2025 IAB NewFronts Bypass

Dr. Phil McGraw rose to fame in the 1990s through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, launching his own top-rated CBS talk show, Dr. Phil, which ran for 21 seasons. In 2024, he founded Merit Street Media, a Texas-based, 5-acre media hub and home to MeritTV, featuring Dr. Phil Primetime, daily live news, and original shows with Nancy Grace, Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima. A two-time Emmy winner, McGraw hosts four podcasts and has authored 10 New York Times bestsellers. A household name and trusted voice, Dr. Phil remains one of television’s most influential figures in news, entertainment, and mental health.

Alex Pakla is the Sales Team Lead for Future Today. With nearly 20 years of experience, Alex possesses a deep understanding of the Sales and Streaming TV industry. Having previously worked with Disney, Paramount, and Reelz, he brings extensive knowledge in various content genres and platforms, particularly in the family and entertainment realms. Coming from customer-facing roles, Alex now shares his expertise as a leader within his team, providing mentorship and guidance in the streaming space.

As GM of Audience Measurement at Nielsen, Ameneh Atai is responsible for leading global digital and advanced TV commercial strategy, sales and business development teams in the US.

Ameneh joined Nielsen in 2015 through the acquisition of eXelate. Ameneh brings diverse knowledge to the Ad and MarTech space as her previous roles were in Director of Solutions Architecture and Director of Artificial Intelligence Solutions; her strengths are in advising and working directly with marketers and advertisers. She is client focused with a strong background in data-driven software solutions and extensive experience in the digital advertising ecosystem.

Ameneh started her career in Systems Engineering and held positions at International Submarine Engineering and Engineering Consulting, designing autonomous submarines and Big Data collection and monitoring infrastructures. She received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering – Electronics from Simon Fraser University and holds three US patents in systems design, one of which has been in collaboration with University of Waterloo. In her personal time, Ameneh is an avid traveler. She also is classically trained in dance and passionate about empowering young women by teaching dance and choreography.

Dr. Richard Awdeh is a visionary healthcare leader and innovator, serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of CheckedUp, a physician-founded digital health company focused on patient education and engagement. With a passion for advancing patient care, Dr. Awdeh has pioneered the use of technology to transform the healthcare experience for both patients and providers.
In 2010, Dr. Awdeh founded Cirle, a medical technology company that developed a groundbreaking 3D surgical navigation system for cataract surgery. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, he was a highly regarded Cornea-Refractive Surgeon and Professor at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
Dr. Awdeh has held pivotal leadership roles across the healthcare sector, including Chairman of the FDA Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the Point of Care Marketing Association, where he was instrumental in shaping the future of the Point of Care channel. As CEO of CheckedUp, he has fostered a culture of innovation and excellence, earning the MM+M Pinnacle Award in recognition of his transformative leadership. Dr. Awdeh also serves on the Board of Directors of the Ad Council, harnessing the power of communication to drive meaningful social change, and on the Media Ratings Council, where he plays a key role in establishing industry standards and best practices for advertising.
Dr. Awdeh is unwavering in his commitment to mentorship and patient advocacy, dedicating significant effort to shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders. As a lecturer on Healthcare Innovation at the Yale School of Management, he imparts his expertise to future pioneers in the field, while also serving on the Board of Yale University’s Center for Biomedical Innovation and Technology. Additionally, Dr. Awdeh plays a critical role on the Board of CheckedUpCares.org, an organization focused on enhancing health literacy and empowering communities with the knowledge they need to make informed healthcare decisions.
Dr. Awdeh’s career is defined by a relentless focus to advancing healthcare and empowering the next generation of innovators who will drive its transformation. With a dedication to pushing the boundaries of healthcare technology, he continues to lead groundbreaking efforts that create lasting, impactful change in the industry.

Sara Badler is responsible for driving advertising revenue growth, fostering strong client relationships, and leading a high-performing sales team including marketing, programmatic, and ad operations at the Guardian US.

She was previously at Morning Brew, where she served as chief commercial officer, and prior to that, as chief revenue officer of enterprise advertising and partnerships at Dotdash Meredith.

Her career also includes serving as head of programmatic revenue and strategy at The New York Times, as well as similar roles at Hearst magazines and Forbes.

Badler is the recipient of industry awards from Women In Media, 2024; AdExchanger Aware, 2024; Media All Stars 2023; Top Media In Women, 2021; and the Cynopsis Award 2019.

She is a member of the Adelaide board of advisors and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania.

Steve Bagdasarian is Comscore’s Chief Commercial Officer and a seasoned digital technology executive.
Focused on delivering growth above target in high-velocity, high-growth environments, Steve joined Comscore in 2022. Over 15+ years his roles have spanned operations, strategy, business development, product and marketing analytics.
Steve previously led Media Operations, Product and Revenue Strategy at Publishers Clearing House as Chief Operation Officer and led business development and strategy for Fiksu, Inc. He lives in Maine with his wife and three sons.

Kevin Beatty is the Head of Product for Samsung Gaming and Emerging Technologies, where he leads the vision, strategy, and execution for Samsung’s gaming, interactive entertainment, and emerging technologies. Overseeing a dynamic portfolio that includes cloud gaming, console partnerships, and next-generation innovation, Kevin drives initiatives that redefine how consumers engage with entertainment and technology.

With over 20 years of experience, Kevin has a proven track record of building transformative products for global audiences. Prior to Samsung, he was the Executive Director of Product Management – Advanced Innovation at Disney Entertainment, where he collaborated with teams like Walt Disney Studios and Imagineering to integrate cutting-edge technologies into Disney’s storytelling platforms.

In addition to his corporate roles, Kevin advises emerging leaders through his work with Craft by Battery and mentors MBA students at Cornell Tech. Known for his forward-thinking approach, Kevin remains focused on unlocking new markets, driving revenue growth, and creating innovative experiences that inspire and delight.

Damian Benders is a multicultural digital media veteran with over 20 years of professional experience. As General Manager of B Code, a modern media company that specializes in multicultural marketing and advertising, he works to create real impact across the cultural media landscape and increase the scale, efficacy and authenticity of spend targeting Black Americans.
Previously, Damian spent three years building the digital video business at iONE Digital where he was responsible for driving video programming, production, and revenue across a portfolio of 70 brands as the Vice President of Video & Business Development. Damian has a rich media, marketing and strategy background having worked across digital publishing, film and television with companies including Moguldom Media Group, SnagFilms, FilmBuff, Metro International, American Express and Knight Ridder.

As the Group Vice President, Advertising & Data Sales, Adam is responsible for the go-to-market strategy of VIZIO Ads, a platform with one of the largest connected TV footprints in the U.S. His role includes building brand and agency partnership strategy, as well as informing product and marketing decisions.

Having spent close to a decade in and around the OTT space specifically, Adam helped launch YuMe’s connected television suite, driving advertisers to consider the relationship between OTT and traditional TV investments. From there, Adam led partnerships and strategy at The Daily Beast, a leader in thoughtful, provocative journalism. That path led him back into the data, measurement, and OTT community, taking on a leadership post at Samba TV.

With experience ranging from ad-tech, publishing, measurement, and start-up mentorship, Adam’s focus remains on brand-led solutions, connecting consumers with content they desire, and driving business outcomes.

Lynnwood Bibbens’ visionary spirit and entrepreneurial prowess have illuminated a path of success that few can rival. As the dedicated CEO & Founder of ReachTV, he has not only shattered records but transformed an industry. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, ReachTV has blossomed under his leadership into the preeminent black-owned MBE certified airport television network in the United States. 

The figures speak volumes: over 2.5k screens, an astonishing 50M+ monthly viewers, and a network that spans 500k hotel rooms across 90+ US airports. Lynnwood’s strategic brilliance has positioned ReachTV as the trusted choice for premium travelers, a testament to his keen understanding of market dynamics. 

Yet, it is not just numbers that define Lynnwood’s legacy. His ability to cultivate partnerships and drive innovation has been instrumental in forging groundbreaking agreements. ReachTV’s pivotal 7-year distribution contract with the NFL, the broadcasting alliance with LIV Golf, and the content partnership with Tik Tok are just some of the milestones that underscore Lynnwood’s exceptional insights and influence. 

Lynnwood’s impact reverberates across media and entertainment. Original premium content like “Where Chefs Eat” and “Cultural Eats” bear his signature touch, captivating audiences with every frame. Beyond ReachTV, Lynnwood’s sagacious leadership guides the boards of esteemed public and private firms, a testament to his exceptional acumen. 

His expertise is in high demand, with appearances on platforms like CNBC, Bloomberg, TD Ameritrade, and the Cheddar network. Lynnwood Bibbens stands as more than a CEO; he is a luminary, a trailblazer who continues to redefine what’s possible. In an industry where boundaries are tested and norms are shattered, Lynnwood’s name is synonymous with innovation, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to leaving an indelible mark on the world of media and entertainment.

