Question 1

Kyler Blackmore

Accepted Answer

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Kyler Blackmore is the media director at Balance of Nature, where he leads demand generation, marketing, and media strategies that drive measurable growth. With extensive experience across traditional and digital media, Blackmore has partnered with brands like Balance of Nature and Angel Studios to deliver campaigns that inspire action. Based in St. George, Utah, he is passionate about helping purpose-driven brands share their stories and make a lasting impact. Guided by the belief that marketing can change lives, Blackmore combines strategic insight with creative execution to build campaigns that connect, convert, and create meaningful customer relationships.

Question 2

Theresa Boras

Accepted Answer

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Theresa Boras is a dynamic executive sales leader with more than 20 years of experience in media, advertising, and leadership. As director of performance sales at Disney Advertising, she leads a national sales team supporting performance agencies and brands across streaming, digital, and linear platforms. Boras is recognized for cultivating strong, collaborative partnerships with brands and agencies, delivering innovative solutions that drive client success in complex and rapidly evolving markets. Her career spans senior roles at Twitter, CBS Interactive, AOL, and Glam Media, where she consistently led transformational initiatives and forged lasting brand partnerships. She brings a data-informed, people-first approach to leadership and is passionate about guiding organizations through growth and change. A proud University of Pittsburgh alumna, Boras actively serves on the BAA Board of the Pitt Business School and contributes to the industry’s evolution through her involvement with She Runs It, IAB, and the Ad Club. She is dedicated to empowering leaders to embrace change, foster collaboration, and unlock their full potential in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Question 3

Ariel Brooks Benz

Accepted Answer

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Ariel Brooks Benz is the CEO and founder of BB3 Advertising, an independent media and advertising agency recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America by Inc. 5000 in 2024. With two decades of industry experience, including roles as media director and director of new business at agencies in New York and Los Angeles, Brooks Benz has built and operated agencies across multiple continents, serving an international client base with a focus on performance media buying. Her global perspective and expertise in cross-cultural marketing have shaped BB3's success in delivering optimized campaigns across TV, CTV, social media, influencer marketing, and digital platforms. Under her leadership, BB3 integrates AI and machine learning to advance market research, analytics, and content creation, driving innovation and meaningful connections between brands and audiences.

Question 4

David Burns

Accepted Answer

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David Burns is a growth leader specializing in direct response and D2C acquisition. As vice president of digital growth and acquisition at Ideal Living — the company behind AirDoctor air purifiers and AquaTru water purifiers — he oversees performance marketing to scale efficient, durable revenue. Burns’ team manages cross-channel engines spanning paid search, paid social, display, and native, with disciplined testing around CPO, MER, CAC/LTV, and incrementality. Previously, he led acquisition and marketing at Mercato, Soothe, and ChromaDex, and spent a decade at Guthy-Renker in senior digital roles. He holds an M.B.A. from San Diego State University and is based in Los Angeles

Question 5

Whitney Callahan

Accepted Answer

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Whitney Callahan, director of marketing at PanTheryx, is a marketing and advertising leader with 17-plus years of experience in digital marketing, e-commerce, and brand strategy across CPG and DTC sectors. She has developed and executed strategic campaigns for national nutrition brands, managing multi-million-dollar budgets and driving growth both online and in retail. Callahan’s expertise spans e-commerce platforms like Amazon and TMall, digital media buying on Google, Walmart.com, Target.com, and Instacart, and integrating influencer content into performance marketing. She has held leadership roles at PanTheryx, NaturVet, Healthy Solutions for Pets, and Lotus Internet Corp., delivering measurable results through innovative marketing in today’s fast-changing landscape.

Question 6

Jason Carlson

Accepted Answer

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Jason Carlson is the managing director of Aspire North (AN), as well as executive vice president, chief technology officer for its parent company, American Spirit Corp. He has worked for more than 25 years in data and technology, primarily as an entrepreneur. He has held senior positions in strategic consultancies and private equity at various times during the past 20 years. Carlson received his M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and will earn doctorates from Durham University (U.K.)  and EMLyon (France) this fall, where his research focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and ethics.

