EMCEES
Suzanne McGee
Director, Marketing & Communications,
EP+Co.
Rebecca Sullivan
Director of Public Relations, North America, VML
SPEAKERS
Steph Clements
Director of Public Relations, INNOCEAN USA
Steph Sipe Clements is a storyteller with a deep passion for showcasing culture-driving creativity and the many people behind the work. With nearly twenty years of B2B, consumer and internal communications experience, she brings her strategic vision and fresh perspective to her role as Director of Public Relations at INNOCEAN USA. She began her career as a summer intern at Starcom MediaVest Group in Chicago before heading to New York for three years to work at FCB Global and moving with Sunshine Sachs to its Los Angeles office. Prior to joining INNOCEAN, she freelanced with Delta Airlines, Droga5, Advertising Week New York and Dentsu Creative, and worked as your favorite Trader Joe’s Crew member.
Tanya Dua
Senior Technology Editor, LinkedIn News
Tanya currently leads tech coverage for LinkedIn News, reaching LinkedIn's 1 billion+ members with relevant and timely news, analysis, insights, and trends focusing on AI, enterprise tech and big tech. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter reaching nearly 1 million people here: lnkd.in/TechStack
Before this, she was the founding reporter on Business Insider's advertising and media team, where she wrote regular news and feature stories, and led and built flagship editorial products like the 'Most Innovative Chief Marketing Officers' and the 'CMOs to Watch' lists.
Jameson Fleming
Editor-in-Chief, MM+M
Jameson Fleming is the editor-in-chief of MM+M, the leading healthcare marketing publication in the U.S. He is the former executive editor of Adweek, where he built the publication's industry-leading coverage of ad agencies.
Anthony Ha
Weekend Editor, TechCrunch
Anthony Ha is TechCrunch’s weekend editor. Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm. He lives in New York City.
Jon Iwata
Executive Chairman, Data & Trust Alliance, and former IBM Chief Brand Officer
Over a 35-year career at IBM, Jon held multiple leadership roles, including Senior Vice President, Chief Brand Officer, and leader of the company's global marketing, communications and citizenship organization. According to Interbrand, IBM became the second most valuable brand in the world during Jon’s tenure as Chief Marketing Officer.
Today, Jon is Executive Chairman of the Data & Trust Alliance, a not- for-profit organization formed in 2020 by CEOs of leading corporations to develop and adopt responsible data and AI practices. It has produced algorithmic anti-bias safeguards for workforce practices, as well as the first data provenance standards to bring transparency to how, when and where data is collected or generated. Alliance members include American Express, AT&T, Chevron, CVS Health, GM, IBM, Meta, Nike, Pfizer, Starbucks, UPS, Walmart and Warby Parker.
He is also an Executive Fellow and Lecturer at the Yale School of Management and the Practice Leader of the Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation and Management, which was established in 2022 to help leaders more effectively create economic and societal value.
He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; a director of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and serves on the advisory board of Responsible Innovation Labs. He was appointed a Tech Ethics and Policy Mentor at the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford University in 2023.
Jon is an inductee of the B2B Hall of Fame and the Marketing Hall of Fame. He was named a Brand Genius by AdWeek. He holds a BA from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San Jose State University.
Jon is co-inventor of a U.S. patent for a nanotechnology and process for atomic-scale semiconductors.
Marla Kaplowitz
CEO, 4A's
Bringing over 30 years of industry experience in marketing, media and communications, Marla joined the 4A's in May 2017 as the President & CEO to help define and shape the future focus for the association. Under her leadership, the 4A’s works to improve the health of the industry through the power of collective experience, expertise, and impact to help empower success for its members across business transformation and talent needs.
Prior to joining MEC (now Wavemaker, part of WPP) where she was CEO of North America from 2011 - 2017, Marla spent 12 years at MediaVest (now Spark Foundry, part of Publicis). She began her career at DMB&B before moving to Ammirati Puris Lintas.
Marla serves as a director on the Board of Penn Entertainment and is the Committee Chair for the Nominating/Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. In addition, she is a member of several non-profit Boards including The Ad Council, BBB National Programs (includes Audit & Finance and National Advertising Review Board Committees), Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA). Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) and MediaVillage.
Anaka Kobzev
Global Chief Communications Officer, McCann Worldgroup
Anaka is the Global Chief Communications Officer for McCann Worldgroup, leading global communications, reputation management, employee communications and social. With two decades in corporate communications, she’s a seasoned storyteller who understands the power of creativity in all its forms. Anaka has worked for top agencies like TBWA\Worldwide, Initiative and J. Walter Thompson (now VML). As Global Head of Communications at TBWA, the agency was recognized as Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year twice, Ad Age’s Network of the Year in 2022, and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for four years in a row.
