SPEAKERS

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• Seraj Bharwani

  Chief Strategy Officer

  AcuityAds

  @acuityads

  Seraj Bharwani

  Chief Strategy Officer
  AcuityAds
  @acuityads

  

  Seraj Bharwani is the Chief Strategy Officer at AcuityAds and is responsible for consumer insights on cross-screen, digital & social media. Previously, Seraj led the Strategy & Analytics practice at Digitas for over 14 years. He joined the agency as part of the founding team that led the company through its early growth phase, the IPO and exit via acquisition by Publicis. Seraj is a graduate of MIT Media Lab and an author of several refereed articles on emerging, cross-screen, audience behaviors critical to driving business results.

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• Dana Bonkowski

  ‎SVP, Multicultural Lead

  Starcom

  @starcom_USa

  Dana Bonkowski

  ‎SVP, Multicultural Lead
  Starcom
  @starcom_USa

  

  Dana is a 24-year Starcom veteran. A founding member of Tapestry and Starcom Multicultural, she has experienced first-hand the multicultural impact on mainstream America and knows how to objectively and successfully steer clients forward. Her current role is Multicultural Lead for Starcom, where she advances cultural understanding across the agency and helps new and veteran clients deliver growth through multicultural audiences. Dana has steered several award winning teams and serves as a North American Effie Judge.

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• Darcy Bowe

  SVP, Media Director

  Starcom USA

  @Starcom_USA

  Darcy Bowe

  SVP, Media Director
  Starcom USA
  @Starcom_USA

  

  I’ve been with Starcom for 14 years. Most of my time has been spent focused on Investment, particularly Television. For the past six years, I have co-lead our Video Center of Excellence, which focuses on Linear Television, Digital, Out of Home, Social and Mobile Video media. My expertise in Video advertising allows me to consult teams internally as well as clients directly regarding the Video media landscape. I work with the Video marketplace to assess trends, identify opportunities and negotiate buys. I’ve specialized in advertising to Kids and have expanded into the Multicultural marketplace over the past year.

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• Natalie Bursztyn

  General Marketing Manager

  TOTTO

  @natburs

  Natalie Bursztyn

  General Marketing Manager
  TOTTO
  @natburs

  

  Natalie oversees global execution of Totto’s marketing strategy across all channels, (retail, wholesale and e-commerce) focusing on different market segments (kids, urban traveler and active traveler).
  She holds a MBA degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Prior to receiving her MBA, Natalie directed the strategy, conceptualization, and execution of Totto’s first Flagship Store in Bogota, Colombia, as well as, worked in the development and implementation of the global brand guidelines.
  Totto is a multinational brand that sells bags, accessories and clothing. The company has presence in 52 countries, 600 retail locations and sales of over 14 million units in 2014.

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• David Chitel

  CEO / Founder

  NGL Media

  @NGLOriginal

  David Chitel

  CEO / Founder
  NGL Media
  @NGLOriginal

  

  David Chitel is an industry pioneer in the New Generation Latino (NGL) media and entertainment space. In 2000 he created the first Latino social networking community, iCaramba.com. David also founded and chaired the New Generation Latino Consortium, an organization dedicated to hosting business conferences and fielding innovative research studies focused on the NGL audience.

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• Cynthia Dickson

  Associate Director, Multicultural Strategy

  Canvas Worldwide

  @CanvasWorldwide

  Cynthia Dickson

  Associate Director, Multicultural Strategy
  Canvas Worldwide
  @CanvasWorldwide

  

  Cynthia fell in love with Multicultural Marketing at Western International Media, managing various high-profile accounts including Buena Vista Pictures, Carl’s Jr., Honda Motors, and Disneyland. Over the next decade, she consulted for various LA-based agencies. She helped Initiative Media win Hyundai’s South Regional dealership business. Her regional expertise was insightful for BevMo! and In-Shape Fitness at Palisades Media Group, after supervising General Market Brand Strategy at Horizon Media on the Jack in the Box business.

