2024 AMA Leadership Summit

Vanessa Torres

Vanessa C. Torres is a vivacious, creative, talented marketing professional specializing in integrated communications, strategy, and implementation. A leader in higher education marketing in San Antonio, Vanessa currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Marketing & Recruitment at Texas A&M University-San Antonio where she oversees several departments, including: enrollment marketing & communications, admissions/recruitment, community outreach, campus visit experience, and CRM & enrollment insights.

Before A&M-San Antonio, Vanessa served as the Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications at San Antonio College for seven years where she focused on marketing, public relations and community outreach. She also held the role of Enrollment Communications Marketing Manager at St. Mary’s University, a four-year private, Marianist institution.

In addition to serving on the Professional Chapters Council since 2019, Vanessa is on the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists and for Community First Health Insurance Plans. She was also a mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of South Texas for more than 10 years and has taught as an adjunct professor covering Introduction to Communications, Consumer Psychology and other marketing-related topics. Vanessa served as President of the AMA San Antonio Chapter in 20217-2018 and has been associated with the AMA San Antonio Board since 2009.

A native of San Antonio, Vanessa moved to Chicago after high school to pursue higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Columbia College Chicago and Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University.

Vanessa enjoys traveling, seeing Broadway shows, and spending time with her boyfriend, family and friends.

Karen McFarlane

Karen McFarlane is a solutions-focused Senior Marketing Executive and Board Member with more than 25 years of success in helping enterprises build meaningful and lasting connections with their customers and communities. Karen is the Chief Marketing Officer of a boutique creative agency and Founder of Kaye Media Collective, a fractional marketing collective that helps major brands and industrious high-growth companies solve their most pressing problems.

Karen sits on the board of the Hudson Valley Credit Union, the fifth-largest credit union in New York State, and the New York chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), where she served as President for two years and won eight CEA awards. On a national level, she serves as President-Elect and DEI Co-Chair for AMA’s Professional Chapters Council and sits on AMA’s Learning Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Momentum Value People of Color, a non-profit organization designed to create equity and access for young people through mentoring, coaching, and career advancement.

Karen champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in marketing as a certified professional and is dedicated to advancing Corporate America’s role in achieving racial and gender equity as part of her passion project Colossal.Work. She is a frequent speaker on inclusive marketing and conflict resolution and was named most notable in marketing and PR by Crain’s Business.

Michael Fleischner

Michael Fleischner is the founder of Big Fin SEO, a search engine optimization and digital marketing company. He is also an entrepreneur, author, and speaker with 20 years of experience. Michael is a Past President of the AMA New Jersey chapter and has served in various AMA roles for nearly a decade. He has appeared on the TODAY Show, ABC World News, and other major media. In addition, Michael has authored several marketing-related books, including the top-selling guide, SEO Made Simple, available on Amazon.com.

Amber McKenna

Amber McKenna is an innovative and dynamic storyteller who has been living and breathing marketing for over 12 years. She has a knack for turning big ideas into action and a passion for people and creating memorable experiences.

This is Amber’s fourth year on the PCC. She has previously acted as Regional Retreat 2022 Co-Chair, Leadership Summit 2022 Co-Chair, and as a Leadership Advisor 2020 – 2023.

She served on the board for the Portland, Oregon (PDX) chapter from 2015 – 2020, including Membership Chair, Marketing Excellence Awards, and working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. In addition, Amber served as President during the 2018 – 2019 year. Under her leadership, the chapter was recognized for Membership Excellence, started a mentorship program, and rebranded its pro-bono marketing program, AMA PDX Agency, which she wrote about in Marketing News magazine.

As Director of Shopper Marketing for Urban Remedy, a super-fresh, organic, food and beverage company, Amber drives marketing strategy, brand development, and customer experience. Outside of the office, she can be found eating delicious food, getting out in nature with friends and family, or planning her next great travel adventure.

Stephen Brent May

Stephen is a past president of the Houston chapter. He has served on the board since 2012 in various roles, including communications, programming, major events, and fundraising. Last year, he chaired the Strategic Efforts subcommittee for the PCC’s DEI initiative, which led to DEI practices included in Board in a Box, strategic planning, and more.

Outside of AMA, Stephen is the founder of One Foot Over, an unapologetically digital marketing agency, where he works with B2B clients to incorporate marketing technology and inbound marketing. He has spoken at conferences in the U.S. and Europe about online, agile, and growth marketing. A native of West Virginia, Stephen has lived in Houston since 2009. He also has an Instagram account that is 99% pictures of wine. @houstonwinefreak.

