April 13-15, 2026 / Eden Roc Miami Beach
10-10:45 a.m.
AI Activations Grease the Funnel
Presented by the Digital & Data Council
AI was 2025’s — and is 2026’s — ultimate buzzword. But performance marketers — by their nature — need real data, not buzz. What’s the reality when it comes to effective uses of machine learning solutions for performance marketers? How are agencies and vendors teaming to create solutions using AI technology that are directly impacting the success of client campaigns? Performance brand executives discuss what background solutions are working right now?
Speakers: Mario Cordon, Debt.com; TBA
Moderator: Lindsey Carnett, Marketing Maven
11:15 a.m.-Noon
Long-Form Reimagined: The Evolution of Branded Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer Marketing
Long-form marketing is not dead. It has simply evolved. As audiences fragment and traditional advertising loses impact, branded entertainment has emerged as a powerful direct-to-consumer strategy. When storytelling, integrations, and calls to action are thoughtfully aligned, long-form content can drive both engagement and measurable performance. This panel explores how brands can move beyond traditional spots and infomercial thinking to build entertainment-led ecosystems that connect content to commerce. Attendees will gain a high-level understanding of how modern branded entertainment works, why it resonates with today’s audiences, and how it can be structured to deliver real business outcomes across digital and linear platforms.
Speakers: TBA
Moderator: Andy Latimer, Bluewater
1-1:45 p.m.
Media Outlet Roundtable
Performance media sales leaders from linear and streaming outlets take the stage to share what’s happening right now on the shifting performance media landscape. How are brands and buyers being served with the best opportunities to maximize success across linear and streaming outlets? What are D2C marketers asking for from their media outlet partners? How are these outlets responding to those desires? And what can you expect for the rest of 2026?
Speakers: John Rinaldo, DISH Media; Sean Robertson, NBCUniversal; Kaitlin Stebbins, Samsung Ads
Moderator: Grant Schuetrumpf, Yangaroo
2:15-3 p.m.
Audio Marketing Turns Up the Volume
Performance brands have long used audio outlets — terrestrial and satellite radio, digital audio, podcast — as powerful testing grounds for campaigns ready to take the next step to scale. But, in recent years, audio has come into its own as a standalone powerhouse for driving the kind of leads, sales, and customer loyalty valued by every D2C marketer. But each audio outlet has its own quirks, its own set of attribution challenges and opportunities, and its own set of best practices to consider.
Speakers: Irena Cibra, Southern New Hampshire University; William Kuntz, SiriusXM; TBA
Moderator: Buck Robinson, Retail+Response
3:30-4:15 p.m.
TikTok Shop’s Halo Effect
Presented by the Brand Response Council
Brands discuss their experiences as they find success on TikTok Shop. How does this success drive greater success in their wider performance marketing campaigns? What do brands need to know if they’re considering entering the TikTok Shop space? And what key tips do brands and their vendors think can benefit all performance marketers as they try to take advantage of the growing mobile shopping space?
Speakers: Alex Nisenzon, Charm.io; Jason Stone, Hustle Butter; TBA
Moderator: Chris Foster, Modern Postcard
Wednesday, April 15
10-10:45 a.m.
The Road Map to Scale
In the past, brands seeking scale via performance marketing had a clear roadmap to success: start small using efficient and targeted digital marketing and media, grow a solid customer base, then jump into more expansive online and offline campaigns. But now, as media options — particularly video-centric ones — have converged in the eyes of consumers, that map has become more flexible — and confusing. Hear from brand and media leaders on how marketers are maturing and scaling their businesses on today’s omnichannel landscape.
Speakers: Stephanie Stawniczy, Empire Today; Brendan McInerney, Grand Canyon Education; Rich Thompson, Burger Boat Co.
Moderator: George Young, Sequoia Media Group
11:15 a.m.-Noon
Ad Tech/Data Leader Perspectives on Performance Marketing
Leaders from the ad tech and data companies serving performance brands share their insights on where the market stands. What are D2C leaders are looking for from their services? How do these leaders see the space — and how does that compare to their partners on the brand and agency side? And what’s the next big innovation coming down the line?
Speakers: Dan Fairclough, Media.net; Kevin Gaffney, Simpli.fi; J.R. McElroy, AudienceXpress
Moderator: TBA
1-1:45 p.m.
From Intimidation to Implementation: How to Win in the Hispanic Market
Presented by the U.S. Hispanic Council
If performance brands shy away from — or avoid — marketing directly to the 68 million Hispanic Americans who make up the fastest-growing U.S. consumer audience, is it because they simply don’t know where to begin? The PDMI’s U.S. Hispanic Council seeks to waylay those fears by answering key questions, including: How can I enter the market while avoiding making cultural mistakes? Can I measure performance with the same tools I use for the general market? What media, format, and messaging is working today? And more.
Speakers: Adam Herman, Zimmerman/Planet Fitness; Jacklyn Lopez, Anhelo; Joyce Rodriguez-Hessemer, Warner Bros. Discovery
Moderator: TBA
2:15-3 p.m.
Brands Navigate the Data-Driven Media Evolution
As brands seek to grow and evolve, what performance marketing strategies are working best? Media fragmentation and attribution questions have given more importance to how brands are using data and leaning on their agency and ad-tech partners for solutions — including the expansion of programmatic buying. Gain actionable tips from performance experts in this conversation.
Speakers: Mike Crawford, Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences; Alex Reeder, Subway; Dash Rothberg, Accenture Song; TBA
Moderator: Joe Lyons, Always On Data
PDMI East 2026 Sponsors
