2024 lineup

Jesse Cole, also known as “the guy in the yellow tuxedo” is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the world-famous Savannah Bananas as well as the Party Animals and Firefighters.

With the mantra “Fans First. Entertain Always”, the Bananas are on a mission to Make Baseball Fun by creating the Greatest Show in Sports.

The team has sold out every game since their inaugural season in Savannah and has since grown a ticket waitlist of more than 2 million fans from all over the world.

With more than 15 million social media followers and features on such outlets as The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, HBO Real Sports and Access Hollywood in addition to Bananaland, a five-part documentary original series on ESPN+, the Savannah Bananas are just getting started.

Jesse is the proud inventor of the fastest and most entertaining game of baseball, Banana Ball. Banana Ball puts a fun twist on traditional baseball with new rules featuring a two-hour time limit, no walks, no bunting, no stepping out of the box, no mound visits and best of all, fans can catch a foul ball for an out.

He is the not-so-proud promoter of the Grandma Beauty Pageant, the Human Horse Race, the Living Pinata, and Flatulence Fun Night.

In addition to the wildly successful Banana Ball, Jesse continues to create raving fans all over the world as a best-selling author of “Fans First, Find Your Yellow Tux”, and as a highly sought-after international keynote speaker for some of the world’s largest and most respected organizations.

Most of all, Jesse is a raving fan of his wife, Emily, his 3 kids, and peerless promoters like Walt Disney and PT Barnum.

Bozoma Saint John is a Hall of Fame inducted Marketing Executive, author, entrepreneur and general badass.

Boz got her start in her marketing career at Spike Lee’s ad agency, SpikeDDB. She then went on to manage brands in the PepsiCo beverages portfolio, before becoming Head of Music and Entertainment Marketing at the CPG giant. After that, she led Global Consumer Marketing at Apple Music & iTunes; before serving as Chief Brand Officer at Uber; she then took on the Chief Marketing Officer role for Endeavor (including WME, IMG, UFC, Miss Universe, 160over90 etc). Mostly recently, she served as the Global Chief Marketing Officer at the entertainment behemoth, Netflix.

Boz’s work has been lauded and awarded by the industries she’s operated in; including induction into the American Marketing Association Hall of Fame (2022), following induction into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement (2014). Boz is currently named as the #1 Most Influential CMO in the world by Forbes (2021). She’s also been inducted into Billboard’s Women in Music Hall of Fame after making their list of the Most Powerful Women in Music for 10 consecutive years (2013-2022), and crowned as the Executive of the Year (2016). She’s been featured on the cover of Adweek as “one of the most exciting personalities in advertising;” and is on lists ranging from The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100 (2018) to Fast Company’s and Ad Age’s Most Creative People to Ebony’s 100 Powerful Executives, Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful Women in Business and Fortune’s Most Influential CMOs.

In 2021, Harvard Business School published a multi-media case study on her career, titled “Leading with Authenticity and Urgency”; through which she developed and taught a program at the University aptly named “The Anatomy of a Badass.” Boz has also created a public online class, “The Badass Workshop” to teach the nuances of achieving success when one feels like an outsider.

Boz has expanded her service outside of the US, and been named as an Ambassador for the African Diaspora and Special Envoy to the President of Ghana. Boz is also a philanthropic Ambassador to Pencils of Promise in Ghana and serves on the boards of Girls Who Code, Vital Voices, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Soho House and the CFDA. She’s also currently on the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, Wesleyan University.In the Spring of 2023, Penguin Books will publish her first book, a memoir, “The Urgent Life.”

All of that said, she counts her highest achievement as being a mother to her 12 year old daughter, Lael.

With over 23 years of experience, Chris Jackman is a seasoned marketing leader renowned for driving strategy, building global brands, and managing high-performing teams. Jackman's approach centers on putting the consumer at the heart of every initiative, a philosophy that has consistently led to successful outcomes. A natural problem-solver and progress driver, Jackman is known for leading by example with a robust yet balanced work ethic.

Jackman’s career spans more than 13 years at Levi Strauss & Co. and over a decade in the advertising agency sector. This diverse background provides Jackman with a unique and comprehensive perspective on various business models, brand challenges, and strategic initiatives.

Currently serving as the Vice President of Marketing for the US and Canada at Levi Strauss & Co., Jackman plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the company’s strategic business plan. In this capacity, Jackman oversees all marketing functions within the US and Canada, ensuring the alignment and effectiveness of marketing efforts with the broader organizational goals.

Jackman’s tenure at Levi Strauss & Co. has been marked by significant contributions to the brand’s growth and market presence. By leveraging extensive industry knowledge and a consumer-centric approach, Jackman has successfully driven numerous campaigns and initiatives that have enhanced brand visibility and engagement.

Originally from New England, Jackman has resided in the Bay Area since 2008. Outside of professional responsibilities, Jackman enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two daughters, often favoring the beach as a preferred destination.

Jackman’s expertise and dedication have been instrumental in advancing both team performance and brand success. With a track record of strategic leadership and a deep understanding of consumer dynamics, Jackman continues to be a vital asset to Levi Strauss & Co. and the broader marketing community.

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Johanna Faries was named President of Blizzard Entertainment in early 2024. In this role, Johanna oversees the company’s global portfolio, collaborating with a team of leaders from across Blizzard’s iconic game universes, as well as those leading development, strategy, technology, and story and franchise development.

Known for effectively building high-impact teams and driving scalable growth across a broad range of iconic franchises, Johanna brings deep commercial and brand leadership experience to some of the biggest franchises in entertainment. Prior to her current role, Johanna served as General Manager of Call of Duty, one of the biggest gamingand entertainment brands in the world and the number-one-selling console gaming franchise in the United States for more than a decade. Prior to joining Activision Blizzard, she began her career inthe sports industry, having served 12 years at the National Football League (NFL), holding various positions across marketing, league initiative strategy, fan and business development, and more. As Vice President of Club Business Development at the National Football League, Faries interfaced closely with NFL team owners and presidents to bolster their local businesses year-round.

A graduate of Harvard University, Faries was named one of Variety500 Business Leaders in 2023 and2022, Executive of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal for 2022, one of the Most PowerfulWomen in Sports by both Sports Illustrated and Adweek, and one of FORTUNE’s 40 Under 40 most influential business leaders. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Call of Duty Endowment as well Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission Advisory Board.

Throughout her career, Johanna has also held executive positions in a broad range of diversity and inclusion programs, as well as those focusing on career development and mentorship, and she continues to do so as Executive Champion of Activision Blizzard’s Black Employee Network.In her free time, Johanna participates in playing video games across multiple genre, daily yoga, supporting pro sports of all kinds, and spending time with loved ones.

Bonin Bough is one of the foremost-awarded marketing executives in his field, the host of The Cleveland Hustles, and the author of Txt Me (646) 759-1837. Throughout his illustrious career as one of the youngest C-suite executives in a Fortune 50 company, Bonin has spearheaded some of the industry’s largest global marketing campaigns across digital, mobile, television, print, and experiential, including the premier of the first ever 3D printed food product, the customizable, real-time 3D printed Oreo at SXSW.

As the Chief Media & eCommerce Officer at Mondelēz International (formerly Kraft Foods), he created some of the first marketing programs across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Paramount Films, ABC, NBC, Fox, to name a few, and took precedence in fostering partnerships with startups including Instagram, Foursquare, and Buzzfeed. Prior to Mondelēz International, Bonin led digital marketing globally for PepsiCo, Weber Shandwick and Ruder Finn Interactive.

Laura Nestler has spent two decades transforming passionate fans into empowered growth-drivers. From Yelp to Duolingo to Reddit (where she's currently VP of Community), Laura has been behind some of tech’s most thriving communities and has cracked the code for cultivating communities that drive real value to the members and business. Laura has lived around the globe building teams and communities across diverse cultures and contexts, and now lives in the pacific northwest with her husband, three kids, and inveterate wanderlust.

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Amy Campbell is a marketing innovator and brand builder behind strategies and campaigns that have become part of our cultural and social fabric. While capturing imaginations and engaging consumers with award-winning, iconic moments is an important outcome (and a lot of fun), Amy also champions a purpose-driven mission—the responsibility of brands to serve the greater good.

