Pittsburgh Advertising Week 2023 is a packed 2- day conference featuring representatives from some of the biggest brands in the world. Plan your conference accordingly, and enjoy!

See the list of 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