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• Karina Dobarro

  VP, Managing Director, Multicultural

  Horizon Media

  @horizonmediainc

  Karina Dobarro

  VP, Managing Director, Multicultural
  Horizon Media
  @horizonmediainc

  

  Karina Dobarro is VP, Multicultural & International Brand Strategy at Horizon Media. With over 15 years of experience, Karina joined Horizon in 2014 to launch the multicultural practice. She leverages her extensive knowledge of the U.S. multicultural market to develop comprehensive marketing strategies for Horizon’s clients.

  She is a member of Horizon’s Diversity & Inclusion Council where she facilitates agency events and partnership initiatives to help the advancement of inclusion and diversity efforts within the agency. In 2016, she was recognized for her contributions towards diversity with the Agency Executive Award for Media by Broadcasting & Cable News.

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• Elena Feoktistova

  Regional Head of Consumer and Product Marketing LAC

  Mastercard

  @Mastercard

  Elena Feoktistova

  Regional Head of Consumer and Product Marketing LAC
  Mastercard
  @Mastercard

  

  A professional marketer with over 20 years of experience in Unilever, Coca-Cola and Mastercard.

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• Ronald Mendez

  Managing Partner, Multicultural Lead

  MediaCom

  @mediacomcable

  Ronald Mendez

  Managing Partner, Multicultural Lead
  MediaCom
  @mediacomcable

  

  As Managing Partner, Multicultural Lead of Mediacom Ronald plays a key role in all aspects of
  the multicultural media and marketing efforts across the company’s portfolio of clients. The
  goal of the division is to develop a cohesive strategy that is inclusive of all target segments
  while addressing the nuances between them for clients such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, AARP,
  Bayer, Subway, and Mars to name a few.
  With over 20 years of experience in integrated communications Ronald has developed award
  winning media campaigns for clients such as Procter & Gamble, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, and
  Heineken USA.
  Ronald is also a member of the 4As HS Education Steering Committee, a group of professionals
  tasked with enhancing programs and providing support to ensure a talent pipeline that is
  skilled and diverse.

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• Francis Morrone

  Architectural historian

  NYU

  @francismorrone

  Francis Morrone

  Architectural historian
  NYU
  @francismorrone

  

  Francis Morrone is an American architectural historian known for his work on the built history of New York City.
  Morrone’s essays on architecture have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, American Arts Quarterly, the New Criterion, Humanities, and the New York Times. He was a columnist for the New York Sun for six and a half years. In April 2011, he was named by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the 13 best tour guides in the world. Morrone was a 2012 recipient of the Arthur Ross Award of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, and a 2016 recipient of the Landmarks Lion Award of the Historic Districts Council. He also teaches at NYU and is an authority on Edith Wharton.

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• Michael Neuman

  EVP, Managing Partner

  Scout Sports and Entertainment

  @michaelaneuman

  Michael Neuman

  EVP, Managing Partner
  Scout Sports and Entertainment
  @michaelaneuman

  

  Michael A. Neuman was named EVP, Managing Partner of Scout Sports and Entertainment, a division of Horizon Media, Inc. in November, 2010. Neuman oversees all Sports, Entertainment, Wellness, Experiential and Measurement Analytics offerings. Current clients include GEICO, Burger King, United Rentals, Mohegan Sun, Corona, National Grid, Fanatics, Modelo, Honda, Tim Hortons and Gilead to name a few. Prior to joining Horizon, he was Co-Founder and President of Amplify Sports and Entertainment.

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• Stephen Paez

  SVP, Director Multicultural Lead

  Spark Foundry

  @SparkFoundryWW

  Stephen Paez

  SVP, Director Multicultural Lead
  Spark Foundry
  @SparkFoundryWW

  

  Advertising Executive with proactive experience aligning corporate strategies with both
  traditional and digital marketing initiatives and always eager for a challenge.

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• Michael Pallad

  President

  Undertone

  @AccessUndertone

  Michael Pallad

  President
  Undertone
  @AccessUndertone

  

  Mike Pallad is President of Undertone & is responsible for the day-to-day operations & setting the strategic direction for the company.
  Mike joined Undertone from Apple, Inc., where he held key sales management roles for Apple Music & iAd. He previously held executive-level positions at Cumulus Media & Citadel Broadcasting, overseeing national & network sales.
  Mike holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University & resides in New York City with his wife & son.

