Award Judges
Merijn Aalbers is Head of Creative Strategy at ZB Communications & Content in The Netherlands. Merijn architects B2C and B2B creative brand strategies and content programs designed to drive both brand lift and business results. His background includes positions as Content Director at LVB and 10 years at Microsoft, leading the editorial strategy for MSN as Editor-in-Chief and later as Market Lead The Netherlands.
Matt Allison is the founder and managing director of Ubiquity Lab – a marketing agency that believes the best marketing is ubiquitous. He helps organisations seamlessly integrate data-led content, PR, performance and digital marketing to improve the customer experience and, ultimately, increase market share and profitability. A strategist at heart, Matt has more than 20 years of experience, both in-house and as a consultant, helping leading brands navigate the commercial-to-customer terrain and embedding a sophisticated marketing ecosystem.
Eric Andréasson is a concept developer and film producer at Sweden’s leading content agency, OTW. For the last couple of years I’ve been working with clients such as Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Getinge and LIDL.
Gina Balarin is the Director of Verballistics and an inspirational TEDx and keynote speaker, storyteller, content marketer and B2B marketing leader. An FAMI FCIM Chartered Marketer with an MEd in management communication, she is the author of The Secret Army: Leadership, Marketing and the Power of People. She sits on the boards of Project Displaced and The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and is a member of the Professional Speaking Association. When she’s not telling stories, Gina loves hiking, doing Zumba and drinking tea.
Amy Balliett is a known thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker in the fields of visual communication, visual content marketing, visual strategy, and agency building. Following her tenure as the founder and CEO of Killer Visual Strategies, she became the Senior Fellow of Visual Strategy for Material, an agency collective of 12 world class firms that includes Killer. Balliett serves as the Chief Visual Strategist to several boards, is the co-Founder of Agency GrowLab, a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities and a LinkedIn Learning instructor.
Jeremy Bednarski is a content strategist for Salesforce who lives and breathes content marketing. He also marries his love of rock music and content marketing with Rockified Marketing where he develops marketing strategies to help companies grow their brands and build audiences. As an avid writer, he has a voracious curiosity for knowledge and enjoys implementing the information he learns to create success stories for companies. @jeremybednarski
Matthias Bill, a certified PR editor is Head Content & Publishing at SIX. The operator of the Swiss and Spanish financial market infrastructure is Europe’s third largest exchange group. After graduating in media studies and before joining SIX in 2016, he spent ten years at various Swiss agencies managing internal and external publishing projects. At SIX, in addition to various content outlets he is responsible for corporate wording. In 2018, the CMA jury named the Tone of Voice of SIX the best internal publication. At the 2021 CMAs, RED, the magazine of SIX, was named best financial publication.
Melissa Breker is a facilitator, communications and change management consultant with over 15 years of experience applying strategic thinking to content and digital projects. Her specialty is working with UX teams, creative agencies, product developers, and content folks to inspire new ways of working, thinking, and communicating.She is a certified change management consultant and international speaker. She has facilitated workshops and projects with Samsung, Teck Resources, TELUS, Experian and Wells Fargo Retirement Banking Group.Melissa works closely with teams to support change leadership and help organizations deliver customer and employee experiences during times of transformation.
Michael Brenner is the former VP of Digital Marketing at SAP, he’s been a CMO of multiple high-growth startups, is a top Content Marketing influencer, and now runs one of the highest ranked content marketing agencies in the world, Marketing Insider Group. He is also the author of The Content Formula, and Mean People Suck.
Dayana Cadet, as a Marketing Director and Strategist, uses her non-traditional background and over seven years of experience to ??create compelling content and branding for SMBs looking to take their business to the next level. When she’s not showing people how to embrace the power of storytelling to find success, she’s focused on growing her coaching business.
Peter Cannizzaro, Creative Director for Arrow Electronics & AspenCore, is passionate about cutting-edge experience in web design, UI/UX, branding, and marketing. Peter instills his strong design sense into work that transforms how people and companies interact. With more than 17 years in the field, Peter unites teams by creating immersive and accessible experiences. Peter has accumulated awards from Best of Long Island and Min’s Best of Web awards. Most recently, taking home a 2022 Eddie & Ozzie award for Best Interactive Experience. Before working with AspenCore, Peter was Creative Director for UBM Americas, North America’s largest events company.
Ruth Carter has no idea why CMI asked them to be a judge, probably because they were not born with the diplomacy gene, and they aren’t afraid to be bluntly honest when asked for their opinion. As the Evil Genius at Geek Law Firm, they’ve been solely responsible for the company’s content marketing since 2012, learning as they went along, and has been helping the CMWorld family stay out of legal trouble since 2015. They also wrote the book, The Legal Side of Blogging: How Not to get Sued, Fired, Arrested, or Killed.
Jacquie Chakirelis is an award-winning marketing professional with experience successfully leading the digital strategy and agencies of the largest media brands in the country. Named one of the top 50 Influential Women in Content Marketing, Chakirelis is a proven leader with a track record of delivering multifaceted, digitally driven campaigns from strategy through execution for B2B and B2C organizations. As a national public speaker, she engages audiences with keynotes, workshops, and breakout sessions on marketing topics to help them grow their brand in today’s consumer-centric world.
