Theme — Engage: Sales, branding, messaging, strategic partnerships, communications, and revenue diversification.

July 8-9, 2026

Bowen Building — Washington, D.C.— 875 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

View the Lookbooks to see the all the 2026 cohort participants and who your group members are for this program.

Cohort Lookbook

How to Differentiate Yourself and Your Business by Building a StoryBrand

Workshop Facilitated by Dr. JJ Peterson, Head of StoryBrand

How do we talk about what we offer in such a way people are guaranteed to pay attention? Most leaders, marketers, and salespeople have trouble breaking through the noise. What’s the solution? Invite customers into a story that compels them to pay attention and take action. If you are tired of being ignored and want to grow your business, learn to get customers’ attention, keep their attention, and increase orders using StoryBrand’s compelling storytelling framework.

Come prepared with the one-sheet StoryBrand story draft you completed as pre-work.

Dr. JJ Peterson, Head of Story Brand

Since 2013, Dr. JJ Peterson has used the StoryBrand Framework to help thousands of organizations clarify their message in order to grow their business. He holds a PhD in Communication and has spent the last 20 years practicing and teaching communication theory. JJ has studied C.S. Lewis in Oxford, debated theology with filmmakers at the Sundance Film Festival, directed a documentary, served in marketing and PR for two multinational nonprofit organizations, is currently an adjunct professor in the Master of Marketing program with the Owen School of Business at Vanderbilt University, and has spoken to thousands of people about creating a clear message. As Head of StoryBrand, JJ travels around the world facilitating StoryBrand workshops and keynotes, helping people grow their business.

Strategic Communications & Engagement in Complex Environments

Panel session with Jason Yaley, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Parsons and Lauren Bianchi, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, JPMorganChase
Moderated by Lynsey Riffle, Director, Marketing & Communications, D’Aniello IVMF

In today’s high-stakes business environment, corporate affairs leaders are playing a critical role in shaping enterprise strategy, protecting reputation, and building stakeholder trust. From navigating regulatory complexity to articulating purpose under pressure, strategic communications and public affairs functions are now central to how companies lead — not just how they message.

This panel brings together senior corporate affairs executives from the defense/infrastructure and finance sectors to discuss how they’ve helped their organizations manage reputational risk, communicate policy and purpose, and lead through complex, high-visibility challenges.

Panelists will share insights on balancing transparency with strategy in moments of scrutiny, communicating policy, purpose, and risk with clarity and credibility, building and scaling effective corporate affairs functions, and earning and sustaining stakeholder trust in regulated and mission-critical industries.

Jason Yaley, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Parsons

As chief corporate affairs officer of Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN), Jason Yaley is responsible for leading the corporation’s engagement with global stakeholders across all fifty states and 23 countries around the world to advance Parsons’ growth as a leader in national security and global infrastructure.

As a member of the corporation’s Executive Leadership Team, he directs the global marketing, communications, government relations, and CEO customer engagement portfolios. Yaley also leads strategy and execution for the CEO’s customer engagement portfolio, oversees programming for Parsons’ Board of Directors, and co-chairs the company’s corporate response management organization.

Jason holds a Master of Public Administration and Certificate of Advanced Study in Security Studies from The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, along with Bachelor’s Degrees in International Relations and Political Science from Syracuse. He is a Trustee of the Institute for Public Relations and a member of the Page Society.

Lauren Bianchi, Executive Director, Corporate Communications JPMorganChase

Lauren Bianchi has 15 years of experience leading public affairs efforts on and off Capitol Hill. Since joining JPMorganChase (JPMC) in 2023, Lauren has helped build, scale, and modernize the firm’s public affairs capabilities; served as a spokesperson and advised on crisis communications; and led issue advocacy campaigns to shape policy debates and drive outcomes on key industry challenges. Prior to joining JPMC, Lauren led Public Affairs at the Consumer Bankers Association, a Washington-based trade association representing the nation’s largest retail banks. Previously, she served in communications leadership roles for several Members of Congress, including as Communications Director for a high-profile U.S. Senator. In 2017, she was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work as press secretary on the House Ways and Means Committee during the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Lauren began her career in Washington, D.C., at the American Enterprise Institute after serving as a Teach For America Corps Member in New Orleans. A New Jersey native and graduate of Tulane University, Lauren resides in the greater D.C. area with her husband, daughter, and goldendoodle.

Moderated by: Lynsey Riffle, Director, Marketing & Communications, D’Aniello IVMF

Lynsey Riffle serves as the Director for Marketing and Communications at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Previously, Riffle served as the Associate Director for Entrepreneurship and Small Business, focusing on the EBV and V-WISE portfolios. With a strong background in event management, marketing initiatives, growth and strategy planning, and team leadership, Lynsey has consistently delivered impactful results throughout her career within philanthropic and higher education establishments.

