Val Alderson is the director of growth for Uqora, a leading women's health supplement brand, and brings more than 15 years of experience in the D2C and omnichannel space. Known for her analytical, data-first approach, she brings a rigorous performance-marketing mindset to measurement and growth strategy. She's built deep expertise across all major acquisition channels and the performance levers within them. When she's not looking at data, she enjoys time outside with her dogs and boyfriend in San Diego.

Sarah Andreadakis has been in advertising and media for more than 20 years. With a client portfolio in some of the most complex categories, she has become recognized as a leader in the industry, driving Bluewater to improve the ways it serves its clients and solves for their needs. As executive vice president of media for Bluewater, Andreadakis drives media strategy for her clients and shapes the services required to meet those needs. She leads a team of expert practitioners to deliver world-class services and exceed results. Her data-driven approach fosters a culture of continuous optimization and shared ownership.

Jason Baron is senior vice president of direct response ad sales for AMC Global Media. In his role, Baron oversees the direct response sales team, leading the development and execution of revenue-driving sales strategies across the company’s linear, digital, CTV, and streaming portfolio. With more than two decades of experience in advertising sales, Baron held a variety of roles in Warner Bros. Discovery, driving sales efforts across the company’s HBO Max, Discovery Plus, CNN, TBS, TNT, and Turner Sports brands.  Prior to joining WBD, Baron held media buying and account roles at Corinthian Media and Grey Advertising.

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

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.

Anthony Dugan is director of performance sales at Disney Advertising, where he leads strategic partnerships and drives business growth across Disney’s portfolio, including Disney+, Hulu, ABC, and ESPN. With more than 15 years of experience in advertising and media, he specializes in connecting premium content, data, and technology to deliver measurable results for brands. Prior to Disney, Dugan held sales roles at Pandora, The Weather Channel, Snap, and Hulu, building extensive experience across digital media, streaming, and performance advertising. Today, he focuses on helping brands and agencies unlock the full potential of Disney’s advertising ecosystem, combining the scale and impact of premium storytelling with the precision and accountability of performance marketing.

Jeff Giacchetti, head of brand media strategy and growth at HVACDirect.com, is a dynamic global marketing leader known for building modern, omnichannel growth systems that fuse brand, media, and commercial performance. He transforms complex marketing environments into fast‑moving, data‑driven engines that unlock scale and clarity. Giachetti has led major digital and media transformations across CPG and D2C brands, spanning audience strategy, programmatic and retail media, CTV/OLV, CRM, and AI‑powered measurement. He’s recognized for disciplined operating models, cross‑functional governance, and full‑funnel accountability. A frequent speaker and writer, Giachetti brings an energetic, executive‑level perspective on navigating AI, automation, audience fragmentation, and performance‑driven growth.

Chris Holcomb is co-founder and managing partner of Happy Hour Media, a full-service, direct-response advertising agency built on endorsement-driven strategy founded in 2015. The agency believes the fastest way for a brand to earn credibility is by borrowing it from the personalities its customers already trust. Holcomb has personally written more than 5,000 commercials, generated over $300 million in billing, and worked with some of the biggest personalities in the industry.

Dorian Jackson, national director of dealer sales at ADT, is a growth-focused sales and leadership executive with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations strengthen their brands, expand market presence, and build high-performing teams. During his time at ADT, he has personally championed the growth and organizational development of some of the most successful companies in the security space. Whether leading strategic initiatives, engaging audiences from the stage, or coaching the next generation of leaders, Jackson is driven by a belief that meaningful relationships are the foundation of every successful brand. His guiding philosophy: “Make a difference in the lives of others, and your life will be rewarded.”

With 20 years of experience across advanced TV strategy, data-driven buying and selling, digital strategy, media buying, management, and data and analytics, Bridget Jayaram has held leadership roles as vice president, data-driven ad sales at Warner Bros. Discovery, director of ad Innovation at WarnerMedia, vice President of sales at 605, and director of media strategy at VideoAmp. Her work sits at the intersection of audience insights, premium video, and responsible data activation, giving her a deep understanding way publishers design, sell, and measure data driven and privacy-conscious advertising solutions.