Meg Coffey is originally from Texas and now proudly Australian, the “Texstralian” is all about hard work, calculated risks and has a great “gift of the gab”. She is MD of Coffey & Tea, a digital-focused agency; the founder of State of Social, Australia’s favorite social media conference; #SMPerth, a community for those to learn and share; and a regular contributor to media. In 2017 Meg was named as one of Australia’s Top 50 Small Business Leaders and in 2021 a finalist for Campaign Brief’s Ad Person of the Year. Meg serves on the boards of Australia’s North West and Australia Day Council WA.
Bridgett Colling is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Figo Pet Insurance, where her team connects pet parents to inspiration and resources that help pets live longer, happier lives. Throughout her career, Bridgett has worked almost exclusively with mission-driven organizations, including Make-A-Wish, Chicago Ideas, and NPR Detroit. Bridgett is passionate about creating content that provides audiences with real value and using marketing’s organizational influence to improve employee experience. Outside of work, you can find her cuddled up on the couch with her rescue pets: Honey (a super sweet cattle dog mix) and Mushroom (a cranky but loveable tabby).
Paula Connor is Chief Content Marketing Officer at 256, a multi-award-winning content agency based in Ireland. She has more than 15 years of experience in digital and traditional marketing working for a variety of Irish and international brands in B2C and B2B companies. Her passion is content strategy development, creation and content marketing. Paula leads a talented team of content strategists, creatives and marketers to create engaging and truly useful content to achieve client business objectives and grow their brands online.
Karla Courtney is an award-winning editor, digital strategist and author. She is a multi-skilled creative with extensive experience across writing, photography, website production, EDM production, social media marketing and SEO. She has worked closely with some of Australia’s leading brands, including: Qantas, Coles, Telstra, David Jones and Foxtel.
Tora Dahlström is a multitalented journalist who left Swedish Television three years ago to start working with content at the most prize-winning agency in the Nordic countries, OTW.
Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker and award-winning branded content creator who is passionate about helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their creative potential and organize their creative efforts. She is the author of both “The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas” and “Prove It: Exactly How Modern Marketers Earn Trust,” and was the first-ever editor of branded content at The New York Times.
Diane di Costanzo is the Chief Content Officer at Foundry 360, the branded content division at Dotdash Meredith. For this work, she was named the 2022 Content Marketer of the Year by the Content Marketing Institute. Diane is also the Editor in Chief of Millie magazine, all about women and money, and has worked as an editor, writer, and reporter for more than 25 years. Diane started her career at Esquire magazine and has held staff positions at Self, Martha Stewart Living and Hearst’s Healthy Living magazines.
Lisa Dougherty I’ve managed the editorial process, calendar, and contributors for the award-winning CMI blog since 2014. The title for my role is senior blog and community manager, which means I get to work with every one of our fabulous contributors, including those who work directly for CMI and those who generously share their insights with our readers. I’m passionate about providing the best experience for our writers “they’re key to making CMI a success!” I’ve worked in marketing for over 25 years, amassing experience in everything from marketing communications to creative services project management to social media to brand strategy and development. In my spare time, I serve on the Royal Oak Children’s Choir and Helen Keller Elementary PTA Executive Boards and am known as “Coach Lisa” to my freshman cheer squad. Connect with me on Twitter @brandlovellc and LinkedIn.
Diana Edmundson is the Global Enablement Lead on the content marketing team at Salesforce. Before her six-year tenure at Salesforce, she worked at a publishing house nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, crafted copy for pups and their humans with Barkbox, and partnered agency-side with companies like Diageo and Plan Ireland. An American who has lived in Dublin, Ireland, for nearly a decade, she works as a personal and career coach in her spare time.
Amber Erickson is the head of marketing at Seed Technology, bringing self-service to cannabis retailers. She formerly served as head of content at Flowhub. Amber currently resides in the beautiful UP of Michigan.
Nico Fell, has a passion for a story well told and creating engaging campaigns. He brings over 20 years of B2B/B2C, digital, social, and content marketing experience to 256. A multi-disciplinary marketing expert, Nico has created high-impact campaigns for some of the biggest names on and off the island of Ireland, including Tourism NI, Fáilte Ireland, easyJet, Ryanair, Bank of Ireland, the Rory McIlroy Foundation, Norton and the European Tour.??
Ellen Forsberg is a project leader and content creator at the award-winning Swedish content agency OTW. She’s leading projects from the first idea to production to delivery. Her heart beats a little extra for what she herself call “ATM-content”, which is meant topical content where the user gets, or at least get the feeling of viewing, content posted at the moment. To trend scout, value check and dare to take quick actions is her every day life. When she’s not producing content for clients you’ll most likely find her on a mountain snowboarding.
Amanda Gant is the Director of Marketing at Orbit Media, an award-winning 50-person web design company in Chicago. Her passion is to help people get better results from the web by sharing her expertise in analytics and web marketing. Amanda is the producer of Content Jam, Chicago’s largest content marketing conference, editor of the Orbit blog, and as a Certified B Corp, is dedicated to growing the B Corp community. Outside of work, you’ll find her hiking in the Colorado mountains.
