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2019 AMA Leadership Summit

Rosemont, IL

AMA NEXT: Navigate Extraordinary

The AMA Leadership Summit brings together our professional chapter leaders from across the country to share insight, encourage each other and inspire our community to build a stronger AMA. It’s a mix of educational learning experiences and social activity meant to empower our One AMA community.

Save your seat now. Registration closes April 1, 2019*.

*Please note, this is an AMA members-only event. 


What’s NEXT?

Effective leaders acknowledge leading toward an unknown future is hard and uncertain. They address it and honor this reality with their teams. They don’t choose to ignore it. Then they inspire their teams to use the vision for what’s ahead as a rare opportunity to make a big impact. How do great leaders lead change?

They Nurture and Empower eXtradordinary Talent

  • Creating sustainability in chapters requires NURTURING leaders.
  • The most successful chapters are ones that have ENGAGED board members and chapter membership. 
  • Change comes about because we need to provide value. Putting the EXTRAORDINARY in all parts of running a chapter gives an edge others don’t have.
  • What makes change possible is the TALENT required to put these elements into play to take everything to the NEXT level.

Conference App

Stay up to date with everything that’s happening at event.

Click below to download or search for “American Marketing Association” in the app store.


Conference Co-Chairs

Holly Parsons
Professional Chapters Council
AMA Alaska
Aaron Templer
Professional Chapters Council
AMA Denver

Volunteer of the Year

We’re excited to present the 2019 Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award as a part of Leadership Summit.


What to Expect

Here’s a glimpse of last year’s event.


AMA Professional Chapters Council

  • Robin Tooms, PCC President, AMA Houston
  • Aaron Templer, Leadership Summit Co-Chair, PCC Programming Team, AMA Colorado
  • Joey Taylor-Moon, 2016-17 CEA Winner, Bronze Chapter of the Year, AMA Iowa
  • Mihali Stavlas, PCC Advisory Team Chair, President-Elect, AMA Triangle
  • Matt Schaeffer, PCC Leadership Advisory Team, AMA PDX
  • Rachel Saltsgaver, 2016-2017 CEA Winner, AMA Indy
  • Stewart Law, PCC Programming Team, Regional Retreats Chair, AMA Oklahoma City
  • Holly Parsons, Leadership Summit Co-Chair, PCC Programming Team, AMA Alaska
  • Gina Bonar, 2016-2017 CEA Winner, AMA Cincinnati
  • Angela Brustche, PCC Immediate Past President, AMA Austin
  • Michael Fleischner, 2016-17 CEA Winner, AMA New Jersey

AMA Conference Policies

Friday, May 3

Registration and AMA Support Center Resource Tables Open

Connect with AMA staff to learn about the resources, benefits and activities AMA Support Center provides for chapter volunteers, members and customers.

  • Chapter and Membership Operations 
  • Member Engagement and Experience
  • Programming, Content and Certification
  • Sponsorships and Partnerships
  • Academic Content and Community 
  • Collegiate Community and AMA Foundation

Coffee Meet and Greet

Conference Kick Start (Optional): "Culture is an Improvisational Art"

While many businesses talk about the importance of culture, few actually provide any sort of scaffolding upon which culture can be built and maintained. Kelly Leonard uses his experience leading the world famous Second City Theatre and draws from his best-selling book “Yes, And,” to provide a compelling and interactive keynote on how improvisation practices can help embed the kind of behaviors that promote the culture you want: a culture that is fearless, caring and adaptable. 

Kelly Leonard

Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation, The Second City and Second City Works

Summit Kick Off, Opening Luncheon and CEA Celebration

Our opening celebration of award winning chapters is sure to motivate and inspire you! Help us launch our big, bold weekend with Chapter Excellence Award winners’ stories combined with powerful collective energy and camaraderie.

Break

Summit Overview

Learn how to maximize your AMA Leadership Summit experience.

AMA Support Center Update

Learn about what exciting changes are underway and what lies ahead for the AMA as we are in the midst of a transformation to improve our value proposition and become the essential community for marketers.

Networking Break

General Breakout

Board in a Box Session

We’ll break out into leadership roles for a session discussing what YOU’d like to hear from other chapters regarding your roles. We’ll vote on topics of interest and discuss the most pressing with a “been there, done that” approach.​

  • Presidents 
  • Elects
  • Membership
  • Programming 
  • Communications
  • Sponsorship/Finance 
  • Collegiate/Foundations
Prerequisites: 2+ years prior Summit attendance; not filling role of first-time President or President-Elect this year

SAVVY Track: National Involvement Opportunities

AMA’s ‘boots on the ground’ are our chapter volunteers and our SAVVY track Summit attendees know that better than most, having been engaged with chapters for years. But did you also know you can contribute in other areas of AMA? Attend this session to learn how. We’ll answer questions like, “How does someone get on the PCC?” or “How does AMA’s Board of Directors work?” We’ll also discuss AMA’s many different Councils beyond the PCC and other national volunteer opportunities, such as task forces to support key initiatives or content contribution opportunities for chapter leaders. Having just launched a new platform that cultivates member engagement better than ever, we’d also love to hear your ideas for how we can help chapter volunteers continue their AMA leadership journey in new ways. If you’re an experienced AMA leader with an appetite for more, join us for the discussion.