Kimberly Strong

Kimberly N. Strong serves as an account director at Brunner, a leading independent integrated marketing agency that maintains a presence in Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Within her present role, she is instrumental in fostering client relationships, overseeing strategic planning, and orchestrating the coordination of cross-functional teams to serve clients within the building supply and nonprofit sectors.

Before joining Brunner, Kimberly was a corporate marketing leader at Highwoods Properties, a prominent regional commercial real estate investment trust (REIT). Her 14-year journey with Highwoods saw her evolve from managing marketing activities within the Atlanta market to spearheading corporate digital marketing across seven markets, encompassing an expansive portfolio of over 30 million square feet of commercial real estate.

Kimberly’s remarkable career also extends to her distinguished recognition as a former president of the American Marketing Association’s Atlanta chapter. She is actively engaged in serving on various national and local community boards, demonstrating her commitment to community enrichment and leadership.

Equipped with an MBA from Mercer University, where she concentrated on international business, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from the University of West Georgia, Kimberly possesses a solid educational foundation that complements her professional accomplishments.

Craig Lund

Craig Lund is a marketing and business development professional specialized in selling to the C-suite marketer. Having launched three businesses in the past 14 years in the Canadian & US Market for both Canadian based and Global B2B companies in media, consulting and marketing resource management, he has developed an affinity and passion for connecting the dots for the marketing community and proving opportunities for Mentorship.

Craig was also awarded the AMA’s Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022.

Jennifer Shrewsbury

Jennifer Shrewsbury is the Sr. Research Analyst and Project Manager at Evolve Research, LLC in Oklahoma City. She is a consumer insights expert, marketing research consultant, analyst, data visualizer, and (wannabe) graphic designer. She is an extremely adaptable team player who is always ready to dominate the next challenge at the drop of the proverbial hat.

Jennifer joined her company in 2013 after deciding to pursue a career in marketing. She has a natural aptitude for research, which is why she has been motivated to stay, learn and advance her skillsets for eight years and counting. Not only is she inquisitive, but the desire to find the “why” behind motivations and behaviors also burns in her brightly.

Additionally, Jennifer is an active member of her AMA Oklahoma City chapter. She served seven years on the board in various positions from collegiate relations, programming, and the 2019-2020 President of AMA OKC. Her dedication to her chapter earned her the 2017 AMA OKC Chapter Volunteer of the Year award. She was then honored as a finalist for the national AMA 2018 Ric Sweeny Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award. In 2019, she received Oklahoma’s NextGen Under 30 Award for her dedication and service to her community, career, and industry.

Outside of her day job and volunteer gigs, Jennifer won’t hesitate to wear her bright Oklahoma State orange on any given day. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two blue heelers, indoor cycling, going to the lake, “DIYing,” volunteering, planning events, and a patio on a nice day.

Misty Wilson

Misty is a creator and a builder. As a creative futuristic thinker, her background in both qualitative and quantitative analysis enhances the design of fully integrated, data-driven marketing campaigns that enable brands to create inclusive mission-driven communities – cultivating meaningful relationships while fostering a continuously forward-thinking vision.

After working toward her BA in Marketing and PR from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, she began her career in PR and event planning before moving to digital marketing where she eventually pivoted into a concurrent career in both data science and digital marketing. She now owns her own digital marketing agency, Dexter Lilly Marketing.

She began her career within AMA in 2015, where she developed the CONNECT & INSPIRE mentorship program for AMA Triangle in Raleigh, North Carolina. Subsequently, in 2020-2021, she served as the first Black President of the chapter and in April 2021, she earned a prestigious spot on the “2021 Top 50 Black Marketers on the Rise” for influence and innovation. In addition to PR, marketing, and data, one of her greatest passions will always be giving back and creating community. As a result, in 2020 she co-founded a DEI Taskforce and co-authored an international DEI Pledge to help guide all 70 professional chapters in their own implementation of DEI practices. On a personal note, she’s a proud dog mom, a frequent traveler, a foodie, a bourbon connoisseur, as well as a Duke basketball, and Bama football fan.

Kevin Amos

It’s no surprise that one of Kevin’s passions has been coaching high school soccer. He’s a natural coach to our expansive and experienced performance marketing team. He guides them through the ever-changing digital world to deliver sophisticated, data-driven solutions for a wide range of brands. In fact, Kevin has built a premier digital performance marketing, planning and data science discipline that helps brands stay competitive, achieve sustainable growth and leverage their data to inform decisions.

