AAF Pittsburgh AdWeek 2023 was a packed 2- day conference featuring representatives from some of the biggest brands in the world and our 2025 plans will be even better.
See the list of 2023 speakers [here]
Thursday, October 19, 2023
9:30 Check-in: Coffee and Networking
10:15 -11:00am: Welcome
- Maureen Rooney, AAF Pittsburgh President
- Dwayne Waite Jr./Kristin Fornal, PGH AdWeek Chairs
11:05 – 11:45am: Keynote Presented by Gatesman – Pop City: Pittsburgh’s Creative Future
- Dan Law, The Andy Warhol Museum
11:45 – 12:00pm: Networking
12:00 – 1:00pm: Lunch – boxed lunch provided
1:10 – 1:40pm: F*ck TimeSheets! Your Agency Should Abandon Them
- George Potts, Fifth Influence
1:45 – 2:15pm: The Dance of Creative Project Management
- Heather Kratsas, Tonic at Highmark Health
1:10 – 2:15pm: Will Data Privacy Kill Advertising?
- Noor Naseer, Basis Technologies
2:15 – 2:20pm: Break
2:20 – 2:50pm: Building Brands with Creative Research Techniques Using AI Technology
- RJ Thompson, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences
2:55 – 3:25pm: How to Improve Your Culture in the Advertising/Media Industry
- Jeff Swartz, Ethic Advertising Agency
2:20 – 3:10pm: DEI DNA/ How Tonic Embeds DEI in its DNA
- Amy Spears, Tonic at Highmark Health
- George Friedman, Tonic at Highmark Health
3:30 – 4:45pm: Prolific in Pittsburgh: Fireside and Q&A
- Michelle Sharp, Duolingo
- Sarah Weber, The Cohort
- Rebeca Ricoy, Duolingo
- Trish Parkhill, MarketSpace Agency (Moderator)
5:15 – 6:00pm: Welcome Reception & Networking
6:15 – 6:20pm: Heinz History Center Welcome
- Dwayne Waite Jr, PGH AdWeek Co-Chair
- Kristin Fornal, PGH AdWeek Co-Chair
- Brunner – Opening Ceremonies Sponsor
6:25 – 6:55pm: Keynote Address: Advertising is Born in Pittsburgh
- Andy Masich, Heinz History Center
6:55 – 8:00pm: Reception & Networking
BONUS CONTENT – The 6 Keys to Inclusive Leadership – How to Get Your Diverse Team to Row in the Same Direction
- Ayo Owodunni, Prime Target Consulting
This presentation will be sent to registrants as bonus content.
Friday, October 20, 2023
9:00 -9:30am: Generational Roundup
- Marisa Allen, MNI Targeted Media
9:35 – 10:05am: Charting the Course of Marketing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
- Alexander Reed, Sweb Marketing
9:00 – 10:05am: How AAF National is Fighting for our Butts in DC
- Clark Rector, American Advertising Federation
10:10 – 10:55am: Keynote Address: Five Key Themes DICK’S Sporting Goods is Using to Stay Ahead in Social
- Lauren Stang, DICK’s Sporting Goods
10:50 – 11:00am: Break and Networking
11:00 – 12:00pm: Engaging Your Audience: Techniques for Creating Social Media Content that Resonates with Your Target Market
- Alysa Gumto, Chic Influencer
11:00 – 12:00pm: The Power of Metaphors
- Matt Hancher, Olson Zaltman
12:00 – 1:00pm: Lunch on Your Own
1:15 – 2:00pm: Using Data To Prove Your Marketing Works
- Katie Mull, Hoffmann Murtaugh
1:15 – 2:00pm: The Power of Purpose: Building Authentic Brand Relationships through Cause Marketing
- Chris Edington, Island Brands
1:15 – 2:00pm: One of Us! You Can Be Part of the Games Industry
- Evan Beach, Co-Founder, 99ovr
- Charlie Amis, VP Product, Schell Games
- Dr. Amy Czyz, Co- Founder, Drinks on the Sly/Intent Brands
- Titus Walker, CEO, Ultimate Endgamers League (UEL)
- Dwayne Waite Jr, ReedPop (Moderator)
2:00 – 2:10pm: Break and Networking
2:10 – 3:00pm: How and When to Scale? : Fireside and Q&A
- John Gatesman, Gatesman
- Tobias Roediger, The Chief Marketer
- Dwayne Waite Jr, ReedPop (Moderator)
3:00 – 3:15pm: Break and Networking
3:15 – 3:50pm: Gen Z Reframed: Common Conceptions in Context
- Susan English, Gatesman
3:15 – 3:50pm: Don’t Be a Jagoff: Micro-Content & Micro-Media Doesn’t Mean Micro-Dollars
- John Craig, Fifth Influence
- John Chamberlin, YaJagoff Media, LLC
- Rachael Rennebeck, YaJagoff Media, LLC
4:15 – 4:30pm: Closing Remarks
- Maureen Rooney, AAF Pittsburgh President
- Kristin Fornal, PGH AdWeek Co-Chair