Marketing Innovation Summit @ Las Vegas Race Week

Thursday, November 20, 2025

• 11:00 AM Registration, Light Brunch & Snacks
• 12:00 PM Opening Remarks

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

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

  Pearl Tam, SVP, Content & Community, Brand Innovators

  Emcee: Kate Clough, Global Media Director, Lenovo

• 12:15 PM Activating Consumers Through Fandom

  Loyal fans are key to authentic word-of-mouth and driving a brand’s success. This conversation will explore how brands are tapping into communities of passion, across sports, music, gaming, and beyond, to build authentic connections and turn fans into advocates.

  Elizabeth O’Brien, Program Director, Global Sports & Entertainment Sponsorship Marketing, IBM

  Peter Spartin, Head of Commercial Strategy, Aston Martin F1 Team

  Ryan Washatka SVP Sports & Entertainment Rakuten Rewards

  Katelyn Zborowski, Head of Brand Strategy & Planning, Pizza Hut

  Moderated by: Allison Clarke, Head of General Market National Advertising Sales, Vizio

• 1:00 PM Driving Engagement Through Strategic Brand Collaborations

  Smart collaborations are fueling the next wave of brand engagement. Hear how marketers are teaming up across industries, platforms, and cultures to unlock new audiences, spark creativity, and deliver experiences that resonate far beyond the campaign.

  George Ciz, Chief Marketing Officer, TAG Heuer

  Moderated by: Deanna Marzillo, Head of Brand Partnerships, RhythmInfluence

• 1:35 PM Entertainment as the New Engagement Engine

  From live events to digital content, entertainment is reshaping how brands capture attention and build meaningful connections. Dive into how marketers are leveraging entertainment-driven strategies to engage audiences, fuel participation and create cultural relevance.

  Deandra Duggans, Chief Marketing Officer, Las Vegas Aces

  Marcus Ellington, Executive Vice President Ad Sales and Sponsorships, Sphere

  Divya Goel, Vice President, Fan Engagement, Williams Racing 

  Moderated by: Matt Montemayor, SVP of Sales & Partner, Canela Media

• 2:20 PM Blending Agility with Long-Term Strategy

  In a world where consumer expectations move at lightning speed, brands must deliver with agility while staying true to long-term vision. Learn how brands are balancing fast-turn execution with strategies that drive lasting growth and relevance.

  Ethan Heftman, Chief Revenue Officer, New Tradition

  Ken Favaro, Chief Strategy Officer, BERA.ai

  Karolina Tuszewicka Martinez, Head of Media – North America and Latin America, HP

  Moderator: Katelyn Zborowski, Head of Brand Strategy & Planning, Pizza Hut

• 3:00 PM The Power of Enduring Partnerships

  Behind every standout brand moment is a partnership built on insight, trust and shared goals. This chat explores how to uncover real consumer insights, create meaningful product integrations and prioritize long-term alliances over one-off deals to drive lasting impact.

  Daryl Butler, Vice President of Marketing; Global Partnerships, Google

  Moderated by: Aimee Freedland, VP of Brands, Nielsen Sports

• 3:30 PM Building Loyalty Through Personalized Experiences

  Consumers expect brands to create moments that feel made just for them. This session explores how personalization can deepen relationships, build trust and turn one-time customers into lifelong loyalists.

  Oz Demir, Head of Digital Marketing, Genentech

  AJ Mazza, Director of Brand, BetMGM

  Moderated by: Daniel Horowitz, Managing Director, Head of US Large Customer Sales & Account Management, Taboola

• 4:00 PM Wrap