Described as “a creative force [and] operational wizard” by C-level colleagues, Amy’s impact can be seen across the pop culture, entertainment, music, consumer product, and nonprofit landscape of brands. Throughout her career, she has also earned a reputation as a versatile executive leader who grows brand power across consumer markets, including adult, young adult, youth, culturally diverse, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Serving as the Interim CMO of MTV Entertainment from 2020 to 2021, Amy delivered the top quarter for growth in the business unit’s last 2 years of performance. As the SVP of Brand Creative & Promotion, she was the executive brand lead in the ratings turnaround of both MTV and VH1. She integrated 9 core brands into a cohesive creative strategy and expanded them into streaming platforms. She also led the team that positioned MTV as the #1 entertainment brand across digital and social (+265M followers).

On her journey into her current role as EVP of Marketing for MTV Entertainment, Amy built the machine behind the machine—a multibrand marketing organization powered by a team of domain experts and inspired leaders. From book discussions to working-parents roundtables, she invests heavily in this team recognized for its intellectual bravery, collaboration, and a creative culture of respect and inclusion. She is also the creator of an ambassador program to promote the recruitment and hiring of diverse creative talent.

The portfolio of Amy’s prosocial work spans a wide range of previously stigmatized topics, including sexual, mental, and maternal health. She received an Emmy Award for MTV’s “It’s Your (Sex) Life” campaign focusing on teenage pregnancy. In partnership with Emmy Award-winning producer Lena Waithe and director Minhal Baig, she executive-produced the “Save Our Moms” campaign, generating +6.8M views. Amy also executive-produced the MTV Tres (tr3́s) “Tu Pride” campaign targeting Latino audiences with a message of optimism and aspiration. This campaign won a Gracie Award and was nominated for an Emmy. Amy’s additional 4 Emmy nominations highlight her pioneering work in the categories of “Outstanding New Approaches” and “Outstanding Promotional Announcement.”

James Lawrence is known as the Iron Cowboy. This is the nickname that he received from the public after he started to wear a cowboy hat during races to be recognized by his children. Originally from Calgary, Canada, he now lives in Utah with his wife Sunny, and their five children. With two Guinness world records under his belt, James and his family attempted to do something every person deemed impossible, the 50/50/50. But that didn’t fulfill him. As of June 8, 2021, James completed what the team likes to call the Conquer 100. 100 consecutive full distance triathlons. This journey was created to empower people around the world to do their own hard. Sports Illustrated ranked James in the top 50 fittest freaks with Lebron James and Connor McGregor, 2 of James' favorite athletes. RedBull declares that 'when it comes to endurance, he is unstoppable' and Success magazine named him 'The Most Enduring Man In The World'. He has redefined the definition of impossible, defied logic, and is here today to share his journey with you: ladies and gentlemen, James Lawrence, The Iron Cowboy.

Tara Bosch made Canadian history by scaling her company to be the fastest growing CPG brand created by a solo female founder...ever. When a love affair with candy devolved into an unhealthy relationship with food, Tara became inspired by a conversation with her grandmother about the detrimental effects of sugar. She soon dropped out of college to fulfill her dream: to create the future of candy. With distribution in over 180,000 stores across North America and over 5.6 billion grams of sugar kicked, she landed a $360M majority acquisition just 4 years after launching the company from her basement. As a leader, Tara is wildly passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and believes their big impact-driven visions are needed more than ever before in the world, leading her to create a first-of-its-kind initiative- Bold Beginnings. In addition to fostering connection and tailored support for Canadian entrepreneurs, Tara is working to normalize the feelings of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and insecurities that all entrepreneurs face, while putting funds back into the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs to bring their visions and companies to scale. Publicly, Tara has been recognized for how she beat the statistics of women in entrepreneurship not only by being a solo founder, but maintaining ownership of her brand, keeping gender parity on her board and scaling a team that has always been 80% female-identifying. She is the recipient of several entrepreneurial awards, including being named Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award, Forbes 30 under 30, Inc 30 under 30, and EY Entrepreneur of the Year’s National Product Innovation awardee. In the media, Tara’s work has been profiled in Entrepreneur, Inc, Forbes,The Today Show, Fortune, the Globe and Mail, CNBC, and Business Insider.

Joe Cano is the Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at Zappos.com, the experiential e-commerce and customer service company. In his executive role, Cano leads business development initiatives and focuses on improving the customer experience within the e-tailer’s product offerings, 360 marketing efforts, social strategy and innovating the product category review process, splitting his time between Los Angeles and Zappos headquarters in Las Vegas.

Cano, who has over 20 years of experience in e-commerce,  merchandising and marketing, most recently served as the GM of menswear, womenswear and accessories at Walmart.com, where he worked with the Jet.com and Walmart.com teams in New York.

Prior to Walmart, Cano’s leadership journey began as a Senior Director of Planning for Saks Fifth Avenue, where he quickly grew into the role of VP, Chief Site Merchant, creating strategic roadmaps for the advancement of Saks.com in the digital space.

After attending college, Cano worked at a software company, real estate company, and several retail stores before finally deciding to give corporate retail a try. While onboarding through Hot Topic’s corporate training program, he immediately fell in love with the

process of marrying data and products. Cano’s first big break was pitching the movie Twilight to his Vice President of Merchandise, predicting ahead of time that the franchise would explode to the cultural phenomenon it is today. He credits vampires for kick- starting his career.

Cano understands the importance of continuing to build upon the strength of Zappos’ brand partner relationships, and to help authentically tell customer stories through Zappos’ amazing brand partners’ products. Having experience in teen, luxury, and mass- market retail, he was determined to find a company with an amazing culture which led him to Zappos. The rest as they say is history!

Michael Smith is the Head of Brand Marketing for Starry at PepsiCo, where he plays a pivotal role in the brand's rapid success through innovative partnerships and strategic marketing. Under his leadership, Starry has become a prominent figure on the sidelines of NBA and WNBA games, recognized by its vibrant yellow and green logo.

With extensive experience in marketing both established and emerging brands, Michael brings a unique perspective shaped by his diverse career. He is adept at navigating the complexities of modern marketing, particularly in leveraging the power of digital and social media to saturate the market with engaging content.

Michael is committed to building great brands and better teams by integrating consumer-first thinking, clear product differentiation, and compelling brand storytelling. His expertise includes curating teams with the optimal blend of in-house talent and partner agencies, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to brand marketing. Through his work, Michael demonstrates the power of marketing to generate sustainable competitive advantages for consumer brands.

Liz Maglione is an accomplished marketing communications professional with extensive experience in the global toy industry. Serving as the Vice President of Global Marketing Communications at Mattel, she holds a pivotal role in shaping and executing the company's marketing strategies to enhance brand visibility and drive consumer engagement worldwide.

With a keen understanding of market trends and consumer behavior, Maglione excels at developing and implementing comprehensive marketing campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. Her expertise spans various facets of marketing, including digital media, public relations, content creation, and brand management. She leverages this knowledge to craft compelling narratives that elevate Mattel's iconic brands and products.

Maglione is known for her strategic vision and ability to collaborate effectively across teams and regions. She leads cross-functional initiatives that integrate creative storytelling with data-driven insights, ensuring that marketing efforts are both innovative and impactful. Her strong communication skills and attention to detail enable her to manage complex projects and deliver results that exceed expectations.

Throughout her career, Maglione has demonstrated a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. She is passionate about mentoring junior colleagues and promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry. Her leadership and dedication have earned her recognition as a trusted and influential voice in marketing communications.

In her role as Vice President of Global Marketing Communications at Mattel, Liz Maglione continues to drive the company's mission to create a more inclusive and imaginative world for children and families. Her efforts contribute to the ongoing success and growth of some of the world's most beloved toy brands.

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Brian Jennings, the Executive Vice President of Marketing at the National Hockey League (NHL), is a distinguished leader with over two decades of experience in sports marketing. Throughout his career, Jennings has played a pivotal role in enhancing the NHL's global presence and fan engagement.

Under his guidance, the NHL has seen unprecedented success in reaching new audiences and expanding its fan base through innovative marketing campaigns. Jennings' visionary approach has leveraged digital platforms and emerging technologies to revolutionize fan experiences, driving interaction to new heights.

Jennings' strategic acumen extends to forging impactful partnerships with leading brands and organizations, amplifying the NHL's global reach and influence. His ability to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships has resulted in collaborations that generate substantial value for both the league and its partners.

Beyond marketing, Jennings has championed social responsibility initiatives within the NHL community, implementing charitable programs that make a meaningful impact. His dedication to leveraging the league's platform for positive social change reflects his commitment to using sports as a force for good.

