Sports & Culture Summit during NBA All-Star Week

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

• 9:00 AM Breakfast and Registration
• 9:30 AM Welcoming Remarks

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

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

  Marianne Malina, CEO 72andSunny North America

  Emcee:  Stephanie Young, SVP Marketing, Medable, Inc.

• 9:40 AM Authenticity at Scale: Lessons from Yerba Madre's Growth Engine

  In a world where brands try to outspend their way into relevance, Yerba Madre chose a different path: earning culture by authentically engaging the subcultures that define it. Join Yerba Madre CMO Emily Kortlang as she breaks down what it really takes for modern brands to win attention, trust, and growth.

  Emily Kortlang, Chief Marketing Officer, Yerba Madre

  Moderated by: Lee Sosin, Chief Client Officer, Props

• 10:05 AM Partnering with and Leveraging the Greatness of NBA/WNBA Superstars

  Unpack how brands collaborate with NBA/WNBA superstars to drive culture, creativity, and long-term relevance. From creative strategy to authenticity and scale, this session explores how to build partnerships that resonate with fans and move the business forward.

  Brandy Everhart, AVP, Media & Partnerships, CarMax

  Armando Samuels, Global Creative Lead, Google

  Zach Hilder, Chief Creative Officer, 72andSunny Los Angeles

  Moderated By: Dylan Conroy, Host, The Ad Podcast

• 10:30 AM The Next Era of the NBA: Growth, Globalization, and the Business of Culture

  Learn how the NBA is evolving as a global sports and culture powerhouse. From revenue and partnerships to brand strategy and international expansion, this session explores what’s next for the league and the business behind it.

  Salvatore LaRocca, President, Global Partnerships, NBA

  Moderated by: Leonard Armato, Founder, Chairman, & CEO, Management Plus Enterprises

• 10:55 AM Scaling Cultural Moments Into Year-Round Strategy

  How do brands extend the life of a tentpole moment? Leaders discuss how activations can inform broader brand strategy, content, and partnerships throughout the year, turning one weekend into sustained momentum.

  Brad Mays, Director of Brand Experience, KIA

  Nick Robinson, Global Integrated Marketing – Wearables, Meta

  Moderated by: Olu Davis, Senior Director of Sales, Vevo

• 11:25 AM Designing Fan-First Experiences Worth the Wait

  What makes fans line up, share, and come back for more? This session dives into experience design, focusing on creativity, utility, and emotional, and how brands balance spectacle with authenticity.

  Sharon Fuller, Senior Vice President of Sports Strategy, OS Studios

  David Picioski, Head of Marketing, Team Sports, Wilson Sporting Goods

  Moderated By: Patrick Buchanan, SVP, Marketing, Lulus

• 11:50 AM Networking Break
• 12:00 PM Where Culture Meets Community

  This conversation explores how brands authentically engage communities through sports, leveraging local culture, creators, and partnerships to build trust and relevance beyond a single game.

  Roderick Blaylock, Vice President Marketing, Casamigos 

  Brian Jones, Senior Director, Brand Partnerships and Experiences, Mint Mobile

  Adam Ornelas, Senior Manager, Influencer & Content, DoorDash

  Rhea Wadia, Director, Sports & Entertainment, Rakuten Rewards

  Moderated by: Josh Galvez, Executive Director of Social and Brands, Relevant+

• 12:35 PM Why Fit Matters: Building Sports Partnerships That Feel Authentic

  Tim Bateman, Group Creative Director, 72andSunny

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

  Moderated by: Tony McRoberts, SVP Revenue, Alembic

• 1:00 PM Lunch
• 1:45 PM Fireside Chat

  J.B. Smoove, Comedian & Actor

  Moderated By: Natalie Jarvey, Editor, Like & Subscribe

• 2:05 PM Satisfying the C-Suite: Understanding the ROI of big events

  As agencies and brands continue to invest in tentpole sports events to drive growth they face increased scrutiny and elevated expectations. This panel looks at the different ways in which agencies and brands determine success and ensure they earn the support of the C-Suite.

  Amy Adelbusch, Managing Director, Optimum Sports

  Moderated by: Chris Mike, Commercial Lead, Hive

• 2:30 PM Athlete-Led Media as a Brand Growth Engine

  Athlete-driven content is reshaping how fans connect with sports — and how brands show up authentically. In this session, Leah Reis-Dennis and Dana Hooper unpack how The Draymond Green Show has become a powerful example of athlete-led storytelling at cross-channel scale. The panel explores how brands can align with trusted athlete voices to drive cultural relevance, audience engagement, and measurable impact.

  Leah Reis-Dennis, Head of Podcasts, Audacy

  Moderated by: Dana Hooper, CEO, The New Media 

• 2:55 PM Creators, Athletes, and IP: The New Faces of Brand Storytelling

  Creators are no longer just talent – they are storytellers, audiences, and IP in their own right. This session explores how partnerships are evolving, how audiences decide what feels credible, and how brands collaborate with creators and athletes to build stories that resonate culturally and stand the test of time.

  Spencer Keith Jones, NBA Player, Entrepreneur and Investor

  Shahbaz Khan, Head of Social Strategy, NFL

  Ryan Washatka, SVP Sports & Entertainment, Rakuten Rewards

  Jessica Williams, Head of Brand Marketing & Partnerships, Shopify

  Moderated by: Olu Davis, Senior Director of Sales, Vevo

• 3:25 PM Fireside Chat

  Malika Andrews, Sports Journalist and Reporter, ESPN

  Moderated by: Carl Mueller, Chief Strategy Officer, 72andSunny

• 3:45 PM A Chat with an NBA Legend: From crushing the court to impacting the world through philanthropy and business

  Chris Paul, NBA All-Star, Philanthropist & Entrepreneur

  Moderated by: Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer, 72andSunny

• 4:15 PM Happy Hour
• 5:00 PM Session Wrap