At eShow Event Management Solutions where she held the position of Director of Marketing and Communications, Lynsey led a worldwide team to organize successful marketing campaigns and events, achieving notable growth in customer acquisition and brand recognition. Prior to her tenure at eShow, Lynsey excelled as the Assistant Director of Major Events at Syracuse University, where she played a pivotal role in planning and executing Syracuse University’s premier and ceremonial events, including Commencement, Convocations, building openings, dedications, donor and stewardship-focused initiatives, and partnered campus-wide to ensure successful event execution.

In addition to her professional career, Lynsey is a photographer in the wedding and family portraiture industry and donates her time to many local charities and organizations. Lynsey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and is a candidate for a Master of Business Administration in Communications Management at the S.I. Newhouse School for Public Communications.

One Conversation Away: How Relationships Shape Your Success

Mainstage Fireside Conversation with Nader Elguindi, President & CEO of Cydecor,
Moderated by Barbara Carson, Managing Director of Programs and Services, D’Aniello IVMF

Every significant opportunity in business can often be traced back to a single conversation. Drawing from his experience building and scaling Cydecor through multiple acquisitions, Nader Elguindi explores how trusted relationships with customers, partners, mentors, investors, and peers create opportunities that strategy alone cannot. Participants will gain practical insights on cultivating meaningful connections, building influence through trust, and intentionally developing the relationships that accelerate growth.

Nader Elguindi, President & CEO, Cydecor

Nader is the President and Founder of Cydecor, a national security technology firm delivering expertise across critical mission areas including Software Development, Data Analytics, Mission Support, and MultiDomain Communication Solutions. Under his leadership, Cydecor provides innovative, endtoend capabilities that support Special Operations, Navy, AirForce, Space Force, DIA, and OSD in solving their most complex challenges, strengthening the national security of the United States at home and abroad.

Before founding Cydecor, Nader served more than six years as a nuclear engineering officer in the United States Navy’s submarine community, where he became the first naval officer to qualify in submarines with a prosthetic leg. He remains an active philanthropist, dedicating his time and support to veteran causes.

Barbara Carson, Managing Director of Programs and Services, D’Aniello IVMF

Barbara Carson is Managing Director of Programs and Services at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and brings more than 25 years of experience, military service, and proven leadership in successfully building and delivering programs across government and military sectors. Carson is responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of the Institute’s national programs and services, which focus on entrepreneurship, career training, and community services.

Carson retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR), her last assignment was to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of Public Affairs. She has served more than 25 years as an active-duty and reserve officer, and her experience includes nuclear command and control and public affairs assignments across the United States, Japan, and Europe.

Prior to joining the IVMF, Carson spent nearly a decade in leadership at the U.S. Small Business Administration, (SBA) most recently serving as the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance. There, she was responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating the SBA’s disaster loan program throughout the nation. Also at the SBA, Carson served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development where she advocated to increase small business contracting opportunities in federal agencies and led SBA federal procurement programs including 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business, and All Small Mentor Protégé programs. Carson has also served as the SBA’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development, where her military background was an asset to the program. Carson received her Master of Science in Management from Lesley University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Iowa.

Closing: Alex McKindra

Alex McKindra, Managing Director, Technology Corporate Banking and Head of Global Banking Veteran Initiatives, J.P. Morgan

Alex McKindra is a Managing Director within J.P. Morgan’s Technology Global Corporate Banking Group and Head of Veteran Initiatives for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking. In these dual roles, he provides corporate banking coverage for West Coast-based technology companies and leads efforts to support veteran business owners nationwide.

Alex joined J.P. Morgan in 1999 as an investment banking associate in the Consumer & Retail Industry Coverage Group. Prior to J.P. Morgan, he was an associate in Barclays Capital’s Financial Sponsors Group, focused on leveraged buyout transactions for mid-cap private equity firms.

Alex is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed a tour of duty in the United States Air Force.

Your StoryBrand one-sheet draft — This is your pre-work for JJ Peterson’s session. Come with your draft ready for hands-on work.

Business cards — You’ll meet JPMC leaders, speakers, and fellow cohort members.

A critical question — Your Call Sign huddle on Tuesday includes the Critical Questions exercise. Come prepared.

Comfortable layers — Conference rooms run cool. Dress is business casual.

Your goals — Think about what you want to take away from this Fly-In.

Phone charger — Full days. Plan accordingly.