Kevin has over 30 years of industry experience in marketing and digital transformation, including SEM; programmatic, display and social media; SEO; data integration and security; analytics and application development. During his time at Merkle and IMPAQT, Kevin focused on strategy, proprietary software development, data integration, analytics and reporting. He’s led successful engagements with brands such as JPMorgan Chase, Penske, USAA and Office Depot.

Kevin is a Pittsburgh guy. He grew up in Mount Lebanon and earned a bachelor’s from Robert Morris University. He is a soccer player/enthusiast who, after 20 years, just recently retired from coaching one of the top high school soccer programs in western Pennsylvania. While he enjoyed helping teams reach section, conference and state championships, he is finding that life with his wife, Kathy, and their six kids keeps him more than busy

Kendra Clarke

Kendra Clarke is a marketer at heart and in practice. Her passion for marketing and communication stems from the desire to create meaningful connections with people through effective and impactful exchanges of ideas. Through her role as a Senior Content Strategist at Rutgers Business School, Kendra uses a combination of storytelling, persona development, creative thinking, and analytics to create content strategies designed to enhance the website user experience. She is a Rutgers Business School double alumna with a Bachelor’s in Marketing and an MBA in Marketing and Supply Chain Management.

Kendra has been a member of AMA since 2018. As a volunteer, she held various positions on the board including AVP of Communications, EVP of Operations and Strategy, and VP of DEI. In July 2020, Kendra became President of the AMA New Jersey Chapter and the first female Black President in its 76-year history. During her term, she created and implemented the chapter’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, enhanced the volunteer experience and engagement, and worked with her team to produce a chapter record of 40 events for the year. The AMA New Jersey Chapter was awarded the Leadership Special Merit award, which she credits to her fantastic team’s hard work and dedication.

As a volunteer with AMA, Kendra has helped chapter leaders across the country with starting DEI initiatives in their chapters and providing guidance during challenging situations. She was a member of the original DEI Taskforce and a Co-Chair of several committees on the PCC DEI Committee. Kendra is a leader inspired by helping others grow and succeed. For her, it is truly rewarding to be able to give back and help her community in whatever way she can.

A few fun facts about Kendra are that she loves solving mysteries and puzzles, has traveled to 11 different countries, and dances amateur salsa.

Richard Conner

Richard is a global-minded business leader with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and building technology sectors for multinational companies. He is currently a senior program director at Medtronic, leading a global strategic initiative across Operations and New Product Development. Before this role, he led various global marketing and product management teams.

Richard also leads a local Medtronic employee diversity and inclusion group, serves as Immediate Past President for the AMA Connecticut chapter (formerly Southern Connecticut), and volunteers for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of his mother-in-law. He was born in the US (his parents are from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica) and resides in Connecticut with his wife, three kids, and miniature schnauzer. Richard enjoys international travel, obstacle course racing, and is the host of Inspire to Run Podcast.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering from the University of Hartford and Master of Business Administration with a Graduate Certificate in International Business from the University of New Haven.

Andy Noller

Andy is a Lead Consultant with SPINS, LLC where he helps clients better understand the natural, organic, and health/wellness products industry, shopper marketing, and trends. His previous professional experience includes client leadership in the CPG industry, strategy in the agency and business information arenas, marketing research, and small business management. He continues to help his family’s bakery business with marketing support.

Andy has been a board member of the American Marketing Association’s Cincinnati chapter since 2005. He has held various positions including President; VP, Research & Insights; VP, Programming IGNITE! Conference; and VP, Advisory & Operations. He also teaches marketing courses at the University of Cincinnati as an Adjunct Professor.

Andy earned a master’s degree in marketing from Wright State University as well as bachelor’s degrees in marketing, management, and psychology. He enjoys spending time with his daughter, Olivia, and their two cats. In his spare time, he is a licensed fireworks exhibitor.

Ashlan Glazier-Anderson

Ashlan Glazier-Anderson is a Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) with over 15 years of experience in the field. She has worked in a variety of industries, from advertising agencies to corporate America to nonprofit organizations. The founder and Chief Executive Officer of AshbeanPDX Marketing, she thrives on helping clients solve problems and create unique strategies to best reach their target audience, drive revenue, and grow their businesses at scale. As an entrepreneur, she can help you build a strong marketing function, with the right systems to get more done with fewer resources.

