AAF PGH AdWeek – Speaker Information

Keynote Address

Unlocking the Power of Primary Research in the Age of AI

Thursday, November 6 10:30 – 11:10am

Kate Murphy is President, CEO, and co-owner of Campos, a market research and strategy firm headquartered in Pittsburgh.

At Campos, Kate oversees the development and execution of custom market research studies to inform brand, marketing, product development, and customer experience strategies. A former magazine writer and editor, Kate’s vision for Campos centers on “data-backed storytelling”—providing agencies and clients with the strategic, consumer-driven insights they need to create winning campaigns and drive measurable brand growth.

Under Kate’s leadership, Campos has grown from a regional to national research firm serving clients around the country across a range of industries, including higher education, healthcare, arts and culture, banking, and consumer packaged goods.

Kate is a graduate of Fordham University, with bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Communications & Media Studies. As an entrepreneur, she is an active member of the Women Presidents Organization.

Keynote Address

Unlocking the Power of Primary Research in the Age of AI

Thursday, November 6 10:30-11:10am

Laura Officer is an experience design leader who helps organizations translate customer insights into strategies that improve engagement and loyalty. As Director of Experience Strategy at UPMC, she leads a team to map customer journeys, uncover behavioral drivers, and co-create solutions that raise the bar for healthcare experiences.

With more than a decade of experience in qualitative research, organizational psychology, and design strategy, Laura specializes in blending behavioral science with creative facilitation to reimagine products and services and align teams around a shared vision. She brings expertise from the nonprofit and public sectors, from reducing food insecurity to advancing autism research. Laura holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA in Sociology from the College of Wooster.

Keynote Address

Can you age well in your career?

Thursday, November 6 4:00 – 4:30pm

Panel Discussion

As President/Owner of Landesberg Design, Brian’s focus is to cultivate, nurture, and maintain both the career paths of the individuals who work at the firm as well as relationships with our clients, prospects, and partners. Other professional endeavors have included working in the advertising sector at agencies both large and small, being an adjunct professor, serving on multiple non-profit boards, podcasting, and design community organizing.

Keynote Address

Say Yes First, Figure It Out Later: Leading Through Uncertainty

Friday, November 7 2:00 – 2:30pm

Tobias is a fractional Chief Marketing Officer specializing in growth stage cybersecurity companies.

With over 20 years of marketing leadership experience, he has consistently driven measurable results across global and national campaigns. As the co-founder of a full-service marketing agency that he led for 16 years, Tobias developed deep expertise in marketing strategy, team leadership, and building long-term client partnerships across industries.

Today, he brings this strategic foundation to cybersecurity leaders who need an experienced marketing executive to cut through market noise, establish brand authority, and implement KPI-driven go-to-market strategies that scale with business growth.

Just Get It on the Page: 14 Insights from 14 Years as a Creative

Friday, November 7 10:00 – 11:30am

This session is open to all attendees, but of particular interest to young professionals.

Michael Borodynko is an industry veteran with over a decade’s experience in Creative Direction, UX strategy and UI design. He has lent his unique skills to multiple ad, branding, and marketing campaigns, primarily digital. His work spans across mobile apps, websites, and web applications, showcasing a blend of creativity and digital knowledge. Michael’s passion is merging design with digital development, highlighting his adaptability and forward-thinking approach.

Clicks Don’t Convert: Why Advertisers Need to Care About Websites Again

Thursday November 6 3:00 – 3:30pm

Meesha Gerhart launched Redtree Web Design in 2015, pursuing her passion for websites. In a short time, RedTree has become an award-winning agency serving businesses nationwide. This is a direct result of a growing women-led team and being authentic in their work. Redtreeʼs mission is to show businesses that representing their brands through a website doesnʼt have to be complicated.

In 2020, Meesha and her wife welcomed their first child. Being a new mom, her passion started to grow from business to family and she started to see a shift in the workforce from women leaving jobs and starting their own businesses. Meesha launched a podcast called W.E. Talk where she talks to women entrepreneurs about their business journey to help inspire other women to start their own businesses.

Every day Meesha has a growing gratitude for the success and privilege achieved and hopes to help others achieve the same.

From Crickets to Conversions: How the 4 E’s of Marketing Create Real Results

Friday, November 7 10:45 – 11:15am

This session is open to all attendees, but of particular interest to young professionals.

