Local media continues to evolve rapidly, reshaped by shifting audiences, new technologies, and the power of data. In this Everclass session, Paul LeFort, JO’91, Managing Director of Local Media Client Solutions at Nielsen, offers an insider’s view of how local TV, cable, and sports organizations are adapting. Drawing on years of guiding media clients through transformation, he shares how data-driven insights uncover growth opportunities and fuel success. Paul’s career began in Des Moines radio, sparking a passion for local storytelling and the business impact it creates. Listen as he reflects on how audience measurement is evolving, what innovation looks like in local media, and the lessons he’s learned across three decades in the industry.

Discover the real story behind a rising literary career with bestselling author and Drake graduate Ellen Won Steil, JO’07. In this Everclass session, Ellen reflects on her path from Iowa to the bookshelves, sharing the quiet persistence, reinventions, and even failures that fueled The Lives of Others, Becoming Marlow Fin, and Fortune. She will also discuss what it is like to have one of her books optioned for development as a series on Peacock and how her background in journalism and law sharpened her voice as a storyteller. Perfect for creators seeking motivation, insight, and a candid look at the publishing world.

Step inside the world of high-stakes investigations with Utley Noble, LA’85, JD’88, a retired FBI agent whose career spanned some of the nation’s most consequential cases. From leading a multi-state search in a nationally known student abduction to collecting evidence at Ground Zero after 9/11, Noble has seen it all. In this Everclass, he shares how investigators uncover truth amid chaos—revealing lessons in ethics, leadership, and problem-solving that extend far beyond law enforcement. Whether you’re drawn to forensic science or the mindset behind major investigations, you’ll gain rare insights from a life dedicated to uncovering the truth.