the presenting sponsor, the inaugural event welcomed 142 registrants. From storytelling and strategy to marketing trends and real-world success stories, the day offered plenty of inspiration and practical ideas to take back to the office.

Starting with the Power of Storytelling

Following a morning of registration, networking, and exploring the exhibitor showcase, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, author, and keynote speaker Lauren Ready took the stage for Telling Your Untold Story. Lauren challenged attendees to look beyond the obvious and uncover the stories hiding in plain sight, sharing how authentic storytelling can build connections and inspire action. The keynote was sponsored by Hy-Vee, with presenting sponsor CL Tel helping kick off the morning’s program.

Attendees then put those ideas into practice during From Story to Strategy, an interactive session led by Stacy Doughan, IOM of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Joyce Martin of NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. Sponsored by Colwell Motors, the session encouraged participants to move beyond simply telling their stories and begin turning them into strategic messages that inspire action.

Good Food, Great Conversations

Of course, some of the best ideas happen over lunch! Attendees enjoyed a soup and sandwich lunch from Cabin Coffee, with time to connect with fellow marketers, exchange ideas, and make new connections with professionals from across North Iowa. Throughout the day, 14 exhibitors showcased products, services, and resources to help businesses and organizations strengthen their marketing efforts.

Attendees also went home with some marketing-inspired swag! Branded by ASB provided canvas tote bags featuring the cheeky reminder to “Prompt Responsibly,” while Farm and Home Publishers provided workbooks for taking notes and putting new ideas into action. Lake Effect was also on-site pressing custom marketing-themed T-shirts, giving attendees another fun way to show off their marketing pride!

Marketing on Trial: Guilty or Not Guilty?

The afternoon brought a little courtroom drama to the Surf Ballroom with Marketing on Trial: Strategies That Send You Straight to Jail. Sponsored by Community Health Center, the lively panel featured Chelsi Ciavarelli of One Vision, Zoe Fasbender of Moe Socials, and Kativa Weitzel of Pritchard Companies, with Maddie Anderly of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce & North Iowa Corridor EDC presiding as judge.

Panelists weighed in on some of marketing’s most questionable practices, delivering verdicts of “Gets a Pass,” “Proceed with Caution,” or “Straight to Jail!” Using AI as your graphic designer? Straight to Jail! Chasing every social media trend? Proceed with Caution! Relying solely on Facebook instead of having a website? Straight to Jail!

The session brought plenty of laughs and lively debate, reminding attendees that just because you can do something in marketing doesn’t always mean you should.

Sharing What Works and Learning What Doesn’t

Next up was the Idea Exchange, sponsored by Connoisseur Media and facilitated by Kelby Schultz of the Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce. Attendees gathered for table conversations about the challenges, opportunities, and marketing tactics they’re navigating every day. The format encouraged participants to share what’s working, learn from others’ experiences, and leave with fresh ideas worth trying.

A sweet afternoon break followed, featuring popcorn from Lillie Mae Chocolates and more opportunities to visit exhibitors and connect with fellow attendees.

The final educational session, Marketing Wins in the Wild, brought real-world marketing experiences to the stage. Sponsored by Midwest Duct Works, the panel featured Jenn Arndt of Roots Nutrition Counseling, Andrew Smith of Cabin Coffee, Aimee Deimerly-Snyder of Lillie Mae Chocolates, and Hallie Urdahl of Georgette Bridal & First Gabrielson Agency, moderated by Clear Lake Area Chamber Director of Tourism Libbey Hohn, IOM. Panelists shared successful campaigns, creative risks, lessons learned, and the strategies delivering results for their organizations. The conversation reinforced that some of the best marketing advice comes from people doing the work every day.

The Conversation Doesn’t End Here!

One of the best parts of bringing marketers together is discovering just how much we can learn from one another. And judging by the feedback, attendees are ready to keep the ideas flowing!

“THANK YOU for providing this. It was so fun to connect with fellow marketers and spend a day out of the office learning from other professionals. You kept it fun and moving!” shared one attendee.

Another commented, “This was a very informative event and it was well organized. The day was timed well and flowed with no gaps.”

And while we packed plenty into one day, attendees already have ideas for what they’d like to explore next! Hands-on workshops topped the wish list for future sessions, along with more opportunities for networking, real-world case studies, and interactive activities. Popular topic requests included marketing analytics and measuring ROI, practical AI tools, email marketing, and building stronger customer relationships.

Attendees also suggested deeper dives into brand voice, video creation, Canva, and marketing strategies for different types of organizations. It’s clear there’s an appetite for continued learning and collaboration across North Iowa!

Thank You for Making It Happen!

An event like this takes a team! We’re grateful to CL Tel, our presenting sponsor, along with our keynote, session, lunch, dessert, and supporting sponsors who helped bring the first North Iowa Marketing Summit to life.

A special thank-you to our supporting sponsors: ABC 6 News/KAAL TV, Bank Iowa, Bergland+Cram, Branded By ASB, Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company, Farm and Home Publishers, Henkel Construction, Homestead of Mason City, Lake Effect, Mason City Roofing, Moe Socials, Nelson Media Company, North Iowa Corridor EDC, Overhead Door Company of Mason City, Phoenix Consulting, and Reagan Outdoor Advertising-Cori Frein, for investing in professional development and collaboration across North Iowa.

We’re also grateful to our 14 exhibitors, speakers, panelists, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the day a success.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us, shared ideas, asked questions, and made new connections!

Here’s to More Great Ideas!

The inaugural North Iowa Marketing Summit was about more than marketing tactics. It was about bringing people together, encouraging fresh thinking, and building connections that extend beyond a single day.

The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce are proud to have partnered on this event, and we’re excited about the possibilities for continued collaboration. Because when North Iowa businesses learn and grow together, our entire region benefits.