Sean Booker is the Head of Media and Entertainment Sales at VIZIO, where he spearheads search and discovery initiatives for on-platform entertainment partners, driving significant business growth for App, Studio, Fast Channel and Broadcast partners.

With an extensive background in entertainment marketing and sales, Sean is passionate about optimizing advertising, data and measurement to drive results in today’s accountable world. Sean was awarded Top Salesperson of the Year by Los Angeles-based organization, ThinkLA.

Neala is the Senior Vice President of Strategy & Operations, North America at Teads where she oversees Customer Experience, Research and Insights. Neala partners closely with the Data and Teads Studio teams to ensure relentless focus of customer needs and a seamless experience. She brings nearly 20 years of industry experience to the team, with 12+ years focused on identifying business-driving, strategic insights through research, analytics, measurement, and data. She has spent the bulk of career agency side with time at Havas Media and Digitas, building teams that deliver data-driven insights to inform media strategy and deliver effective outcomes for clients. She lives outside Boston with her husband and three children.

Toby Byrne is President, Media Solutions at A+E Global Media™. In this role, Byrne oversees the entire sales team, Advanced Targeting Teams and Content Partnerships across the company’s multiplatform portfolio. His teams provide distinct, personalized white-glove service to clients while cultivating A+E’s digital and data-driven capabilities to meet industry trends.

Byrne joined A+E Global Media in 2024 as EVP, Ad Sales from Zefr, a leading global technology company powering brand suitability targeting and measurement on scaled platforms including YouTube, Meta, and TikTok, following a distinguished six-year term as President.

Before that, he spent over 20 years at FOX, with his most recent role as President of Advertising Sales for Fox Networks Group, including Fox Broadcasting, Fox Sports, FX Networks, and National Geographic Channels.

A celebrated multi-media sensation, folk hero, truth-teller, and beloved cultural icon: With his signature snow-white hair, bold mustache, eye-catching collection of colorful Jordan sneakers, and round, guayabera-clad figure, the vibrant Don Cheto is a constant presence. He can be found everywhere—from radio and television to feature films, documentaries, music, video games, and even towering billboards high above the city, where his image dominates the skyline.

The #1 most recognizable personality in Spanish-language radio, Don Cheto is marking 20 years at the peak of his illustrious career. At 63 years old, this grandfather continues to captivate audiences as the host of Don Cheto Al Aire, the hit morning show.

Allison is a strategic leader with an extensive background in the media industry, including sales management roles with AMC Networks and NBC Universal. Most recently she was SVP, Ad Sales and Partnerships, AMCN, overseeing BBCA, WE tv, and IFC networks. She also led upfront negotiations across agency holding companies for the AMCN Portfolio of networks, including AMC and Sundance Channel across all platforms – linear, digital, social, VOD, events.

She previously held several roles at NBC Universal across various networks – USA, SyFy, Bravo and started her career at MTV Networks.

Tricia Clarke is a visionary entrepreneur, award-winning marketer, and revenue-driving innovator with over two decades of experience at the intersection of marketing, technology, media, and entertainment. Known for her rare blend of creative audacity and strategic rigor, Tricia has consistently broken new ground – merging storytelling, culture, and innovation to build brands, IP, shift paradigms, and unlock explosive growth.
Tricia currently serves as SVP of Revenue and Head of Sales at ReachTV, where she leads sales strategy, partnerships, and monetization for the fastest-growing premium streaming network in airports and hotels worldwide. In this role, she is helping redefine the future of in-transit media, bridging live sports, premium content, cutting-edge advertising, and data to deliver unparalleled reach and cultural relevance.
Previously, Tricia was the co-founder and CEO of Narrative, the award-winning creative and tech agency she launched with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Together, they built a first-of-its-kind agency model that united storytelling, technology, and culture to amplify a brand’s purpose and impact. Narrative was acquired in 2017 by producer Will Packer Media, becoming WP Narrative, where Tricia remained through her earn-out and later as an advisor.
With three successful exits, transformative work for brands like Samsung, Showtime, and Under Armour, and recognition from Cannes Lions, SXSW Innovation, and The Webby Awards, Tricia’s influence has been felt across industries.
She has been named to Ad Age’s 40 Under 40, Adweek’s Disruptors List, and featured in outlets including The New York Times, Fast Company, and Forbes for her thought leadership and boundary-pushing approach to building the future of brand and media.

David Cohen joined IAB in April 2020 as President and was named Chief Executive Officer in September 2020. Cohen is a widely respected advertising agency leader who, prior to IAB, served as President, North America for MAGNA, Interpublic Group’s (IPG) centralized media intelligence, investment, and innovation arm. In this role, Cohen was responsible for more than $20 billion in media spend. During his tenure, Cohen structured and executed large global transactions on behalf of IPG and its clients, with such major IAB member companies as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Spotify, Twitter, and Verizon Media.

Prior to MAGNA, Cohen served as Chief Investment Officer of UM, ensuring that digital innovation, data, and technology acumen flowed throughout the agency to drive performance. From 2001 to 2011, Cohen served in critical, transformational roles at UM during the explosive growth of digital advertising, including Chief Media Officer, Chief Digital Officer, and Executive Vice President, U.S. Director of Digital Communications. In the late 1990’s, Cohen was responsible for launching and building IPG’s digital practice.

Cohen has a long history of working with trade organizations including IAB and 4As, where he served as chairman of the Interactive Marketing Committee from 2009-2013. He has also been instrumental in initiating several vital industry-wide programs, including the Future of Television, facilitated by EY. Cohen is a Queens native, with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Adelphi University. He was recognized by Adweek as a “Media All Star” and was part of the “Adweek 50” in 2012.

In 2016, David was elected to the Board of Directors of Partnership with Children a non-profit whose mission is to strengthen the emotional, social, and cognitive skills of vulnerable children in New York City to help them succeed in school, society, and life.

David enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage daughters. A self-described gadget-geek and sometimes fitness fanatic – he ran the NYC Marathon in 2014 and 2019 and Boston Marathon in 2016.

Pete Crofut is Vice President, Business Development – Agencies & Brands at Wurl, a leader in the streaming TV industry. In his role, Pete oversees Wurl’s agency and brand advertiser partnerships, helping clients grow brand loyalty and reach new audiences on streaming TV. As Google’s former Chief Business Strategist, Google Marketing Platforms, he partnered with the company’s largest customers to enable their digital transformations, helping to drive more than $1 billion in incremental revenue on an annual basis. He also served as Director of Partnerships for other major advertising and technology companies prior to Wurl, including InfoTrust and Adswerve. Peter currently resides in Portland, Oregon. In his free time, he likes to spend time traveling, skiing, and golfing with his family.

Jim Decker currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at CheckedUp, where he is responsible for driving the company’s commercial strategy forward. In this role, Jim oversees strategic partnerships, identifying new market opportunities and ensuring cross-functional alignment to accelerate growth and product innovation across the organization.
Previously, Jim served as the Chief Revenue Officer, where he led the Sponsorship Sales Team and was instrumental in expanding the company’s client base and scaling revenue operations. With a strong focus on team development and process optimization, Jim has consistently aligned the company’s commercial initiatives with its broader business objectives.
Before joining CheckedUp over seven years ago, Jim was the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Medflow/IO Practiceware, where he worked closely with the CEO across various facets of the business. This included overseeing product development, operations, finance, and mergers & acquisitions, in addition to leading all sales and marketing activities. Jim’s broad expertise in business management and strategy has been a key factor in his ability to drive growth in complex and competitive industries.
With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, IT and telecommunications, Jim has held several senior leadership positions where he successfully blended his deep sales acumen with a structured, process-driven management style. His leadership is defined by a unique ability to inspire and motivate teams, helping them achieve exceptional performance and surpass challenging targets. Jim is known for his ability to navigate complex business environments
while maintaining a clear focus on delivering results.

With over a decade of experience in media and publishing, Thatiana Diaz is the Editor-in-Chief of Remezcla and HipLatina, where she spearheads editorial strategy focused on authentically portraying and amplifying Latine voices. Previously, Diaz led the launch of the Latina-led cross-platform channel, Somos, at Refinery29 and created Chica, Meredith’s first brand targeting Latina millennials, at People en Español and People. She remains a prominent voice in the media industry, serving as an expert and speaker and has appeared on-stage at Cannes Lions 2024 with The Female Quotient and Tubi, Digiday’s Publishing Summit, and more. Diaz is also the host of “Down to a T,” an unfiltered and culturally relevant podcast that aims to entertain and take listeners away from the often serious online landscape.
Diaz holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communication and Media Studies from Pace University and currently resides in Miami, Florida.