Ashlan holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing from Portland State University (PSU). She completed a Certificate in Nonprofit Program Evaluation with the PSU Nonprofit Institute.

Ashlan is an active volunteer in her community and serves as the Board Chair of Betties360, Past President of AMA PDX – the American Marketing Association in Portland, and board director of marketing with the People’s Nonprofit Accelerator. Through these organizations, she continues to increase her knowledge, strengthen her leadership skills, and expand her network to better serve her clients.

Fun Fact: In March 2020, she was recognized for her service to the community as a Portland Trail Blazers Hometown Hero by Director’s Mortgage.

Lisa Bowman

Lisa Bowman is the founder and Chief Mojo Officer (CMO) of Marketing Mojo. She most recently served as United Way Worldwide’s Chief Marketing Officer leading the organization’s efforts to create, develop and implement global marketing strategies highlighting the organization’s image and 130-year history of galvanizing donors, advocates, volunteers and workplace partners to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

She joined United Way Worldwide from a 15-year career at UPS. Lisa began her career with UPS in 2000 as Vice President of Market Development for UPS e-Ventures, the company’s dot-com incubator. In subsequent senior-level marketing roles with the logistics company, she led several high-profile marketing initiatives designed to transform UPS from its historical position as a business-to-business entity into a business-to-business-to-consumer entity.

Following UPS’ 2001 acquisition of the former Mail Boxes, Etc. network of nearly 4,000 franchised locations, Lisa led the integration and re-branding to The UPS Store™. In 2009, she developed and launched UPS Direct-to-Door, a co-op media product intended to compete with direct mail. She then took a role in The UPS Foundation, where as part of her $80 million social investment portfolio she also oversaw the transportation company’s United Way campaign.

Target Marketing Magazine recognized Lisa as their Marketer of the Year in December 2019. She was also honored by the American Marketing Association as their 2017 Non-Profit Marketer of the Year. Her work has received numerous awards inclusive of the Harvey Communications Awards, multiple Gold Stevie® Awards, multiple PRNews Awards, and multiple Gold MarComm awards. The PSA campaign she launched on behalf of United Way in her inaugural year was recognized as PSA of the Year by PRNews. Under her leadership, United Way’s research team also received a DigitalEdge 50 Award for PerformanceLink; the organization’s first Business Intelligence tool.

Lisa holds a B.A. in Marketing from Columbia and has completed executive education at Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.

Alycia Campbell

Alycia the founder of Creative PlanHer, a boutique virtual assistant agency committed to taking the administrative burden off small business owners so they can focus on scaling their businesses. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare supporting C-level executives, she has a strong understanding of the importance of communication and strategy.

Since 2019, Alycia has been helping small businesses identify and build their brand, develop a sustainable strategy and provide technical software recommendations to ensure success. She takes pride in offering creative solutions to the digital arena. Alycia is passionate about creating and implementing digital strategies infused with diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility from beginning to end.

Even though Alycia is a Colorado native, she doesn’t have much time to enjoy the mountains much because being a track, soccer, volleyball and basketball mom keeps her pretty busy! However, she makes time to give back to her community by mentoring future healthcare professionals and serving on the board of the American Marketing Association.

Cory Docken

Jeremy Van Ek

Jeremy has spent his 20+ year career in the marketing industry in roles that drive strategy, financial performance, digital transformation, people development and operational efficiency. His experience spans many different types of organizations: B2B and B2C; regional, national, and global; public, private, and non-profit. He’s had the pleasure of successfully managing the good, the bad and the ugly: high-growth and severe retrenchment business cycles, mergers and acquisitions, digital transformation, exit strategies, change leadership, global process evolution, and being cash-strapped to cash-flush and everything in between.

As COO of the AMA, Jeremy has primary responsibility for the execution, enablement and development of all finance, operations and technology within the organization, including but not limited to:

• Optimizing performance
• Delivering significant cost efficiencies
• Executing transformational or change management projects
• Discovering and supporting growth opportunities for the business
• Ensuring effective governance and risk management
• Developing and implementing financing and M&A strategies
• Accountability to the Board of Directors for the integrity of all finance and business operations
• Managing functional departments, including Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Business and Information Technology, Project Management and Office Administration

Lelia Gowland

Lelia (rhymes with “Amelia”) is a sought-after speaker and writer. She works with people and organizations that want to lead with authenticity to create happier, more effective teams.