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• Jon Patricof

  President

  New York City Football Club

  @NYCFC

  Jon Patricof

  President
  New York City Football Club
  @NYCFC

  

  Jon Patricof is President of New York City Football Club, the newest professional soccer team in the New York City area and the first Major League Soccer (MLS) Club to play within the five boroughs. Majority owned by City Football Group, which includes Manchester City FC, Melbourne City FC and Yokohama F. Marinos, New York City FC plays its home games at Yankee Stadium, which is also home to minority owner, the New York Yankees.

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• David Queamante

  SVP, Media Director

  UM Worldwide

  @UMWorldwide

  David Queamante

  SVP, Media Director
  UM Worldwide
  @UMWorldwide

  

  David is a lifelong fan of great advertising and an award-winning media leader. His experience spans top categories and blue-chip brands including FCA, Garnier and Burger King. He built his reputation around insightful thinking blended with analytics, and enjoys creating tools when none exist.

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• Pedro Rodriguez

  VP, Business Growth Digital Marketing & Transformation

  Horizon Media Inc.

  @horizonmedia @plrodriguez

  Pedro Rodriguez

  VP, Business Growth Digital Marketing & Transformation
  Horizon Media Inc.
  @horizonmedia @plrodriguez

  

  Pedro is Vice President, Business Growth, Digital Marketing & Transformation at Horizon Media Inc. He is charged with the strategic development of plans and programs for growing digital business at Horizon Media, co-leading the Multicultural Social Media Practice, as well as overseeing Partnerships & Special Projects including the Voice Offering.

  His professional recognitions include being named a 2015 Direct Marketing News 40 Under 40 Award Recipient and Winner of FOLIO Magazine Marketer of the Year Award when he was Director of Integrated Marketing at People en Español (Time Inc.), bringing to life integrated marketing and branding campaigns.

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• Jessica Roman

  VP, Media Director

  Publicis Groupe

  @publicisgroupe

  Jessica Roman

  VP, Media Director
  Publicis Groupe
  @publicisgroupe

  

  Currently VP, Media Director – PMX, she works to leverage Multicultural investments. Previously, Jessica spent 5 years overseeing all Multicultural investments at Walmart. Before that, Jessica was VP on the Kraft team at MediaVest. There, she co-led the Big Bet initiative, in which Kraft significantly increased its Hispanic media spend. In addition, she was integral in initiatives such as Oreo’s Cuenta Cuentos, Ritz Gustazos del Sabor and Single’s Discover the Truth, and was recognized with the AHAA award for best use of radio, for Kraft’s MIO innovation plan.

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• Susan Schiekofer

  Chief Digital Investment Officer

  GroupM

  @GroupMWorldwide

  Susan Schiekofer

  Chief Digital Investment Officer
  GroupM
  @GroupMWorldwide

  

  Susan Schiekofer is the Chief Digital Investment Officer for GroupM North America.  She is responsible for digital trading and implementation across all of GroupM’s agencies including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom, Maxus, and Essence.

  Schiekofer has been a leader in the digital media space at WPP and GroupM since 1994. She founded the digital media offering at Ogilvy & Mather. In 2010, Schiekofer joined MEC to head up the AT&T digital business. In July of 2014, she moved to GroupM to lead digital investment for Maxus and MediaCom, and to assume responsibility for all of online video.

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• Joshua Solomon

  Principal

  Business of Sports School

  Joshua Solomon

  Principal
  Business of Sports School
  

  

  Joshua Solomon is the founding principal of Business of Sports School (BOSS), a public Career & Technical Education high school in Manhattan which opened in September 2009 and is now one of New York’s most innovative industry-facing schools, partnering with sports industry leagues and companies. He has been a teacher and administrator in the Department of Education for the past eighteen years. Prior to entering the New York school system, he worked in investment banking at Chase Manhattan Bank. Dr. Solomon serves as a board member of the Japan Society, Columbia University Teachers College, and is on the New York Council of the Brady Center for Gun Safety. He received his BA and MBA from Harvard University and his EdD from Columbia University Teachers College, writing his dissertation on the training of urban principals.