You never know what you can do until you try”, a powerful mantra repeated and
believed by Media Personality, Deja Vu. The power of the microphone taught Deja that
connecting with her audience was not just a byproduct of a cushy job, but a
responsibility to inspire and motivate the people listening to her daily program. She
capitalized on this mission by launching her own teen non-profit organization called
“The Flava Unit”, whose members gave back to society by performing service projects.
While on-air Deja Vu brings a unique energy to celeb news and culture, all the while
keeping her finger on the pulse of the community. She’s heard across the country
through her daily radio programs on ABC Audio’s Nationally Syndicated “The Deja Vu
Show”, WBLS New York and SiriusXM-The Heat. She can also be heard and seen, as
the announcer for Live with Kelly & Mark.
As a motivational speaker & life coach, Deja shares her stories from the entertainment
world to empower women to pursue their dreams, and provides them with the tools to
“Ignite Your Hustle”, her system that promotes next-level goal planning with sustainable
results; using her book “Live Your Life Transformed and Repurposed”as a companion
guide.
Under her DejaVuSpeaks.com umbrella, you’ll find Déjà’s other ventures including, her
podcast “The HustleHer’s Guide”, Faith Grace and Hustle and HealthyHerLife; her
business, spiritual and fitness brand extensions.
She gives back to the community through philanthropic endeavors with her monthly Hustler’s
Micro-Grant for small business owners.

Justin Evans is Head of Analytics & Insights, North America, for Samsung Ads. At Samsung Justin has built an award-winning team supporting rapid growth on 5 continents. His teams have launching multiple solutions for insights, targeting, and measurement, including “The Streaming Index,” “Rule of 40” and “Behind the Screens,” as well as countless custom deep-dives into proprietary TV data to help Fortune 100 advertisers tackle bespoke challenges. Justin is a frequent conference speaker and regularly contributes insights to industry publications.

Previously, Justin was Vice President of Data Strategy at Comcast Spotlight (now Effectv), where he supported a $2.5B local advertising business with responsibilities spanning analytics, data partnerships, product management and ad sales research. In addition, Justin has held positions at Collective, serving as EVP of Enterprise and Chief Strategy Officer, as well as SVP of Advertising Solutions at The Nielsen Company where he spearheaded the company’s “Reach, Resonance, Reaction” solutions.

Justin received a Master of Business Administration degree NYU Stern and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University.

Brian Fisher is the Senior Vice President, Digital Sales, for Estrella Media. In his role he is tasked with growing and developing Estrella Media’s digital sales opportunities across its broadcast and streaming platforms. He brings over 25 years of extensive media knowledge in both traditional and digital formats to the role. He has a multifaceted, consultative approach to sales, reflecting skills he learned when he started his career as a media buyer at McCann-Erickson, one of the world’s leading advertising agencies.

Brian joined the executive leadership team at Estrella Media following his entrepreneurial passion for building and strengthening smaller media properties such as ShermansTravel, Beamly, and RGM Group.  He helped establish Tribune Media’s 42 local stations as a viable alternative to major national news platforms before its acquisition by Nexstar Media Group in 2019. Previously, he was a Senior Account Executive at Bloomberg Media, handling the network’s largest account list and focusing his attention on cross-platform video opportunities, including linear, digital, and OTT.

He spent 11 years at the ABC Television network, where he was appointed as the National Vice President of Digital Sales in 2007.  Brian was responsible for ABC’s Full Episode Player, ABC.com, ABCNews.com, GMA on Y!, Oscar.com, SOAPnet.com, and the Hulu Network.  Prior to his promotion, he was an Account Executive for Broadcast News Sales and a Senior Account Executive for Digital Sales.

In 1999, Brian made his first foray into the digital space at LookSmart, one of the leading search directories, and then strategically moved to The Excite Network as an Account Executive representing iWon.com and Excite

No other DJ has the 363-degree reach of Funk Flex.

An icon in the hip-hop community, Flex was just 16 when he started DJing in NYC clubs. Today he spins for over 8,000 club-goers a week.

Flex started his radio career at KISS FM, followed by a brief stint at WBLS, before finding a home at HOT 97 where he has been “dropping bombs” at the hip-hop station for over two decades. 

His music and lifestyle site, InFlexWeTrust.com, attracts three million unique visitors a month. Meanwhile, his smartphone app, which offers users daily mixes and instrumentals, has over 500,000 downloads.  Flex recently partnered with Simon & Schuster for a new book about rapper Notorious B.I.G.  He has also partnered with Beats by Dre for his own addition of the famous headphones. Sean Combs named Flex as one of the newest “Ciroc Boys,” and he also works with the electronics brand Panasonic.

While his status in hip-hop is undeniable, his brand extends beyond hip-hop. A lover of cars, Flex owns over 20 muscle cars. This passion led to him hosting a variety of car-themed shows, including Ride With Funkmaster Flex, The Funkmaster Flex Super Series Invitational, All Muscle with Funkmaster Flex, Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex, and Funk Flex Full Throttle. His notoriety as a car aficionado led to a deal with Ford Motor Company to customize their cars. He is currently working with car manufacturer Chevrolet.

Funk Flex is the founding member of the new DJ Crew, LitDigitalDJs which includes DJ Khaled, DJ Mustard, DJ Vashtie, and Swizz Beatz.  Most recently, Flex will be playing himself on an upcoming episode of Fox’s hit TV show “Empire” (season 2 – episode 8).

With over two decades in media sales, Gisella Fu-Ripp has been instrumental in building and scaling brands by harnessing the power of young adult consumer generations. She leads strategic partnerships within the multicultural U.S. media space, guiding legacy and challenger brands through the Spanish and bilingual landscape to connect with the 18-34 Latino audience.

As SVP of Sales & Strategic Partnerships at LatiNation Media, she drives multiplatform revenue strategies across Linear, CTV/OTT, and social influencer campaigns, securing over 100 brand partnerships and fueling double-digit revenue growth in 2024.

Gisella has held senior roles at Univision, Telemundo, Azteca TV, Discovery en Español, and GolTV, solidifying her reputation in bilingual and English-language Latino media. A Cynopsis Top Women in Media honoree, she pioneers brand opportunities that amplify Latino voices, culture, and identity while shaping the future of media engagement.

Before joining the IAB, Cintia Gabilan had experience working across global ad agencies (Wunderman Thompson and Dentsu), CPG (Unilever), and tech companies (Facebook and Amazon). She has global experience driving growth by overseeing marketing, communications, and sales strategy. With a Master’s in Business, she most recently built many strategic and significant marketing programs at Amazon Ads, such as their Customer Advisory Boards, Analysts Relations, Competitive Intelligence program, and more. You can find her exploring nature, playing sports, and baking with her husband and daughter in her free time.

Sheryl Goldstein is the Executive Vice President, Chief Industry Growth Officer at the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau). In her role, she oversees engaging the IAB’s 650+ members across all of the IAB’s vast initiatives, activities and thought leadership programs. Under Sheryl’s watch are the Member Engagement, Centers of Excellence, Research and L&D teams. She also spearheads talent development, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and runs the IAB CRO Council.

Sheryl Goldstein is a “net vet” with over 20 years of driving meaningful revenue growth through consultative selling in the dynamic digital landscape (Yahoo, AOL, About.com). She is adept at building successful teams, developing go-to-market strategies and gaining consensus across key stakeholders. Her background includes a wide variety of digital media platforms and technologies and numerous leadership roles.

In addition to her experience as a sales leader, Sheryl brings years of talent development and training to her role and is committed to making the digital media landscape a great industry for diverse talent to thrive and have a long and exciting career.

Sheryl is a current board member for 212NYC, Makers and was a past Board member of She Runs It. She serves on the Rutgers Business School Advisory Board for Marketing and is helping RBS craft a digital marketing graduate program. In addition, she has served on Boards and Committees for the NY Ad Club, Women in Communications, Inc. and the IAB and is a member of Chief. She is an award-winning sales leader (Yahoo Accelerator Award, AOL Best Media Partner presented by Verizon, AOL Presidents Club, AWNY Crystal Award Winner).

Sheryl is a graduate of Syracuse University Newhouse School and lives in New Jersey with her partner Cindy and dogs Pancho and Camden. On the weekends, you can catch her on the pickleball court or riding around the Jersey Shore on her new electric bike. Her daughter Sarah-Jaana lives in the Boston area with her husband Michael.

Edgar Hernandez is an innovative and driven senior executive who blends creativity, strategy, and analytics to take companies from where they are to where they want to be. In his role at My Code, Edgar leads strategy for the company overseeing its owned-and-operated media properties and its sales/partnerships division. An insights- driven leader, he brings a strong understanding of current trends, including Gen Z and Millennial consumers, to help companies break into new markets and amplify revenue growth. Edgar’s C-level executive experience across startup, high growth, and public companies with a global reach makes him an impactful ally to companies looking to evolve and sustainably grow for the future.
With a majority of his 20-year career in sales leadership, Edgar has helped brands achieve and maintain top market share, with a focus on young men, diversity, and entertainment categories. Edgar has steered some of the leading names in the media space, including Buzzfeed and Complex Networks, as the top revenue executive. Through a people-first leadership style and focus on driving strategic growth, Edgar led teams at Buzzfeed in generating over $400M annual revenue. He was instrumental through Complex’s integration with Buzzfeed and partnered across the company to unify all brands under a single umbrella for maximum revenue potential. Edgar joined Buzzfeed through the Complex acquisition, where he previously served as CRO and drove 5x revenue growth through multi-national expansion.
Edgar is a graduate of University of Massachusetts, Amherst and currently resides in New York.