Jenna Gardner works as an Account Director at Imprint and is an experienced end-to-end digital marketing specialist. Her deep expertise includes developing, implementing, and managing digital content strategies, creative direction, paid and organic media campaigns, and integrated multi-platform programs. Jenna has managed marketing programs for clients such as Visa, Wells Fargo, Northern Trust, and Humana.
Khalil Garriott is an award-winning, seasoned content professional. He is equal parts newsroom leader, sharp marketer and detail-oriented content strategist for multiple channels. Per the DiSC personal assessment tool, Khalil’s highest dimension is Conscientiousness (C). People who are “High Cs” are generally described by these adjectives: Perfectionist, Accurate, Fact-finder, Diplomatic, Systematic and Conventional. Also per DiSC, his classical profile pattern is the Objective Thinker pattern. Khalil’s top 5 strengths/themes per the StrengthsFinder assessment are: 1) Harmony, 2) Discipline, 3) Consistency, 4) Responsibility, 5) Includer. He is @khalilgarriott across all platforms.
Harald Gasper works as Director of Content Marketing at Serviceplan House of Communication Berlin, one of Europe’s largest owner-managed agency groups. Studied at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he later taught “Creativity and Concept”. In his mid-20s, he founded his own communications agency, then moved to Hamburg. In a decade as creative director at Jung von Matt, he was responsible for the worldwide sales literature of BMW, MINI and Mercedes. Founded the Serviceplan Content Unit in 2011 and looked after clients such as Google and Konica Minolta. Has been teaching Master Classes at Steinbeis University Berlin since 2019.
Ikram Guerd is B2B Healthcare marketing leader with over 18 years of experience both in Europe (France, Switzerland, Denmark) and in the USA. Award-winner and passionate about marketing, she led product management and MarCom strategy in healthcare companies. From product management, through MarCom/ MarTech and digital marketing, she is a proven marketing leader with a full set of experience in leading successful teams, collaborating with partners, getting things done, and driving growth and culture. Passionate about marketing and connecting with people, she enjoys giving back to the community sharing her experience as a women leader with a multicultural experience.
Katie Hammel is the Director of Content Marketing at Going (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights). She previously worked in content marketing and editorial at eBay, Airbnb, TripCreator, AAA, and TripAdvisor, and has contributed freelance travel articles to Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Maxim, and The New York Daily News.
Tim Hanse, the principal consultant at Crossphase, the leading content management agency in the Netherlands, is one of the few global specialists in web content migrations and how to effectively organize those migration projects with the latest software. With over 10 years of experience in planning and managing successful content migrations for Fortune 500 brands, Tim has a proven track records in making the impossible possible.
Jodi Harris is Director of Content Strategy at Informa Connect. She describes her role as a combination of a strategic alchemist, a process architect, and a creative explorer, which is a fancy way of saying she determines what a brand’s greatest content needs, abilities, and opportunities are, then finds ways to bring those ambitious ideals to life. Prior to this role, Jodi spent the past decade developing and managing content initiatives as a consultant, working with clients in the entertainment, CPG, health care, technology, and biotech industries, as well as agencies and media brands. Follow Jodi on Twitter at @Joderama..
Karen Hesse is the founder and CEO of 256, a Content Marketing Institute Agency of the year. Based in Dublin Ireland, 256 services a growing roster of global clients leveraging content to fuel digital transformation. With a 25+ year career in journalism, publishing and content marketing, Karen oversees the development of 256’s proprietary technology Siteseeer to help brands sort their content chaos.
Amy Higgins is an award-winning senior marketing director highly regarded for extensive experience building and developing top integrated marketing teams, including content, campaign, SEO, customer, community, influencer, and social. Recognized as a natural leader with expertise in storytelling, strategic planning, and data-driven insights. Defines and executes marketing strategies that attract, engage, activate, and retain new audiences. When she’s not online, you can find her diving the deep blue ocean, hiking the tallest mountain, or in the jewelry studio crafting wearable art.
Carmen Hill is founder and principal strategist for Chill Content, an independent consultancy that helps marketers connect brand to demand through strategic storytelling and customer-focused content. In a career spanning more than two decades, Carmen has worked as a TV journalist, content strategist, copywriter and marketing director on both the agency and client side. She helped build an award-winning content marketing practice at a leading B2B agency, working on campaigns for global clients such as Adobe, Google and Xerox. Her work has contributed to multiple Content Marketing Awards, and she has been recognized as an industry leader.
Cor Hospes is owner and founder of Merkjournalisten. An Amsterdam-based content marketing agency that makes stories worth sharing for multinationals, government, SME’s and comprehensive schools. Cor wrote several content marketing and storytelling bestsellers. He’s an well-known international speaker, consultant and trainer. Cor lives en works in Amsterdam with this wife Hanneke and two daughters.
Zontee Hou is a passionate digital marketing expert and speaker. She’s the founder of digital marketing agency Media Volery and head of strategy for Jay Baer’s consultancy Convince & Convert. Her 15+ years of marketing industry experience includes work for the IMF, the UN FAO, Allstate Insurance, and Indiana University. She is one of TopRank’s 50 most influential content marketers, and her work has garnered recognition including several PR News Platinum Awards and a Forrester Groundswell Award. She is based in New York City. Learn more at: zonteehou.com or find her on social @ZonteeHou.