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• Fabiola Velarde

  Director

  CH Carolina Herrera

  @HouseofHerrera

  Fabiola Velarde

  Director
  CH Carolina Herrera
  @HouseofHerrera

  

  Miss Velarde leads North America operations for Carolina Herrera’s lifestyle brand CH Carolina Herrera. Fabiola has degrees both in architecture and fashion merchandising, and combines a keen business mind with an eye for aesthetic and design. The CH Carolina Herrera brand, well established in Europe and Latin America, hired Fabiola in 2006 to spearhead the brand’s launch in the North America market. Throughout her tenure, she has played an integral role in the design of the luxury experience protocols the brand follows worldwide. Today, with stores across the US and through her leadership of a best-in-class team, Fabiola has grown the CH Carolina Herrera brand in North America to be one of the biggest and fastest growing markets for the brand.

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• Robert Velez

  Director, Multicultural Advertising Sales

  Vevo

  @Vevo

  Robert Velez

  Director, Multicultural Advertising Sales
  Vevo
  @Vevo

  

  As Director of Multicultural Ad Sales for Vevo, Rob Velez is responsible for building, growing and running Vevo’s Multicultural Ad Sales division by delivering marketplace insights and go-to-market strategy, as well as generating revenue. With a core background in multicultural media, Rob is focused on positioning Vevo as the go-to network for reaching young Multicultural viewers across the U.S. with engaging and relevant content, providing the world’s biggest brands with opportunities to align their messaging with the biggest celebrities in the world. Prior to Vevo, Rob held various sales management and business development roles with beIN Sports and Univision, most recently running the sales and marketing division for beIN Sports cable networks.

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• Lauren Wormser

  Communications Planning Director

  Mediacom

  Lauren Wormser

  Communications Planning Director
  Mediacom
  

  

  Lauren has worked at MediaCom for 12 years. She has a general market background and has worked on accounts ranging from tech to toys to chocolate and everything in between. One of her main achievements was being taped to help launch the AARP account at the agency and helping to win their multicultural business. She’s responsible for client strategy and plan tactics development with the GM and Multicultural team members. Constant communication and education have made the AARP account successful.

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• Alejandro Solorio

  Marketing Director – Hispanic

  COMCAST Corporation

  @comcast

  Alejandro Solorio

  Marketing Director – Hispanic
  COMCAST Corporation
  @comcast

  

  Alejandro has over 15 years of marketing experience working with Multicultural consumers from the client, agency and media sides. In his current role at Brown-Forman he leads the Multicultural Hispanic brand strategy for the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands. He has also led Multicultural plans and programs with El Jimador Tequila, Herradura and Korbel in the development of short and long term multicultural marketing strategies.

  Prior to joining Brown-Forman, Solorio worked for Elemento L2 where he served as Marketing, Brand Strategy and Business Development Director. Previously, he was Marketing Manager for Chicago Tribune’s Hoy. He also held positions with Cuarto Rojo Consulting and CEMEX Inc.

  Solorio holds an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and marketing from Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara Mexico.

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• Gustavo Guerra

  Brand Director, Tecate Equity

  Heineken USA

  @gusguermaz @Heineken_US

  Gustavo Guerra

  Brand Director, Tecate Equity
  Heineken USA
  @gusguermaz @Heineken_US

  

  Gustavo Guerra serves as brand director for Tecate and Tecate Light, part of the HEINEKEN USA portfolio of Mexican brands. Guerra leads sports marketing efforts for Tecate and plays a key role managing innovation and product line-up strategy for the brands. Prior to joining Heineken USA, Guerra was Senior Group Brand Manager at Heineken Mexico. He began his career at Mars, before transitioning to Ralston Purina, AT&T, Coors Light, and Club Deportivo Guadalajara S.A. de C.V.