
Brand Response Council
Forging the future of performance marketing.
The PDMI's Brand Response Council brings together media outlets, media agencies, and the clients both serve to build more powerful consensus and relationships across various mediums. The council serves as a visionary group, looking ahead to find the brightest marketers and marketing ideas working in the evolving media marketplace.
Council Members

CHAIRPERSON
Chris Foster
Modern Postcard
Vice President, New Business
cfoster@modernpostcard.com
760-535-8904
modernpostcard.com
Chris Foster is vice president, new business at Modern Postcard, a national direct marketing company that services business of all sizes and in all markets. As a marketing and branding executive, he understands how to help any-sized business better position and brand themselves and tell their most authentic story to engage their audience. In addition to leading the creation and execution of new business strategies at Modern, he has taught brand strategy at UCSD Extension since 2009. Chris is a contributing author for TargetMarketing Magazine and NonProfitPro and has presented at numerous professional conferences nationally.

Rebecca Barr is a seasoned marketing executive with more than 25 years of experience in the D2C industry. As the principal of RLB Consulting, she specializes in helping brands get the most from their performance marketing initiatives. With a background in media strategy, agency management, and client relations, Barr has a proven track record of driving sales, leads, and exposure for companies of all sizes. Before founding RLB Consulting, she held senior leadership positions at GainShare Performance Marketing, Northern Lights Direct Response, and The Professional Education Institute Inc., where she successfully led media teams, negotiated key deals, and fostered strategic partnerships. Barr is known for her expertise in navigating complex media markets, building strong relationships, and delivering results that exceed expectations.

Jack Barrett
Founder/Creative Director
Urban Legend Productions
jack@urbanlegendproductions.com
urbanlegendprouctions.com
Jack Barrett is the founder and creative director at Urban Legend Productions, a brand response agency and production company. A 30-year veteran of the advertising industry, Barrett and his team at Urban Legend specialize in creating performance-driven linear, OTT, and CTV campaigns that build brand awareness and produce measurable results. When not creating the next big TV campaign, he specializes (less successfully) in waterskiing, flyfishing, and cross-fit training.

Doug Bognar
Apex Media Partners
Vice President, Sales and New Business
doug@apexmedia.com
317-627-4191
apexmedia.com
Doug Bognar is vice president of sales and new business for Apex Media Partners Inc. He has spent virtually his entire 30-year career in the direct-to-consumer industry. He has been a media director/senior manager with a top-40 media buying agency as well as having held director-level sales positions at both rep firms and networks, responsible for eight-figure budgets. A seasoned, data-driven professional, Bognar has extensive experience developing direct-to-consumer networks and worked for several years building aggregated programmatic platforms. As vice president, he takes on growing the Apex Media portfolio of client-focused services, including short-form media buying, station representation, ad sales, and navigating the rapidly expanding and complex world of over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

Chris Brombach
Cannella Media DTC
Senior Vice President, Integrated Media
cbrombach@cannellamedia.com
213-476-0061
cannellamedia.com
Chris Brombach brings 20-plus years of agency and client-side performance marketing experience. He started his ad career on the general market/brand side at agencies including Carat, DDB, PHD, and evolved into hybrid/DR while working on client side at Beachbody. He then spent seven years at Havas Edge. Brombach is currently senior vice president, integrated media, at Cannella Media DTC. He is a firm believer in an effective hybrid approach – where awareness and response are not considered mutually exclusive.

Carey Chase
Modus Direct
Senior Vice President, Media
312-674-4608
Carey Chase serves as senior vice president of media at Modus Direct. Chase and the media team are responsible for media strategy, planning, placement, and optimization across all available media channels (linear/streaming TV, OOH, print) for both D2C as well as brand-focused clients at Modus. She has spent nearly all of her 30-plus year career in DRTV (except for those “lost years” as a UX web designer), working in-house and on the agency side for both large and boutique shops. One of her greatest thrills has been living this industry’s transition from dismissed as “remnant media” to respected as “performance media” — while spending hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. A leader at every agency she has worked at, Chase has trained and counselled countless buyers who have gone on and excelled in their own careers in advertising and ad tech. She currently resides in Chicago.

Alex Dinsmoor
Script to Screen
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
714-558-3971
Alex Dinsmoor is executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Script to Screen. He joined the company in 1999 and works closely with companies exploring direct-to-consumer sales and marketing strategies. During his tenure, Dinsmoor has helped many brands successfully execute direct response marketing strategies including Blink by Amazon, Shark/Ninja, Keurig, Omaha Steaks, Generac, and L’Oreal to name a few. In 2010, he launched a lifestyle-based product via direct response and effectively moved it into retail. His experience on both the agency and client side of the business provides perspective that benefits all clients. Dinsmoor earned his bachelor of arts degree from Pepperdine University. He is married with three children and enjoys golf, tennis, and sailing.