Question 7

Michael Crawford

Accepted Answer

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Michael Crawford is the senior director of marketing and communications at Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences, where he leads strategic marketing initiatives for the 4,000-plus student health sciences college. With more than 20 years in marketing and communications, including a decade specializing in higher education, Crawford brings expertise in audience segmentation, branding, content marketing, and digital strategy. His leadership contributed to the college’s application and enrollment growth. Crawford also serves as an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level consumer behavior courses. He holds an master’s degree in communication management from Simmons University and a bachelor’s degree in communication media from Fitchburg State University.

Question 8

Marty Dehler

Accepted Answer

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Marty Dehler is executive director of performance marketing sales at Disney, where he leads teams driving innovation and growth across Disney’s streaming, digital, and television platforms. With more than 20 years of experience in advertising and media, he has built his career at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and client partnership. Prior to his current role, Dehler helped build Hulu’s performance marketing sales business, launching the West Coast team and scaling revenue across direct-to-consumer and emerging brands. Earlier in his career, he held senior sales and strategy roles at Yahoo, CBS Sports Interactive, ESPN, and leading media agencies, giving him a unique perspective across the full advertising ecosystem. At Disney, Dehler develops data-driven advertising strategies that help brands connect with audiences in meaningful ways. He is deeply focused on shaping the future of performance advertising and advancing the broader media ecosystem through innovation, technology, and evolving client solutions.

Question 9

Diana Diaz

Accepted Answer

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Diana Diaz is a bilingual sales and marketing professional with more than 30 years of experience in the media industry, including more than two decades in the San Diego market. Her career spans a wide range of media outlets and platforms — from traditional broadcast to digital — serving both general market and Hispanic audiences. As local sales director for NBC7 and Telemundo 20, the No. 1-rated Spanish-language station in the market, Diaz brings unmatched market insight and a unique duopoly value proposition to her clients. Her career has also included roles in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Miami, giving her a broad perspective on regional media dynamics. A proud Latina mom of an 18-year-old, Diaz was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and has called San Diego home since 2001.

Question 10

Claire Estes

Accepted Answer

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Claire Estes is the director of agency partnerships and sales enablement at Claritas, where she leads strategic collaborations that drive measurable client success. With nearly a decade of experience in advertising and media, she has built a career spanning agency leadership, digital campaign management, and client strategy. Prior to Claritas, Estes held roles at ArtsAI, Oxford Road, and Icon Media Direct, where she guided growth accounts, optimized performance campaigns, and mentored emerging talent. Based in Los Angeles, she is recognized for her ability to bridge data, technology, and creative strategy to deliver results in today’s evolving media landscape.

Question 11

Keith Freibott

Accepted Answer

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Keith Freibott is director of advertising sales and marketing for U.S. Hispanic at Warner Bros. Discovery. His career path consists of agency and sales experience. With more than 25 years of experience, most of his focus has been in the Hispanic market. Freibott’s background includes securing advertising and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, as well as sales and management roles in the Hispanic market. His experience includes World Cup sales at Univision, entertainment and sports sales at Telemundo, and a leadership role at Warner Bros. Discovery. His leadership has led to the launch of a new network and several digital products all catered to the Hispanic marketplace.

Question 12

Matthew Laramee

Accepted Answer

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Matthew Laramee is the senior media director of mass media for Southern New Hampshire University, a non-profit leader in higher education. He has helped lead and build an in-house media team during the past five years, creating continued year-over-year growth for SNHU. This growth is due to his focus of the best medium to maximize performance across linear and CTV. He is dedicated to reaching potential learners to find education that they may have never thought possible. He knows they aren’t just leads; they are people looking to find success. Away from the office, you will find him heading out for a road trip with his wife, getting their three dogs riled up, and seeking out the best tacos.

