Marketing Innovation Summit @ Miami Race Week

Thursday, April 30, 2026

• 9:00 AM Welcome Remarks

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

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

  Pearl Tam, Senior Vice President, Content & Community, Brand Innovators

  Emcee: Brian Feit, Founding Partner, BMF

• 9:10 AM Building Brand Awareness through Storytelling & Authentic Partnerships

  In today’s market, brands thrive not just by what they sell, but by the relationships they cultivate. This panel explores how we can elevate brand identity, drive loyalty, and create lasting impact through storytelling and authentic partnerships—with influencers, brands, and communities.

  Ryan Anderson, Chief Marketing Officer, El Car Wash

  Bruno Cardinali, Global Chief Marketing Officer, OAKBERRY

  Janice Davidson, Chief Brand Officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

  Karen Feldman, Chief Marketing Officer, Iron Mountain

  Moderated by: Lizzie Black, Vice President, National Sales, Kargo

• 9:45 AM Building Enduring Brands in a Changing World

  Tim Bunch, General Manager Dermalogica, Unilever

  Rustom Dastoor, Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing and Communications for the Americas, Mastercard

  Gerardo Soto, Vice President, Media and Sports Marketing, Lowe’s Companies

  Moderated by: Lisa Hernandez, Sales Director, AdQuick 

• 10:15 AM Scoring Big: The Interplay of Sports, Marketing & Culture

  Brands are tapping into the emotional power of sports to drive loyalty, spark conversation and align with values-driven fandom. From athlete partnerships to storytelling, this session will feature the most impactful campaigns connecting with audiences on and off the track (and field).

  Nicole Candiff, Head of Experiential Marketing, Liquid I.V.

  Julian Garcia, Vice President Marketing, Don Julio Tequila, Diageo

  Giancarlo Morena, Vice President, Partnerships & Activations, Celsius

  Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship Strategy & Activation, Group 1001 (parent company of Gainbridge)

  Moderated by: Bruce Bundrant, Chief Commercial Officer, rEvolution

• 10:55 AM Networking Break
• 11:05 AM Fireside Chat

  Lina Polimeni, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer – Consumer, Eli Lilly & Company

  Moderated by: Lindsay Reardon, General Manager, Business Development, The Trade Desk 

• 11:35 AM From Community to Culture: Building Influence at Scale Through Creator Ecosystems

  Keith Reynolds, Global Head of Social Media, Barilla Group

  Moderated by: Jay Fittipaldi, Head of Product Innovation, SAMY

• 12:00 PM Marketing at the Speed of Culture

  Social media trends and the news cycle are dictating the conversation these days and savvy brands understand the opportunity of being agile and responding in real time. This session will explore how brands can respond at the speed of culture, offering tips on what works and how to ensure your creative is meaningful and not just part of the noise.

  Kathryn Denning, Head of Brand Experience, Tequila Portfolio, Diageo

  Lou Frangella, Head of Consumer Marketing & Brand Partnerships, Kraken

  Rogelio Magaña, Vice President & General Manager, International Markets, Frida

  Meg Patten, Head of Event Marketing, FIFA World Cup 2026

  Moderated by: Andres Cohen, Founder & CEO, FAMOSOS

• 12:35 PM Crowning the Consumer: The New Era of Engagement

  What happens when brands stop talking and truly start listening? Discover how Burger King is redefining engagement by putting guests in control—leveraging AI, personalization, and bold creative to turn feedback into action and audiences into active participants.

  Carlo Espinoza, Senior Director, Advertising, Burger King

  Moderated by: Ryan McDermott, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales, Barstool Sports

• 1:00 PM Lunch
• 2:00 PM How Iconic Brands Stay Culturally Relevant

  Iconic brands don’t just survive — they evolve. As culture shifts in real time and consumer expectations continue to rise, legacy alone is no longer enough. Today we’re exploring how heritage brands stay culturally relevant in a hyperconnected world through storytelling, AI and innovation.

  Michelle Esgar, Director of Marketing and Experience, Panasonic

  Karen Hoop, Head of Content Studio, Nestlé

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

  Moderated by: Tom Cui, Chief Revenue Officer, Sensor Tower 

• 2:35 PM Leveraging AI and Innovation to Drive Growth

  AI is evolving rapidly and transforming how brands understand and connect with consumers. In this panel, industry leaders will share how they are using AI and emerging technologies to create more personalized, seamless, and meaningful customer experiences.

  Kerel Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer, MarketCast

  Oz Demir, Head of Digital Marketing & Lymphoma Marketing Lead, Genentech

  Sarel Meirovich, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, illumin

  Moderated by: Billy Bohan Chinique, Vice President, Marketing & Digital Innovation, Virgin Voyages

• 3:15 PM Driving Engagement Through Strategic Brand Collaborations

  In the high-speed world of Formula 1, brand collaborations aren’t just logo placements — they’re alliances that fuel global reach. This panel explores how brands and athletes can co-create high-impact moments that capture fan passion and translate it into measurable engagement.

  Bonnie Allen, Head of Brand Marketing, Velocity Black, Capital One

  Shergul Arshad, Head of North America, Aston Martin Formula One Team

  Jess Hawkins, Head of F1 Academy and Driver Ambassador, Aston Martin F1 team

  Moderated by: George Mazarakis, Vice President Commercial Sales, dentsu

• 3:50 PM Marketing in Motion: Where Sports, Storytelling & Scale Collide

  This session will explore how to scale creative, harness partnerships, and leverage the power of sports and storytelling to drive brand growth and cultural impact.

  Kristen Rumble, VP Brand Strategy and Creative Development, BODYARMOR Sports Nutrition

  Moderated by: Greg Sherrill, President of Sales, Rumble

• 4:20 PM Activating Consumers Through Fandom and Brand Partnerships

  Brands are tapping into communities of passion across sports and entertainment to build cultural relevance and turn fans into advocates. This session explores how brands are tapping into the power of brand partnerships and fandom drive consumer engagement and growth.

  Jennifer Ballou, Sr. Partnerships and Portfolio Brand Manager, Mondelēz International

  Sarah Craig, Head of Integrated Media, Tree Hut

  Samantha Fodrowski, Vice President, Brand Marketing, Tecovas

  Tyler Stewart, Head of Marketing, Gopuff

  Moderated by: Vaidhy Murti, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, WIT