Prior to his role at the NHL, Jennings held key positions in sports and entertainment, refining his skills in marketing, branding, and business development. His diverse background equips him with a comprehensive understanding of the sports landscape, enabling him to navigate challenges with agility and foresight.

Jennings' thought leadership in sports marketing has earned him recognition and respect within the industry. He is a passionate advocate for the power of sports to inspire and unite people, driving the NHL's success on a global scale.

Throughout his career, Jennings has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the sports industry. His unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation has garnered admiration from colleagues, peers, and fans alike.

As Executive Vice President of Marketing for the NHL, Brian Jennings remains committed to advancing the league's mission and vision, ensuring its continued growth and success. His leadership continues to shape the future of sports marketing, leaving an indelible mark on the NHL and the wider sports community.

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Proactive, visionary leader with proven track record of driving dynamic business results – from smaller, high risk portfolios to managing $600MM operations and strategy. Broad based experience in marketing, strategy, insights, digital, data and engineering roles resulting in a unique mix of analytic skills and strong consumer understanding. Energetic leader and mentor with entrepreneurial spirit; proven strength leading and developing 40+ member teams.

Industries: Consumer Packaged Goods, Technology, Automotive, Retail, QSR

Core Competencies: Marketing, Strategic Planning & Execution, Customer Experience, Data Driven Marketing, Unified Marketing Analytics, Zero Based Budgeting, Re-invention, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Sales and Business Acquisition, Digital Transformation, New Channel and e-Commerce Development, Integrated Multi-Media Marketing, P&L / Budget Management, Talent Development & Recruiting

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Tyler Williams is currently a Development Officer (some call this role a Night Mayor) for the City of Las Vegas. A role in which he champions new and redevelopment projects for the cities Economic and Urban Development Department. This role supports the Mayor, City Council, and the City Managers office as they execute on behalf of their customers (the citizens of Las Vegas). Developing new and existing land, creating process improvements, and helping shape public policies that increase wealth and prosperity, provide needed services, entertain, feed, educate, keep safe, and inspire city residents.

Tyler developed the foundation for his current role over a 12 year tenure at Zappos. An online shoe retailer owned by Amazon famous for its employee culture and unmatched customer service. Starting in the call center, he quickly moved from New Hire Trainer to their very first Fungineer. Then heading up their Brand Marketing as Head of Brand Aura, and eventually resigning from Zappos as their Director of Brand Experience. Wowing employees, customers, community, and shareholders was his ultimate purpose.

Before joining Zappos, Tyler was a touring musician, drumming for various rock bands that toured the country. He brings his passion for music, fun, and creativity to everything he does. Tyler's mission is to help foster strong cultures of authentic belonging that enrich people's lives.

In his free time, Tyler keeps the good times rolling. With a love for all things Viking culture, his hobbies include ax throwing, archery, and oarsmanship (rafting). And of course, once a musician, always a musician, he loves writing and recording music. Beyond the drums, Tyler also plays guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, piano, and harmonica!

Married to his high school sweetheart for 18 years, Tyler and his wife are proud paw-rents to their rescue dogs, teacup Shih Tzu/Yorkie mixs named Petunia & Sunflower.

Known as a creative disruptor and strategic storyteller, Jess’ thirteen-year career with PepsiCo has taken a non-traditional approach to successfully grow some of Frito Lay’s and Quaker’s most iconic brands. Her passion for integrating purpose
in every fabric of her work, has led to championing breakthrough marketing campaigns and helping to reconnect brands with the consumers who love them most. She’s recently helped bring to light Canada’s unique soccer fandom through Frito Lay’s “Made for the Moment” campaign during the FIFA World Cup. She also launched the expansion of the Stacy’s Rise Program in Canada, for the first time ever.

Jess has been honoured and featured in industry and trade publications such as AdAge, Fast Company, Cannes Lion, Emmy’s, Strategy, REGGIE, ANDYs and One Show. She’s also received the Global PepsiCo Harvey C. Russell Diversity &
Inclusion award for the Stacy’s Rise Project and multiple BAM awards for Cheetos marketing and innovation. Her journey started in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in Strategic Communications. Jess is committed on using her scale and reach to create a path that enables future generations to thrive.

She is a proud aunt to 10 nieces and nephews, a supporter of Arsenal FC and an avid sneaker head.

Xanthe’s sweet spot is transforming brandside internal creative teams from under-leveraged creative services departments into world-class internal agencies capable of delivering the same level of work as the world’s best agencies. She is leading her third brandside transformation now at Pinterest as VP of Global Creative under CMO Andrea Mallard.

Since arriving at Pinterest, Xanthe has been driving the brand's creative reinvention through work ranging from widely-recognized events & experiences, including the Cannes Manifestival, to the the launch of the new global platform “It’s Possible” in 2023, followed by the release of the company’s beloved brand campaign in 2024. To anyone familiar with Pinterest’s work, her leadership of the creative has signaled a  major step change to the industry, not only in creative quality, but results, beating all previous benchmarks and delivering unprecedented ROI.

She took on a similar challenge at Google prior to coming to Pinterest. When she took over the Google Devices and Services creative team as Global ECD in March 2018, she worked to build out the team’s capabilities, uplevel the creative quality and earn the trust of her marketing stakeholders, leading to the decision to bring most of the work in-house, saving the company millions of dollars over the 5 years of her tenure. Xanthe and her team were responsible for delivering the global creative work across 8 markets and 5 categories for every hardware and service launch for the following brands: Google Pixel, Google Nest, Stadia, Google Fi and Google One.

Her team’s hard work culminated in the Brand Side Agency of the Year, in both the One Show and Art Directors Club award shows in 2022 as well as a Grand Prix in Cannes for Real Tone on Google Pixel.

The team also earned Google the Brand of the Year award in both One Show and ADC, the CMO Pencil for One Show, Best of Discipline at One Show and the coveted D&AD Black Pencil. Before becoming ECD of Google Devices & Services, Xanthe served as Global Creative Director at Nest, where she helped earn the brand several national accolades in major award shows while transforming the internal team’s position within the company and the industry.

Xanthe spent the formative part of her career at TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles 2006-2013 where she spent seven years learning from legendary creative director Lee Clow. At Chiat, Xanthe had the opportunity to work on Pepsi, PlayStation, WaMu, Diet Pepsi, Kraft and Pinkberry, where she started as an art director and left as a creative director. Before making the leap to brandside creative, Xanthe served as Partner &  Chief Creative Officer of Pitch, a boutique agency in LA, an agency she helped boost into the national spotlight leading to the agency’s acquisition by Project Worldwide in 2014.

Xanthe has been recognized as an AdAge "Woman to Watch," AdAge "40 Under 40” in 2015 and Business Insider’s  "30 Most Creative Women in Advertising." Outside of her job, Xanthe is co-founder of Whipshots by Cardi B. An art director by trade, she was born and raised in the heart of San Francisco and is now a single mom living in Los Altos with her two kids.

Bill Neff is the Head of Marketing at YETI, where he leads the company's global marketing strategies and initiatives. His innovative approach to brand development has significantly enhanced YETI's market presence and community engagement.

Bill joined YETI in 2015 and has since held various critical roles, including Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Customer Experience, Vice President of Marketing for EMEA, and Vice President of Consumer Marketing. These roles have allowed him to drive YETI’s brand growth and reputation for high-quality outdoor lifestyle products​.

One of Bill's notable contributions is the "YETI Presents" film series, which emphasizes the brand's commitment to storytelling and community. This initiative has helped YETI connect deeply with its audience by celebrating outdoor adventures and the communities that thrive within them.

Before joining YETI, Bill gained extensive marketing experience at SITKA Gear, 901 Tequila, and Under Armour. His career began as an Assistant Buyer at May Department Stores, highlighting his long-standing dedication to the field of marketing.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from Truman State University. His passion for the outdoors and deep understanding of consumer behavior make him a key figure in YETI’s ongoing success and growth

Chris has 16 years of marketing experience in CPG, sports and start-ups and is a graduate of UCLA's Anderson School of Management. He began his career leading media strategy and advertising for the Houston Astros and spent a year at an early-stage sports-tech start-up during his time in Houston. After getting his MBA at UCLA, he worked at General Mills in Minneapolis, MN for 5 years where he had brand management roles working on Yoplait, Nature Valley and the snacks portfolio in innovation, customer strategy and base business/P&L roles.