Described as “the confidence fairy godmother we all need,” Lelia has delighted audiences ranging from experts in international shipping, to doctors, to fancy bartenders.

In addition to writing her much-loved weekly newsletter on authenticity, Lelia’s written over 150 articles in national publications including Huffington Post, Forbes, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Her book You Got This: The Ultimate Negotiation Guide for Professional Women provides a “fresh and instantly applicable” toolkit for anyone ready to develop their own authentic voice in negotiation.

Finally, as a New Orleans native and enthusiast, Lelia freely uses the word y’all
and has an entire closet dedicated to costuming.

Dr. David Hagenbuch

Dr. David Hagenbuch is a professor of marketing at Messiah University, the author of Honorable Influence, and the creator of MindfulMarketing.org, a unique paradigm for promoting ethical marketing. Before higher education, he worked as a corporate sales analyst for a national broadcasting company and as a partner in a specialty advertising firm.

His writing has been published in Forbes, Entrepreneur, CommPro, Marketing News, and Business Insider, He has been writing a regular marketing ethics blog for nearly ten years that now stands at over 300 articles. He has been interviewed by The Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, Fast Company, NPR, and The New York Times.

Dr. Hagenbuch has published research studies and other papers in various academic journals, including the Journal of Marketing Education, Services Marketing Quarterly, Christian Scholars Review, Health Marketing Quarterly, and Marketing Education Review. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and on webinars, often on topics involving marketing ethics.

He was the second-ever recipient of the Christian Business Faculty Association’s national teaching award. He regularly leads his classes in experiential learning projects that serve the marketing needs of nonprofit organizations and others, with past clients now numbering in the dozens.

The Business Task Force of the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy chose his “Service-Learning in Global Marketing” as a Top Ten Best Practice Program. Over five years, students in his Marketing Management & Strategy class participated in the regional marketing plan competition held by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and won first place three times.

During his tenure at Messiah University, he also has served in a variety of leadership roles, including board member for the Business Alumni Association, founder of and advisor to the Marketing Club, co-chair of the Department of Business, chair of the Community of Educators, and chair of the Ranked Faculty.

Dr. Hagenbuch holds an MBA from Temple University and a DBA from Anderson University, both with marketing concentrations. He serves on the board of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of AMA and as co-chair of the chapter’s collegiate committee.

He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and helping marketing professionals at all career stages realize their personal and organizational goals.

Whitney Hansen

Bennie Johnson

Bennie F. Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Marketing Association. AMA is the largest community-based marketing association in the world, trusted by marketing and sales professionals to help them discover industry trends. AMA’s community of local chapters spans more than 70 cities and 320 college campuses throughout North America. AMA is home to award-winning content, PCM® professional certification, five premiere academic journals, and industry-leading live and virtual training events.

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, as a Trustee of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art 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.

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.

Giuseppe Laviano

Giuseppe Laviano has been a member of the American Marketing Association for the past 20+ years beginning in Chicago, then Cincinnati, and currently in DC since 2019. His DC board involvement began as a team leader with the Marketing Mentors Network in 2021

Professionally, he has 25+ years of progressive marketing experience in various B2B sectors focusing on branding, product deployment, and sales development. He has managed teams that focus on competitive analysis, new product launches, and product and corporate branding, and he collaborates across corporate levels. He began his career in the manufacturing sector, followed by distribution, dabbling in consulting and working with startups, and is currently in the hospitality/Food and Beverage sector working at SSP America as a Director of Branding and Communications.

He holds degrees from DePaul University (MBA) and two engineering degrees from Syracuse University (MS/BS).

Ursula Littlejohn

Ursula Littlejohn has cultivated an impressive career across various domains. With close to fifteen years devoted to Higher Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she made significant contributions in academic and program support roles at Kenan-Flagler Business School as well as The Sonja Haynes Stone Center.
Prior to her tenure at UNC, Ursula demonstrated her capabilities in both non-profit and corporate sectors, excelling in sales and support positions within organizations like The Center for Creative Leadership, Oracle, and AT&T. Her passion for innovative thinking, coupled with her keen relationship management skills, has consistently propelled her work forward.
Currently, she harnesses her expertise in her two-year role with the American Marketing Association as their Assistant Manager of Professional Communities. Here, she leads the efforts of nearly 70 chapters of professional marketers across North America, empowering them in their volunteer initiatives to promote community engagement. Working collaboratively with over 11,000 members presents her with both challenges and opportunities that drive her growth continually.