Matt Lee is vice president of small- and medium-sized business growth for NBCUniversal's Advertising & Partnerships division, focused on performance advertising and driving measurable impact for brand partners. He uses data-driven audience strategies, innovative ad formats, and high-fidelity measurement to demonstrate the impact of every impression across NBCUniversal’s premium TV platforms. Outside of work, Lee enjoys spending time with his family at the beach, teaching his son to swim, and coaching his daughter’s soccer team.

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.

Micah Mitchell is chief commercial officer at Myomo, where he leads North American marketing, sales, operations, clinical services, and education. Since joining Myomo in 2018, he has built the commercial infrastructure supporting approximately 40-fold revenue growth while helping expand access to custom orthotics for people with upper-extremity paralysis. Over 20 years in healthcare, Mitchell has led B2B and B2C growth, multi-site operations, P&Ls, and turnarounds. He combines customer insight, data, and continuous improvement to remove constraints and scale effectively. Micah holds an M.B.A. from UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Baylor University.

Austin Opfer has spent 15 years in media and content marketing, working with thousands of business owners and subject matter experts on their on-camera journey. A third-generation creative entrepreneur, he grew up inside his family's global media and direct response marketing business. Opfer later served as marketing director for a $100 million-a-year ophthalmic surgical device distributor, working alongside field teams from industry leaders like J&J Vision, RxSight, and STAAR Surgical. He oversaw the company's marketing infrastructure and consulted with physicians, practice owners, ASCs, and C-suite leaders across the country on branding and content strategy. Today, Opfer is based in Chicago, where he helps experts turn their stories, insights, and complex subject matter into a content flywheel that markets on their behalf, builds trust before the first conversation, and keeps them discoverable as search shifts toward video and AI. He is the founder of MedMedia, a done-for-you YouTube marketing system for physicians and surgeons, and serves a community of more than 6,000 small business owners focused on camera confidence, YouTube systems, and AI-driven content strategy.

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.

Peter 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.

Nolan Simons is a full-circle advertising and media veteran with 13-plus years of experience driving more than half a billion dollars in TV and streaming revenue. He currently spearheads performance revenue strategy at Tubi, where he focuses on strategic partnerships, go-to-market innovation, and helping marketers drive measurable outcomes through streaming television. His career spans both the buy and sell sides, having spent his time at agencies (MDG), DSPs (TubeMogul, acquired by Adobe), and most recently Tubi (acquired by FOX), giving him a unique perspective on the evolving video ecosystem. Simons is passionate about modernizing TV advertising and building partnerships that connect brand investment to real business results.

Rich Soto is vice president and head of sales at Allied Elite Financial (AEF), where he drives sales growth, go-to-market strategy, and high-performing sales operations. Based in Tucson, Ariz., he leads teams that turn marketing demand into results across AEF’s retirement-focused brands. Soto’s background spans sales leadership, contact-center operations, CRM, and lead generation in financial services. At PDMI West, he represents AEF’s marketing and sales organization as it scales advisor partnerships and consumer engagement nationwide.

Chloe Strang is director of brand and creative at Musely, named USA Today’s No. 1 Most Trusted Telehealth Brand of 2026. She leads the brand and creative strategy behind Musely’s consumer marketing, translating complex prescription healthcare into clear, compelling experiences that build trust and drive growth. Her work spans paid media, lifecycle marketing, product storytelling, partnerships, public relations, and emerging channels. With a background in design and marketing, Strang brings a creative, performance-minded approach to scaling category-defining brands. She is helping evolve Musely from a condition-focused brand into a broader platform for proactive health across skin, hair, menopause, sleep, and longevity.

Melhem Succar is the director of business development at Bluevua, where he leads strategic growth, retail expansion, and global market development for one of the fastest- growing premium water purification brands in the consumer wellness space. He is responsible for driving key partnerships across national retail, e-commerce marketplaces, and international distribution channels, with a focus on scalable growth and long-term brand equity. With a strong background in entrepreneurship, brand building, and commercial strategy, Succar has played a pivotal role in expanding Bluevua’s presence across the U.S. and internationally, helping position the company as a category leader in premium countertop reverse osmosis systems and design-forward hydration solutions. His leadership spans retailer negotiations, marketplace growth, channel partnerships, go-to-market strategy, and cross-border business development. Known for combining strategic vision with hands-on execution, Succar has helped accelerate Bluevua’s growth through key relationships with major buyers, distributors, and global channel partners while supporting the brand’s recognition for product innovation, design excellence, and consumer trust. His work is centered on building modern consumer brands that merge technology, design, and wellness, while creating sustainable growth opportunities across retail and international markets.