He has been with The Coca-Cola Company for three years, first leading portfolio strategy on the Sparkling flavors business (Sprite, Fanta) and has been the Sr Brand Director, Coca-Cola portfolio strategy for the last year and a half.

Melissa Rosenthal is a media and tech executive dedicated to building a platform that addresses the challenges she's encountered throughout her career.

Melissa has held significant leadership roles, including Chief Creative Officer at ClickUp, Chief Marketing Officer at Insight Timer, Chief Revenue Officer at Cheddar, and Vice President of Creative at BuzzFeed. Her achievements have been recognized by Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Business Insider’s 30 Most Creative People Under 30, and Digiday’s "Changemakers."

With a deep passion for net new value creation, Melissa is driven by the mission to empower brands to own the conversations that matter most to them while effectively reaching their ideal customers. This passion led her to co-found Outlever, a company that transforms brands into the #1 news source in their industry. Through Outlever, Melissa enables brands to own critical conversations at an unprecedented scale, establish true authority, and connect with key audiences in meaningful ways.

Simply put, Melissa Rosenthal opens a net-new marketing and sales channel for ROI-focused B2B and B2C brands.

Chris Kneeland is an advisor, brand builder, marketer, revenue generator, profit producer, and thought provoker. He is an enabler of big ideas and ideal experiences and a dedicated enthusiast of cult brands. At his core, Kneeland is a teacher who finds his greatest joy in learning and helping others apply new principles or concepts.

Co-founder of Cult, Kneeland established the company to assist business owners and brand leaders in elevating their thinking about the possibilities for their companies and careers. This mission is rooted in his extensive research into the world's most cult-like brands. Kneeland is driven by a daily commitment to making businesses more deserving of brand advocates who not only purchase more but also buy into the brand’s ethos.

Kneeland combines a unique blend of data-driven insights and instincts to enhance customer and employee experiences, ultimately fostering stronger brand attachment. His professional purpose centers on helping businesses become more successful and significant by engaging customers, prospects, and staff on a deeper emotional level. Through empathy and expertise, Kneeland and his team assist organizations in creating better products, programs, and value propositions that boost brand relevance and make their offerings irresistible.

Kneeland’s approach emphasizes not just communication but meaningful interaction, striving for clear and compelling engagement that leads to category dominance. He finds fulfillment in significantly improving the trajectory of companies and elevating people's understanding of their true potential.

In summary, Chris Kneeland is a strategic leader dedicated to helping businesses achieve greater success and significance through enhanced brand engagement and customer experiences. His passion for teaching and his expertise in building cult-like brands make him a valuable asset in the marketing community.

Jennifer Rooney is an award-winning innovator, curator, and connector among the world’s leading CMOs and beyond. She has built a professional reputation as a trusted, unbiased thought leader, trend-tracker, and visionary. With over 25 years of experience as a business journalist covering the advertising, marketing, and branding industries, as well as executive-level marketing decision-makers, she possesses a deep understanding of the marketing industry's dynamics and leadership.

Jennifer has successfully launched multiple initiatives, platforms, series, and events for CMOs, other C-suite executives, and the broader advertising and marketing community. Through interviews with hundreds of marketing leaders, participation in the marketing industry's foremost alliances, summits, and organizations, and collaboration with premier business schools nationwide, she has cultivated an extensive and valuable network of relationships with the most influential global chief marketers, business leaders, educators, and futurists.

Currently serving as the Chief Experience Officer at Adweek, Jennifer is tasked with bringing a community-first lens to all of Adweek's activities. She creates new initiatives, resources, and experiential offerings to better connect with and serve marketing decision-makers and the overall marketing ecosystem, building consistency and value across all touchpoints.

Previously, Jennifer served as Managing Director and Cofounder of CMO House at Black Glass, an IPG marketing consultancy, where she advised CMOs and provided them with essential resources and access to excel. Prior to that, she spent 10 years at Forbes as Communities Director, Assistant Managing Editor, and Editor and Chair of the CMO Network. In these roles, she managed content and events critical to executive-level marketing decision-makers, particularly the annual Forbes CMO Summit. She also led the Forbes CMO Video Interview Series, the World’s Most Influential CMOs list, the Forbes CMO University Alumni Series, and conceived and launched Forbes CMO Next, an annual list of 50 game-changing CMOs, as well as the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Marketing and Advertising list.

As Editorial Communities Director, Jennifer created and launched the Forbes CxO practice, spotlighting C-suite executive collaboration. She also co-hosted Wharton Business Radio’s monthly “CMO Spotlight” show on SiriusXM for seven years and consults with universities on marketing-curriculum development. Jennifer is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award.

Ian Trombetta serves as Senior Vice President of Social, Influencer, and Content Marketing for the NFL. In this role, Ian oversees the integration of social strategies and content development across all social platforms for the League, Player, Collegiate, and Club handles. He is also responsible for developing an entirely new Influencer Marketing Department with a mission of creating authentic initiatives which leverage the platform of the NFL to reach priority audiences. Over the past three years, the NFL has continued to modernize their approach particularly against GenZ, GenA, and diverse audience segments through enhanced use of their ecosystem. In addition, Ian’s Content Marketing Group is responsible for creating promotional assets that span across broadcast, digital, social, sponsorship, and more. 

Ian joined the NFL from Activision Blizzard Inc., where he served as the Global Vice President of Consumer Marketing under the now NFL CMO, Tim Ellis. Considered the “jack of all trades”, Ian was responsible for overseeing consumer marketing, digital/social, events, and strategic brand/influencer partnerships. Under Ian’s leadership at Activision, they launched the #1 and #2 global console titles in 2017 Call of Duty WWII and Destiny 2.

Prior to joining Activision, Ian was the Head of Brand Marketing at Red Bull North America during record years in total volume and revenue growth. In that role he oversaw all brand, paid media, sampling, collegiate, product, and consumer insights while achieving record growth for the company throughout his tenure.

Ian spent the early portion of his career on the agency side at agencies such as TBWA Chiat / Day working with brands that included Taco Bell and XM Satellite Radio. He is a passionate marketer who infuses his love for the NFL with his strong desire to continue modernizing the league as it enters the next 100 years of football.

As Chief Marketing Officer for the New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center and six other brands, Jillian Frechette is responsible for brand, marketing, digital, live production, youth hockey, community investment and revenue generation tied to multiple marquee Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE) properties. Frechette is an agile and creative marketing leader, driven by a purpose to ignite and connect the passion of fan communities for compelling sport and entertainment brands. Growing up in a Canadian hockey family, sport is in her DNA and has deeply shaped her career path. Frechette was awarded “Engagement Executive of the Year” by Hashtag Sports in Atlanta, Georgia in late 2021 for her leadership driving exceptional digital strategy, the production of compelling content and ultimately, achieving incredible fan engagement metrics with the Devils digital platforms. She recently launched a Third Jersey for the New Jersey Devils – a franchise first. Her design partner for this special garment was Hall of Famer and fellow Canadian, Martin Brodeur. Very recently they celebrated the win of a 2022 Creative Summit award for their use of AR Murals and a 2022 NHL Stanley award for “Best Marketing Campaign” of the year for the Third Jersey launch.

Tim Ellis is a dynamic executive with over 30 years of experience in the marketing industry. He is recognized for being the driving force behind some of the most innovative, award-winning marketing campaigns in the U.S. and across Europe. During his tenure at the NFL, he was awarded Marketer of the Year by Ad Age, named a top CMO by both Adweek and Ad Age, won four Emmys, and created the #1 Super Bowl ad on the USA Today Ad Meter. While at Activision, he received the Adweek Brand Genius Award and the Grand Effie Award for the most effective campaign in the U.S. At Volkswagen, he was honored as the Cannes Lions Global Marketer of the Year and led campaigns and strategies that set new industry standards, including the Volkswagen TV ad, "The Force," which was recognized as Ad of the Year by Adweek, deemed the most successful Super Bowl ad ever by Muse Clio, and credited by TIME as the ad that changed the Super Bowl forever. While working at Volvo in Europe, he won the Cannes Lions Titanium Award for the most forward-thinking campaign. His extensive experience includes client and agency positions, with over 19 years in international marketing management, including 12 years based in Europe managing global and pan-European marketing programs. He is a Board Member of the Adweek Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Council, the Adweek Executive Mentor Program, and the Ad Council.