Long Ellis is a former television executive with deep expertise in the industry, having held significant roles at CBS, Discovery Communications, and Viacom. As COO/EVP of ad sales at Viacom Networks, he oversaw key aspects of the company's operations and created a far more effective sales organization. Transitioning to the advanced TV sector, Ellis contributed to companies like Google TV Ads, Canoe Ventures, and MASS Exchange, focusing on improving TV buying and selling processes. In 2023, he launched Denali TV, an innovative platform that optimizes outcomes for TV publishers and performance marketing agencies.

David Futterman
Paramount
Vice President, Digital Advertising Sales, Performance Media
david.futterman@cbs.com
917-881-8454
paramount.com
David Futterman is vice president, digital advertising sales, performance media at Paramount. Futterman and his team are responsible for maximizing revenue and optimizing yield across Paramount’s streaming services and digital video products. He brings nearly two decades of sales and leadership experience to Paramount. As a seasoned data-driven performance marketing expert, Futterman has a proven track record of unlocking growth and opportunity for Paramount and its partners. He has built trust-based relationships with clients, agency partners, and D2C brands through his analytical approach, which has resulted in strong outcomes across the media ecosystem. Prior to joining Paramount, Futterman held a series of positions at NBCUniversal and Pop TV, formerly Pop Media Group. He holds an M.B.A. in communication and media management from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University and graduated from University of Delaware with a B.S. in management. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two sons.

Dan Grskovic
Samsung Ads
Sales Manager, Performance Media
d.grskovic@samsung.com
347-545-0858
samsungads.com
Dan Grskovic is a sales manager at Samsung Ads with almost 15 years of experience in direct response ad sales. He started his career at FOX Cable Networks, where he cut his teeth working across a variety of cable networks before moving on to join NBCUniversal’s direct response ad sales team. At NBCU, Grskovic worked across various networks, until settling in as an account executive representing NBC Sports Group’s portfolio of networks, which included NBC Sports Network and Golf Channel. He supported the launch of networks such as Universal Sports and Olympic Channel during his tenure. After almost nine years with NBCU, Grskovic joined Samsung Ads in 2022 as the first external hire on the newly formed performance media team, focused on the Samsung TV Plus streaming app and CTV media. He was born, raised, and still lives in Queens, N.Y., with his wife, son, and their two dogs.

Sarah La Voi is a partner in the Chicago office of BakerHostetler. She focuses her practice on commercial negotiations within the advertising ecosystem, including agency agreements, media buys and activations, brand collaborations, sponsorships, digital marketing, influencer protocols, intellectual property and dispute resolution. Business-focused and practical, she provides counsel to clients on forming strategic advertising and brand partnerships and creating in- house systems to manage clearance risk operationally. She also assists with advertising review and compliance, both self-regulatory and regulatory.

Maria Kennedy
Allen Media Group
President, Performance Marketing
mariak@es.tv
917-561-3190
allenmedia.tv
Maria Kennedy is the founder of Responsive Media Sales. A pioneer in the DRTV space, Kennedy ran the DR group at Discovery for nearly 16 years before doing the same at FETV. She was a leader in rebrands and launches of TLC, Animal Planet, BBC America, Travel Channel, Investigation Discovery, OWN, AHC, and Destination America, among others. Under her leadership, Discovery was one of the first network groups to offer key sponsorship opportunities, syndicated series, cause marketing, and both quarterly and yearly packages to DR clients across all platforms. Kennedy was inducted into the Direct Response Hall of Fame in 2015, and, in 2017, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ERA.

Adam Mai is co-founder and president of Huntington Beach, Calif.-based Fulfillment X, a modern all-in-one fulfillment service built for quick scaling. He is experienced in online marketing and advertising throughout all verticals to bring brands in front of online consumers and users, with a specialized focus on fulfillment and logistics in the health and beauty industry. The company also specializes in remarketing and retargeting efforts for Inc. 500 companies. Mai is bilingual (English and Vietnamese) and owns a personal training facility in Long Beach, Calif.

Paul Mosenson
NuSpark Media Group
Founder
610-604-0639
Paul Mosenson is the seasoned founder of NuSpark Media Group, a media agency specializing in crafting high-impact media campaigns for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With more than three decades of experience in media buying across various industries, Mosenson has honed his expertise in delivering top-notch tracking and promotional offers that drive measurable results. His approach combines data-driven strategies with creative flair, ensuring that each campaign not only reaches its target audience but also resonates with them. A thought leader in the field, Mosenson's extensive knowledge and hands-on experience make him a go-to resource for businesses looking to amplify their media presence and achieve sustainable growth.

