Plan to join fellow publishers and senior managers of AAN publications October 23 - 25 at the 2014 AAN Leadership Conference, hosted by the Colorado Springs Independent . We'll convene at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, situated just outside downtown Colorado Springs, and surrounded by scenic mountain vistas. Here's more important info for newcomers to Colorado Springs.

Schedule

THURSDAY, October 23
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Drinks and Hello

FRIDAY, October 24
8:30 to 9 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet in the Mountain View Restaurant

9 to 9:30 a.m.
Welcome: John Weiss, Fran Zankowski, Colorado Springs Independent

9:30 to 9:45 a.m.
Framing of the Weekend: Sally Freeman, Boise Weekly

9:45 to 10:45 a.m.
Check In: Why are you Here?

10:45 to 11:15 a.m.
A word from our sponsor: Signature

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
The Future of Print, Niche and Local: Media Trends you Should Know About
Presenter: Andrew Beaujon, The Poynter Institute

12:15 to 1:15 p.m.
Idea-Sharing Lunch
We'll hear about recent success at The Inlander in Spokane from Publisher Ted McGregor, and then we will open the floor for a discussion about audience and circulation.

1:15 to 2:30 p.m.
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Leadership and Mentoring with the Future in Mind.
International Leadership Trainer and Motivational Speaker, Dr. Ahriana Platten, uses experience and humor to share why the best kind of change is the kind you envision, initiate and direct. Dr. Platten offers five surefire ways to infuse the future with the wisdom of your past -- without saying "because we've always done it this way!"

2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Leadership Survey Results: Discussion, Self-assessment and Exploration
Presenter: Laura Dell

5:30 p.m.
Open House at the Colorado Springs Independent
The bus for the short trip downtown will be available to board at 5 p.m., for a 5:15 p.m. departure.

7:30 p.m. / 7:45 p.m.
Downtown Colorado Springs Dine-Around
We've made reservations for small group dinners at a selection of restaurants offering a range of prices and menu items. Attendees: please check your email for the sign-up sheet for Friday night's restaurant options.

SATURDAY, October 25
9:30 to 10 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet in the Mountain View Restaurant

10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Interactive Exercise
Discussion of your three greatest business successes and challenges from the last 18 months. Bring an example (sales sheet, flyer, video, PowerPoint, etc) of one of these to share with your colleagues.
Facilitator: Tiffany Shackelford

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Succession Discussion
Facilitator: Laura Dell

12:15 to 12:25 p.m.
A word from our sponsor: Olive Software

12:30 to 2 p.m.
Lunch
New Revenue Models and Dynamic Sales Leadership
Presenter: Kirk MacDonald, Digital First Media

2:15 to 3:30 p.m.
Marijuana in Colorado
The history, the legislation and the coverage.
Moderator: Fran Zankowski, Colorado Springs Independent. Panel: Patty Calhoun, Westword, Bryce Crawford, Colorado Springs Independent, John Schroyer, Marijuana Business Media.

6:30 p.m.
Dinner at the Broadmoor

Please note: times and sessions are subject to change.

Speakers

Andrew Beaujon reports on the media for Poynter Online. He was previously arts editor at TBD.com and managing editor of Washington City Paper. He's the author of the 2006 book "Body Piercing Saved My Life," about Christian rock and evangelical Christian culture. He lives in Alexandria, Va., with his family. His email is abeaujon@poynter.org, and he tweets @abeaujon.

Patty Calhoun started Westword in 1977 where she's been editor ever since. If you want to buy her a drink, a Corona with lime would work just fine, thank you very much.

Bryce Crawford is a reporter for the Colorado Springs Independent and Colorado Springs native who's been covering marijuana, among other topics, since 2010.

Laura Dell strengthens organizations and leaders. Her long-standing consulting practice, focused on developing leaders and expanding capacity, is informed by a startlingly long and varied history serving a wide array of businesses, including several AAN members. Laura holds an M.A. in Organization Development, and her expertise has evolved through 35 years of leading in and consulting to workplaces. She is currently the C.O.O. of a mid-size not-for-profit in the Chicago area where she enjoys ample opportunity to practice what she preaches.

Kirk MacDonald is a media industry veteran with 20 plus years of senior management experience in all facets of digital and print media.

He is the President of AdTaxi Networks, a turn-key, multi-platform digital solution for medium and large local advertisers being deployed in 133 cities and 6 countries including the US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Israel and Mexico. Mr. MacDonald is also the Executive Vice President Sales Development for Digital First Media, which owns AdTaxi and is headquartered in New York City.

Mr. MacDonald was formerly President and CEO of the Denver Newspaper Agency and Publisher of The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News from 2000-2006.

Digital First Media's more than 800 multi-platform products reach 66 million Americans each month across 18 states.

Dr. Ahriana Platten came out of the supply closet a few years ago, announcing to the world that she is "bi-vocational." With a strong background in broadcast media and public relations, she opened a small advertising agency in 1988. By 1994, her expert reputation attracted the attention of the London-based Vitala Group, a company specializing in finance for multi-million dollar leisure projects. Partnering as the marketing arm of this prestigious group, Dr. Platten formed a new company called Vitalex marketing. She and her team have provided market feasibility research, strategic tourism plans and leadership development programs for clients including Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, South Korea, China, Turkey, India, Switzerland, and most recently, the Maldives.

Following over a decade of comparative religious study, Dr. Platten was ordained in interfaith ministry in 1996 and began teaching people of differing faith traditions how to talk to each other and gather together. She is the Spiritual Educator and Leader of the Unity Spiritual Center in Colorado Springs, a multi-faith, multi-generational community. Holding a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling Psychology, she is a creator, coordinator and a contributing panelist for "In Good Faith" -- a weekly interfaith advice column featuring the opinions of a variety of clergy members. Dr. Platten also serves as an Ambassador for the Parliament of the World's Religions.

Today, after nearly twenty years of dedication to both of these career endeavors, Dr. Platten is more convinced than ever that if we fail to capture the best of the past, we are destined to live in a world without values -- and if we fail to step into the wonder of our innovative and transformational future, the values we struggle to protect will have no worth.

John Schroyer is a versatile writer, reporter and videographer with a longtime specialty in Colorado politics. He has covered everything from natural disasters to local parades to the state budget, and there's nothing John loves more than a good story. Except perhaps the mountains. Since Aug. 2014, John has been covering the national cannabis industry for Marijuana Business Media, a trade publication that focuses on business news. Follow him on Twitter: @Johnschroyer

Registration Info

Registration for the Leadership Conference is limited to three participants per publication. Participants may include owners, publishers and senior managers. Attendance is limited to the first 35 registrants.

The first AAN member pays $499 and additional members pay a reduced rate of $450 per person. The registration fee includes continental breakfast and lunch on Friday and continental breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday. Guests may join attendees for the group dinner on Saturday for a fee of $100.

Click here to register for the Leadership Conference.

Hotel Info

Experience the picturesque setting of Cheyenne Mountain Resort for your stay in Colorado. Be sure to make your reservation at AAN's special group rate of $129 by Oct. 6. The cut-off date has been extended, but rooms may sell out prior to Oct. 6. Don't delay!

AAN's rate applies to rooms with two queen beds and includes internet access in the guest rooms; however, the $21 resort fee is waived for this rate. Availability of rooms with king beds is very limited; contact the hotel's reservations department at (800) 588-0250 for price and availability.

Update: the cut-off date to make reservations has passed. Please contact the hotel directly for current availability by calling (800) 588-0250 or sending an email to Group Reservationist, Jessica Owens: jowens@cheyennemountain.com. Subject line should read: Reservation request for Leadership Conference October 23-26.