Veronica Romney is a 16+ year marketing leadership expert, international speaker, podcast host, and the proud creator of the Rainmaker Residency™ programs. As a former Speaker and Trainer for Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi, Chief of Staff at BossBabe, Director of Marketing Suite Products for a $2B evaluated software company, and former Marketing Agency Owner, she’s had the privilege of witnessing the marketing industry's evolution firsthand from every angle possible.

Whether through keynotes, workshops, or strategic consultations, Veronica’s mission is to empower marketing teams not only to perform better and generate record-breaking revenue results but also reignite their passion for their work, fostering a culture of proactivity and long-term commitment within their companies.

When not helping her members and private clients “make it rain”, you can find her hosting the Rainmaker Podcast, writing her upcoming marketing + leadership book, and wrangling her two man cubs in the beautiful oak trees of North Carolina.

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IN-Q is a professional spoken word artist, Emmy nominated lyricist, multi-platinum songwriter, world renowned keynote speaker, and the best-selling author of the poetry book “Inquire Within”. His career started in Los Angeles, over 25 years ago, where he was one of the original members of the historic open-mic Da Poetry Lounge. He has also been featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam and won the National Poetry Slam Championships along with his team in 2004.

Other notable achievements include being named to Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list of the world's most influential thought leaders, being the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque du Soleil, and being featured on A&E, ESPN and Verses & Flow.

Countless audiences around the world have been inspired through his performances and storytelling workshops. Many of his poetry videos have gone viral with over 60 million views combined, and his stand-up poetry special, IN-Q - Live at the Ace Theatre, streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

The Never Ending Now, his recent spoken word album and poetry journal, explore the importance of creativity for emotional and mental wellbeing.

Rodney Rambo is the Global Chief Marketing Officer of Converse, where he leads the brand's worldwide marketing strategy. Known for his innovative approach, Rodney has spearheaded several high-profile campaigns, including the "Sneakers Would" campaign, which successfully brought the Converse brand to a broader European audience through creative collaborations​​.

Before becoming the Global CMO, Rodney served as Vice President of North America Brand Marketing. His leadership has been crucial in reinforcing Converse's image as an iconic and youthful brand, continuing the legacy of the Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker​.

Rodney's work emphasizes authentic storytelling and engaging consumer experiences, helping Converse maintain its position as a leading brand in the global market. His strategic vision and dedication to brand development make him a key figure in the company's ongoing success.

Jason White is the President of Wieden+Kennedy, a globally renowned advertising agency known for its innovative and impactful campaigns. With a rich background in creative leadership, Jason drives the agency's strategic vision, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence. Before joining Wieden+Kennedy, Jason served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Beats by Dre, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the brand's identity and global presence. His dynamic approach and keen understanding of the industry have propelled Wieden+Kennedy to new heights, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the advertising world. Under Jason's stewardship, the agency continues to deliver groundbreaking work that resonates with audiences and sets the benchmark for creativity in advertising.

As President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Artis Stevens takes the helm of the organization at a critical moment for our nation’s youth. The youngest in a large family with limited resources, Artis was surrounded with positive relationships that inspired his potential. The son and grandson of preachers, he often shares, his calling for the past 25 years has focused on empowering young people.

As the first Black CEO in BBBSA’s 100+ year history, Artis sees this historic announcement as fuel to break more barriers. He previously served as Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer for National 4-H Council, and the National Vice President, Marketing, Strategy & Operations at Boys & Girls Club of America. An award-winning non-profit marketing leader with a passion for building purpose-driven brands, boards, and teams, Artis’ experience has also led to transformational outcomes in fundraising and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Michelle is a marketing and strategy leader with over 30 years of experience developing and inspiring financial institutions and organizations to put clients at the center, grow market share, reinforce brand leadership, build customer and stakeholder loyalty and cross-sell products and services. At First Citizens Bank, she orchestrates marketing and client experience functions to effectively serve the bank's clients and generate tangible business outcomes.

Previously,Michelle served as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for Silicon Valley Bank for the last 11 years, steering initiatives to advance SVB’s mission to increase the probability of its innovative clients’ success. Understanding the unique needs of the global innovation economy, Michelle strengthened SVB’s client experience capabilities by building teams focused on strategy alignment, experience design and customer insights. Under Michelle’s leadership, SVB launched its “Make Next Happen Now” campaign to tell the stories of the entrepreneurs behind SVB’s clients and its “Yes, SVB” campaign to reestablish trust in the brand after its acquisition by First Citizens Bank.  

Before joining SVB, Michelle spent nearly two decades at Charles Schwab as the company grew from 3,000 to 14,000 employees. As a member of the senior management team responsible for business-to-business enterprises, she oversaw a range of functions from advertising to brand management and client communications.Michelle also served as a director of investor services segment marketing, and vice president of advisor services marketing programs, developing marketing strategies for both the retail and institutional sides of the business.

Jason Dillon is a highly strategic and entrepreneurial professional with over 25 years of experience in digital marketing, advertising, and business development. Currently serving as the Head of Business Expansion at Knorex, Jason leads initiatives to drive the company's growth in the digital advertising and marketing technology space. His expertise spans various domains including, AdTech, strategic planning, and analytics. Jason has a proven track record of driving growth, improving campaign performance, and expanding client portfolios. He has developed and implemented strategic plans that resulted in double-digit revenue increases, improved lead generation, and higher win rates in RFP processes.

Before his tenure at Knorex, Jason held senior leadership positions at prominent organizations such as The New York Times, EAB Global, Berkshire Hathaway Media, and Scripps Media. His career is marked by his ability to mentor and motivate teams, develop comprehensive business strategies, and utilize data-driven approaches to achieve outstanding results. With a wealth of experience in B2B and B2C communications, CRM, and digital marketing, Jason is a critical asset to any organization seeking to drive growth and innovation in digital marketing.

Adam Garone is a seasoned leader with a diverse background spanning military service, technology, and philanthropy. His journey began with a distinguished career in the Australian Army, where he honed his leadership skills and gained invaluable experience in operations management within the Australian special forces. Transitioning to the tech industry, Adam immersed himself in roles focused on the development, management, and marketing of emerging web and mobile technologies. It was during this time that he developed a passion for harnessing technology to create innovative and profitable business models.

In 2003, Adam's life took a transformative turn when his brother challenged him to grow a mustache for the inaugural Movember campaign. This seemingly simple challenge inspired Adam and his co-founders to establish Movember as a global men's health movement, foundation, and initiative. Since its inception, Movember has had a profound impact, raising awareness and funds for men's health issues worldwide.

As CEO of Movember from its inception, Adam played a pivotal role in shaping the organization into one of the most innovative and impactful charities of the millennium. Under his leadership, Movember revolutionized the philanthropic sector by infusing fundraising efforts with creativity and fun, cultivating a cult brand that mobilized a global movement for men's health. Adam's strategic vision also transformed cancer research by fostering unprecedented levels of collaboration on a global scale.

Adam's leadership and contributions were recognized when Movember was named one of the Top 100 Best NGOs in the world by the Global Journal since 2013, a testament to the organization's remarkable achievements under his guidance. In June 2016, after thirteen years as CEO, Adam made the decision to step down from his role, leaving behind a lasting legacy of impact and innovation.

Today, Adam's passion lies in collaborating with organizations at the intersection of profit and purpose, leveraging his expertise to drive transformative global movements. Through his continued dedication to making a difference, Adam Garone remains a driving force for positive change in the world.

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With over 14 years of experience in the natural food industry, James Boettcher is dedicated to fostering a culture and community that supports and empowers his team, customers, and partners. As the Chief Empowerment Officer and Custodian of Culture at Righteous Gelato, James leads with a compelling vision, clear communication, and unwavering determination, inspiring those around him to strive for excellence.

James has a proven track record of success in business planning, marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship, highlighted by his numerous awards, including the 2018 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, the ATB We Grow Alberta Award, and the Cut Red Tape Award. As a leader within a certified B Corporation, he is committed to social and environmental responsibility, believing that shared food experiences have the power to build communities, support small businesses, and transform spaces. This belief also led him to co-found Taiko Canteen and YYCFoodTrucks, two innovative ventures that celebrate the diversity and creativity of the local food scene.

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As the US Chief Marketing Officer at JLR North America, Charlotte combines her background in psychology with a passion for understanding and influencing consumer behaviour. Joining JLR in 2022 as the Director of Transformation and Analytics, she spearheaded a movement to create personalized, omnichannel shopping journeys for the company’s modern luxury clients, before being promoted to US CMO within the same year.