Question 13

Kayla Marcum

Accepted Answer

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Kayla Marcum is the influencer marketing manager at DUDE Products, leading creator partnerships, user-generated content (UGC), and ambassador programs. Previously at Manscaped, she scaled global influencer initiatives and developed high-performing campaigns across multiple markets. With expertise in strategy, contract negotiations, and performance analytics, Marcum focuses on building programs that align influencer activations with broader business goals. She is passionate about fostering authentic creator relationships and designing data-driven campaigns that deliver measurable results, brand growth, and long-term impact.

Question 14

Jeanne Rose “JR” McElroy

Accepted Answer

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Jeanne Rose “JR” McElroy is head of performance media at Comcast’s AudienceXpress, an industry leader in connecting advertisers with TV audiences across all platforms and screens. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in the media space, including AMC Networks and Zenith Media, McElroy is recognized as a strategic, dynamic thought leader. With a passion for innovation and collaboration across the industry, she also has extensive experience in leading high-performing sales teams who deliver world-class service to partners and clients.

Question 15

Brendan McInerney

Accepted Answer

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Brendan McInerney is associate director of digital marketing and analytics at Grand Canyon Education. A results-oriented digital marketing leader with more than 10 years of expertise in paid media and analytics, McInerney is recognized for driving significant growth through innovative, data-driven strategies across diverse digital channels. He was honored as the Interactive Person of the Year at the 2020 AZIMA Tim Awards, reflecting a commitment to excellence and industry leadership. Specializing in cross-channel campaigns leveraging platforms such as Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Meta, McInerney leads the digital marketing and analytics initiatives for Grand Canyon University as well as a portfolio of K-12 educational institutions. He is passionate about transforming insights into impactful marketing outcomes that accelerate brand presence and engagement.

Question 16

Lauren Murphy

Accepted Answer

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Lauren Murphy is a marketing executive with two decades of experience in media. As Apartment Therapy Media’s senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy, she oversees the company’s pre- and post-sale marketing initiatives, corporate branding, special projects, events, insights, and public relations. Murphy has held leadership roles at Condé Nast and Hearst, where she worked on iconic brands including Teen Vogue, Seventeen, and Marie Claire. When she's not jet-setting to new destinations, she calls New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood home.

Question 17

John Rinaldo

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 18

Sean Robertson

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 19

Pete Russo

Accepted Answer

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Pete Russo, president of Allied Elite Financial — a national financial planning and tech institution with $500 million in annual sales — is a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and business executive who believes in the power only a synchronized team can provide through unity of cause. Russo has been the benefactor of unbelievable accomplishments throughout his lifetime, and he credits his unique time-management system coupled with his specific team building ability as the prime driving factor. He’s established and grown businesses in finance, food service, and multistate real estate. Russo believes that every part of a team needs to be the focused expert in their specific role and function, thereby allowing individuals to thrive in their zone of genius.

Question 20

Tina Watkins

Accepted Answer

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Tina Watkins is director, TV advertising, for Meaningful Beauty LLC. After spending 10 years in local radio promotions, she shifted her focus to TV advertising. Starting as a media assistant in a busy long-form media department, Watkins now has 25 years of experience in direct response performance television, OTT, and audio media. She has worked on campaigns ranging from beauty, skin care, health, and exercise, to lead generation for tort litigation, insurance, and social hotlines. After almost a three-year hiatus from the U.S. Hispanic market, Watkins has successfully relaunched the Meaningful Beauty TV campaign utilizing long-form, mid-form, and short-form creatives.

Question 21

Alex Yip

Accepted Answer

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Alex Yip is the director of product strategy at AppsFlyer, responsible for driving the product vision, strategy, and execution for new products. Yip works closely with customers, partners, and internal teams to deliver innovative solutions that help app marketers measure and optimize their campaigns across channels, platforms, and devices. He has more than 13 years of experience in product and solutions roles. Prior to AppsFlyer, Yip held product roles at InMobi and DistroScale.

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