2025 Conference

Marketers have fallen hard for generative AI hype. Nothing more than, as one scholar puts it, algorithms that “haphazardly [stitch] together sequences of linguistic forms … ersatz fluency,” gen AI requires a steep price for participating in an illusion of value: We're displacing marketing talent while polluting the channels we rely on to help businesses find our brands. There’s also an ethical price: It's a biased system that causes harm to many (“the civil rights issue of our time” as one scholar puts it), using precariously employed—if at all—data workers, with an unprecedented environmental impact, while stealing content. This against-the-grain, controversial session asks marketers to face this difficult reality and consider steps to wrestle back value. Five Main Takeaways: Accept an alternative view of generative AI to help wrestle back the narrative to better serve marketers. Understand how the technology is anything but intelligent, and how using it is creating a commodity of marketers’ hard-earned expertise. Take a clear-eyed and honest look at the ethical trade-offs marketers are making by using these tools, including the unprecedented environmental impact we're contributing to when we choose to use them. Learn Four specific ways we as marketers can take an active role in creating an alternative, more ethical future for so-called AI that will better serve us and our craft. Learn of alternative voices who advocate for us, not the big AI companies, who we can elevate to help bring balance to AI hype. _______________BIO: Aaron Templer’s (https://www.aarontempler.com) professional and intellectual interests are at the intersection of creativity, brand, influence, and leadership. He is the founder of Three Over Four https://threeoverfour.com), a full-service brand strategy and digital marketing agency enjoying its 17th year. He is also a Lecturer in the Marketing Department at the Metropolitan State University of Denver where he is the faculty lead for the University’s first-ever student-run marketing agency course. Aaron is a former national council President, local chapter president, and professional instructor for the American Marketing Association (AMA). The AMA awarded him a lifetime membership for “fearlessly leading, adapting, and creating change through a truly unprecedented time.” Aaron’s first book, Leading in a Social World, (https://www.aarontempler.com/book), is a seven-time award winner that, as Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews put it, “turns our perception of social media marketing on its head.” Aaron is a past contributor to inc.com and MarketingProfs. Aaron is also a world percussionist and composer of rhythms. Some call him the Gora Dhol Wallah.

In today's business environment, where every action influences the bottom line, collaboration between sales and marketing is essential. Yet, many organizations struggle with misaligned goals, misused resources, and missed opportunities when these critical teams fail to connect. Emily Krause, Founder and Chief Marketing Strategist of Amped Up Marketing, delves into the transformative power of aligning sales and marketing to drive growth and profitability. This session will explore how breaking down silos between sales, marketing, and other departments fosters a cohesive, cross-functional environment that elevates organizational success. Emily will highlight practical strategies for forging stronger relationships across leadership, sales, compliance, product teams, IT, HR, and more. Attendees will learn how cross-departmental collaboration ensures alignment with organizational goals, enhances customer relationships, and drives both individual and collective success. Join to discover actionable ways to build alignment, improve communication, and create a seamless experience for your team and customers—proving that when sales and marketing unite, the entire organization wins. ______________BIO: Emily Krause, the Founder and Chief Marketing Strategist at Amped Up Marketing, is a seasoned marketing strategist with over 25 years of experience dedicated to developing authentic brands and driving growth. Her collaborative approach and commitment to hard work and transparency have consistently delivered impactful marketing programs that set new standards for the organizations she has served. Emily’s journey began in event planning within the non-profit sector, where she honed her skills in relationship building and strategic execution. Over the years, she transitioned into executive marketing roles, excelling at driving organizational growth through innovative lead generation and marketing campaign initiatives. Her expertise extends across diverse industries, including nonprofit, professional services, legal, finance, and technology, in both B2B and B2C environments. Emily is a Board Member of the American Marketing Association Richmond, VA Chapter and the Director of the CMO Roundtable. She shares her insights nationally on diverse topics, including digital marketing, brand strategy, leadership, professional development, and organizational change. As a professional coach, Emily Krause offers professional mentorship, career coaching, and executive coaching to individuals looking to evolve their careers.

What did it take to lead and help launch the biggest Jesus campaign in history? Come get insights into Bill McKendry's personal journey before he was asked to spearhead the He Gets Us effort as well as professional insights gained through the entire process. 3-5 Main Takeaways: Proven processes drive progress and success. Powerful problem statements shape powerful solutions. Identifying moveable and non-movable audiences supercharges focus and efficiency. Changing behavior is key to changing attitudes. Continuous improvement requires continuous monitoring and willingness to change. ______________BIO: Bill McKendry is the founder and chief creative officer at BrandHaven, which he launched after heading Hanon McKendry, being vice chairman and chief creative officer of JDA Worldwide, serving at Tracy- Locke/BBDO, co-founding Compass College of Film + Media, and winning over 1,500 national and international awards in advertising and marketing. For all of that work, he was inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) National Hall of Achievement for his cause marketing innovation and leadership. Bill is also founder of the nonprofit advocacy organization Do More Good® and author of a best selling book by the same name. His corporate clients' experiences have included Target Stores, American Express, Dodge, Taco Bell and Kohler. And he’s led branding efforts for nonprofit clients such as He Gets Us, The Chosen, illumiNations, Young Life and World Vision.