Aly Jamison, APR is Sr. Public Relations Manager at RAIN Group, a global sales training company, where she drives media coverage, secures national business and industry awards, and produces client success stories with organizations such as Toyota, BDO, Covetrus, Bright Horizons, and others. With 14+ years of agency and in-house experience, Aly has been featured on Forbes, CommPRO, American Express, PR Daily, PR News, PRSA Tactics, and others. In 2020, Aly won Bronze for Communications Professional of the Year in the Stevie American Business Awards.
Maureen Jann is a veteran B2B marketer who is dedicated to helping organizations find more amazing and magical customers. She is currently the Co-Conspirator + Chief Strategist of Neoluxe Marketing, a strategy and content. Maureen has a Bachelor of Art from San Jose State University and her projects have earned her an MBA from the School of Failed Startups. In her carefully-guarded free time, Maureen loves to roller skate with her daughter and hang out with her husband and two small doggos.
Meredyth Jensen, Founder & CEO, The Eight Agency, is an award-winning brand marketer and strategic communications leader. Meredyth has a 20-year track record of helping publicly-traded global enterprises as well as founder-led startups develop category-creating strategies that build brands, deliver exceptional customer and employee experiences, generate demand and fuel growth.When she’s not collaborating with clients to solve pressing brand and business challenges, she serves as a Board Director with the Branch Museum of Architecture & Design, practices yoga, and collects midcentury modern art and furnishings.
Amanda Jerome is the senior director of content and communications at Fuze, responsible for defining the global content strategy for the company. Throughout her career, she has worked with fast-growing startups, tech companies with $100+M revenue, and VCs.
Joseph Kalinowski I oversee all of the creative and art direction of all CMI/CMW projects. I have worked as an art director for 20 years both in advertising and the publishing industry. My role as creative director is truly an exciting (and fun) one. To be a part of great CMI/CMW initiatives from the earliest ideation to their final release is something very special. I am very fortunate to have such a great team to work with that has a keen sense of creative vision and allows me to lead the charge. @jkkalinowski
Beth Kapes, with the overall mission of developing and delivering a powerful message, I’ve been “Moving Words Into Action” for over 20 years. My clients have varied greatly, but the focus is the same: tell the story that makes a difference. With extensive B2B experience, I’ve collaborated with and empowered national corporate and not-for-profit institutions throughout the country. A firm believer in “strategy first,” I’m always excited to research, learn, define and execute each client’s brand message, not only for their success, but more importantly their audience!
Sharda Kumari is an accomplished Global Business Technology leader with over 15 years of experience in CRM and Enterprise Architecture. She has led enterprise applications engineering, developed technology roadmaps, and excelled at change management, adoption, and business process improvement. Her expertise in cloud computing has driven transformation, growth, and customer satisfaction, while her mentorship and community work for women and underrepresented groups in tech have been remarkable. As a founding member of the WomenTech Network, Sharda has inspired others and positively impacted many lives with her technical expertise and dedication to social responsibility.
Jesper Laursen is passionate about building business through storytelling. He was originally a journalist but has now been working with content marketing and native advertising for more than a decade, both as an international speaker and as a consultant through his businesses. He is the founder of the international think tank, the Native Advertising Institute, the content marketing agency, Brand Movers, and the journalistic production company Media Movers.
Ahava Leibtag, a 2020 inductee into the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame as an Innovative Individual, has 20+ years of experience in content. She has consulted with some of the world’s largest firms to attract and grow their audiences. Ahava is the president and owner of Aha Media Group, LLC, a copywriting, content strategy and content marketing consultancy. She is also the author of The Digital Crown: Winning at Content on the Web and loves a great logic puzzle, a long game of Apples to Apples and anything that has chocolate.
Tiffany N. Lewis of More Meaningful Marketing is a mother, avid coffee drinker, business owner, and self-proclaimed rebel with a lot of meaningful causes. She believes your brand story becomes the reason people do business and continue doing business with you. Tiffany is wildly passionate about helping women merge their personal attributes with their professional offerings in a way that boosts both confidence and business.is a mother, avid coffee drinker, business owner, and self-proclaimed rebel with a lot of meaningful causes. She believes your brand story becomes the reason people do business and continue doing business with you. Tiffany is wildly passionate about helping women merge their personal attributes with their professional offerings in a way that boosts both confidence and business.
Martin Lieberman has managed content marketing programs for big businesses and small ones, as well as B2B and B2C businesses (nonprofit organizations, too), and his work has covered a wide range of industries. Martin started his career in traditional media at Advertising Age, and later, served as the senior managing editor for Continental Airlines’ inflight magazine and Western Union’s Professional Collector magazine, among other publications. Martin has also worked as an in-house content marketer for Constant Contact, Staples, IBM, and the RepTrak Company. He is currently the Director of Content and Programs for RAIN Group, in Boston. @martinlieberman
Siri Lindén is a content creative with a passion for social media. I probably spend way too much time on TikTok and Instagram (but it’s nice that I can always blame my work right?) I have a background as a press photographer from both smaller and bigger advertising agencies, and I have also worked a lot with influencer marketing. In my current role I work with creative direction, content creation and brand development.