She is a past co-chair of the 4A’s Agency Communications Committee and has served as a judge for multiple award shows, including The One Show and PR Week.
Toni Lee
President, TL Communications
Toni Lee is founder of Toni Lee Communications and co-founder and secretary of the board of the BLAC (building leaders & Creators) Internship program. Her 26-year-old agency focuses on helping drive growth through PR for independent agencies and marketing firms including BarkleyOKRP, Acadia, Prophet and others. She also worked inhouse at Grey Advertising and as a consultant to Ogilvy.
Adrienne Lucas
Head of DEI & Strategic Partnerships, The One Club for Creativity
Adrienne Lucas is the Global Head of Strategic Partnerships & DEI at The One Club. As part of her role, Adrienne partners with brands and agencies throughout the US, and parts of Africa and Europe, to create programs designed to retain and increase the number of creatives of color in advertising.
One of the largest programs under Adrienne’s purview is Where Are All The Black People (WAATBP), an annual diversity conference and career fair. WAATBP attracts up to 3500+ attendees and 60+ sponsoring agencies and brands including: Delta Airlines, Google, and Capital One. Adrienne also spearheads the Creative Boot Camp initiative--a free weeklong program where college students of color create and present an advertising campaign for a real client.
Adrienne holds a J.D. from NYU Law, a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Diversity & Inclusion Professionals Certificate from Cornell University IRL School. She is passionate about the arts, civil rights, and social justice.
Oliver McAteer
Partner & Head of Development, Mischief
Not an ad person.* And, that’s a good thing. Oliver is partner and head of Development at Mischief, where he looks after new business and comms. He joined as employee number four and has helped grow Mischief from a pandemic start-up to one of the most celebrated agencies in the world. *Still refuses to watch Mad Men.
Suzanne McGee
Director, Marketing & Communications, EP+Co.
Suzanne is a PR and marcom leader with over 15 years of experience in entertainment, technology, and corporate communications. She has a proven track record of driving PR strategy, creating and executing press programs, securing coverage in national and trade publications and online press, and developing speaker and award programs for agencies and clients of all sizes and industries.
Currently, Suzanne is a cross-functional project team leader for agency marketing and communications programs. This includes engaging with clients, press, analysts, internal communications and operations teams, as well as the social media capability. She also supports and collaborates with key executives in the agency. Suzanne's focus includes digital, second screen experiences, storytelling, and measurement. She is passionate about promoting the agency's creative work and thought leadership, expanding press outreach and opportunities, and connecting comms and multicultural strategy.
She currently serves as Co-Chair of the 4A's Agency Communications Committee.
Kyle O’Brien
Agencies Reporter and AgencySpy Editor, ADWEEK
Kyle O’Brien is Adweek’s Agencies Reporter and AgencySpy editor, covering the global advertising agency industry. Prior to Adweek, Kyle was the Creative Works Editor for The Drum. In his career he has worked on all sides of the advertising and marketing world, as a journalist, copywriter and creative director. He has worked for The Oregonian newspaper, Nike and Entercom (Audacy) Radio, along with being a longtime freelancer for the agency and brand worlds. He is a former Californian and Oregonian, now living in Pennsylvania and working in New York.
Simone Oppenheimer-Mandel
Co-Founder, NBZ
Simone is the Co-Founder of NBZ, a growth consultancy for the marketing industry.
NBZ integrates with agencies to develop an ownable brand and growth strategies that set them apart from the masses. In parallel, NBZ matches like-minded brands and agencies to drive meaningful partnerships across our industry.
With 20 years’ experience driving new business for agencies, Simone understands the industry’s requirements for success inside and out. Her passion for growth comes from running and shaping new business at boutique creative shops like Campfire and leading it for global agencies like Ogilvy, VMLYR and Futurebrand.
Well-versed in business as usual and business as never-been-done-before, she pushes her clients beyond the dream and into the hustle. Her ability to help agency leaders address their biggest and most uncomfortable growth challenges has earned her the nickname “Oppen-hammer.”
Jeanine Poggi
Editor-in-Chief, Ad Age
Jeanine Poggi is the editor-in-chief of Ad Age, where she leads the editorial direction of the newsroom and spearheads the development of innovative content strategies and products. Since joining Ad Age in 2012 as a TV reporter, Jeanine has played a key role in shaping coverage around the rapidly evolving media and marketing landscape. Before Ad Age, she covered retail and media for WWD, Forbes, and TheStreet. Jeanine is passionate about elevating the conversation around the future of media and advertising, particularly as it relates to the integration of technology and storytelling.
