IGNITE! 2025 Session: Opening Plenary, 9:15-10:15 a.m. on Friday, September 25 at Cintas Center Banquet 2
The Future of CX: Vibes, AI, and the Journey of One at Scale
Catch the AI and Human VIBES & Get Fired Up About CX.
When visionary leaders in marketing and AI collide, they’re not tinkering at the edges—they’re igniting an entirely new dimension of customer experience. At IGNITE! 2025—CX Gets Real: Vibe Marketing in the AI Era—the mandate is urgent: stop settling for “automated and adequate.” It’s time to elevate CX into something deeply human, emotionally resonant, and authentically scaled. AI isn’t the hero—it’s your accomplice – but it’s a really good one. And the human at the center? That’s where the vibes come to life. Bennie Johnson (AMA) and Brian Yamada (VML) will bring the FIRE to this critical conversation about the present and future of a marketing-driven, AI-enabled customer experiences that VIBE and help companies THRIVE.
SPEAKERS
Bennie Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, American Marketing Association (AMA)
Bennie F. Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Marketing Association (AMA). As the leading global professional marketing association, the AMA is the essential community for marketers. From students and practitioners to executives and academics, AMA aims to elevate the profession, deepen knowledge, and make a lasting impact. AMA’s vibrant community of marketers spans more than 70 chapters and has a presence on 350 college campuses across North America. AMA is home to award-winning content, PCM® professional certification, five premiere academic journals, and industry-leading live and virtual training events. Bennie is the host of AMA’s podcast, Marketing / And. He most recently served as the Executive Director of AIGA, the largest professional association for design. AIGA grows the power of design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, business driver and catalyst for positive impact. While at AIGA, Bennie hosted the acclaimed Design Adjacent podcast and the design leadership fireside chat series from 2020 to 2022. Currently, he serves on the Board of Overseers for Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, and is a former Board Chair of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. Bennie is also a special advisor to the People’s Graphic Design Archive. He was recently named to the Board of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. Bennie thrives on the connections between marketing, technology, education and innovation. With experience in strategic and consumer marketing, brand management and innovation management, he is drawn to opportunities that allow him to lead and create new modes for business engagement. He has broad experience growing brands, businesses and organizations with a special focus on venture launch and brand relaunch business environments. Bennie graduated from Yale University with a B.A. and from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies with a M.S., Strategic Communications. Connect with Bennie on LinkedIn.
Brian Yamada
Global Chief Innovation Officer, VML
As Global Chief Innovation Officer, Brian leads the Innovation and Emerging Tech teams enabling the application of AI/ML, Spatial technologies, AR/VR/XR and IoT/Connected Tech. The teams provide a range of solutions, including AI Transformation, CoLabs Consulting, Product & Service Design and Development, Creative Technology, and VML’s Proprietary Tech/Product development. The team also drives the AI strategy for VML and aligns with WPP on the development of WPP Open and its AI applications and tools and forges external partnerships with big tech, VCs, and emerging technology companies and startups. Brian joined VML in 1999 and served in a number of leadership positions across the agency. Brian’s portfolio of past and present client partners includes Astra-Zeneca, International Olympic Committee, Gatorade, GSK, Ford, Wendy’s, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, Dell, Microsoft, Sanofi, Southwest Airlines and United Rentals. Brian developed and led training for AI and emerging technologies, Digital IQ, and WPP’s Maestro program. Outside of work, Brian has served as an adjunct professor for the MU Journalism School, and as a mentor for startups and STEM programs. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has an Executive Diploma in Artificial Intelligence for Business from Oxford University. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn.
SPONSORSHIP/PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
LEVERAGE OUR PLATFORM
We have Ignite Sponsorships and other Chapter Partnership opportunities (both cash and in-kind) available! To support our nonprofit volunteer effort and collaborate with us to create the ideal value exchange, contact partnerships@amacincinnati.org!