Alysa Gumto has been working in marketing since January 2019 and now has 6 years of experience under her belt. She’s the owner of Marketing with AG, where she helps businesses grow through simple, smart strategies that impact the bottom line. Alysa loves creating content, building connections, and finding what really works to keep customers coming back. When she’s not working, you’ll find her hanging out with her Golden Retriever, Truly, or recording episodes of her podcast, Telling It Like It Is with Alysa.

Is AI-generated content destined to become the new MFA crisis?

Friday, November 7 10:45 – 11:15am

Lara Koenig serves as VP, Global Strategy & Partnerships at MiQ, leading product strategy and partnership development for MiQ’s omnichannel advertising capabilities.

Over the course of her ten-year tenure with MiQ, Lara has led a variety of high-scale teams across Programmatic Trading and Product Development, managing departments of 50+ to deliver best-in-class service and advertising innovation for global Marketers.

Outside of her contributions to MiQ, Lara has influenced the wider ad-tech industry through participation in cross-industry working groups, serving as an evangelist for publisher development and fostering education and standards for buy-side supply path optimization.

Wired for Change: How Communication Evolves—and Why It Matters Now

Friday, November 7 11:30 – 12:00pm

This session is open to all attendees, but of particular interest to young professionals.

Courtney McCrimmon is an accomplished public relations leader with  20 years of experience in the field. A creative writer and critical thinker, she has a proven track record working with news media, developing thought leaders, crisis communication planning, creating and implementing strategic communication strategies and placing national, local and trade stories. With an MFA in creative nonfiction writing, she’s passionate about storytelling across a variety of mediums, including long-from writing, social media stories and video script-writing. A significant portion of her career has been spent working for academic medical centers and their related research institutes, including the Barbara Ann Karmanos Institute,  the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and, most recently, the Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation. Previously she worked as public relations account supervisor at the advertising agency Communica in Toledo and today, she serves as PR/Social Account Supervisor for Gatesman Agency. Her agency experience spans ballets, restaurants, educational institutions, logistics organizations, and nonprofit organizations.

Stop Asking If You’re Using AI – Start Asking If You’re Using It Well

Thursday, November 6 2:10 – 2:45pm

Jon Meck is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Bounteous, where over the past decade he has built and led a global team of internal marketers, communicators, and sales specialists, scaling through high-growth and helping to shape the company’s brand direction worldwide. Jon specializes in bringing together end-to-end marketing capabilities, account-based strategies, and multi-channel storytelling to help inform and attract C-suite leaders at some of the world’s largest organizations. A frequent speaker on AI and digital transformation, he shares how companies can harness emerging technologies to drive innovation, accelerate growth, and deliver measurable results.

From Screens to Scenes: How to Turn Digital Followers Into Real-World Communities

Thursday, November 6  11:20 – 12:00pm

This session is open to all attendees, but of particular interest to young professionals.

Cecily Milligan is a Content Director at Actual Size, a Pittsburgh-based creative agency, where she blends her passion for branding and meaningful connections into her work. Beyond the office, she channels that same energy into community-building, most notably as the founder of the Page Turners Book Club (est. Dec. 2023). What began as a 15-member group has blossomed into a group of 75+ women, featuring indie bookstore partnerships, pop-ups with 25+ small, women-owned businesses, and nearly 500 books donated to Magee Women’s and other causes. When she’s not championing creativity or literary joy, you’ll find her supporting local initiatives and disaster relief efforts.

Mental Health in the Creative Community

Thursday November 6 11:20 – 12:00pm

Emily Moquin is a consumer insights practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience planning, conducting and interpreting research to find opportunities for leaders to grow their businesses.

Emily has both client and supplier-side experience. After spending nearly 8 years on the consumer insights team at Heinz, she moved to research suppliers and worked for CEB Iconoculture, Gartner and, most recently, Morning Consult as a food and beverage analyst, conducting research on shifting consumer behaviors and attitudes as well as larger market trends relevant to leaders in the sector.

She is currently a Research Director at Schmidt Market Research here in Pittsburgh helping regional and national clients address business questions with custom research solutions.