Prior to her tenure at JLR, Charlotte devoted 15 years to driving consumer psychology initiatives and global branding programs in the media and automotive industries, holding several global marketing positions at General Motors and new product innovation at Turner Broadcasting. She then served as of one of the world's first "Chief Behavioural Officers" at Maritz, where she played a crucial role in designing incentive systems for Fortune 500 companies. Recognized for her thought leadership and field research, she was honoured as a Visionary by Incentive Magazine and acknowledged as one of the 25 Most Influential People in the incentive industry in 2016. Her dedication to field research is further showcased in her TEDx talk, 'Lead Like a Scientist,' advocating for experimentation to enhance workforce incentives and motivation.

Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. She recently happily relocated with her husband and two young daughters to her cherished and spooky hometown of Sleepy Hollow, NY.

Nic Beique is the CEO and Founder of Helcim, a company dedicated to revolutionizing payment experiences for merchants. With a deep-seated passion for his work, Nic leads an extraordinary team committed to innovation and excellence. His visionary leadership and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in Helcim's growth and success, driving the development of cutting-edge solutions that simplify and enhance payment processes for businesses of all sizes. Under Nic's guidance, Helcim continues to set new standards in the industry, consistently delivering outstanding service and value to its clients.

Carlton Braithwaite serves as the Senior Director of Business Growth at GoodLife Fitness Clubs, where he leads the development of sales, service, and retention strategies across Canada. With a keen focus on data-driven methodologies, Braithwaite continuously refines and enriches the experience for both associates and members alike.

His overarching mission is to create unparalleled experiences that not only meet but exceed expectations, thereby further solidifying GoodLife's brand, image, and reputation as a leading fitness provider in Canada. Through innovative approaches and strategic initiatives, Braithwaite strives to enhance the overall value proposition offered by GoodLife Fitness Clubs, ensuring sustained growth and customer satisfaction.

With a wealth of experience in sales, service, and business development, Braithwaite brings a unique blend of expertise to his role. His commitment to excellence and dedication to leveraging data insights to drive business success have positioned him as a trusted leader within the organization.

Braithwaite's strategic vision and hands-on approach have been instrumental in driving positive change and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within GoodLife Fitness Clubs. His leadership and collaborative spirit inspire teams to achieve their full potential, resulting in tangible outcomes that propel the company forward.

As Senior Director of Business Growth, Carlton Braithwaite remains steadfast in his commitment to driving innovation and delivering exceptional experiences that elevate GoodLife Fitness Clubs to new heights of success. His unwavering dedication to excellence and passion for enhancing the customer experience continue to set the standard for excellence within the fitness industry.

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Simon Cazelais is Vice-President of Global Brand Strategy and Innovation at BRP. He manages a global portfolio of brands such as Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, and Lynx, overseeing Global CX Strategy, Brand Strategy and Consumer Engagement. In 2019, he launched the BRP’s commercial innovation lab, BRP-X, and its first incubated venture, Uncharted Society, a global powersports adventure service.

He has been working in the field of marketing and communication for over 15 years. For nearly a decade he worked at Bleublancrouge, one of the largest Canadian independent advertising agency, where he held the role of VP Strategy and Development and of President and Partner. During his 9 years at Bleublancrouge, he supported companies in their strategic development, growth and transformation. In 2018 he became Head of Growth and Business Development at Lune Rouge Venture Fund before joining BRP in April 2019.

Simon has also taught the performance of sponsorship programs at HEC Montreal as well as at the University of Montreal for several years in his capacity.

His work has been recognized on numerous occasions such as the Cassies, Créa, Boomerang, Strat and Marketing Awards. In 2017, he won the prestigious Marketer on the Rise award from the American Marketing Association. Since 2018, he sits on the Board of Directors of Collège Notre-Dame.

Brett Marchand assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and Director of Plus Company as of its incorporation date on September 1, 2021. Brett has been with Plus Company’s predecessors for 16 years. Before becoming CEO, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Vision7, the Canadian-based marketing services company and owner of 16 agencies, including Canada’s market leader, Cossette, which he led as CEO for 6 years. Brett has distinguished himself in the North American marketing and advertising community as a champion of great advertising and an ardent believer in the power of creative communications, combined with technology and data, to build business. Brett has been closely involved in breakthrough business-building marketing campaigns as both a client and ad agency executive. In addition to his duties as an officer and board member of Plus Company, Brett is involved on the boards of many cause-related organizations, including Pathways for Education (Board Member and Chair of its Impact & Innovation Committee), NewCo Toronto (Founder & Chairman), SickKids Foundation (Campaign Committee), The Ontario Science Centre (former Board Member and Chair of the RBC’s Innovators Ball), University of Alberta's School of Business (Advisory Board), Habitat for Humanity (Chair of the 2017 Carter Work Project), and former Chairman of the Institute of Canadian Agencies. Brett holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Marketing from the University of Alberta.

Tim Weinheimer is the Managing Partner and Chief Innovations Officer at Hahn/Hahn Labs, an agency providing a competitive advantage to brands across energy + essentials and food & beverage industries through the use of predictive marketing services and data intelligence. There Tim ensures the continuous innovation of the company’s full-service offering of brand marketing, digital + social media marketing, data analytics, and award-winning web development.

With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing strategy, Tim has witnessed the digital transformation in the field overtime. His firsthand exposure underscores the profound impact of AI in native culture creation, predictive data tracking, and various other facets of contemporary marketing endeavors.

His integrated marketing experience covers a broad range of Fortune 500 companies, associations, government and nonprofit clientele including IBM, Cleveland Clinic, El Paso Electric, ERCOT, Virtual Care for Kids, Lifesize, Hershey's, ConAgra Foods, The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.

Tim is the author of the eBook 'How Brands Can Survive and Thrive in the Age of AI and also the creator of the AI-authored book 'The Giving Will.'

Nadia Niccoli is an award-winning omnichannel marketer with over fifteen years of success in developing and implementing innovative and strategic campaigns, partnerships, and sponsorships for leading consumer, entertainment, and tech brands in North America. From Smirnoff to Johnnie Walker, Baileys, TikTok, Complex, Global TV, Food Network, HGTV, or the GlobalTV app, Niccoli is a revered leader who consistently delivers measurable results and embraces unconventional thinking at both personal and corporate levels to drive impact.

Recognized by partners and colleagues alike, Niccoli is known for her strategic, dynamic, and innovative approach to marketing. Her ability to navigate diverse industries and platforms while maintaining a keen focus on achieving tangible results sets her apart as a leader in her field.

In her role, Niccoli continues to push boundaries and challenge conventional norms, driving her brands to new heights of success and influence. Her dedication to delivering impactful campaigns and her commitment to innovation make her a valuable asset to any team or organization she is a part of.

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A unique cross-platform thinker, he continues to push the boundaries of his leadership mindset facilitating collaboration from all silos of the industry.

An entrepreneur at heart, he is the co-founder of 3 successful businesses, introducing not only unique operational solutions but also leading their brands to conquer influential and purposeful positioning.

Today, he’s the sole owner of King Ursa, a 50+ person-strong full service advertising agency. With a focus on end-to-end service, King Ursa brings research and analysis, strategy, creative, content production and media all under one roof.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Paulo continues to share his learnings by speaking at marketing conferences, presenting his thought provoking theses and running workshops at colleges and universities.

As the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Partnerships & External Relations at GoodLife Fitness, Tammy leads a dedicated team of professionals committed to expanding the brand and nurturing valuable relationships with partners across diverse industries. With over 20 years of comprehensive experience spanning sales, marketing, and operations, Tammy boasts a proven track record of driving new business, elevating partner revenues, and executing initiatives that directly impact the company's bottom line while remaining aligned with its overarching purpose and vision.

Tammy's deep understanding of the health and wellness sector stems from her tenure in organizations supporting both reactive and proactive approaches to healthcare. Recognized as a keynote speaker and thought leader in corporate wellness, she actively shares her insights and expertise with varied audiences. Tammy's overarching mission is to catalyze positive change in the health and well-being of Canadians while inspiring associates at all levels to unlock their full potential, fostering a culture of success, engagement, and tangible results.

Bassem El-Rahimy is the Head of Canada at Turo. Since its launch in 2016, Turo has quickly become Canada’s largest car-sharing network. He was the first hire for Turo's Toronto office, allowing him to be at the forefront of scaling a marketplace business and mobility solution over the past eight years.