Michele Linn is the founder of Mantis Research where she helps content and community managers conduct surveys so they can learn about their audience and publish compelling, original research findings. Prior to Mantis, Michele was head of editorial at Content Marketing Institute, where she led the company’s editorial strategy, helped build the 200,000+ audience and published hundreds of articles. She has been cited as a content marketing influencer and was named one of Folio’s Top Women in Media (Corporate Visionary).
Jacqueline Loch is a content strategy and media executive specializing in content solutions across social, digital, video, print, SEO, research and e-commerce, Jacquie is a branded content/revenue generation expert driving engagement, results, and cultivating C-level relationships. Previously as VP Group Publisher SJC Media and TC Media she oversaw brands including FASHION, ELLE Canada, Canadian Living, and Style at Home, and was formerly VP Content Solutions Rogers Media. She’s a recognized thought leader in marketing solutions and media innovation, Chair of The Content Council (NYC), Board Member for the National Media Awards Foundation (Canada) and a frequent speaker across North America and Europe.
Andrés Lopez-Varela is a senior marketing leader and the head of Storyation, one of Australia’s best regarded content agencies. He’s developed strategies and content targeting audiences in Australia and around the world with more than 15 years experience working for brands like Blackmores, Commonwealth Bank, Nespresso, NRMA, Pfizer, PlayStation, Symantec, and more. Andrés also led the content program for Tourism Australia from 2014 to 2017 where he revamped the tourism body’s content; Australia.com was named among the 25 best tourism websites in the world by travel industry publisher Skift.
Felix Lundqvist is a Swedish art director with a wealth of experience in the advertising and creative industries. After studying at the Bergh’s School of Communication, Lundqvist moved to San Francisco in 2017, where he worked at several top advertising agencies and helped develop award-winning campaigns for clients such as Vitaminwater, Coca-Cola, and Harvest Snaps. Today, Lundqvist is an art director at Critical Mass, collaborating with clients and creatives on the AT&T account to push the boundaries of creativity.
Jenny Magic brings almost 20 years of marketing transformation experience to her change management and team performance practice, Better Way to Say It. One of her clients deemed her a “marketing therapist” years ago for her ability to get a dysfunctional team back on track, and the label stuck. She relies on facilitation skills to build consensus around the tactical areas (processes, workflows and technology) that allow change to actually stick. She is a certified professional coach as well as an external practitioner for the Fearless Organization, using the Psychological Safety Index as a team performance benchmark.
Rachel Mann is Assistant Vice President & Manager of Marketing & Customer Experience at American Fidelity Assurance Company, a national B2B2C insurance and benefits administration company headquartered in Oklahoma City. She is responsible for leading the strategy for all customer-facing experiences and marketing materials including all company websites, online portal, print materials, video content, email marketing, social media and more.
Kerry McCarthy is the managing director of The Native Content Company (TNCC), a virtual content agency. Creating content that organically supports and complements all digital marketing strategies, TNCC drives audience engagement and brand positioning. After two decades in print media in Australia and the UK, Kerry moved into content marketing. Combining journalistic skills with a keen commercial lens, Kerry specialises in creating content strategies across myriad sectors and for all business sizes and sectors. Using storytelling to build brand awareness and commercial outcomes, Kerry creates content that is engaging for the reader and success-driven for the brand.
Beth McCluskey, has over 12 years of experience in marketing and is a self-proclaimed Jane of All Trades, using every tool in her belt—copywriting, design, strategy, web development, SEO, branding, and more—to drive visibility and mission in the market and attract new customers. Her specialty is at the intersection of design and brand, creating compelling stories that resonate visually. Beth’s work has been recognized over the years, picking up accolades from the Stevie Awards, B2B Innovator Awards, and Killer Content Awards. Beth is a military spouse and dog mom and currently lives in Virginia.
Nina McCollum is a content marketing writer with over 29 years of experience in B2B and B2C writing. As a personal essayist, her work has been seen in outlets including The Huffington Post, AARP’s The Ethel, USA Today, Shondaland, and Good Housekeeping. Find her online at NinaWriteNow.com
Cathy McPhillips is Chief Growth Officer at the Marketing AI Institute, overseeing marketing, growth, and customer experience, including MAICON and AI Academy for Marketers. Previously, Cathy led marketing at Content Marketing Institute and Content Marketing World, managed community growth for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, and owned her own strategic digital marketing business focused on restaurants and the service sector. She started her career at two Cleveland advertising agencies. Cathy was a Ohio University Jerry L. Sloan Visiting Professional in Public Relations, is a Folio: Top Women in Media, and a MarTechExec Woman You Need to Know in Martech.
Josh Miles is a brand consultant & fractional CMO for B2B & software startups. As a past TEDx presenter, Josh speaks coast-to-coast, including hosting the design podcast, Obsessed Show. Josh is the author of “Bold Brand 2.0 – How to Leverage Brand Strategy to Reposition, Differentiate and Market your Professional Services Firm.” And is an advisory board member of the Purdue University Lamb School of Communication. Josh is a long-standing advocate for bacon, loves to cook keto, hit the gym, and photograph new places in his travels. Josh lives in Carmel, Indiana with his two ridiculously cute kiddos.