Travis combines the experience of a client-side marketer at a top global brand with extensive Ad Tech experience. He joins VIZIO from Rakuten Marketing where he served as Senior Vice President of Client Services, leading a team of 140 CS professionals managing over 1500 performance marketing clients including leading retailers like Walmart, Macy’s and Sephora. Travis has led multiple award-winning organizations including the 2012 Advertiser Perceptions Highest Rated Media Brand for Advertiser Satisfaction in the U.S. at YuMe and mThink’s Best Affiliate Network for service and innovation each and every year he was at Rakuten.

Prior to moving into Ad Tech in 2010, Travis was at Intel Corporation where he held a number of strategic marketing and media positions, including overseeing all media spending for
consumer campaigns globally.

Travis currently resides in Park City, UT with his wife and two kids. Outside of work you can find him and his family skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking and generally exploring the outdoors.

Travis holds a BS, Computer Science from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Andrew is a tech & media executive currently serving as Director at Google leading the programmatic media business for the Brand Sector (Auto, CPG, Government, Entertainment, Consumer Electronics). His work at Google focuses on helping marketers realize added savings through programmatic media buying, integrating Google’s AI to drive greater performance and helping marketers bridge Brand and Performance marketing efforts (including Commerce & Retail Media).
Prior to Google, Andrew served as the EVP of Worldwide Digital Marketing and Chief Data Strategist for Warner Bros, leading a team overseeing digital marketing, media, influencers and data & analytics on films like Ready Player One, Crazy Rich Asians, Aquaman, Joker, The Batman, and Elvis. While at Warner Bros, he helped lead WB’s business through the pandemic, including connecting WB’s theatrical business with the streaming business and launch of HBO Max. He’s a passionate people leader, mentor & coach, and is the Exec Sponsor of Google’s LGBTQ+ organization. Andrew is an education advocate, having served as a volunteer teacher (Citizen Schools), student mentor (SPARK) and currently serves on his local School Board.

Michael is an experienced, entrepreneurially driven C-level executive with a demonstrated history of digital media category creation – Interactive Television, Internet Web Services, Digital OOH and Placed-based media, Desktop, Mobile, Video, CTV/OTT, FAST/AVOD, and Auto – and high performance team building and leadership. Skilled in Digital Strategy, Sales and Revenue Operations (Managed Service and Programmatic), Sales Enablement and Training, Strategic Partnerships, and Marketing. Hudes has significant experience building and managing international networks and partners across the America’s, Europe and Asia (incl. India, China).

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has carved out a thriving television and film career as both a best in class producer and star. In 2005, he founded G-Unit Film & Television, Inc. which has produced a wide variety of content across numerous platforms and sold a myriad of shows to various networks. Among these is the critically-acclaimed #1 show on Starz, “Power,” in which he not only co-starred in but also served as executive producer and director He has successfully focused on expansion of the “Power” universe with spin-offs ‘’Power Book II: Ghost,’’ “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” and “Power Book IV: Force.” G-Unit Film & Television also produced ABC’s For Life, is just wrapped production on season four of the hit series, Black Mafia Family, for Starz is in production on season two of the Black Mafia Family docuseries. G-Unit Film & Television is also in development on the scripted series Fightland and Queen Nzinga for Starz as well as Trill League at BET+ and recently released Tik Tok Star Murders on Peacock to huge numbers.  Additionally at Peacock, G-Unit Film & Television is in production on the definitive Gilgo Beach Killer docuseries. At Netflix, G-Unit Film & Television is in production on the highly publicized Sean Combs documentary. G-Unit Film & Television released Hip Hop Homicides on WeTV. Jackson is also expanding into the podcast space through his new G-Unit Audio banner with Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down a Drug Lord in partnership with iHeart Media and Lionsgate Sound. G-Unit Film & Television is in development on a docuseries based on The Twins podcast at BET+. In 2024, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson announced a partnership with Lionsgate to launch G-Unit Film & Television’s first fast channel, 50 Cent Action. The free ad-supported 50 Cent Action offering will feature premium content from the studio’s library like the original ‘Power’ series and popular movies like The Expendables, The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Rambo.

Anthony Katsur is a digital media veteran with more than twenty-five years of executive leadership at the intersection of technology innovation, business strategy, and growth. As Chief Executive Officer for IAB Tech Lab, Katsur is responsible for overseeing product, engineering, membership, and operations teams for the digital advertising industry’s global technical standards-setting organization.

Katsur has previously held business and technology leadership positions at companies including DoubleClick, MediaMath, Rubicon, Sonoboi, and most recently Nexstar Media Group, and more. A sought-after speaker, he has appeared at events including the National Association of Broadcasters, AdAge’s Brand Summit, and Advertising Week and has been quoted in AdAge, Adweek, AdExchanger, Digiday and The Wall Street Journal.

Jackelyn Keller is Comscore’s Chief Marketing Officer. She has nearly 20 years of media and ad tech experience across linear TV, streaming, and digital, with a range of expertise that includes GTM strategy, ad innovation, programmatic advertising, brand positioning, and product marketing.
Jackelyn has worked for some of the most well-known brands in the industry – with a knack for understanding market trends and identifying companies ripe for transformation.
As a board advisor, Jackelyn has thrived on helping purpose-driven organizations bring offerings to market in a more thoughtful, differentiated, and simplified manner.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English communications, with a minor in political science, from Yeshiva University and earned an MBA from the Fordham Gabelli School of Business, where is an adjunct professor of marketing. She is also a proud mother of two young girls, who can chat ‘brand’ over a cup of hot chocolate.

Chris is the CEO and co-founder of Upwave, the leading analytics software platform giving brands, agencies, and media partners a unified, cross-media solution to measure brand advertising.

Chris is a serial tech entrepreneur with experience in enterprise software, big data, brand marketing, financial services, and management consulting.

He founded multiple web startups, including an online college textbook market and DeliveryEdge, a same-day delivery service for consumer goods startup. Earlier in his career, Chris worked in Marketing and Business Development for SavvyMoney, was a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Co. and an Investor at Matrix Partners.

Chris is an accomplished Founder, Entrepreneur, and Venture Capitalist. Chris holds a degree in finance and economics from the University of Notre Dame.

As EVP and Head of North America Service Business, Samsung Electronics, Sang Kim is responsible for building next-generation TV products and services for the Samsung Smart TV platform, the largest globally with hundreds of millions of Smart TVs in 195 countries worldwide.
After joining Samsung in 2013, Sang was tasked with building out the global business development organization. Since assuming his new role in Product in 2018, Sang has been at the helm of all product initiatives for the Tizen TV Platform including Universal Guide, Samsung Health on TV, as well as Samsung TV Plus, which has become one of the top streaming apps on the Samsung Smart TV platform under Sang’s leadership.

With the increase in content choices across live TV and streaming, Sang’s focus has been on proprietary discovery tools and services such as Universal Guide, Search and Bixby to help consumers find and watch what they love across all sources and apps, including Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Apple Music, HBO Max, YouTube and more.

Prior to Samsung, Sang held leadership roles at Google Inc., both in the US and APAC. He was responsible for business development and go-to-market strategies for early products, including mobile, YouTube and advertising platform syndication.

Sang holds a BS degree in Business Administration from UC Riverside.

Marcia is the Head of Sales at Yahoo Ads, where she brings deep knowledge and experience in digital advertising and publisher strategy. In this role, she oversees a team of Industry Leads and Sales Directors focused on driving revenue for premium and performance media solutions across Yahoo’s portfolio of brands.

Prior to Yahoo, Marcia served in various Sales and Strategy leadership roles at global media companies including Verizon Media, The Huffington Post and Forbes.

As the Chief Investment and Activation Officer for dentsu’s media service line, Cara brings together the teams behind all media channels including video, radio, OOH, print, digital and programmatic, paid social, search, and retail media. She also oversees disciplines across brand assurance, economic empowerment, productivity, sports, research and insights, and business transformation and strategy.

Cara has been with dentsu since 2010 and most recently served as Chief Investment Officer where she managed $22B in annual investments for all dentsu’s media clients in the US market, overseeing all US investment activities including publisher direct media, biddable media, research, economic empowerment, productivity and strategic partnerships. She was tasked with maximizing efficiencies for her clients by leveraging the collective buying power of dentsu and delivering innovative solutions that address the changes in the media landscape.

