2025 State Conference
The State Conference will be held on May 17, 2025.
We are honoring APW member and past-president Barbara Lacy. Her artwork will be on display.
Register at Eventbrite.
APW members in good standing can pay the Early Bird price of $40 by paying directly through Zelle or by check. arizonaprofessionalwriters@gmail.com. Mail checks to RuthAnn Hogue APW, 39968 W Jenna Ln, Maricopa, AZ 85138.
Location
Paradise Valley Town Hall, Conference Center. The Town of Paradise Valley Town Hall Complex is located at 6401 E Lincoln Drive on the southeast corner of Lincoln Drive and Invergordon Road.
Conference Schedule
8:30 doors open for registration
9:15 Opening remarks
9:30 Speaker: Michele Nelson (Podcasting)
10:30 Break
10:45 Speaker: Darlene Ziebell (biz)
11:45 Scholarship winner
Noon lunch
12:45 Author bingo
1:00 Speaker: Roger Naylor (travel)
2:00 Break
2:15 Mystery box winner and Annual meeting
2:35 Recognition of Barbara Lacy
Speakers
Michele Nelson – Podcaster and reporter – “Starting a Podcast, A Reporter’s Perspective”
Screenshot
Michele has written for the Payson Roundup newspaper for 15 years and now hosts “The Strength Beyond Struggle” podcast on mental health. Her podcast grew out of Ending the Silence, a program developed by the National Alliance for Mental Health here in Arizona. The podcast reaches out to parents on behalf of their kid, since they must sign permission slips. It introduces them to the adult and youth presenters who will speak in classrooms as well as experts who talk about mental health. Michele lives in Payson, has two children and is married to Pete Aleshire who is her collaborator and producer of her podcast.
Darlene Ziebell – People strategist and business consultant – “The Write Future: Marketing Your Work with the Power of AI”
Prominent entrepreneur, author, and business consultant, Darlene Ziebell helps others navigate the world of business. Her people strategies and business methods are based on lessons learned from her own companies and advising others. She is a former CEO, Director, and a public speaker. In addition to her MBA from Kellogg School of Management, her extensive career consists of practical experience bootstrapping four startups, executing three successful exit strategies, and advising 20% of the Fortune 1000 as a management consultant.
Roger Naylor – author and travel writer – “Location, Location, Location: The Power of Place“
Roger Naylor is an award-winning Arizona author and travel writer. He rambles around the Grand Canyon State, writing about and photographing his discoveries. His specialties include state and national parks, lonely hiking trails, twisting back roads, diners with burgers sizzling on the grill, small towns, ghost towns and pie.His work has appeared in the Arizona Republic, The Guardian, USA Today, Arizona Highways, and dozens more. In 2018, He was honored to be inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame.
Honoring
Barbara Lacy – past president and artist
We will be honoring Barbara for her years of service to APW as well as viewing her art work, which is on display at our venue, the Paradise Valley Town Hall. Download the Barbara Lacy flyer
Arizona Professional Writers 