Mark Orton
Kingstar Media
Director, Media & Client Services
mark@kingstarmedia.com
416-262-6583
kingstarmedia.com
Mark Orton has more than 15 years of experience in the Canadian media industry, working in both the traditional and digital marketing spaces. He has seen the successful completion of high-visibility projects, and his vast experience in the industry has led him to work on almost every brand category, including the CPG, alcohol, quick-service restaurant (QSR), finance, and retail spaces. Presently, he is director, media & client services, at Kingstar Media, where he manages major client accounts in their performance and media strategy development, while overseeing the successful completion of high-visibility projects.

John Rinaldo’s role as general manager of specialized demand at DISH Media encompasses monetization strategy across political, local, and partnerships, as well as data partner sales enablement. Rinaldo is a seasoned media/ad tech executive with 15-plus years of experience in the advanced TV sales space. His experience includes more than 10 years of service at DISH Media, as well as various sales management roles at Samsung Ads. Rinaldo’s roles and background span DTC, multicultural, and brand/agency sales, with a focus in advanced TV monetization, sales strategy, and execution. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business, management, and economics at SUNY Empire State College and an executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business & Technology.

Sean Robertson
NBCUniversal
Vice President, Direct-to-Scale
sean.robertson@nbcuni.com
917-305-4436
nbcuniversal.com
Sean Robertson serves as vice president, direct-to-scale, in NBCUniversal’s Advertising and Partnerships division. Robertson and the direct-to-scale team are responsible for leveraging NBCUniversal’s suite of premium content and industry-leading advanced advertising capabilities to assist direct-to-consumer brands scale their businesses in new and engaging ways. Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Robertson served as director of partnerships for DISH Media — connecting new, non-traditional agencies and media technology to the DISH and Sling platforms. Robertson joined DISH Media in 2011 and served on various teams across the organization including performance media, digital advertising, programmatic media, and addressable advertising. He’s spent his professional career working toward the goal of a more diverse and inclusive media industry. He currently serves on the board of the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS). Robertson holds a B.S. in journalism, with a focus in advertising, from West Virginia University. He also earned his M.B.A. at Brown University and IE Business School. Robertson lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.

Mark Sullivan
Paramount
Vice President, Convergent
Ad Sales
mark.sullivan@viacom.com
212-846-8235
paramount.com
Mark Sullivan has been with Paramount for more than 15 years. He is responsible for co-managing a convergent sales team of 11 sales executives across 19 networks and digital platforms. Top networks and digital platforms include Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Network, and Comedy Central. Sullivan has helped lead the team into the digital video side of the direct response business, and it has delivered significant growth during the past couple of years. He lives in Hoboken, N.J. with his wife and three sons.

Max Van Heel
Pacific Media Technologies
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
maxv@pmtmedia.tv
818-487-1205
pmtvideo.com
Max Van Heel is the vice president of sales & marketing for Pacific Media Technologies Inc. Van Heel works with media agencies and advertisers, creating relationships and tailoring services to ensure that their DRTV message is received by the TV networks and ultimately aired according to the media buyers airing schedules. Van Heel has worked remotely for PMT for more than 10 years and lives in Great Falls, Mont. Previously, he was the president and CFO of another dub house in Montana. He has been in the DRTV industry for more than 20 years. When not working or traveling for business, he is an avid golfer and bowler. Van Heel has been married to his wife Jill for nearly 45 years, and they have three grown children and seven grandchildren — and love spending time with them all.

Adam Warfield
Bluewater
Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships
727‑231‑4813
Adam Warfield is vice president of sales and strategic partnerships at Bluewater. Warfield has over eleven years of experience in the field of direct response marketing and eight years in international sales and marketing. He held positions at Infusion Brands, Home Shopping Express, and Oak Lawn Marketing before coming to Bluewater as international marketing director in January 2018. Warfield is a Florida native and Florida State University alumnus but currently calls Spain his home.

Shira Witelson
RSLT.IO
Founder
shira.witelson@rslt.io
315-992-7801
rslt.io
Shira Witelson founded RSLT.IO to help marketers and media buyers make the most out of their advertising budgets. Leveraging machine learning, the platform provides attribution metrics for TV and digital advertising. RSLT monitors advertisement fatigue and recommends where to invest next. Witelson worked in the analytics space with top brands and agencies in New York. She earned a master’s in statistics from Columbia University, a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management from the Technion, and a bachelor’s in statistics from the Hebrew University. She has spoken at numerous conferences on big data and analytics. Witelson resides in New York with her husband and three kids.

Created by the PDMI’s Brand Response Council, Take 20 is a new series of quick-hitting, 20-minute live conversations featuring leaders in the performance marketing world speaking about the hottest topics in the industry.
Coming to you twice monthly, your opportunity to attend a live online Take 20 episode and ask questions of our speakers will kick off in September. Keep an eye out for an announcement of the next episode and your opportunity to register. Click the button below to check out recent episodes of Take 20 now!