Visibility is about being intentional. It shapes how you show up, how you are perceived, and how your work creates impact.

This dynamic, interactive session is designed for communications professionals who want to be thoughtful about their professional presence and how their expertise translates into influence and opportunity. Whether you are building momentum in your current role or preparing for what is next, personal branding and visibility are essential leadership tools.

Participants will explore practical ways to elevate their professional presence through a range of visibility and leadership-building opportunities, both inside and outside the workplace. Through real world examples and guided activities, panelists will share how they have built trust, navigated high stakes environments, and expanded their influence with purpose.

You will leave with practical strategies, renewed confidence, and a clear action plan to strengthen your voice, grow your leadership presence, and increase your impact at any stage of your career.

Key Takeaways

• Build visibility with purpose: Understand how your personal brand, voice, and presence shape credibility, trust, and opportunity, even without a formal leadership title.

• Strengthen influence and trust: Learn practical strategies for increasing visibility through speaking, networking, media engagement, and online platforms while remaining authentic and effective in high stakes environments.

• Lead beyond your role: Explore how mentorship, board service, professional involvement, and intentional visibility can expand your leadership impact and create opportunities for yourself and others.

SPEAKERS

Katie Evans
Senior Communications Strategist, Woodard & Curran

Jennifer Kaplan
Founder and President, Evolve PR & Marketing

Justin Liggin
Account Executive, HMA Public Relations
2026 Digital Communications Board Chair, PRSA Phoenix

Alison Walsh
Owner, Affinity Public Relations

Speakers Bios

Katie Evans

Katie Evans is a Senior Communications Strategist at Woodard & Curran, where she leads public-facing outreach, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement for environmental and engineering projects nationwide. With more than 15 years of experience, she specializes in research-based communication strategies, crisis communications, and community partnership building, particularly for public agencies navigating complex issues.

Before joining Woodard & Curran, Katie served as Manager of the Water Management Division and later Director of Communications and Conservation at Coachella Valley Water District. In those roles, she led conservation programs through two historic drought cycles and supported long-range planning efforts, including the Coachella Valley Water Management Plan, Urban Water Management Plan, and Sustainable Groundwater Management Plan.

Katie is also a children’s book author with four published titles and remains active in the water industry through service with the Association of California Water Agencies, the California Data Collaborative, CAPIO, AWWA, and NWRA. She is a graduate of Leadership California’s California Issues and Trends program and holds degrees from Arizona State University and Northwestern University.

Jennifer Kaplan

Jennifer Kaplan is the founder and president of Evolve PR & Marketing, Arizona’s largest public relations firm. Since launching the agency in 2010, she has grown Evolve from a small, client-focused team into a firm of 28 full-time publicists serving more than 140 clients across local and national markets. A Phoenix native and Arizona State University alumna, Jennifer is known for her relationship-driven leadership and deep Valley roots.

Her work and leadership have earned numerous honors, including the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Alumni of the Year Award, Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, AZ Business Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Arizona Business, Ranking Arizona’s number one PR agency, AZ Big Media’s Most Admired Companies, Copper Anvil 2025 Agency of the Year, and PR News’ 2025 Top Women in PR and People of the Year. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys time with her family, giving back to the community, and spending time on her yoga mat. She is also a proud Sun Devil.

Justin Liggin

Justin Liggin is an Account Executive at HMA Public Relations and has been a member of the agency team since 2020. His work includes media relations, digital communications, content creation, social media management, and graphic design in support of agency clients.

Justin is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America and currently serves as the 2026 Digital Communications Board Chair for PRSA Phoenix. In this role, he oversees the chapter’s website, blog, newsletter, and social media platforms. He also serves on the Professional Development and Copper Anvils committees.

Justin is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in digital audiences. He also holds a certificate in marketing and sales from the W. P. Carey School of Business.

Alison Walsh

Alison Walsh is the owner of Affinity Public Relations and brings 25 years of experience in public relations and corporate communications. Her expertise includes national and local media relations, crisis communications, executive media training, thought leadership, social media strategy, ghostwriting, strategic communications planning, and special event execution across industries including nonprofit, hospitality, technology, higher education, healthcare, cannabis, real estate, and homebuilding.

An Arizona native, Alison lives in Scottsdale with her husband and two sons. When she is not working with clients or driving kids to sports activities, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, exploring locally owned restaurants, and occasionally sneaking away to the spa.