Connecting Through Communication and Community: A Conversation with Micah Elliot

Every day, businesses and organizations put information out into the world—updates, promotions, reminders—only to wonder later if anyone truly noticed. The challenge isn’t having something to say. It’s breaking through the noise long enough for people to hear it, understand it, and act on it.

On this episode of the Ashland Connected Podcast, host Amy Daubenspeck, President of Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce speaks with Micah Elliott, Communication Strategist with DRM Productions and Retriever Digital Signage, to explore what effective communication really looks like today. Micah brings a unique perspective shaped by decades in design, branding, and community-building, along with a fresh Midwest lens after relocating from Phoenix to north-central Ohio.

Their conversation moves beyond technology for technology’s sake and into the real-world challenges organizations face, like missed messages, overlooked benefits, disengaged audiences, and the growing difficulty of relying solely on newsletters and social media.

Micah explains how digital signage can become a living, real-time communication tool, helping businesses, chambers, banks, and community spaces take control of their message and meet people where their attention already is.

Takeaways

-Most communication fails because it’s never seen

-Attention is already on screens and so owning the message changes everything

-Clear, consistent visuals reduce confusion for customers and staff

-Real-time updates eliminate outdated messaging and manual workarounds

-Good communication strengthens trust and community connection

-Tools matter, but clarity and intention matter more

-When messages are visible, people engage differently

-Technology should simplify communication.

The Ashland Connected Podcast is sponsored by the Bill Harris Dealerships in Ashland, your distinctively different dealer, and the Chevy Network