AAF National Government Affairs Update

Friday, November 20 2:45 – 3:15pm

As Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, Clark Rector oversees and directs the lobbying efforts of the American Advertising Federation’s grassroots network of 35,000 advertising professionals in some 150 local advertising clubs and federations nationwide. Together, they have defeated ad tax proposals and other threats to advertising in Congress, nearly every state and numerous cities and counties. In his role as chief public policy advocate for the Federation, Rector meets with lawmakers and regulators to educate them about advertising and represent the industry’s position on important legislative and regulatory matters.  He has testified for the AAF before the U.S. Senate and Federal Trade Commission, as well as numerous state legislatures and city governments.

Prior to joining the AAF in 1988, Rector spent two years on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant for Congressman Tom Luken of Ohio. He also spent three years working in local television in Austin, Texas. Rector is a graduate of the University of Texas and received a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa.

Purpose-Driven Presence: Reclaiming Focus and Meaning in the Age of Distraction

Thursday, November 6 2:10 – 2:45pm

Dr. Stephanie Maietta Romero, founder and Executive Director of Awaken Pittsburgh, works to bring mindfulness practices to those who are experiencing high levels of stress and secondary trauma throughout Western PA. Dr. Romero has 20+ years of experience teaching elementary, middle school, high school, and college students.  She is a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor, 200RYT Antiracist Raja Yoga teacher and has been a meditator and mindfulness practitioner since the early 2000s. Finding that her meditation practice profoundly influenced both her personal and professional lives, Dr. Romero explored the integration of mindfulness into her classroom space through her dissertation, culminating three years of research into mindfulness in education.  She is grateful to be able to bring these life-changing practices to individuals and systems every day.

Creating a Culture of Collaboration

Thursday, November 6 3:30 – 3:30pm

Nathan Wadding is the Founder and CEO of Kindling Culture Agency, a Pittsburgh-based agency that specializes in creating purpose-driven work cultures, authentic employer branding, and employee storytelling to boost engagement. A passionate supporter of people-first workplaces, Nathan helps organizations explore and understand the unique employee experience, turning it into engagement strategies, change initiatives, and authentic employer brands.

With a background in creative direction and cultural strategy, Nathan has led transformative initiatives for organizations ranging from tech startups to national healthcare systems. His work emphasizes the employee experience at the heart of the organization’s culture. Employee engagement surveys can only reveal part of the employee experience. Fully understanding what is working and what isn’t in a company requires immersing oneself in the environment — asking questions and listening to the stories of the organization, as well as the stories of the people at work.

Basing his process on the creative elements of human-centered design and the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, he has developed a unique method to uncover, understand, and activate the employee voice, fostering better work cultures from the inside out and the bottom up. Helping each employee feel their value.

Nathan is a sought-after speaker and facilitator on topics like culture-led leadership, employer brand strategy, and the intersection of organizational purpose and employee engagement.

Will Data Privacy Kill Advertising?

Thursday, October 19 1:10- 2:15pm

Noor Naseer is VP of Media Innovations and Technology at Basis Technologies. She leads client thought leadership and innovative media strategy development. She guides clients on how to evolve media strategy to accommodate fast-changing consumer behavior and media trends.

Noor has written for and been cited in industry outlets including Adweek, MediaPost, Advertising Week and Multichannel News. She has spoken at events for the 4As and the American Marketing Association. She hosts adtech podcast, AdTech Unfiltered. She runs a company-wide DEI speaker series called ‘Basis
Conversations’. Prior to Basis Technologies, Noor served in media roles at Starcom MediaVest Group. She is a graduate of Northwestern University with an M.S. in Integrated Marketing.

It’s Not Just a Post: Selling Influencer Strategy Clients Actually Buy Into

Friday, September 7 10:00-10:30am

Sarah Weber is the Founder and President of sweb marketing and the cohort, two brands rooted in sharp strategy, creative execution, and community-led growth.

After earning her marketing degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Sarah started her career in corporate healthcare before realizing her true focus: using marketing to solve real business problems. Today, she partners with brands in healthcare, hospitality, and professional services to do just that: build meaningful connections with their audience and measure what works.

In 2023, Sarah launched the cohort, an influencer marketing division focused on driving ROI through content creators and digital word of mouth. She believes most marketing strategies are broken—not because teams aren’t trying, but because too many brands are shouting into the void instead of creating spaces for community and conversation.

Her mission is to help founders and marketers stop chasing tactics and start building something ownable. She’s also the voice behind @thepittsburghweb, a local-first account with 125K+ followers that celebrates curiosity, good food, and Pittsburgh entrepreneurship.