Teddy Truong is the founder and CEO of Scale Up Media Agency, a performance marketing company focused on profitable customer acquisition. He helps brands grow through technology, creative strategy, and media buying. Under Truong’s leadership, Scale Up has become a trusted partner for brands looking to expand their reach and increase revenue. His team prides itself on operational excellence, innovation, and delivering measurable results.

Matt Wasserlauf, CEO and founder of Blockboard, is a trailblazer in digital advertising. He’s respected not only for his drive and impact as a first mover in the digital video market, having founded Broadband Enterprises, the first online video company, and the mobile video platform Torrential, but also as a man of high integrity who values people and relationships first. His latest venture, Blockboard, leverages blockchain technology and AI to ensure transparency and trust in CTV advertising. Recognized with the iMedia "Conviction Award," Wasserlauf's visionary leadership continues to drive innovation and integrity in the ad tech space. His leadership at Blockboard has propelled the company to new heights in the ad tech industry. Under his guidance, Blockboard's outcomes-based programmatic marketing platform, built on blockchain technology, has set a new standard for transparency and sustainability. This year, Wasserlauf spearheaded the development and launch of BlockAI, the newest version of its core offering that combines blockchain and AI to further tackle ad fraud and waste. His mission to rectify the pervasive waste and fraud in the advertising industry is a career defining one. His passion for transparency and integrity is evident in every aspect of Blockboard's operations. Beyond his professional achievements, Wasserlauf is deeply committed to community engagement. He and his team actively support organizations like TD Foundation, which aids children affected by war, and DREAM, which provides educational programs for children in East Harlem and the South Bronx. Additionally, they work with the PitCCh In Foundation, established by former New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, to support youth development programs. Blockboard is also a proud member of the 10/7 Network, which fights antisemitism.

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.

Jeff Young is a direct-response television and performance marketing executive with more than 35 years of hands-on creative, production, and brand-response leadership. Across a career spanning more than 500 brand-response television commercials and 40 infomercials, he has built a reputation for combining strong creative instincts with rigorous production discipline, commercial accountability, and reliable leadership under pressure.His experience covers the full performance-marketing lifecycle — from strategic concept development and creative execution to production, media integration, digital support, and final delivery. As president and executive producer at ShadowBox Pictures and executive producer at Bluewater Media, Young helps lead production across the broader marketing ecosystem, including media, digital, creative development, and high-volume commercial production. His past leadership roles include vice president of marketing at UPP (Unique Product Placement), executive producer at National Media Corporation and Body By Jake, and vice president of marketing at TelAmerica Media.

As founder/president of Product Counsel Ltd., Robert Yusim is a leading expert at launching brands using direct-to-consumer strategies. In 2006, he initiated the direct-to-consumer craze in the toy category in collaboration with Spin Master Ltd., launching many of their brands to multi-hundred-million-dollar successes. Yusim has since worked with many toy companies to help launch many very successful brands: including Wubble Ball (No. 1 Circana), LaserX (25 million Blasters shipped), Pom Pom Wow (No. 1 Circana), Kurio Tablet, and more. More recently, Yusim also has mentored and navigated early-stage consumer product companies to success, including ZipString (from Shark Tank), Wigglitz (2026 Collectible Toy of The Year) and more. He also helps inventors license their consumer product innovations, with successes including ZippySack, Nockles, Pixicade, Pop2Play, and many more.

Cali Zumdahl leads brand and creative at Asset Marketing Services, overseeing the creative strategy, execution, and operations behind the company's brand and performance marketing efforts. With more than 20 years of experience, she has built and led high-performing, agency-inspired in-house creative teams that help organizations move faster, market smarter, and drive measurable business results. Her expertise lies in developing the systems, workflows, and operating models that enable creative teams to scale alongside the growing demands of modern performance marketing. She has held creative leadership roles at Walgreens, ULTA Beauty, Shutterfly, Valspar, FTD, and Post Consumer Brands.