Ursula holds a BA in Communication Studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro as well as a certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University.

Christine Lucenta

Jill Manty

Elise Melendez

As the AMA’s Director of Professional Communities, Elise is committed to nurturing and expanding our vital network of marketers, fostering meaningful connections among volunteers, members, and customers. She spearheads professional community strategy, execution, and growth, ensuring an enriching experience for marketers and AMA members worldwide.

Outside of the AMA, Elise can be found on the dance floor, guiding others to embrace the power of dance for their wellbeing, specializing in beginner dance training for adults and performing artists. 

Elise earned a bachelor’s degree in American Dance Pedagogy from Oklahoma City University and a master’s in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago.

Curtis Midkiff

Meet Curtis Midkiff, the creative mind driving 23andMe’s social engagement and brand partnerships. With over two decades of marketing experience, Curtis is no stranger to crafting compelling brand strategies that connect with audiences on a personal level.

From shaping innovative social engagement and marketing strategies at brands like Southwest Airlines to collaborating with brands like Kroger and Weber Grills, Curtis has been at the forefront of the ever-changing world of social engagement since 2010. His insights and approach have earned him the nickname “The Brand DJ” for his knack in mixing up the perfect blend of digital engagement strategies to drive audience engagement.

At 23andMe, Curtis orchestrates campaigns that resonate beyond transactions, inspired by his love for music. He’s not just marketing; he’s creating genuine connections that move people to explore to unlock the power of their DNA. When he’s not revolutionizing the industry, you can find him at home with his wife, Dr. Malinda Rhone, the real genius of the family with her Ph.D in Anthropology., and their two amazing kids, Sam and Carinne, who provide endless inspiration and joy.

With experiences in verticals ranging from trade associations to retail to CPGs and now biotech under his belt, Curtis brings a wealth of expertise and innovation to every project he tackles. As he continues to push boundaries, he’s not only leaving his mark on the world of social engagement and brand innovation but also making memories with his loved ones that last a lifetime.

Jen O'Brien

Edessa Polzin

Edessa has almost a decade of sales and marketing experience, with a focus on B2B client acquisition and driving sustainable growth strategies for small-to-mid sized companies. A Professional Certified Marketer® in Marketing Management, her philosophy centers on catalyzing success through partner-led growth, allowing organizations to future-proof their competitive advantage. 

As the Learning Partnerships Manager at the American Marketing Association, Edessa oversees the curation and delivery of engaging professional development content through strategic collaborations. Her role emphasizes on forging high-impact, mutually-beneficial relationships with leading thought leaders, industry experts, and technology providers. Through these partnerships, she aims to provide AMA’s audience with unparalleled access to practical, real-world learning experiences that drive career growth. Ultimately, her goal is to facilitate connections that empower marketing practitioners with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape. 

Tina Portillo

Tina is a passionate marketing leader with over 20+ years of expertise in brand & marketing strategy, communications/PR, events, customer journey management, and partnership marketing across both Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C) segments.

Tina is the CEO and Founder of TLP Marketing – a global consulting agency rooted in innovation, delivering best-in-class marketing programs. Previously, she held senior marketing roles in the Retail and Fintech industries, including leading integrated marketing campaigns at Scotiabank – one of Canada’s largest, and most international Banks.

Tina is the Past President of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Toronto Chapter and is a national volunteer for the AMA Professional Chapters Council. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from The University of Toronto and enjoys being a part-time stylist, a mom of 3, travelling, and practicing yoga in her spare time. 

Bri Prai

Bri Prai is incoming Co-President Elect of AMA Lincoln. She’s been on the board for 7 years and was a chapter volunteer before that. This will be Bri’s second time as President of AMA Lincoln having served in 2021-2022. Bri’s day job is at a local bank as a digital marketing coordinator where she uses her love of social media & all things digital marketing to help showcase how great the bank and their employees are.

Susie Silver

Susie Silver (she/her) is a nationally-recognized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) thought leader. Specializing in leadership development, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and culture-centric business strategy, she has earned a reputation for leading authentic, inspiring DEI conversations. A Certified Diversity Executive, she has worked with more than 200 clients as a strategist, consultant and speaker.