Her media career spans 25+ years, with five years of DTC experience between two of the biggest Pharmaceutical Companies (Pfizer and Glaxo SmithKline). Cara also has a strong background in packaged goods and retail, working on the SC Johnson and Sears business for over nine years, as well as a handful of travel accounts. Her past agency experience includes MediaEdge, TN, Initiative, and MPG.

Cara was named as Cynopsis’ Top Women in Media in 2020 as an Industry Leader. She was also honored as a She Runs It Working Mother of the Year in 2020. Cara’s expertise is constantly tapped by industry reporters and has been featured in Adweek, Digiday, and MediaPost, to name a few. Cara will also serve as a charter member on the newly formed OAAA Agency Council.

Cara serves on the Executive Board for The Valerie Fund and currently runs sales and promotion for Careoke for the Kids, an industry event in its 19th year. She was honored at The Valerie Fund Thanksgiving Gala in 2019 for her tremendous contributions to the cause. In November 2019, Cara was also an honoree at Coaches vs Cancer in 2011, a She Runs it Mother of the Year, Partnership with Children Gala honoree in June 2022, Campaign US Inspiring Women and Women in Media and Marketing honoree in 2023, and Young Audiences of New York honoree in March 2024. Cara was recognized at her previous agency with a 5th dot award. She is an 18-year breast cancer survivor and has started a non-profit, Media Ladies Conquering Cancer. She enjoys the beach, crafting, playing games, reading, sewing, traveling and most importantly being with her family.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-lewis-23a36417/

Kelly MacLean leads Engineering, Product, and Science for Amazon Ads’ Demand-Side Platform (DSP). The Amazon DSP is an industry-leading full-funnel advertising solution focused on delivering marketing objectives at scale. Prior to joining Amazon in 2023, Kelly helped build Meta’s (Facebook) advertising stack over 11 years. She most recently led Meta’s Business Products Engineering organization, building small business, enterprise, and core infrastructure products. Prior to this role, she led development and strategy for Ads Delivery, Auction, Machine-Learning, Brand, and Direct Response products; and built the first Emerging Countries, China, and Cross-Border product teams. Kelly’s been at the forefront of mobile and video advertising having been on the early teams developing video and mobile ads on Facebook, mobile app ads, and Facebook’s mobile ad DSP & networks. She lived and worked in four countries and opened Facebook’s first ads engineering office in EMEA. Prior to Facebook, Kelly held several leadership positions leading engineering, product, marketing, and operations at Flite (acquired by Snap Inc), LiveRamp (formerly Rapleaf), and Dell. Her first career was playing National Team and professional level soccer for the Canadian National Team and Whitecaps FC.Kelly graduated from Purdue University and holds an MBA from Stanford.

Esther Maguire is the Head of Product Marketing & Strategy at LG Ad Solutions. A dynamic marketing strategist with a passion for product innovation and cultural narratives, she builds confidence across disciplines, translating needs into opportunities. Esther has overseen several M&As, corporate rebrand initiatives and conversion of top tier brands to enterprise platform clients at a global scale during her tenure

Known as the “Wonder Woman of Vogue”, is a transgender Afro-Puerto Rican dancer/choreographer, instructor, model, actress, activist, and ballroom icon. She is the founder of the House of Amazon and globally acclaimed for elevating the artform of vogue performance. Maldonado introduced a new style of voguing which is more athletic and dramatic when she entered into the scene in early 2000s New York.
Some of her illustrious accolades include, her pioneering time as a member of the dance troupe “Vogue Evolution”, which was featured on Season 4 of America’s Best Dance Crew. She also collaborated with renowned artists such as Willow Smith, Icona Pop, and Rihanna. She was a fixture and permanent judge on HBO Max’s “Legendary” for seasons 1-3. Finally her prolific role as a recurring actress and Choreographer on FX’s groundbreaking series “Pose”.
Simply put, Icon Leiomy is a global phenomenon inside and outside of the ballroom community. With a social media imprint across multiple platforms equally over half a million followers. She is an international force of nature and inspiration to generations of young queer identifying people around the world.

Jazz Mann is professional actor, writer and comedian originally from Toronto, ON but now calls New York City his home. With 30+ film and TV credits to his name, Jaz has brought his sharp wit and magnetic screen presence to a wide range of roles. He has also performed comedy across the globe, sharing stages with renowned artists such as Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld and The Kids In The Hall. Whether on screen or on stage, Jazz brings insight, humor and heart into every performance, and has even made his mother very proud by playing a doctor on TV several times.

Chiquis Marin is a dynamic millennial Latina leader whose influence spans multiple
industries, from entertainment and music (three-time GRAMMY winner) to
entrepreneurship and media production. With an entrepreneurial spirit that has
fueled her career, she first made her mark in television and cable with Chiquis in Control before expanding into music, beauty and skincare, reality competition series,
and publishing.
Today, she serves as Executive Producer and Chief Creative Officer of Busy Bee
Productions, where she continues to shape impactful storytelling. She developed
and stars in Foodie on the Go, a food and travel series with LatiNation Media
highlighting small businesses, historic restaurants, and culinary
entrepreneurs.

Tony Marlow is the Chief Marketing Officer for LG Ad Solutions, where he uses data-driven insights to lead all aspects of marketing and communications. Previously, Tony was CMO at Integral Ad Science, where he helped transform the brand into a recognized and trusted partner, and took the company public through an IPO in 2021. Before IAS, he was the CMO at Data Axle, Global Head and Vice President of B2B Marketing at Yahoo, and consulted on a range of media and technology-related projects at Nielsen Online (APAC). He is also the co-founder of a mobile app development company called Appy Dragon (creators of RacerTracer).


Currently, he is on the Board of Advisers for a social measurement startup SocialStatus.io and serves on the Advisory Council for Colorado State University-Global Campus (CSU-Global) to which he delivered the 2017 commencement speech. He has also served on the board of directors for the IAB’s Research Council, IAB Video Center and the Media Ratings Council. Tony attended the Australian National University and the University of Wollongong, holding Bachelor’s degrees in psychology and commerce and a Master’s degree in strategic marketing. In his spare time, he is also an Ironman triathlete.

Sheila Marmon has a passion for launching new businesses in the digital media and technology industries where she has created and led innovative platforms for over 20 years. With a focus on growth markets, her expertise delivers meaningful financial returns for digital publishers, creators, investors, and multinational clients.

As Founder + CEO of Mirror Digital, a technology-enabled digital media and publishing company, she helps leading global brands tap into the fastest growing segments of the U.S. consumer base – diverse and culture-first markets. A pioneer in this space for over 13 years, Sheila and her team have executed over 1,500 digital media programs for leading clients including Amazon, AT&T, Comcast, Disney, General Motors, Haleon, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, SheaMoisture, Universal Pictures, and Walmart among others.

Sheila has been featured in global publications including Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, and The Financial Times, and has received numerous industry and civic awards such as being named to the 2025 Inc. Female Founders List, named one of the Top Women in Media and Ad Tech by Ad Monsters & Ad Exchanger and leading Mirror Digital to be recognized as a “Best Place to Work” by Ad Age and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America by Inc. Magazine for two years in a row. She serves on several nonprofit boards including the American Advertising Federation where she chairs the Digital Committee.

Sheila graduated with a B.A. from Princeton University, cum laude, and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Steven Heuer.

Marta is a true business innovator in the Marketing and Technology industry with experience across several leading global technology firms as well as the startup world. In her current role as Managing Director of Data, Measurement and Analytics at Google her focus is to accelerate the shift to AI by helping build the best-in-class marketing partner ecosystem. Driving change and creating groundbreaking marketing solutions as we continually evolve, transform and reshape the future of our industry.

Before joining Google, she was the Chief Revenue Officer of SideWalk Lab’s Intersection, the smart cities technology and media company funded by Alphabet. She also had a successful tenure at AOL/Verizon where she held several positions including SVP of Advertising and Head of Global Video Sales. Earlier in her career she gained deep knowledge of the industry through senior business operations, partnership and consulting roles at MediaMath, Havas Digital Global and more.

Marta is recognized in the industry as a people-first leader who builds high-performing teams and inclusive culture, where people are inspired to think big and focus on what matters most, both personally and professionally. At Google, Marta served as the chair of the Americas Ads Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Executive Sponsor of the Digital Marketing Apprenticeship Program and Google’s LatinX community.

Marta holds a BBA in Business Administration from ESADE in Barcelona. Her passion for technology brought her to the USA from Spain, to pursue an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University, specializing in Entertainment, Media and Technology.

Marta lives in New York with her husband and two children. In addition to her love of world travel, Marta likes to ski, bike, do yoga and cheer for her lifelong favorite team, FC Barcelona.