It’s Not Just a Post: Selling Influencer Strategy Clients Actually Buy Into

Friday, November 7 10:00-10:30am

Hey, I’m Mackenzie Smith: people person, influencer marketing enthusiast, and executer of big ideas.

I’m one of two strategic and creative forces behind the cohort- a creator community for the creator community. Like most marketers, I wear too many hats, but at the core, I help lead the vision and execution of the cohort’s growth. That means building partnerships, curating programming, and making sure everything we do actually serves creators.

I’ve spent the last 8 years in the agency world—working across Pittsburgh, Denver, and NYC—always with a focus on digital, social, and influencer strategy. I’ve been partnering with creators since my very first job out of college, and I haven’t stopped since.

I believe the future of the creator economy is less “spray and pray,” more intentional and relationship-driven. I’m on a quest to make influencer marketing feel a whole lot more human, and I don’t mind leading the charge.

Rules for Entrepreneurs (and Their Marketing Teams)

Friday, November 7 1:15-1:45pm

For 16 years, 10 of which as Chairman and CEO, Chris Allison led Tollgrade Communications, Inc. from technology start-up to a NASDAQ-listed company whose market capitalization reached $2 billion.  During his 10-year tenure as CEO, Tollgrade generated more than $660 million in sales and $135 million in operating profit.  Tollgrade also met or exceeded analysts’ estimates 40 out of 41 quarters during that time.

While CEO, Tollgrade also was recognized as one of the Best Small & Fastest Growing Companies in America by Forbes, Fortune, Industry Week, Bloomberg Personal Finance and Business 2.0 magazines.

Ernst and Young named Chris Entrepreneur of the Year, as did the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association.  The Public Relations Society of America recognized him as CEO Communicator of the Year.

Since 2006, Chris has been an adjunct professor of Business at Allegheny College and serves as co-director of the Allegheny College Center for Business & Economics.  He also serves on Allegheny’s board of trustees and is a member of its Executive Committee.  He is also a member of the board of directors of the Clarion University Foundation.

Chris received a Doctorate of Public Service honorus causa from Clarion in 2012 when he also delivered the commencement address.

An active business columnist, Chris contributes regularly to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine and the Erie Daily Times.  For his work, he was awarded a Golden Quill Award by the Pittsburgh Press Club.

He is the author of the recent book, Hit It!: Tech Startup Story and 7 Rules For Entrepreneurs.

Ladies and Gentleman, Chris Allison.

Building Belonging Through Branding: How Bellevue Forward is Reimagining Community Identity

Friday, November 7 3:30-4:00pm

RJ Thompson, MFA, is an award-winning marketing, communications, and design professional. He is currently an Associate Professor of Digital Narrative and Interactive Design at the University of Pittsburgh. RJ founded Bellevue Forward, a 501(c)3 non-profit economic development organization focused on Bellevue, PA’s economic revitalization. RJ is President Emeritus of the American Marketing Association – Pittsburgh chapter and a current advisor. He is presently the President of the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) – Pittsburgh chapter.

Building Belonging Through Branding: How Bellevue Forward is Reimagining Community Identity

Friday, November 7 3:30-4:00pm

Emmiley Stern is an experienced SEM specialist and digital media buyer with more than seven years of success developing high‑impact, results‑driven media strategies. She brings a curious, analytical approach to digital buying and consistently aims to exceed client expectations. Guided by emotional intelligence and a genuine enthusiasm for her work, Emmiley fosters collaborative opportunities that benefit her clients, her team, and the organizations she supports.

Kicking Off Your Personal Brand

Friday, November 7 3:30 – 4:00pm

This session is open to all attendees, but of particular interest to young professionals.

Marisa Corona has managed, built, and delivered social media and integrated digital content strategies for more than 30 brands and organizations, including UPMC, UPMC Health Plan, The Art Institutes, MSA Safety, Nestle, Primanti Brothers, J.M. Smucker, and PPG Paints.

Corona is the digital product manager at UPMC Health Plan where she supervises all social media, influencer, reputation management, and blog content. Before UPMC, she was an associate social media and PR strategist at Smith Brothers Agency in Pittsburgh working with national and international clients. Corona is an expert in content development and coordinating large-scale, award-winning campaigns from brainstorm to development to post-performance result analysis with more than 100 industry awards for strategy and creative content.