Duncan Milne has worked in the content marketing business both in the U.K. and the U.S. He has managed complex and high-value content programs for companies including Sodexo, Walmart, Whole Foods, Wells Fargo, Johns Hopkins, IKEA, Visa and Kaiser Permanente. Duncan combines a deep understanding of strategy and measurement with a passion for creative and innovative content and consistently drives to always exceed client expectations.
Kim Moutsos joined the team at the Content Marketing Institute as vice president of editorial in September 2017. After working in content marketing for enterprises and startups for more than 20 years, she’s looking forward to exchanging ideas and lessons learned with other content marketing practitioners. You can follow her on Twitter at @KMoutsos or connect with her on LinkedIn
Adam Mullett brings his background as a news journalist, years as a B2B marketer and expertise on implementing and using marketing automation platforms to bear in how he decides to use content to impact on brand, acquisition and retention outcomes. Is there ever a time in life when a story doesn’t make the message clearer, stronger and more likely to spur action?
Lisa Murton Beets is the research director at Content Marketing Institute (CMI). Since 2012, she has been managing all aspects of CMI’s annual content marketing survey and custom research projects. These include custom surveys for brands including LinkedIn, Adobe Connect, PRNewswire, GoAnimate, and Ion Interactive. Lisa works closely with CMI’s executive, strategic, editorial, business development, and marketing/PR teams to deliver valuable insights to content marketers. A former B2B journalist/managing editor, she also has extensive experience as an editorial director/chief editor for a wide range of custom publishing projects and has edited numerous books about marketing. @LisaBeets
Irina Nica is a marketer, blogger, and international keynote speaker based in Dublin, Ireland. She’s currently working at HubSpot where she is focused on Product Marketing for the company’s CRM platform.
Kate O’Neill, widely known as the “Tech Humanist,” is founder and CEO of KO Insights, a strategic advisory firm committed to improving human experience at scale. Her prior roles include creating the first content management role at Netflix and founding [meta]marketer, a digital strategy and analytics agency. Kate regularly keynotes industry events, advocating for humanity’s future in an increasingly tech-driven world. Her insights have been featured in outlets like WIRED, and she has appeared as an expert tech commentator on BBC, NPR, and a wide variety of international media. Kate’s latest books include “A Future So Bright” and “Tech Humanist.”
Susi O’Neill is the Head of B2B Brand Content for Kaspersky, the world’s largest privately-owned cybersecurity firm. For its Brand Activation Studio, a storytelling centre of excellence, she crafts video, podcast, documentary and thought leadership awareness content that turns heads and wins awards. She is Editor-in-Chief of Secure Futures magazine for business leaders, and Tomorrow Unlocked cyberculture channel. She’s a seasoned creative who’s led business content programs for brands including EY, GSK and Unilever. Off the clock, she’s a musician and performer who gives international performances playing theremin, the world’s first electronic instrument.
Brian Piper is the Director of Content Strategy and Assessment at the University of Rochester and is also an author, speaker, and consultant. Brian has been optimizing digital content since 1996. He has spent the last 8 years focusing on data analytics, digital marketing, and content strategy. Since 2021, he has been diving into Web3, community building, NFTs, social tokens, and is the founder of $PIPER coin. He co-authored the second edition of Epic Content Marketing and is a contributing author and editor of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever with Mark Schaefer.
Cassio Politi is founder of Tracto, works as a consultant and content creator of important brands in Brazil, which include banks, software manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, automotive companies, and more. He is the author of both the first book about content marketing written in Portuguese, Content Marketing O Conte que Gera Resultados (2013), and also the most recent one, Content Marketing Masterclass (2020). Currently, Cassio shares his expertise in content marketing by teaching classes in MBA programs at relevant universities in his native country, Brazil. Cassio won the “Brazilian Content Marketer of the Year” award by Digitalks in 2015.
Dan Pratt is the Solutions Director at Digital Agency Wolfenden, overseeing client strategies and agency solutions. Bringing more than 12 years of experience working across an extensive range of sectors and clients including NHSBT, Fortnum & Mason, P&G and Seasalt Cornwall; Dan is passionate about driving performance from acquisition strategies through to onsite experience. He is passionate about creating and delivering strategies through to meaningful and lasting performance. Dan has shared his experience through lecturing, voluntary consultancy and expert panels. Dan’s principles are founded in positivity, collaboration, a performance focus and connecting the audience to what matters to them online.
Nadia Reckmann is a Senior Content Marketing Manager at 256 and a storyteller with a soft spot for B2B and technology companies. With over 12 years of experience working with companies in the American, European, and Asian markets, Nadia had a chance to shape the brand voices of established tech giants like Wrike, global tech accelerators, and up-and-coming startups. From project management to CRM to water technology to copyright infringement protection, Nadia believes there are no “boring” industries — only lazy storytelling.