Vikrant is the co-founder of ad-supported streaming player Future Today. A seasoned Silicon Valley media executive with 15+ years of experience in designing, developing, launching and growing complex technical products both with startups and Fortune 500 companies, Vikrant co-founded Future Today Inc. as a video distribution & technology company that currently is a leading streaming technology provider specializing in OTT and CTV ad-supported solutions for content creators and advertisers. The comprehensive portfolio of technology and services includes Channel as a Service (CaaS), FAST Channel launch, content management and publishing, app development and maintenance, cross-channel promotion, advertising, monetization and more.

In his role at Future Today, Vikrant is responsible for building and growing content partnerships, managing relationships with OEMs, as well as overseeing the company’s monetization strategy and relationships with advertising partners. Before founding Future Today, he oversaw Product Management at ExpertHub, a startup that was acquired by Internet Brands, and was a senior Product Executive at Telephia, a wireless network performance and measurement company that was acquired by AC Nielsen.

Serge Matta is the President of Global Ad Sales at LG Ad Solutions. His expertise lies in leading sales teams across industries to meet revenue goals and creating strategic, symbiotic partnerships. Prior to joining LG Ad Solutions, Serge held multiple leadership positions at different companies – he was the CEO at Comscore, President of Global Sales and Marketing at GroundTruth, and CEO at video audience and content intelligence provider ICX Media. During his tenure at these companies, he helped grow the businesses and strengthen their sales forces. He completed his MBA at American University and resides in Vienna, Virginia

Johanna Mayer-Jones is the Global Chief Advertising Officer for The Washington Post, leading The Post’s positioning as a key partner to clients while maintaining, embracing and empowering its commitment to news.

In her role, Johanna oversees client partnerships, revenue operations, data solutions, audience insights and professional offerings. Before joining The Post in July 2022, she served as the Senior Vice President of Partnerships for The Atlantic, where she led the publisher’s global sales and account management teams.

Johanna’s experience includes eight years at The Wall Street Journal in both Hong Kong and New York, building integrated client solutions through live journalism, custom content and more. Her deep industry knowledge also stems from time at the BBC, Menton and The Financial Times early in her career.

Johanna serves on the Board of Directors for The Ad Council and DCN and she has previously advised the Delta Project nonprofit as well as startups including QuickFrame.

Kelly McMahon has extensive work experience in the advertising and media industry. Kelly is currently the Senior Vice President of Global Operations at LG Ad Solutions. Prior to that, she worked at VideoAmp as the Senior Vice President of Sell-Side Solutions from 2021 to 2022 where she led their initiatives for alternative currency adoption with the top US media publishers. Kelly’s longest tenure was at SpotX (now part of Magnite), where she held several senior leadership roles from 2013 to 2021. This includes positions such as Senior Vice President of Global Demand Operations, Senior Vice President of Global Operations, and VP of Global Demand Operations. Before SpotX, Kelly worked at K-Media as a Consultant from 2011 to 2013, where she specialized in ad operations and campaign management for various online verticals. Kelly also served as the Director of Advertising Operations at Altitude Digital Partners from 2011 to 2012, where she played a key role in developing operational strategies and building the company’s customer success model. Overall, Kelly McMahon has a strong background in advertising operations, strategic leadership, revenue management, and customer success, making her a valuable asset in the industry.

Mark Miller is the EVP of Global & Agency Partnerships at NBCUniversal. In this role, Miller has a dual role overseeing NBCUniversal’s investment teams for IPG/Mediabrands & PMX as well as leading the Global Advertising & Partnerships team. Mark also serves as the Brand Champion for NBCUniversal’s News Group. In this role he is responsible for the monetization strategy across all NBC News Group’s linear and digital brands.

Prior to his current role, Mark was EVP of News Advertising Sales at NBCUniversal and held leadership roles in Advertising Sales for CNBC, NBCUniversal Entertainment Group and NBCUniversal Owned and Operated Stations. Mark joined NBCUniversal in 1996 and is based in New York. Before joining NBCUniversal, Mark was VP of Sales for CNN. He began his career at Ross Roy Advertising in Detroit, and from there went onto Westwood One and ABC Radio Networks.

Mark graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.

He is a resident of Ridgewood, New Jersey where he resides with his wife Laura and has two sons, Ro and James.

Sarah Nelson leads Strategic Partnerships and BD for Samsung TV Plus and is responsible for all third-party content and platform partnerships on the TV Plus service.

Previous to TV Plus, Sarah led Strategic Partnerships for Samsung TV and Mobile, leading corporate partnerships (e.g. Apple, Spotify), strategic distribution partnerships (e.g. Alexa, YouTube, Microsoft), and new business initiatives (e.g. Gaming, Voice, and Art Store). Sarah joined Samsung through the acquisition of Boxee, one of the first streaming media devices to enable users to access apps and web pages such as Hulu and YouTube on the big screen. Sarah’s entire career has been focused on “connected TV” and partnering with content owners to help them take advantage of the new distribution models and user experiences enabled through connected TV.

Nessa a powerhouse in radio, TV, and podcasting with nearly 20 years in broadcasting, is the host of the #1 afternoon Hip Hop radio show in the country on HOT 97 and is nationally syndicated, reaching over a million listeners weekly. From interviewing celebrities like Drake, Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and more, Nessa also earned a New York Emmy nomination for her work on NBC’s Talk Stoop. Nessa appeared on The Today Show with Jenna & Friends and is the go-to host for MTV red carpets and aftershows. She’s partnered with brands like Nike, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney. 

A UC Berkeley graduate, Nessa is also a published author of the children’s book We Are Free, You and Me. She launched the Nessa On Air Scholarship, and co-founded Know Your Rights Camp with her husband, Super Bowl Quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

As a founding member of VIZIO Ads’ Media & Entertainment ad sales team, Anh Nguyen has been instrumental in scaling the business from inception to an industry powerhouse in just five years. Under her leadership, VIZIO Ads has built unprecedented partnerships with studios, broadcast networks, and SVOD apps, driving innovation in the CTV space. Now leading a team of senior sellers, Anh has fostered a culture of strategic thinking and disruption, guiding VIZIO Ads through its transformation from a private company to a publicly traded entity, and now, its acquisition by Walmart. She launched and developed the first-ever VIZIO Rendezvous, an exclusive industry leadership event for top entertainment clients.

Before VIZIO Ads, Anh spent a decade shaping the digital media landscape at Refinery29 and SHE Media – leading digital strategy, creative content, influencer, and experiential activations. She began her career on the agency side, working with major entertainment clients like NBCU and Summit Entertainment. A UCLA Economics graduate and a 2022 ThinkLA Salesperson of the Year finalist, Anh is a one-of-one leader redefining what’s possible in CTV advertising.

A results-oriented revenue and operations leader responsible for developing growth strategies at VIZIO’s Inscape data division, a leading provider of automatic content recognition (ACR) technologies and TV data. Fueling the data-driven strategy for VIZIO’s CTV business and leading data monetization for third-party measurement platforms powering the future of TV currency.

Ken is a sales and marketing executive with expertise in media measurement. Prior to Inscape, Ken was responsible for setting and implementing business development strategies at Nielsen across advertiser verticals for Nielsen Brand Effect, a cross-platform TV, digital, and social ad resonance measurement solution. Ken is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University and resides in New York City.

As Senior Vice President of Platform Automation & Analytics at Viant, Steven Ohrnstein leads the strategy and execution behind the company’s data, measurement, and automation initiatives. With over 15 years at Viant, he has held leadership roles across Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Operations, helping shape the company’s Demand-Side Platform and drive innovation in AI-powered media solutions.

Steven’s team is focused on bridging the gap between complex data and actionable insights, making big data meaningful and accessible for business users and clients alike. He also oversees Viant’s Advanced Reporting measurement solution, delivering closed-loop lift and incrementality studies that help marketers understand true impact of their digital media campaigns.

In addition to his role at Viant, Steven is the founder of AdTech AI Files, a podcast offering byte-sized insights for marketers navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, measurement, and Connected TV (CTV). He holds an MBA and brings a strategic, data-driven approach to every facet of his work.

Mike O’Donnell is the Chief Revenue/ Strategic Growth Officer for VIZIO, the second largest smart TV company in America. In his first year at VIZIO, O’Donnell not only led the launch of VIZIO’s exploding direct-to-device advertising business, but his team has transformed the streaming ecosystem on VIZIO’s SmartCast platform by launching over 100 new free ad-supported linear channels and striking new deals with Disney/ESPN/ABC, Peacock and NBCUniversal, Apple, Marvel, Amazon, and dozens more.


An advertising industry veteran, Mike helped pioneer the first generation of connected TV advertising solutions at YUME as SVP of North America where he helped grow the company from a start-up to its listing on the NYSE. Prior to joining VIZIO, O’Donnell served as Chief Revenue Officer of Connekt and led distribution and monetization efforts of their Smart TV technology platform.

Kristen M. O’Hara is a strategic and transformational leader who has driven
growth and innovation for global enterprises in an increasingly digital, e-commerce, and data-driven economy. She is a curious, compassionate and collaborative executive who has led global sales and marketing teams across media and entertainment, technology platforms and agency holding companies.