Andrea Smith

Andrea C. Smith boasts a distinguished career as a senior marketing executive, accumulating a wealth of experience spanning over twenty-five years. Serving as the Immediate Past President of the board of directors for the American Marketing Association, Washington DC Chapter, she has demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing the field. Currently, Andrea holds the position of Senior Director of Marketing at AARP Services, Inc., where for nearly eighteen years, she has played a pivotal role in guiding a high-performing team in the development and implementation of partner marketing and communications strategies.

Before her tenure at AARP Services, Andrea held notable marketing positions at AOL, Inc., and Citigroup, Inc., contributing to her extensive and versatile background in the industry. Beyond her corporate achievements, she has dedicated twelve years to educating the next generation of marketing professionals as an adjunct professor at DeVry and Keller Universities, teaching a variety of marketing and business classes.

Andrea’s educational journey includes earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and an MBA from Strayer University, highlighting her commitment to continuous learning and academic excellence. Originally hailing from Northeast Louisiana, she currently resides in Northern Virginia. She enjoys being an aunt, traveling the world and spending time with her significant other.

Christina Strong-Regan

Christina is a marketing, business development and communications professional with a decade of sales and marketing experience including full-time roles at ABC/NBC television affiliates, a state-wide association, and an international insurance broker. She is experienced in communications, storytelling, branding, and strategic planning.
Her educational background includes a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in media and information. Christina served as President of the AMA Detroit Chapter from 2021-2022 before moving into a Past President/Advisory Role.

Ric Sweeney

Ric Sweeney is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H Lindner College of Business, the Director of Co-curricular Student Enrichment, and the Lindner Business Honors Circle of Excellence Director. He currently serves as Faculty Advisor for UC DECA, and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Delta Sigma Pi, Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

Ric has been involved with the American Marketing Association since 1996 in a variety of volunteer positions locally and nationally, serving as Chair of the International Board of Directors in 2014-2015 and as Chair for the AMA Foundation 2021-2023.

Ric has been recognized by the University of Cincinnati for excellence in teaching and service and has received numerous awards including the EXCEL Undergraduate Teaching Award, Boyd Innovation Award, the Harold Grilliot Award, and both the Barbour Award and Cohen Award, 2 of the University’s top awards for excellence. In 2018, Ric was named a Cincinnati Marketing Legend by the Cincinnati Professional Chapter of the American Marketing Association. 

Aaron Templer

Having studied music and earned English literature MBA degrees, Aaron Templer is an unapologetic eclectic pursuing professional and intellectual interests at the intersection of strategy, creativity, brand, influence, and leadership. His career spans nearly 30 years, culminating in the founding of Three Over Four <link to https://threeoverfour.com>, a full-service brand strategy and digital marketing agency enjoying its 17th year. He is a past president of AMA Colorado and a past president of AMA’s Professional Chapters Council. Aaron published his first book, Leading in a Social World <link to https://www.aarontempler.com/book>, in 2001. It is a seven-time award winner and, as one review put it, “turns our perception of social media marketing on its head.” Aaron is an active speaker, has taught as an adjunct professor, and is a leadership consultant, building and delivering programs that empower teams and individuals to realize the power of social capital. Aaron is also an active world percussion hobbyist and composer of rhythms. He is the live music director for the Indian (South Asian) dance troupe Mudra Dance Studio, where he is co-producing and co-directing an all-original production to premiere in 2025. Some call him the Gora Dhol Wallah.

Destinie Tucker

Destinie Tucker is a dynamic marketing professional who brings a unique perspective to marketing strategy and execution, stemming from her diverse background spanning various industries. Destinie possesses a relentless drive to achieve excellence and a keen eye for leveraging emerging technologies. She has demonstrated a track record of success in driving revenue growth and brand expansion through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives.

With expertise in Martech, business analytics, and digital marketing, Destinie has garnered significant experience across technology, professional sports, healthcare, and educational management sectors. Currently serving as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Marketing Association, Destinie is a DEI champion committed to fostering inclusive environments within the marketing community and beyond.

Matt Weingarden

A fan of AMA and Marketing history, Matt Weingarden appreciates the tradition, passion and innovative spirit that are hallmarks of the AMA’s three broad communities and four journals. As Vice President, Communities & Journals, Matt is grateful to support the AMA’s network of community leaders and get-it-done volunteers. Since joining the AMA, Matt helped reenergize the academic community and led a journal production transformation in partnership with SAGE Publishing.
Matt has worked in volunteer management and marketing roles at internationally recognized universities, traditional membership associations and municipal government. If you know any AMA trivia, please share it by emailing mweingarden@ama.org.