Jennifer Risi
Founder and President, The Sway Effect
Jennifer Risi is the President & Founder of The Sway Effect, one of the fastest-growing marketing and communications agencies today. At the heart of The Sway Effect’s work, the agency is focused on driving brand reputation while putting diversity, equity and inclusion at the center of everything that we do. Risi is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience in strategic global media relations, CEO positioning, investor relations and issues management. Risi was named a PR News Top Women in PR for three years in a row and The Sway Effect was named 2023 PRNews Women Owned Agency of the Year and 2024 PRovoke Media North American Boutique Agency of the Year.
Ann Rubin
EVP, Marketing, Communications & Events, 4A's
Ann started her career on the agency side of the business learning the ropes on large consumer brands such as Procter and Gamble and AT&T at NW Ayer and Merkley, Newman, Harty. She went to IBM to try the client side “for a few years” and 20 years later was leading IBM Corporate Marketing managing disciplines from global advertising, events and social to brand experience & design, media and agency operations. Ann joined the 4A’s in 2023 to leverage her passion for the industry and make a difference for agencies. At the 4A’s, Ann leads marketing, communications, events and the digital experience.
Matt Ryan
CEO, Roth Ryan Hayes (RRH)
Matt is the founder and CEO of Roth Ryan Hayes. RRH is a leader in marketing and advertising optimization via established Needs Assessment initiatives, Agency Resourcing (search and contracting), and Agency Resource Evaluation.
Matt provided successful outcomes for a wide range of clients. In the last three years alone, he led work for clients including The Home Depot, CVS Health, Enterprise Holdings, PNC Bank and The National football League; as well as middle market advertisers Safelite, Invesco, Puma, New Balance; and smaller tightly focused marketers Valvoline and SeatGeek among others.
Matt provides on-going guidance and support to Robert Kraft and The Kraft Group's work to combat antisemitism and all hate via the "Blue Square" campaign.
Prior to acquiring Roth Associates and re-launching as RRH, he served as Global CEO of WPP’s United Network. Matt’s shift to global work started at Arnold and Euro RSCG, units of Havas. As Co-Chairman and President of Global Brands at Havas Worldwide he managed a 450-person staff of integrated communications professionals. Among the global marketers and brands, he worked closely with were Jaguar, Reckitt Benckiser, Merck, Volvo, and Live Nation. His domestic brands included New York Life, Atlantic City, Dos Equis, and others. Prior to joining Havas Worldwide, Matt served as EVP of Havas’s sister agency, Arnold Worldwide. Matt led the agency’s winning team in a global Volvo agency review, subsequently staffing and managing the Volvo business globally. Early in his career, Matt rode the first wave of the digital revolution, founding Ryan, Drossman & Partners. A pioneer in digital, the agency launched digital-first brands such as MovieFone, SportsLine.com, TheStreet.com, and Verio. He then served as CEO of the publicly traded Change Technology Partners, leading the company through 12 acquisitions.
Sabrina Sanchez
Senior Creativity Reporter, Ad Age
Sabrina Sanchez is senior reporter, Creativity, at Ad Age. She was previously creative editor at Campaign US and served as a writer and reporter at Sidekick by Morning Brew and PRWeek.
Geno Schellenberger
CEO, Breaking and Entering Media
Geno Schellenberger is the CEO and Host of Breaking and Entering Media, a platform helping aspiring advertisers, marketing executives, and creative professionals thrive in the industry. Launched in 2020, Breaking and Entering has grown into one of the top five advertising podcasts globally, with over 150,000 listens. Named Campaign US Magazine’s Young Advertiser of the Year and featured on Ad Age’s 23 Gen-Zers to Know List in 2024, Geno continues to lead Breaking and Entering Media in bridging gaps between agencies, brands, and talent.
Leah Steinhardt
VP of Marketing, POSSIBLE
Leah Steinhardt is a seasoned marketing and sales executive with over 20 years of experience driving growth, engagement, and revenue for leading brands. Currently, Leah is the VP of Marketing for POSSIBLE, the event that brings together the entire marketing ecosystem. Her career in events started in 2005 when she led Konami Gaming’s marketing department. Since then, she moved over from the brand side to working with a leading event organizer Clarion Events where she worked in a diverse range of verticals from contemporary art, energy, gaming and marketing. Leah is passionate about fostering strategic partnerships that generate long-term value and elevate brands in highly competitive markets.
