2025 Marketing Innovation Conference

Speakers

Darryl Cobbin
Ex-20th Century Fox, Coca-Cola, Podcast Host of “Brand, Beats, and Bytes”

Meet DC, an insatiably curious chap driven by a passion that transcends the ordinary—a profound love affair with marketing. From his early days at The Coca-Cola Company, he took the Sprite brand and propelled it to become the #1 growth soft drink in the U.S., revolutionizing youth marketing partnering with Hip-Hop in the process. This journey was nothing short of exhilarating, igniting his ambition to explore the uncharted territories of technology start-ups.

As the head of marketing for Boost Mobile, he didn’t just navigate the wild west of the wireless space at the time—he transformed it. Under his leadership, Boost Mobile became the #1 no-contract growth brand, redefining marketing in an emerging industry. The thrill of discovery fueled his quest for innovation.

Then came a pivotal chapter at 20th Century Fox, where he played a role in shaping the marketing strategy for "Avatar," the box office titan of its time. With three #1 performances across diverse sectors, DC realized he unearthed a repeatable formula for success. This revelation inspired him to launch Brand Positioning Doctors (BPD), a practice aimed at elevating marketing and marketers alike. BPD employs proprietary methods to forge deeper emotional connections between brands and their audiences, helping clients like Amazon, AT&T, Beats (an Apple company), Coca-Cola, the NBA, and Nike strike the perfect balance between analytical thinking and creative intuition.

DC is also the co-founder, co-host, and executive producer of the "Brands, Beats and Bytes" podcast, which was birthed at Stanford University’s KZSU and has captivated listeners in over 100 countries. He, and co-founder/co-host Larry Taman, engage with some of the most influential figures in business and marketing, including the Chairman of NBC Broadcasting & Sports, the Executive Chairman of Beyond Meat, and the CMO of the Jordan Brand. His remarkable journey and innovative strategies have been recognized across prestigious media outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, as well as in notable books like "For The Culture," "Romancing The Brand," and "The Tanning of America." He’s even prominently featured in a documentary chronicling Jay-Z’s evolution into a business mogul and multibillion-dollar
brand.

DC’s accolades include the Brandweek Marketer of the Year Award, a prestigious recognition shared with luminaries like Steve Jobs (RIP), Jeff Bezos, and Larry Page. His journey is a testament to the power of grit, creativity and passion in shaping brands and culture. This is not just marketing; it’s a love affair that continues to evolve.

Ashley Kincey
SVP of Media and Partnerships Dagger

As SVP of Media & Partnerships at Dagger, Ashley leads the media practice with a strategic focus on building impactful connections between brands and consumers. Her leadership is defined by a seamless blend of creativity and analytics, ensuring every campaign delivers measurable results while resonating with target audiences.

Ashley’s expertise is deeply rooted in her passion for numbers and consumer insights, enabling her to design forward-thinking multimedia campaigns that push the boundaries of traditional media integrations. Known for her ability to tackle complex brand challenges, she leverages comprehensive market data and syndicated research to craft strategies that align with client objectives and drive meaningful outcomes.

A proud alumna of Spelman College, Ashley brings 18 years of experience working with iconic global brands, including Apple, Sony, Pernod Ricard, Delta Air Lines, Amtrak, and Cox Automotive. She is dedicated to transforming insights into impactful campaigns that elevate brands and leave lasting impressions.

Kristin Parker Beatty
Senior Manager of Consumer Marketing at Cox Automotive

Kristin Parker Beatty is a marketing maestro with a knack for turning brands into household names. Currently, she leads the Brand and Creative Strategy at Cox Automotive, where she works her magic on Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, making car shopping a joyride and engaging the next generation of car shoppers through innovative marketing and social media initiatives. 

Kristin's career spans a melting pot of industries and areas of expertise. She's worn many hats, from making the Chick-fil-A's kid's meal to the talk of the town, to sprinkling pixie dust on entertainment’s most beloved brands - developing strategic marketing campaigns for Disney/ABC Television, Marvel, Lucasfilm & Cartoon Network. From tractor parts, to toothpaste to higher education, Kristin thrives in creative problem solving through thoughtful marketing.

Her adventures don't stop there. As Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Craft Lab, Kristin has crafted creative solutions for Adult Swim, Subaru & Coca-Cola, in addition to many small businesses - showing her versatility and diverse expertise from animated antics to fizzy drinks to mental health and wellness conferences.

With a BBA in Marketing from James Madison University and an MA in Communications and Leadership from Gonzaga University, she's got the credentials to back up her impressive track record. When she's not busy revolutionizing the world of marketing, you might find Kristin brainstorming the next big idea or enjoying a well-deserved cup of coffee.

Adam Walker
Co-Founder, Head of Marketing and Operations at Edgewise Media

Husband. Father of five. Fractional CMO and Marketing Consultant. Wearer of fedoras. Marketing agency co-founder (with an exit). Nonprofit co-founder (48in48). Podcast host at Tech Talk Y'all and Real Pink. Most recently, I co-founded Edgewise.Media, a podcast-first marketing content agency, and TogetherLetters.com, a software for keeping people connected without social media. I'm also working on a new startup in the security space. I write about the things that interest me, challenge me, and define me. This blog is meant to be an overflow of myself, nothing more.

Jasmine Howard
Group Marketing Manager for Global Web Marketing at Intuit Mailchimp

Since graduating from Scheller’s Full-time MBA program in May 2020, Jasmine has led teams to optimize the acquisition funnel of Mailchimp.com. In addition to tech, Jasmine’s marketing career has included the healthcare, entertainment, and higher education industries. In her time as an MBA student, Jasmine was selected as First-Year MBA Student of the Year and named to Poets & Quants Best and Brightest Class of 2020. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children.