She has earned recognition for her work both nationally and locally. Corona was a featured speaker at Ragan Communications and PR Daily’s Social Media Conference in 2022 and received the Pittsburgh Business Times and Leadership Pittsburgh’s 30 Under 30 Award in 2021.

She led, served, and mentored two non-profit boards resulting in an increase of membership, engagement, and cost savings. She is past president of Pittsburgh Young Professionals, where she led a strategic growth plan which resulted in the all-time high active membership count of more than 1000 members in the organization’s 30 year history and guided a team in the planning of more than 40 networking and social events annually. She was also a board advisor for marketing with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Corona is also a downtown Pittsburgh tour guide.

Prolific in Pittsburgh: Fireside Chat and Q&A

Friday, November 7 4:00-4:30pm

Erin Miller is a seasoned marketing strategist with a dynamic background spanning venture capital and nonprofit leadership. As Owner & CEO of Brand Strategies Group, she leads with a mission-first mindset, developing innovative campaigns that blend traditional marketing tactics with a deep understanding of community impact. Her work has transformed fundraising, donor engagement, and brand visibility for nonprofits and socially conscious businesses alike.

A trusted advisor in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Erin brings two decades of experience to every engagement. Her ability to bridge high-level strategy with grassroots impact has earned her widespread recognition—including the 2024 AMA Marketer of the Year Award and the People’s Choice Award from the North Hills Art Center, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Beyond her agency work, Erin is a dedicated advocate for community growth. She has held leadership roles with AMA Pittsburgh, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Glenshaw Century Club, and is a proud member of the Safe Space Alliance. Brand Strategies Group regularly sponsors local events and supports initiatives that uplift at-risk communities.

AAF Pittsburgh President

AAF PGH AdWeek Co-chair

Dwayne Waite Jr. is a Pittsburgh, PA native who was always drawn to marketing, communications and human behavior. A marketer by trade and consumer behavior enthusiast by interest, Dwayne has always been fascinated about why people behave and make decisions the way that they do.

Dwayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a marketing emphasis from theMartha and Spencer Love School of Business at Elon University. While at Elon, Dwayne was a studentleader across multiple disciplines, from student life to pre-professional organizations. After university,
Dwayne worked for numerous marketing and advertising agencies, specializing in corporate communications and digital media strategy. He also served as an entrepreneur, being a co-founder of an integrated marketing communications consultancy. He was also the Lead Blogger for a job site for creative professionals,, where he wrote over 1,200 articles on marketing, advertising, consumer behavior, sales and market strategy.

With a background in marketing and consumer behavior, Dwayne then decided to go into teaching. Dwayne taught multiple marketing classes at a comprehensive high school in Charlotte, North Carolina, where several students under his tutelage reached DECA International Competition.

After teaching, Dwayne and his family moved back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he currently serves as the marketing manager at Schell Games, the largest independent entertainment and education game design and development games studio in the United States. There he manages the studio’s social and
digital advertising efforts, the influencer marketing program, and the studio’s trade show and event program. He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife Mackenzie and their two children,

AAF PGH AdWeek Co-chair

With a dynamic marketing career that spans over two decades, Kristin Fornal seamlessly blends innovation with execution. As Brayman Construction Company’s Marketing Director and the driving force behind its internal marketing agency, Kristin crafts the marketing blueprint for both Brayman and its affiliate entities.

Before her role at Brayman, Kristin made a significant mark as the president of Brand pH, LLC. Kristin’s passion for marketing resonates through every campaign and strategy she embarks upon, guaranteeing that clients benefit from her expertise. With a versatile portfolio that spans a broad range of sectors, from entrepreneurial startups to established technology firms and non-profit organizations, Kristin’s skills are as diverse as they are impactful.

Her collaborative endeavors with globally acclaimed brands such as Burton Morris Studios, Survivorman, Tim Hortons, Wendy’s Company, Stanford University, and the National Council of Youth Sports showcase her versatility and adeptness in marketing. Yet, her accomplishments aren’t just in big-name collaborations; she has a consistent track record of delivering tailored solutions that drive companies closer to their desired goals and objectives.

As a valued member of the leadership team, Kristin doesn’t just lead; she uplifts, supporting her team members in their journeys toward personal and professional milestones. Kristin is not just a marketing director; she is a visionary leader, strategist, and mentor.