IGNITE! 2025 Speakers
Akhilesh Anakapally
Director, Digital Products, The Wendy’s Company
Session: Friday 9/26 Closing Plenary (2:45-3:45 p.m.) – From Digital to Human and Back: Building Brand Experiences that Vibe
Lauren Dennison
Director, Digital Marketing Growth, Paychex (Paycor)
Session: Friday 9/26 Morning B2B Breakout (10:45-11:45 a.m.) – Storytelling in the Age of AI: Making Prospecting & the Pipeline Personal
Khalil El-Amin
Co-Founder & Chief Strategist, Nichefire
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Tech Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – CX Enablers: The Marketer’s Guide to Tech that Opens Gateways to Connection
Dr. Roseann Hassey
Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Cincinnati
Session: Friday 9/26 Morning B2B Breakout (10:45-11:45 a.m.) – Storytelling in the Age of AI: Making Prospecting & the Pipeline Personal
Shannel Heath
Vice President Community Manager, Chase Bank
Session: Friday 9/26 Morning B2C Breakout (10:45-11:45 a.m.) – Authenticity & Automation: Vibing with Consumers Online and Off
Jeff Hendrickson
Digital Transformation Strategist, AIDCOM Consulting
Session: Thursday 9/25 Workshop (3:00-5:30 p.m.) – The NEW Fickle, Non-Linear Customer Journey
Valerie Jacobs
Futurist & Founder, Valerie Jacobs Futures
Session: Friday 9/26 Morning B2C Breakout (10:45-11:45 a.m.) – Authenticity & Automation: Vibing with Consumers Online and Off
Bennie Johnson
CEO, American Marketing Association
Session: Friday 9/26 Opening Plenary (9:15-10:15 a.m.) – The Future of CX: Vibes, AI, and the Journey of One at Scale
Scott Kelly
Sr. Director Product – Ford.com Web and eCommerce Experiences, Ford Motor Company
Session: Friday 9/26 Closing Plenary (2:45-3:45 p.m.) – From Digital to Human and Back: Building Brand Experiences that Vibe
Katie Kinnemeyer
Founder, White Paw Ventures
Session: Friday 9/26 Kickstarter Breakfast (7:30-8:30 a.m.) – Facilitated Discussion: Define Your Conference Experience
Joseph Lewin
Head of Podcast Strategy, Scrappy ABM and Founder, Sell Through Social
Session: Friday 9/26 Morning B2B Breakout (10:45-11:45 a.m.) – Storytelling in the Age of AI: Making Prospecting & the Pipeline Personal
Marc Macaluso
CEO & Founder, Union Pointe Consulting
Session: Thursday 9/25 Workshop (3:00-5:30 p.m.) – The NEW Fickle, Non-Linear Customer Journey
Brian McHale
Chief Executive Officer, Brandience
Session: Friday 9/26 Morning B2C Breakout (10:45-11:45 a.m.) – Authenticity & Automation: Vibing with Consumers Online and Off
Kate Olberding
Vice President Brand Engagement, Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Cincinnati
Session: Friday 9/26 Closing Plenary (2:45-3:45 p.m.) – From Digital to Human and Back: Building Brand Experiences that Vibe
Afton Palmer
Mindfulness Educator and ICF Certified Wellness Coach, The Reflective Lotus
Session: Friday 9/26 Kickstarter Breakfast (7:30-8:30 a.m.) – Facilitated Discussion: Define Your Conference Experience
Connie Rankin Ross
Talent Manager – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, 84.51˚
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Insights & Ethics Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – Trust & Transparency: The New Currency of Customer Loyalty
Josette Riep
Assistant Vice President IT, University of Cincinnati
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Tech Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – CX Enablers: The Marketer’s Guide to Tech that Opens Gateways to Connection
Tracy Ruberg
CEO & Fractional CIO, T6 Group and Executive Director, The Circuit
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Insights & Ethics Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – Trust & Transparency: The New Currency of Customer Loyalty
Nate Sowder
Ecosystem Innovation Manager, Fifth Third Bank
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Insights & Ethics Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – Trust & Transparency: The New Currency of Customer Loyalty
Katie Trauth Taylor
CEO & Co-Founder, Narratize
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Tech Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – CX Enablers: The Marketer’s Guide to Tech that Opens Gateways to Connection
Jenell Walton
Vice President – Content, Cincinnati Public Radio
Session: Friday 9/26 Afternoon Insights & Ethics Breakout (1:15-2:15 p.m.) – Trust & Transparency: The New Currency of Customer Loyalty
Brian Yamada
Chief Innovation Officer, VML
Session: Friday 9/26 Opening Plenary (9:15-10:15 a.m.) – The Future of CX: Vibes, AI, and the Journey of One at Scale
MODERATORS AND OTHER PRESENTERS
Gina Bonar
Chief Marketing Partner, 5 Whys Marketing
Conference Chair & Master of Ceremonies
Cortlan Booker
Sales Manager, Spectrum Reach
Panel Moderator: Storytelling in the Age of AI: Making Prospecting & the Pipeline Personal (Friday 9/26 Morning B2B Breakout, 10:45-11:45 a.m.)
Nick Brunker
Cincinnati Office Lead, VML
Steering Committee, Presenter
Ben Geheb
Chief Strategy Officer, VML
Panel Moderator: From Digital to Human and Back: Building Brand Experiences that Vibe (Friday 9/26 Closing Plenary, 2:45-3:45 p.m.)
Jessica Guido
Senior Digital Experience Coordinator, St. Elizabeth
Steering Committee, Presenter
Tom Jones
Director of Content Delivery, Brand, and Digital Marketing, TheWholeJonesGroup
Steering Committee, Panel Moderator: Authenticity & Automation: Vibing with Consumers Online and Off (Friday 9/26 Morning B2C Breakout, 10:45-11:45 a.m.)
Betty Rodriguez Hakes
Owner & Marketing Technology Consultant, Gourmet Betty
Steering Committee, Panel Moderator: Trust & Transparency: The New Currency of Customer Loyalty (Friday 9/26 Afternoon Insights & Ethics Breakout, 1:15-2:15 p.m.)
Audrey Ronis-Tobin
Director of Marketing, CoStrategix
Panel Moderator: CX Enablers: The Marketer’s Guide to Tech that Opens Gateways to Connection (Friday 9/26 Afternoon Tech Enablers Breakout, 1:15-2:15 p.m.)
Mike Thomas
CEO, Upstream 360
Partner, Presenter
Betsy Wolking
DirectorofDirector of Marketing & Communications, Foster & Motley
AMA Cincinnati President, Presenter
SPONSORSHIP/PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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