Rebecca Sullivan
Director of Public Relations, North America, VML
As Director of PR in North America at VML, Rebecca develops PR strategies for creative campaigns and making agency leaders and our clients famous. She oversees creative PR for clients including Unilever, Nestle, Lenovo, Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, and loves to dig into ideas surrounding AI, accessibility and anything that can change the world. Rebecca joined Wunderman Thompson (now VML) after serving as SVP and Director of Agency Communications at IPG’s MullenLowe U.S. (clients included Acura, Burger King, Constellation Brands, E*TRADE, Humana). She spent 15 years handling PR for Effie Worldwide, working with the most effective brands and agencies across the globe. As a consultant, she focused on PR strategy for small to mid-sized agency brands including SS+K, A&G, Nail, SwellShark and more. She started her career at Arnold.
Jeff Sweat
Founder, Sweat + Co
Jeff Sweat is the founder of Sweat + Co, a PR consultancy focused on advertising. As an ex-journalist, content marketing pioneer, two-time novelist, and agency PR veteran, Jeff has learned it’s not enough to tell a story—you have to create a story worth telling. Since launching in 2015, Sweat + Co has helped its ad agency clients grow press hits by 300% in the first year.
Julie Thompson
Founder & C-Suite Advisor, juliethompsoninc
Catalyst, Connector, Strategist. Lover of all things advertising. Industry advocate and for-hire sharpshooter. Proud founder of juliethompsoninc, her NYC-based technology and media advisory firm focused on advancing leading digital platforms, innovative startups, and industry trade groups. Of counsel to CEOs, CMOs, and their marketing, sales & comms organizations. Sixteen years of success between 2006-2023, now re-launched and open for fractional CMO work and strategic assignments.
Suzanne Vranica
Advertising Editor, Wall Street Journal
Suzanne Vranica covers the advertising and marketing industries and is part of The Wall Street Journal’s media & marketing bureau in New York. During her long tenure on the beat, she’s covered the inner workings of Madison Avenue and companies such as WPP, Omnicom, and Publicis. Her stories often chronicle how advertising across all forms of media is being disrupted by technology and data. A particular focus of her coverage has been the growing dominance of tech giants such as Alphabet’s Google, Meta Platforms and Amazon over the advertising market.
Suzanne helped launch CMO Today, a web vertical started by the Journal in 2014 that addresses the rapidly transforming marketing businesses and the role of marketing in the C-Suite. She currently is responsible for programming CMO Network events and conferences.
A New York native, Suzanne is a graduate of Iona College. She lives in Westchester County with her husband and their two children.
Alison Weissbrot
Executive Editor, ADWEEK
Alison Weissbrot is executive editor at ADWEEK, overseeing agency, brand and creative news coverage. She was previously editor in chief of Campaign US and spent nearly five years at AdExchanger covering agencies and convergent TV. She is based in New York.
Courtney Williams
VP, Head of Business Development, The Martin Agency
As a driving force behind Martin’s momentum, Courtney Williams is shaping the agency’s new business approach with a cocktail of strategy, insight and authenticity. With every carefully measured ingredient, she elevates Martin’s connections and transforms how they seize opportunities and drive success.
Armed with a decade of experience steering growth initiatives for both holding companies and independent agencies, Courtney brings deep industry insights and a sharp perspective on the agency landscape. As the VP, Head of Business Development at Martin, she’s redefining the age-old new business process by putting people first and humanizing a mercurial environment, enabling her to forge genuine connections with marketers and other industry growth leads. In 2023 alone, she drove Martin to a record-smashing Q4, bringing in 15 new brands in just eight weeks. Her visionary approach has helped propel Martin to the forefront, earning accolades like AdAge’s 2023 A-List Agency of the Year, Adweek’s 2x Agency of the Year, and a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list for the past two years.
Courtney knows that how Martin supports its people and business shapes the clients they attract. Passionate about embedding diversity and inclusion into every facet of Martin—from pitches to brand work—she brings a critical, empathetic eye that enables Martin to authentically weave its values throughout the business. As co-chair of the 4As National New Business Committee, a volunteer with the Can: Diversity Collective, and former board member for SheSays Atlanta and #TimesUp, she’s a powerful force for change. Honored as a Campaign US Female Frontier and one of Business Insider’s Rising Stars of Madison Avenue, her true legacy is in mentoring the next generation.
As the first point of contact for prospective clients at Martin, Courtney is crucial in attracting brands that prioritize positive impact and cultural relevance. By connecting them with an agency dedicated to fighting invisibility, she ensures each partnership is built on more than just chemistry—but grounded in compatibility, shared purpose and lasting impact.