Andi Robinson is a content strategist who lives south of Indianapolis, Indiana. She has worked in the digital marketing space for more than fifteen years in a wide variety of industries. She owns Hijinx Marketing, a small business consultancy that provides marketing strategy and support to small businesses in the Indianapolis area. Andi is the author of The Content Puzzle…and the Missing Piece. She was the 2021 CMI Community Champion award winner and a multi-year Content Marketing World speaker. She is also an Adjunct Faculty member at the Lacy School of Business at Butler University, teaching MBA-level marketing courses.
Robert Rose is the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of The Content Advisory – the education and advisory group of The Content Marketing Institute. As a strategist, Robert has worked with more than 500 companies including global brands such as Capital One, Dell, Ernst & Young, Hewlett Packard, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Robert is the author of three books. His latest is Killing Marketing, with co-author Joe Pulizzi and is how marketing can truly be transformed into a profit center for the business. His last book, Experiences: The 7th Era of Marketing, was called a treatise, and a call to arms for marketers to lead business innovation in the 21st century. Robert is also an early-stage investor and advisor to a number of technology startups, serving on the advisory boards for a number of companies, including DivvyHQ. @Robert_Rose
Dan Rubin is a 25+ year veteran of digital and content marketing bringing expertise from working with Fortune 500 clients across industry verticals. Dan is responsible for strategic and marketing solutions for Foundry 360 and Targeted Media Health. Additionally, he oversees the Awards and Accolades business. Prior to Meredith’s acquisition of Time, Inc. Dan was the founder and led Studio M, Meredith Digital’s native content studio. Dan has judged at award shows for the ANA, Digiday and the Content Marketing Institute. He is also a frequent speaker including at Content Marketing World, Mediapost’s Content Marketing Insider Summit, Digiday, and others.
Buddy Scalera is a content strategist and digital pioneer with over 15 years of pharmaceutical multichannel marketing experience. He is an innovative team leader delivering excellence in digital marketing strategy, content engineering, website development, social media, distance learning, mobile marketing strategy, content creation, and content governance. Buddy is a respected thought leader in the strategic and technical aspects of component content management systems (CCMS). He has developed enterprise-level CCMS platforms for web, social, and mobile content delivery. He is currently working at IQVIA as Director, Commercial Content Product Management.
Michiel Schoonhoven is founder of Next Level Impact (NXTLI), a purpose driven Content Marketing Agency based in the country of “orange”, The Netherlands. Michiel works with a broad variety of (inter)national clients to develop and execute content marketing programs with impact. He’s using data and leading edge technologies to increase audiences, engagement and profits. Responsible for reaching tens of millions of people globally each month, Next Level’s client list includes entertainment, sports and other organizations. Michiel helps his clients by using content marketing, social media, YouTube, Spotify, messaging, chatbots, e-mail and websites. Michiel has over 10 years of experience in content marketing and is a lifetime member of the Content Marketing World attendees club. He’s attended all Content Marketing Worlds to-date. @schoonhoven
Eli Schwartz is the author of Product Led SEO, and he is an SEO expert and consultant with more than a decade of experience driving successful SEO and growth programs for leading B2B and B2C companies. He helps clients like WordPress, Shutterstock, BlueNile, Quora, Getaround, Mixpanel, and Zendesk build and execute Global SEO strategies that dramatically increase their organic visibility at scale.
Mark Scully is 256’s Head of Digital Innovation and Strategy leading the development of the agency’s proprietary technology to support client work bringing insights to data. Mark is a former Digital Marketing Manager, an SEO Specialist and founder of the Learn Inbound community. Mark has extensive knowledge of the Google suite of tools required to unlock digital insights and uses his experience to produce award-winning data-driven digital ecosystems. He is well-versed in content distribution, amplification strategies and data analytics. He has advanced knowledge of customer behaviour evolves and the importance of digital content in relation to brand engagement and audience growth.
Andrew Seibert founded Imprint as a full-service content marketing agency in early 2013. His experience at American Express, GE Capital, Time, Inc., and Hearst and Dow Jones (as President and Publisher of the SmartMoney joint venture) provides him both a client and publisher perspective on content marketing. Just nine years old, Imprint has received 15 nominated for Content Marketing Agency of the Year by four different organizations, winning four times. Andy served for a decade on the Board of The Content Council and is one of the founders of Global Voices, a content marketing collective.
Nenad Senic from Slovenia is a Brand Editor at the 2018 Content Marketing Agency of the Year, PM. He has created and edited more than 50 (some award-winning) customer magazines and other digital brand media. In 2021, he was one of the nominees for the UK Editor of the Year award (for the second time). He’s given presentations on content marketing in the USA, Australia, Poland, Turkey, Serbia, and in his native country Slovenia. He has judged the US, the UK and Slovenian content marketing and advertising awards.
Dennis Shiao is an independent marketing consultant who works with brands on content marketing, product messaging, and social media marketing. Formerly, Dennis led the content marketing function at DNN Software. Dennis curates an email newsletter called Content Corner and publishes marketing-related content on Medium. Feel free to reach out to Dennis on Twitter @dshiao.
Emily Silber is an Executive Editor for Foundry 360 at Dotdash Meredith. She has more than eight years’ experience producing branded content for clients across all formats and industry sectors, specializing in health, science and personal finance. Most recently, she was the editor of Millie and Proto. She uses analytics, SEO, her background in marketing services and her artistic bent to help brands tell stories that are smart, engaging and trustworthy.
