Regional Summits Past Events

Marketing Innovation Summit

Jun 05 • Hosted by Kia • Irvine

Hosted by KIA, this event brings together top marketers and industry leaders for bold conversations on innovation, authenticity, and leadership. Connect with the best of the best in the SoCal region and explore what’s next in marketing through fresh ideas and real-world insights. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn, network, and be inspired by the future of our industry.

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast
9:40 AM Opening Remarks

Marc Sternberg, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

Brandon Gutman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

Russell Wager, VP Marketing, Kia America
9:45 AM Fireside Chat

Russell Wager, Vice President of Marketing, Kia America

Moderated by: Carrie Steele, Industry Director, Automotive, Reddit
10:15 AM When Culture Is In The Driver Seat

Jenna Hauca, Chief Marketing Officer, CrossFit

Nick Skotidas, Principal, Brand Strategy and Integrated Marketing, Zillow

Moderated by: Heather Strofs, Senior Vice President, Sales, Tubi
10:45 AM Relevance at Every Level: Marketing to Diverse Consumer Mindsets

Liz Grampp, Vice President, Global Marketing Communications, Moose Toys

Mike Pietro, Director, Growth Marketing, Indeed

Moderated by: Wes Freas, Strategic Enterprise Partnerships, iSpot.tv
11:15 AM Networking Break
11:30 AM Road Map To The Future of Consumer Journey

Lee Hsieh, Associate Director, Head of CRM, CDP, Loyalty US, Kenvue

Namrata Sinha, Vice President Digital Business & D2C, BSH Home Appliances Corporation, North America

Moderated by: Kristin Young, Director of Sales/ Principal Client Partner, Nativo
12:00 PM Aligning Media with Brand Outcomes

Cathy Collette, Regional Vice President West Coast Sales, PadSquad

Jack Jenkins, Chief Revenue Officer, Teton Ridge

Moderated by: Megan Gillam, Director, Marketing Operations & Brand Strategy, Kia America
12:30 PM LUNCH hosted by Kia
1:20 PM Marketing What Matters: Turning Product Innovation into Brand Growth

Brittany Clauss, Director, Advertising & Social Media Strategy, United Airlines

Chief Johnson, Lead Entertainment Marketing, PUMA Group

Moderated by: Gina Smart, SVP, Sales – West & Central, GumGum
1:50 PM Culture, Content, and Community - How To Tell Your Brand Story

Cindy Thomas, Strategic Marketing Executive, Bank of America

Lenna Yamamichi, Vice President, Brand Creative, IHOP

Julie Yamamoto, Senior Director, Marketing, QUALCOMM

Moderated by: Devon Chaiken, VP Sales & Brand Partnerships, West Coast, WorldStar and Genius
2:20 PM Marketing For the Next Era of Play

Kim Centeno, VP Marketing, Blizzard Entertainment,Blizzard Entertainment,Microsoft Gaming

Stefan Vermeul, Director of Marketing, US Consumer PCs & Gaming, HP

Moderated by: Sam Amiri, Chief Revenue Officer, Nativo
2:50 PM NETWORKING BREAK
3:10 PM Make Your Marketing a Slam Dunk

Brad Mays, Director of Brand Experience, Kia America

Paul Woolmington, CEO, Canvas Worldwide

Moderated by: Ross Hatamiya, Head of Automotive, Volta
3:40 PM The New Metrics of Success: Rethinking KPIs for Modern Marketing

Olu Davis, Senior Director, West Coast Sales, Vevo

Cathy Collette, Regional Vice President West Coast Sales, PadSquad

Gina Smart, SVP, Sales – West & Central, GumGum

Moderated by: John Porte, VP Integrated Marketing – Brand, Wells Fargo
4:10 PM From Storefronts to Screens: Building Iconic Brands

Nicole Hatley, Director, Global Content Strategy, Skechers

Candice Sylvia, Interim- Global Head of Marketing- Alterna Haircare , Henkel
4:40 PM Turning Insights Into Action

Deepak Jose, Vice President, Head of Data and Decision Intelligence, Niagara Bottling

Ashley Riggs-Zeigen, Senior Product Marketing Manager, HP

Moderated by: Marianne Burns, Vice President, National Sales, Captivate
5:10 PM Wrap