Before joining Turo, Bassem was the third employee and co-founder at GVE Online Education. This ed-tech platform enables children in China to access an international elementary school education virtually. GVE provides one-on-one tutoring, ESL curricula, and an immersive online classroom experience. The platform has connected thousands of students to hundreds of tutors across 27 Chinese provinces and five countries.

Prior to GVE, Bassem joined BFL Canada’s rotational program, where he learned the fundamentals of commercial insurance, particularly for real estate, entertainment, farming, and transportation.

Bassem's first entrepreneurial venture was developing the Young Professionals Development Network (YPDN) community. This experience allowed him to launch and scale a business, providing a strong foundation early in his career.

Kate Torrance joined SickKids Foundation in 2015, an organization dedicated to driving awareness and raising funds to support the groundbreaking work of the number 2 pediatric hospital in the world – The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. As Vice President and Head of Brand, Content & Communications, Kate is responsible for ensuring SickKids remains the number one charity brand (and continues to be one of the top overall brands) in Canada. Kate was an integral part of the team that launched our globally recognized and award-winning VS brand platform for SickKids, and most recently led the launch of Precision Child Health, a game-changing approach to medicine driven by SickKids. In addition, she collaborates with all the fundraising portfolios at the Foundation to provide communications strategies that drive business results while ensuring alignment with the brand platform. Prior to joining the Foundation, Kate spent 20 years working for top-tier advertising agencies and led national integrated advertising campaigns for leading brands including Budweiser, Bell, Campbells, Corona, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, and Quaker. Outside of the office, Kate is an active volunteer, having served for several terms as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for nabs Canada, a not-for-profit that supports the health & well-being of the people in the marketing and communications industry.

Greg Kihlstrom is a leading figure in the marketing and communications industry, recognized as the #1 marketing thought leader by Thinkers360. With a focus on action, Kihlstrom is dedicated to helping brands create more value for customers, thereby enhancing customer lifetime value. His belief in this win-win scenario is fundamental to organizational success.

Kihlstrom collaborates with Fortune 1000 brands to turn big ideas and complex challenges into sustainable, impactful results. As an advisor and consultant, he guides organizations through change, fostering agility in their approaches. His expertise lies in connecting strategy to people, process, and platforms within marketing technology, customer experience, and digital transformation. His work has earned accolades with top brands like Adidas, Choice Hotels, Coca-Cola, FedEx, HP, Marriott, Toyota, and VMware.

An accomplished entrepreneur, Kihlstrom has co-founded and led multiple companies to successful exits. His digital experience agency was acquired in 2017, an HR technology platform provider in 2020, and a SaaS startup in 2021. He currently advises and serves on the board of a MarTech startup.

Kihlstrom’s analytical and strategic approach is supported by his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Business Agility certifications. He is a prolific author, with eleven best-selling books on customer experience, agile business practices, and marketing. His latest work, "House of the Customer," discusses how brands can create future-focused, personalized customer experiences. He also contributes to MarTech, CMSWire, and other industry publications.

As a member of the ANA School of Marketing Faculty, Kihlstrom teaches courses on Customer Experience Measurement and Agile Marketing. He co-founded the American Advertising Federation's National Innovation Committee and serves on various boards, including the University of Richmond's CX Advisory Board and the Workhouse Arts Foundation.

Kihlstrom is a sought-after speaker, presenting at major industry events such as MarTech, Internet Week New York, SMX Social Media, EventTech, Internet Summit, Social Media Week, and VMWorld. His insights have been featured in Advertising Age, Communication Arts, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, and The Washington Post. He has also guest lectured at institutions including Georgetown University, American University, Virginia Tech, Howard University, and the University of Maryland.

Greg Kihlstrom’s expertise and dedication to enhancing customer value make him a pivotal figure in the marketing and digital transformation landscape. His leadership and innovative approach continue to drive significant advancements for brands worldwide.

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Dan Hindin is a seasoned marketing and communications expert with extensive experience in campaign planning and execution, research and intelligence, and analytics and insights for numerous Fortune 500 corporations. 

A pioneer in social listening and measurement, his career spans agency, consulting, and highly matrixed in-house environments, where he has consistently delivered measurable accomplishments. Industry leaders seek out Dan for his expertise in architecting and overhauling global teams, capabilities, and processes to ensure peak performance. He excels at balancing big-picture ideation with meticulous attention to detail.

Dan's passion for culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices is evident in his commitment to diverse hiring practices and mentoring junior colleagues. As a role model, trainer, and ally of multiple diversity-focused business resource groups, he actively promotes an inclusive workplace environment.

Dan is driven by a desire to continually learn new skills and explore new markets, constantly seeking opportunities to expand his expertise and impact. His professional journey reflects a dedication to both personal growth and the advancement of the teams and organizations he leads.

Dan lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two children, ages 9 and 11. In his free time, he enjoys getting outdoors and staying physically active including running, cycling, hiking, kayaking and pickleball. He also has a passion for travel, food, science and history.

As Founder and Owner of Tabl’eau Filtered Water, Deb believes drinking water shouldn't have to travel farther than from the nearest tap to get to your table. In 2011 she founded and created the brand Tabl’eau Filtered Water, a leading on-premises water solution that eliminates the added transport, storage and recycling of traditional bottled, packaged and delivered waters. Elegant aesthetics, eco-forward functionality and superior taste position Tabl’eau as an enviable hydration experience serving premium chilled sparkling and still filtered water. 

Previously, Deb along with Cheryl Benson-Guanci, Co-Founded DCB Productions (The DCB Group). Deb was Principal and Executive Producer. As pioneers developing the sports entertainment industry, they were in charge of building professional sport team brands through creating their in-game entertainment experience. Having worked with 30+ sport franchises throughout North America, Deb has proven her ability to integrate, communicate and combine strategic solution-based thinking, creative concept design, and operational budget development. She has a passion for creative thinking, brand storytelling and building authentic brand affinity.

Working with some of the most prestigious leagues and ownerships in professional sport, Deb has built industry relationships with some of the most revered leaders and accomplished athletes. Recognized for her work in the Sports and Entertainment Industry, she has received both AVA and Telly Awards. After producing the 2008 World Series In-Game alongside FOX and ESPN, she was named one the 100 Most Influential Canadians in Baseball. Deb has been awarded Female Entrepreneur of the Year and has been a part of numerous charitable boards and committees in every city she has lived and worked in.

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An accomplished creative audio and sonic branding leader, Rah brings over 15 years of experience working with major agencies, brands and entertainment companies. 

His repertoire includes an eclectic mix of branded content, long-form, animation and interactive projects. From orchestrating a team of creatives to freelancing as a composer / music producer, he has worn different hats within the vast domains of Audio, Advertising and Entertainment. 

To name some of the notable clients or brands he has collaborated with / worked on:

• AGENCIES: McCann, Publicis, Ogilvy, JWT, DDB, BBDO, FCB 
• BRANDS: Disney, Jockey, Nestle, Hotwheels, Seatgeek, Nokia, Haier, Destination Toronto
• NETWORKS: Disney XD, Disney Star, History Channel, Nat Geo, Global News

Since joining MassiveMusic North America, Rah has led creative strategy and production for several brands ranging from dynamic startups to industry giants in retail, tech, automotive, personal care, and more.

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From growing up on the stunning coast of Nova Scotia to forging his career in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Brendon Arnold (BA) has become a Brand/Marketing powerhouse in the sporting goods arena.

 Over the course of BA’s career, he has worked with some of the biggest and baddest sporting goods brands in the world, including Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Fitbit and Apple.

In 2018, a unique opportunity arose to takeover and lead the Sherwood Hockey brand out of Calgary, Alberta. Since that day, BA has been at the helm of the Sherwood brand – helping guide Sherwood in the direction of disruption – purposely steering the ship into uncharted waters to find the ‘white space’ within the sport of hockey. Under his leadership, BA has been able to resuscitate a dusty, irrelevant brand, and transform it into the hottest, fastest growing hockey brand in North America, while attracting and signing some of the biggest names in the sport.

Brad Parry was appointed President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development (CED) in 2022, following two years as Vice-President of Marketing and Communications. 

With over two decades of leadership roles across industries that span public, private, startup and not-for-profit organizations, Brad has a strong track record of driving high performing teams by leading with integrity and compassion, and creating a culture of accountability, teamwork and collaboration. 