Stephanie Stahl, As General Manager of CMI, I lead the brand’s event and digital operations and get to work with the best team on the planet! Previously, I served as VP of Content Marketing for UBM’s Technology portfolio, providing strategic guidance on content development, content optimization, audience engagement, and go-to-market platforms for our technology clients. I’ve worked for UBM, which is now owned by Informa, for more than two decades, helping shape new multimedia content and event offerings. I live in the Washington, DC area with my husband and we enjoy spending time taking care of our many pets and visiting our two daughters on their college campuses.
Frank Strong is the founder and president of Sword and the Script Media, LLC, a veteran-owned business focused on content marketing, PR and social media for B2B tech. The consultancy grew out of a blog he started more than a decade ago in the interest of professional development. Strong worked in-house and for agencies for nearly 20 years prior to starting his consultancy. At his last corporate position with LexisNexis, he built an industry-leading blog on legal tech that was directly attributed to driving awareness and sales.
Meg Sullivan has crafted thoughtful, nuanced communications strategies that deliver top and bottom-line results for more than 25 years. Since 2017, she has worked as a Managing Director at Imprint, an award-winning strategy and content marketing agency based in NYC, where her work with clients encompasses virtually every area of the marketing eco-system. Meg previously spent 10 years at Fidelity Investments in marketing leadership roles where she held her Series 7, 6 and 24 licenses. Meg earned a B.A. from McGill University and an M.S. from Boston University and is a former Peace Corps Volunteer (Kenya 1992-1994).
James Tennant is a copywriter and content marketer with over 10 years experience. He has written copy and content strategies for hundreds of businesses, including the likes of eBay, Gumtree, UK Gov, and Universal Studios. Now he runs Converge – helping businesses amplify their content to more of the right people, every day.
Christoph Trappe is a globally recognized content marketing expert and author of “Is marketing a good career?” He leads content strategy at Voxpopme, a market research software company, and has helped companies create better content for their target audiences throughout his career. He blogs at christophtrappe.com.
Marina Budnik (Treshchova) is the Partner and COO of Top Lead, an award winning content marketing agency with core specialization in data visualization, that knows how to explain complex things in simple language. As a COO she oversees all processes of content production. She also managed the launch of the company’s media projects – Aggeek.net and Business Views. In addition to being a strong business management specialist, Marina has more than 10 years of experience in content marketing, visual and communications solutions, including visual communication, content strategy and PR.
Bert van Loon (Netherlands) grew up in publishing, experiencing the industry’s open-heart surgery called “switching business from print-only to cross media” from the operation theater. Over the last years he has been delivering modern marketing communication strategies to brands, using his publishers’ experience to help them building an audience, starting a dialogue and turning eyeballs into business leads. Bert is a in-demand keynote speaker at events around the globe. His motto: “I believe #ContentMarketing is to today, what advertising was to the 60s! Mad Men become Meaningful Men!”
Jenn VandeZande is an experienced writer, editor, and content strategist. She’s the Editor in Chief of The Future of Commerce, an industry award-winning site. Her strengths lie in crafting emotionally engaging, human-first content that grows loyal subscribers who become customers. To the dismay of her developer and managing editor, she also loves playing an SEO expert on the internet, and drilling down into the details that make content work – or not.
Carol Lin Vieira is a seasoned public relations and marketing professional with a strong track record of securing appearances, awards, and placing articles, expert quotes, and other thought leadership content in top-tier news outlets. She has worked across numerous sectors including healthcare, blockchain, consumer goods, non-profits, science, tech, and tax, and has created multiple award-winning PR and Content Marketing campaigns. She graduated from the University of Virginia and resides in Rhode Island.
Jasmine Williams is an award-winning writer, content marketing expert, and the founder of Jasmine Williams Media, a boutique content marketing consultancy serving a global roster of industry-leading companies and visionaries. She’s also the founder of Click-worthy Creatives, an education hub and community for freelance creatives. Jasmine helps creative entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and growth-stage startups scale their businesses with strategic storytelling.
Fleur Willemijn is an experienced Content Director, Head of Marketing, bringing content and social to the next level. From strategy to implementation whilst content becomes accountable. With almost 25 years of experience with 40+ top-notch brands, as a devil’s advocate, I help brands to create content and social that have impact. Happy to share my knowledge and lessons learned to raise the content bar.
Daisy Wolfenden has been Managing Director of Wolfenden since 2015, bringing a strong focus on developing successful client relationships. She has over 15 years’ of valuable experience leading digital accounts marketing strategies for some of the most recognisable brands, including Virgin Holidays, Tesco, and Morrisons. Having spoken at many trade shows and events across the region about everything search focused from content to data, Daisy’s passion lies in meeting businesses who share the same ambition to always be striving for better. She loves uncovering where the growth potential lies for businesses and making it possible within their budget, regardless of channel.
Ashley Zeckman is the Vice President Strategy and Customer Success for Onalytica. In addition to finding innovative ways to showcase the exceptional work of her team, she drives strategy for influencer and content programs for mid-size and enterprise B2B clients.