O’Hara is currently VP, Agency, Platforms & Client Solutions at Google. Before joining Google, she served as Chief Business Officer at Hearst Magazines, VP Business Solutions at Snap Inc. and Chief Marketing Officer at Time Warner Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery). O’Hara began her career at WPP’s Young & Rubicam.


O’Hara is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross with a bachelor’s in English literature. She serves on the board of directors of Arrival (Nasdaq: ARVL) and the Columbia University Medical Center Neurology Advisory Council.

Andrés Palencia is the trailblazing millennial Latino Co-Founder & CEO of LatiNation Media, a multiplatform media company unapologetically leaning into its Latino identity. He is a media executive who redefines an industry’s culture and language, and, above all else, he is a staunch advocate for identity. A former network creative executive, he blends storytelling and strategy as he leads a company that is a challenger brand, creating content for and with the 18-34 Latino generation in English. Under his leadership, the company has achieved double-digit revenue growth, 100+ brand partnerships, a leading digital ad sales network and influencer network, and expanded broadcast and AVOD distribution. With brands like LATV and its award-winning original programming, Andrés is reshaping Latino representation’s face, voice, identity, and the content driving it.

As Hollywood’s only openly Non-Binary CEO, Damian was named one of Business Insider’s “Top 16 Power Player Execs in AD Video Streaming Space” and is one of 4x intersectional diverse co-founders of Revry, the 1st global Queer (LGBTQ+) (Certified Minority Owned and Operated) streaming media company.
Revry is available worldwide on over 60+ , Connected TV (CTV), Free-Ad-Supported-TV (FAST), Over-The-Top (OTT), desktop, mobile devices, smart tv, and major ad-supported networks. Revry was named ‘App of the Day’ by Apple IOS and Damian’s story was featured globally on Apple IOS in the ‘Developer Spotlight‘.
Damian was named one of Goldman Sachs ‘Top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs‘, was featured on the ‘Out 100’ list and is a proud recipient of the West Hollywood Rainbow Key Award. Damian and their co-founders are all graduates of Goldman Sachs Black and Latinx 2020 accelerator program. Damian is also a proud member of StartOut and Out in Tech.

Jennifer is VP, Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount where she leads ad effectiveness measurement across the company’s platforms and properties. In her career, she has led audience research teams and developed proprietary data products that have empowered Paramount’s ad sales team with deep intelligence on audiences and ad campaign effectiveness.

Katherine Pond is Group Vice President at VIZIO, leading digital distribution, content acquisition & programming, platform partnerships, and enterprise programs.  Since joining VIZIO in 2012, she’s initiated, negotiated, and closed deals across content distribution and acquisition, IP technology, advertising, and data verticals. Katherine has a history of building, growing, and monetizing new lines of business, including VIZIO’s owned and operated service, WatchFree+.  She leads the teams responsible for closing deals with Amazon, Apple, Disney, Google, Netflix, Warner Bros., Discovery, and more.  Katherine is passionate about the development and success of future generations, serving as a mentor at her alma mater and co-founding VIZIO’s Ascend Women’s Network.

Nyma Quidwai is the VP of Client Services and Inventory Partnerships at VIZIO Ads, leading the development of campaign management across direct buys and overseeing the programmatic ad stack.

She has extensive experience in the ad tech community from content partnership curation to demand facilitation with an emphasis on CTV. Her focus lies in developing yield management and monetization strategies.

She was named DMN’s 40under40 and is a published Forbes author on CTV.

As General Manager of Enterprise Ads Google, Bill is responsible for the product & engineering teams behind Display Video 360 & Search Ads 360. During his 15 years at Google, he’s held a variety of engineering leadership roles including leading teams responsible for Reach Planner, Keyword Planner, & Insights Finder, and Google’s cross-media reporting tool (XMR). Most recently he served as a Senior Engineering Director in YouTube Ads, responsible for advertising experiences in Living Room devices, Shorts, Shopping & Music, as well as some of Google’s early generative AI for video creatives.


Prior to Google, Bill served as an Engineering director for Ticketmaster, helping to build the ticketing platform for the 2008 Olympic games. He’s also worked as an engineer at Yahoo! and startups.


Bill graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Chicago. While he continues to cheer for the Chicago Bears & the Chicago Cubs, he now lives in Santa Monica, CA with his wife and two young children.

Albert Rodriguez joined MediaCo as Chief Revenue Officer of the company, and President of MediaCo Audio, before becoming Interim CEO and President in October 2024. Rodriguez spent 24 years at Spanish Broadcasting System from 1999. At SBS he held various roles with increasing importance, including general sales manager for SBS Radio, general manager of Miami TV station Mega TV, SBS CRO and COO, prior to earning the title of president.

Christina Ruiz is the VP of Platform+ Go To Market at VIZIO, where she leads the strategy for Ads and Inscape product marketing and enablement in close collaboration with the Product and Sales leadership teams. She also oversees all B2B communications and events in line with product GTM planning.

With 20 years of experience in the media industry and digital advertising, Christina has spent 15 of those focused on building an expertise in the OTT landscape. Before joining VIZIO, she served as VP of Go to Market at Connekt, where she led efforts for their Smart TV technology platform and as VP of Client Services at YuMe, overseeing national operations.

René Santaella serves as Chief Digital & Streaming Officer for Estrella Media. Santaella was previously EVP, Digital & Streaming Media, and is credited with launching the company’s successful streaming and AVOD platforms and leading the digital transformation of Estrella Media’s content and distribution strategy, operations, and new revenue initiatives. Under his guidance, Estrella Media has quickly become a leader in multi-platform, Spanish-language, ad-supported content distribution, with a digital content reach of more than 4 billion minutes per month, viewed across its multiplatform media portfolio, including its FAST, AVOD, and streaming audio platforms.


Among the platforms that have launched under his guidance are: the EstrellaTV APP available on Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung, Vizio, iOS and Android mobile; four Estrella Media curated live streaming T.V. networks – EstrellaTV, Estrella News, CineEstrellaTV and Estrella Games – seen across The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Vizio WatchFree, Xumo, Xfinity Flex, PlutoTV, Amazon News, Tubi and FuboTV. Estrella Media is a top 20 leader in streaming audio with stations like Que Buena Los Angeles, QB Underground, La Raza and El Norte – all available on TuneIn, the EstrellaTV APP and EstrellaTV.com.


Prior to joining Estrella Media, Santaella was the Senior Vice President, Head of Ad Sales & Business Operations, at Sony Pictures Television Digital Networks, and built Crackle into a leading free ad-supported streaming network with the Emmy nominated hit, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.  He also led the creation of a premium video network for advertisers targeting a large audience of “connected gamers” that included PlayStation, Funimation, Pluto TV and Crackle. Before Sony, he was Director, Ad Sales Marketing for Disney Interactive, leading digital and cross-platform advertising and integrated marketing solutions across the company with corporate alliance partners.


Santaella is based in the company’s Burbank headquarters and reports to Peter Markham, CEO of Estrella Media. He was named to The Wrap’s 2023 “Latino Power List,” and the Estrella News FAST channel received the prestigious “Achievement in FAST Programming” award from NextTV under his guidance. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA and a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He was also a member of the Puerto Rican National Swim Team and UCLA Men’s Swim Team.

Michael Scott is Vice President of Ad Sales & Operations at Samsung Ads. With more than 20 years of sales, business development and marketing experience in the television marketing services, digital advertising, programmatic and sports marketing industries, Michael works with brands to leverage Samsung Ads Smart TV insights to reach consumers where they consume their content across Smart TVs, mobile or desktop devices.

Most recently, Michael served as Chief Revenue Officer at Tru Optik where he managed business development and strategic partnerships with advertisers, agencies, data companies and adtech partners leveraging Tru Optik’s proprietary data set to access OTT audiences. Prior to Tru Optik, he was Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships for Cox Media Group’s Gamut, where he grew revenue by nearly 20 percent and Managing Director, Ad Intelligence for Ebiquity, where he led the advertising consultancy practice with teams around the globe and doubled revenue within his first year.

As an entrepreneur, Scott started and later sold, two successful content marketing businesses/agencies – Fourth Element Group and MacDuff Inc. Earlier in his career, Scott worked for NBC Television as the Director of Olympic and Sports Marketing.