Previous to his leadership roles at CED, Brad held executive positions for companies, including CEO and Founder of Atlarge Consulting, a consultancy focused on marketing, communications, operations, strategy, commercialization, and revenue generation for technology, media and venture capital companies; Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Intertainment Media; and Vice President of Marketing at E! Television Network.  

With a strong foundation in marketing, communications, labour, investor, stakeholder and government relations, Brad has built a reputation for being a strategic and analytical leader known for building inclusive organizational cultures that are data-centric and focused on growing revenue, spearheading digital and technology transformation and driving innovation. 

A passionate, strategic and analytical thinker with a penchant for getting things done, Brad has led and acted as a key advisor to small, medium and large-scale operations. 

In addition to leading the team at CED and serving on the Board of Directors, Brad is also the CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. He is also a former Board member and advisor to Data for Good, a national volunteer organization that focuses on supporting their communities through the use of data.    

In January 2023, Brad was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee medal in recognition of his track record of leadership and contributions to the province.  

Nick Bond is a highly skilled marketer and CX expert renowned for his commitment to understanding customer needs and translating them into successful business strategies. As the CXO and founding partner of Apex, an AI-powered solution that uncovers and quantifies customer desires, Nick empowers brands to align with their customers' needs and enhance their experiences. 

With a decade of experience in market research, including senior leadership roles with Canadian Tire Group and Ipsos, Nick has honed his skills in understanding customer expectations, motivations, and frustrations across various sectors. His unique blend of data-driven insights and a people-centric approach has earned him a reputation for delivering tangible metrics that have a measurable impact on organizations. 

Nick's expertise has made him a trusted advisor to senior marketing, insights and CX professionals, helping them assess their brand identity, increase market share, optimize resource allocation for CX efforts, and measure and communicate the impact of their initiatives. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Nick is known for his engaging personality and ability to captivate audiences as a guest speaker. His in-depth knowledge of CX, passion for problem-solving, and relatable presentation style make him a standout in the industry.

Stephanie is the Co-Founder and CEO at Daughter, one of Canada’s top creative and design agencies. Daughter has been widely recognized by many major industry awards, including Strategy Magazine’s Small and Design Agency of the Year Awards, Strategy Magazine’s 2023 Creative Report Card and Institute of Canadian Agencies Creative Power List. Daughter’s client list includes many of Calgary’s most notable organizations, including Calgary Economic Development, Benevity, University of Victoria, The Calgary Cancer Centre, Transalta, and SAIT. She is also on the Board of Directors for Long View, one of North America’s largest privately-owned IT companies, and the Ssubi Foundation, a not-for-profit that supports the education of children in Uganda. 

Noelle Perillo is a seasoned public relations leader with over 20 years of experience. She excels in strategy development and the integrated planning and execution of results-oriented communications programs. Perillo is skilled in managing clients, partners, and cross-functional teams across private and non-profit sectors, often overseeing multi-million-dollar investments.

A passionate and persuasive communicator, Perillo is particularly drawn to cause-related programs and purpose work. Her diverse skill set includes expertise in integrated communications strategy, media relations, partner and stakeholder management, brand storytelling, issues management, team and budget management, as well as PR measurement.

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Matt Gagnon was Born and raised in the woods of Maine, with a 15 year period in Austin, TX. He has since returned to Maine in 2021. Matt is the founder of Atomic Mornings and Matt Gagnon Coaching.  Once a hardcore night person who spent every last second he could under comfort and safety of his blankets, he made the drastic change into becoming a morning person. To say it changed is life is an under statement, as it also became an unexpected and life changing program for others. As the founder of Atomic Mornings he works with C-suite leaders, Entrepreneurs, and high performers who feel like their is never enough time in the day for family, friends, self care and work. These individuals feel like the calendar is holding them hostage from living a fulfilling life. Matt focuses on the five things most people have total control over which Matt defines as Supply Lines: Sleep, Prayer/Mediation Time, Fitness, Nutrition, and Connection Time With Positive Family and Friends.  He guides his clients through a customized 30 day one on one program, creating a sustainable morning routines that proves anyone is capable of becoming a morning person and how to regain control of their calendar.

Matt is also certified professional executive performance/life coach, TEDx speaker, and virtual professor for Austin Community College teaching LinkedIn skills. In the fall of 2023, Matt took what was once a hobby, and became local performing paid musician throughout the state of Maine using his love for music and skillset with vocals, guitar, piano, and story telling to not only entertain, but to create connection and community. Prior to his current roles, Matt spent 15 years in retail arena with Staples, Cole Haan, Under Armour, and Carters/Osh Kosh. He was known for developing high performing store teams using a servant leadership style approach with a direct focus on a coaching strategy while covering cross country territory.

In his free time Matt enjoys road trips, camping, hiking, ax and knife throwing, vinyl records, super hero movies, collecting non-sports cards, and all things pop culture.  His biggest passion is sharing many of these hobbies with his 11 year old son, who has also become a locally paid musician in Maine. Matt lives by the mindset that life is better when it has its own soundtrack.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattgagnon1

Instagram: @IamMattGagnon and @AtomicMornings.io

Chris Ruder is the CEO and founder of Spikeball, a company that has transformed a backyard game into a nationwide phenomenon. As the driving force behind Spikeball, Chris combines his entrepreneurial spirit with a deep passion for the sport, leading the company from a niche hobby to a mainstream activity enjoyed by millions. His innovative vision and hands-on leadership have been pivotal in Spikeball's rapid growth and success. Under Chris's guidance, the company continues to expand its reach and influence, fostering a vibrant community of players and enthusiasts. With a commitment to excellence and a keen eye for opportunities, Chris Ruder ensures that Spikeball remains at the forefront of the sports and recreation industry.

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For over 10 years, Brian Scherman has worked as an expert in the field of Sonic Branding and Sonic Experience Design, crafting elegant systems of sounds for some of the largest brands in the world including Walmart, Lexus, American Express, and Netflix.

Brian brings deep creativity together with technical expertise, designing interaction sounds for autonomous vehicles, critical alerts and alarms for medical devices, and entertainment ambiences for sound in wellness experiences.

He brings all his experience to Songtradr as Head of Creative Production, overseeing the bespoke composition work out of the Americas.

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Get ready to experience comedy like never before with John Heffron, the sought-after corporate comedian who turns everyday life into a hilarious and relatable narrative. As a seasoned stand-up performer with a keen eye for the nuances of human behaviour, John’s humour resonates deeply, making him a perfect fit for The Gathering in Banff, Canada.

John’s comedic journey is a testament to his ability to connect with audiences from all walks of life. Having appeared on virtually everything you can be on—from major television networks to top-tier comedy specials—John has become a familiar face in the comedy world. His performances are more than just a series of jokes—they are a masterclass in storytelling, where each punchline is a thread that ties together the shared experiences of his audience.

As a highly sought-after comedian in the corporate world, John has performed at thousands of events, consistently finding the light in life to laugh about. His unique approach not only entertains but also brings people together, making him a top choice for companies looking to inspire and engage their teams. His knack for turning universal experiences into moments of shared humor makes him a perfect addition to The Gathering, where the power of connection and brand loyalty is celebrated.

At The Gathering, John will bring his unique brand of humour to an audience of innovators, leaders, and creatives, providing a fresh perspective on the power of connection through laughter. Just as The Gathering celebrates brands that cultivate deep loyalty, John’s comedy fosters a sense of community, making people feel seen, understood, and, most importantly, entertained.

Whether you’re a brand builder looking for new ways to engage your audience or a creative soul seeking inspiration, John Heffron’s performance is not to be missed. Join us for an evening of laughter and insight as John brings his comedic brilliance to the heart of Banff.

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Matt founded One Tree Planted, Inc. in 2014 with a passionate commitment to the environment and global reforestation. With an MBA in marketing and a Masters degree in sports management, he excels at business management and entrepreneurship. Prior to establishing One Tree Planted, Matt co-founded Sonomax and Liquid Nutrition Inc. which were both publicly traded on the TSX. He also co-founded EcoSteps Distribution, the largest wholesaler of environmentally friendly packaging throughout Canada. Eager to share his business knowledge, he was a professor for eleven years at John Abbott College and Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, teaching marketing, accounting, and e-commerce to his students. Matt is driven to make a difference in the world and inspires his team through his leadership and solid business acumen.