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.
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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
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 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 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 laughs and lively debate, reminding attendees that just because you can do something in marketing does not 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 navigate every day. The format encouraged participants to share what is 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 how much they 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!” one attendee said.
Another commented, “This was a very informative event and it was well organized. The day was timed well and flowed with no gaps.”
Attendees already have ideas for what they would 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 is clear there is an appetite for continued learning and collaboration across North Iowa.
Thank you for making it happen
Organizers thanked CL Tel, the presenting sponsor, along with keynote, session, lunch, dessert and supporting sponsors who helped bring the first North Iowa Marketing Summit to life.
A special thank you went to 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.
Organizers also thanked the 14 exhibitors, speakers, panelists, volunteers and everyone who helped make the day a success.
Most importantly, they thanked everyone who joined the summit, 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 partnered on the event and expressed enthusiasm about the possibilities for continued collaboration. When North Iowa businesses learn and grow together, the entire region benefits.