Leading at the intersection of Engineering, Marketing, and the Consumer, Travis has led growth acceleration strategies for some of the world’s largest brands. Today, Travis is Vice President of New Product Solutions for Samsung. Prior to Samsung, he worked as Global Vice President for Meta leading go-to-market strategies across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp & Metaverse worldwide. He has held senior leadership positions at The Walt Disney Company as Head of Global Operations & Strategy and Sony where he led the company’s first digital division globally across PlayStation, Sony Music & TV. He started his career at Accenture. Along with serving as Chairman of the Board for the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School for the Blind, Travis also serves on the Board of the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Jack is responsible for ensuring alignment between DV’s commercial and product organizations. He manages senior level product relationships with key customers, identifies new client-driven product opportunities and supports sales efforts. Prior to joining DV, Jack served as Global Chief Product Officer, Investment at Group M, where he developed products and platforms that empowered teams to make better decisions about where to invest over $80 billion of media spend. Previously, Jack co-founded the machine learning company Solariat, which was acquired by Genesys. He brings over 25 years of experience in executive strategy, technology, client and market insight to his role as Chief Innovation Officer. Jack holds seven patents in AI and machine learning for signal detection in natural language and the prediction of consumer media consumption.

Aaron Sobol possesses nearly two decades of media experience, having worked with renowned brands such as Unilever, Coca Cola, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Microsoft. Alongside his proficiency in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG), Automotive, and Technology sectors, Aaron has also made contributions to businesses within the Government, Retail, Pharmaceutical, and Gaming industries.

Aaron is responsible for leading North America Media Investment and Data Governance at Unilever. His key responsibilities encompass developing strategies across retail and national media investments, managing agency relations, formulating Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and partnerships, promoting responsible data usage, collaboration, and consumer relationship management and ensuring that Unilever’s brands achieve positive business outcomes.

Aaron is actively participating in industry groups such as IAB, ANA, MMA and serves on partner councils and advisory boards. Aaron was awarded both the 2024 IAB Service of Excellence Award and the 2024 212NYC Decade of Digital Excellence Award.

Marissa Solis is a magnetic business leader with over 25 years of expertise in business consulting, CPG, Retail, and Sports marketing. Currently, Marissa leads all global brand and consumer marketing initiatives for the NFL, including all national advertising, traditional and digital media initiatives, in-stadium marketing, and new fan development.
A graduate of Georgetown University with a B.S. in International Economics and the University of Texas at Austin with an M.A. in Public Policy, she began her career in brand management at Procter & Gamble Latin America, where she led marketing for brands like Ariel, Downy, and Pampers in Central America and the Caribbean.
Marissa spent a few years as a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting, leading change initiatives and communication consulting for Public Sector clients. She also spent time as a political consultant, contributing to the communication strategies of key campaigns in Texas and Mexico. In 2003, she took a role in marketing at Pepsico’s Frito Lay North America Division. During her 18-year tenure at Pepsico, Marissa led numerous brand marketing initiatives and national campaigns for globally renowned food and beverage brands like Doritos and Pepsi. She also held roles in shopper marketing and sales for key PepsiCo retail customers like Walmart, Target, and Costco.
In 2017, Marissa led the creation of a cross-functional Hispanic Business Unit – the first of its kind – winning Industry Recognition for work to engage Latinos in key brand initiatives. She went on to lead marketing for brands at Frito Lay North America, including the coveted relationship with the NFL. She won several Reggies, Sports Clios, and a Grand Prix Cannes Lion for her work on Cheetos, Doritos, and Tostitos brands. In 2021, Marissa was recognized by Adweek as one of the Most Powerful Women in Sports for elevating the football- watching occasion with the NFL and Frito Lay partnership. In 2023, Marissa and her team won a Sports Emmy for the “She Runs It” Superbowl campaign featuring star flag football player Diana Flores.
In addition to her full-time marketing position, Marissa serves on the Board of Directors of Consolidated Communications, a leading broadband and business communications provider that serves wireless and wireline customers across rural and metro communities. She is a new member of the Board of Directors of AIMM – Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing. She also serves as a board member on the North Texas Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation and The Melville Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of minority children in Dallas. She has a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and resides in McKinney, Texas, with her husband Juan and 18-year-old daughter Gabriela.

Prior to launching MeritTV with longtime friend Dr. Phil McGraw, Solomon served as Chairman & CEO of Tennis Channel. For nearly two decades he led the LIVE and original sports & lifestyle brand in building a media powerhouse, harnessing first-mover technology innovation in merging content and messaging seamlessly across all popular platforms. Recent launches included “T2”, an early award-winning live sports FAST network, and Pickleball TV which launched in over 200 million homes.

Earlier Solomon served as Universal TV President, DreamWorks co-head, President Scripps Networks Fine Living, Chaiman Ovation TV, FOX Broadcasting EVP, as well as senior roles at Disney, Paramount and co-founded iBlast. Solomon has received numerous honors including the NYJTL, ADL, AIPAC and the H.E.L.P. Group, and served on the President Committee for the Arts & Humanities under President Obama.

As Executive Vice President of Television Programming, Ivan Stoilkovich is responsible for all aspects of production and day-to-day operations for all the programming and content developed and produced by Estrella TV Network. He joined the company in 2000.

In this role, Stoilkovich oversees all aspects of production, including its day-to-day operations.  He will be responsible for all programing and content – everything from idea generation to execution – developed and produced by Estrella TV Network.

A twenty-year Hollywood and broadcast veteran, Stoilkovich began his career in 1995 when he co-founded his own production company Island Media.  He has produced myriad television commercials and has production credits in documentaries, television shows and feature films, and a visual effects background. 

Stoilkovich holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Scott is the Head of Growth Marketing at iFIT, a leading global health software technology company providing fitness solutions to 6 million members in 120 countries. iFIT owns the well-known personal and commercial exercise equipment brands NordicTrack, Pro-Form, and FreeMotion.

Scott has 20+ years of experience leading growth strategy through go-to-market activation for leading global brands—both in agency and direct client roles—across the CPG, technology, automotive, hospitality, telecom, and retail categories.

He is a passionate believer in full-funnel marketing and knows the answer to “Brand or performance?” is “Brand AND performance!”

Mike is the Head of CTV & Video for digital agency PMG. Mike has nearly 20 years on both the vendor and buy side of programmatic media—from building platforms to managing complex buying strategies. At PMG, Mike leads efforts on behalf of the agency and its clients in developing strategies with partners and platforms, particularly around the agency’s Connected TV practice. In his prior 10 years at AOL, he commercialized and developed their demand side platform globally. He has also spent time as an independent consultant to large agencies, vendors and advertisers building and developing products and programmatic buying strategies. Mike has taught courses as an adjunct professor at Depaul University and is a frequent marketing and media industry panelist and contributor. In 2015, he was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 by Ad Age.

Bruno Seros Ulloa is a creative, executive, and entrepreneur reshaping the Latino media landscape. As Co-Founder, President, and COO of LatiNation Media, he has transformed its flagship network, Latino Alternative TV (LATV), into a leader in cultural storytelling and digital innovation, achieving double-digit revenue growth in 2024. Since assuming leadership in 2019, Bruno has focused on engaging the 18-34 Latino demographic, driving original programming with impactful Latinos like Chiquis and Xolo Maridueña.

A Cornell University graduate and former bilingual host, writer, and producer, Bruno blends creative vision with business acumen, producing over 3,000 hours of content and earning recognition as one of the Imagen Foundation’s “Most Influential Latinos in Entertainment.” Outside the office, he performs improv, designs for his brand Dirty But Delicate, and champions mindfulness as a tool for creativity. Bruno’s work continues to redefine Latino media and culture.

Domenic Venuto, EVP, Chief Product and Data officer at Horizon Media, leads enterprise product, data, and AI strategies to optimize client growth. Formerly COO at Progress Partners, he scaled M&A and venture initiatives in media and advertising. At Amobee, he managed $320M revenue, grew SaaS platform profits, and led the integration of Videology’s CTV platform. At The Weather Channel, Domenic led product development, drove AI-powered ad innovation, and expanded digital reach to over a 1B users globally. As Publicis Groupe’s Global President of Data, Technology & Partnerships, he standardized operations and managed key partnerships with Google and Facebook. A thought leader and board advisor, Domenic holds an MBA from RMIT University.

With a 25-year history in the digital marketing and advertising industry, Matt Weisbecker is Chief Revenue Officer at My Code. Matt Identifies and develops new revenue opportunities while diversifying sales channels for the company. He brings extensive knowledge in building and optimizing innovative solutions in advertising and is integral to driving and growing new and existing areas of the My Code business. He previously managed national partnerships across the Media, Sports, and Entertainment verticals at Epsilon, a leader in data and identity management where he also led efforts to expand sales efforts for Video, OTT, and Connected Television (CTV). During his tenure at NBC Universal he was part of the team that developed and sold what would later become Hulu, with additional experience with GumGum, Amazon and AOL. A native New Yorker Matt now resides in Los Angeles where he raises his three kids.

Katlyn Wilson is the Director of Branded Content & Sponsorships at VIZIO, leading the Home Screen team responsible for developing and activating custom campaigns for national advertisers across the glass of all active VIZIO devices. With an extensive background in content production for both linear and streaming networks, Katlyn is passionate about the intersection of advertising and entertainment, having produced and deployed content campaigns for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Katlyn was recently named as a Top Woman in Media by Cynopsis and is currently completing an MBA at NYU Stern School of Business.