Todd Harris
CEO, Resurgens Gaming

Todd Harris is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in product startups, specializing in video games and esports for the past 20 years. After working in leadership roles at FinTech companies, he co-founded Hi-Rez Studios, where as COO he grew the company to 450 employees and attracted 150 million players before a successful exit. Currently serving as CEO of Resurgens Gaming, Harris oversees a gaming media empire that includes Skillshot Media, Ghost Gaming, and the Georgia Esports League. Under his leadership, Resurgens has generated over 1 billion esports content views, built a 20-million-strong social media following, and distributed more than $10M in competitive esports prizing. Harris also chairs several influential esports organizations: the United States Esports Federation, which represents the U.S. in international competitions; NASEF, which promotes scholastic esports for K-12 students globally; and the Atlanta Esports Alliance, focused on establishing Atlanta as a global esports hub. His contributions to the industry were recognized when he was named "2019 Most Admired CEO" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Meghann Gibbons
VP of Communications and Media Relations at Atlanta Beltline, Inc.

Meghann Gibbons oversees communications, media relations and brand management. Gibbons brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, marketing, nonprofit, travel & tourism and corporate social responsibility. She moved to Atlanta to open the Georgia Aquarium, where for 10 years she oversaw the communications strategy that built its reputation as the largest and most engaging aquarium experience in the world. Most recently with Points of Light, she served as the Vice President of Communications & Public Relations. She graduated with degrees in marketing and multinational business operations from Florida State University.

Kelly Rosenberger
VP of Creative at Alloy

With a sharp eye for detail and a natural ability for bringing creative ideas to life, Kelly Rosenberger has been making waves in the design industry for more than a decade. As VP of Creative at Alloy, Kelly has spearheaded award-winning brand executions and digital experiences for an impressive range of clients—from B2B and B2C companies to nonprofits—such as The Atlanta Beltline, Georgia Aquarium, ParkMobile, CHOA and Nintex. Drawing on her extensive experience from both in-house and agency environments throughout her career, she’s remained dedicated to creating work that blends immersive storytelling, bold creative and user-centered results, always with the goal of driving meaningful impact. Kelly graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Graphic Design.

Pratik Thaker
Global Vice President & Head of Generative AI at The Coca-Cola Company

As Global Vice President & Head of Generative AI at Coca-Cola, Pratik leads the development of high impact, scalable platforms that leverage AI technology to enhance the consumer and brand experience across the entire brand and category portfolio. Prior to this, he has held several leadership roles across brands in The Cola-Cola Company including Global Head of Creative Strategy and Integrated Content for the Coca-Cola TM. With over 25 years of experience in creative marketing, design, media, and communication, Pratik has a proven track record of delivering impactful and award-winning campaigns for some of the world's most iconic brands.

Pratik is passionate about exploring the intersection of creativity and technology, and how it can transform the way brands connect with their audiences. He is also actively involved in various industry and educational bodies, served as the Asia Pacific Chairman of the CMO Forum at the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), and as a guest lecturer at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School (HBS), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM). Pratik is a lifelong learner and a firm believer in global equality, sustainability, and social responsibility. He is a volunteer and advisor to NGOs dedicated to responsible robotics and artificial intelligence, ocean conservation, and shark protection.

Raj Choudhury
CEO of Alloy

Raj Choudhury is the founder & CEO of Alloy, a leading Marketing Agency focused on Precision Storytelling & Experiences for Imaginative Tech Brands. Raj’s leadership style focuses on building strong cultures & teams that drive to tackle complex problems with innovative solutions for some of the best brands in the world. Raj has successfully led, scaled, and exited several businesses, including Spunlogic, Engauge, BLiNQ Media, BrightWave, and Ansira. Raj is also an investor in a number of technology startups, as well as a mentor to fellow entrepreneurs. Raj has become known for his hands-on approach, calm manner, and work-hard, play-hard mentality. Born in Uganda, Raj moved to London at age 9. He earned a degree in Economics & Geography from Kingston University (London) and an Executive MBA at Georgia State University.

Lauren Leipold
Partner, IP and Emerging AI at Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Lauren Leipold is a Partner in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Lauren’s practice centers around helping her clients secure and protect intangible assets, including trademarks, trade dress, copyright, and rights of publicity. Since the emergence of Generative AI, Lauren has counseled clients on the ways that implementation of this technology will impact their business. Lauren advises on the liability risks associated with use of GenAI tools, and helps her clients best protect their intellectual property in AI-generated materials in light of current restrictions at the U.S. Copyright Office. She follows administrative guidance and regulatory proposals at the state and federal levels related to AI, and serves as strategic AI counsel for a large national trade organization. She has also developed best practices and AI use policies for marketing professionals at major CPG companies.

Larry Taman
Managing Partner, Brand Positioning Doctors

Larry has been a leader at the intersection of brands, media and technology. He started his career in brand management working on such brands as Chivas Regal Scotch, Tropicana Pure Premium and Powerade. He then veered into focusing on media and technology working as a GM for Media and Entertainment tech startup Ace Metrix and as a consultant to help entities such as ABC, Adobe, AMEX and more strengthen the emotional connection between brand and target consumer.

• Led brand launch of Powerade, one of most successful brand introductions for the Coca-Cola Company in the 1990s
• With Tropicana Pure Premium, led launch of Grovestand, at the time, most successful brand extension in history of Tropicana Pure Premium brand
• Repositioned ABC brand which was successfully deployed for many years and helped spawn hit programs such as Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and more