Angela Brutsché​

PCC Immediate Past President, Austin Chapter​

Stacy Armijo

Austin Chapter, Ric Sweeney Volunteer of the Year

Collaboration Over Cocktails: Meet Your PCC Leadership Advisor

keynote

What’s Next: Owning Change, Talent, and Influence in Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Marketing Landscape

Marketing leaders, maybe more than any other professionals, need to tune in their NEXT skills. We all face crowded and noisy landscapes, with technologies that change exponentially, in an age when consumers have never had more power, making decisions with data that’s more babble than signal, all while managing young, hungry, creative minds who demand agency over their lives. It isn’t just about understanding marketing trends. It’s about finding and nurturing talent that keeps teams on the front of the curve, and it’s about cultivating cultures that thrive on change. This panel brings together three front-line marketing change agents who understand the challenges and power of change and will help you keep your NEXT skills sharp.

Anita Puri

Executive Vice President, Group Account Director, Leo Burnett

Nneka Carrie Ude

Director of Strategic Planning, Geometry Global

Angela Pih

CMO, Halston

Saturday, May 4

Breakfast

LOUDtables

The energy is infectious and so are the ideas! Share and learn with your chapter peers in one of the highest rated events of AMA Leadership Summit. Topics include:

  • Board Recruitment & Succession Planning 
  • Board Management & Operations
  • Beyond the Board: Utilizing Volunteers & Committees
  • Implementing Project Management Tools 
  • Financial Management 
  • Data & Reporting (Insights)
  • Participating in Chapter Excellence Awards
  • Communications Best Practices 
  • Social Media Strategies
  • Membership Value 
  • Membership Retention 
  • Bridging the Collegiate/Young Professional Gap 
  • Executive Programming 
  • Offering the Right Programming Mix 
  • Speaker Recruitment Strategies 
  • Hosting Chapter Awards Programs 
  • Recruiting Sponsors
  • Developing Sponsorship Packages 
  • Giving Back to Your Community 
  • SAVVY: Keeping Past Presidents Engaged

Break

General Breakout

Role Sessions

We’ll break out into leadership roles for a session discussing what YOU’d like to hear from other chapters regarding your roles. We’ll vote on topics of interest and discuss the most pressing with a “been there, done that” approach.​

  • Presidents 
  • Elects
  • Membership
  • Programming 
  • Communications
  • Sponsorship/Finance 
  • Collegiate & Community Relations
Prerequisites: 2+ years prior Summit attendance; not filling role of first-time President or President-Elect this year

SAVVY Track: Second City Storytelling Workshop

Humans have craved stories since the first cavemen gathered around the first fire and talked about how they discovered fire. It’s in our DNA. And yet, from sales reps to senior executives, storytelling falls victim to scripted pitches and underwhelming memos. Bring your product, processes, ideas, and data to life with this interactive workshop by Second City Works.

Rachel Miller

Workshop Facilitator, Second City

Shad Kunkle

Workshop Facilitator, Second City

Break

Lunch and Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award Presentation

To stay strong, you need a little down time, and a lot of motivation. Join us for a relaxing lunch, take time to chat with your tablemates, and hear from our inspirational Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award winner.

General Breakout

Challenge Sessions

This new curriculum is focused on the people and process part of board management. Split into two tracks, these topics will provide the opportunity to explore areas relevant to your chapter’s current situation and explore best practices with other chapter leaders, regardless of your board role. Check in with your PCC Leadership Advisor to identify the best track/session for your chapter:

  • Metropolitan Challenges 
  • Large Geographic Coverage Challenges 
  • Stalled Community Engagement Challenges 
  • Steering the Cruise Ship Challenges 
  • Competitive Environment Challenges
  • Starting Over Challenges
PREREQUISITES: 2+ YEARS prior SUMMIT ATTENDANCE; NOT FILLING ROLE OF first-time PRESIDENT OR PRESIDENT-ELECT THIS YEAR

SAVVY Track: The Rise of Social Purpose in Business

Across every dimension of the economy, there is a growing movement to integrate business strategy and social purpose. Investors are now measuring environmental and social impacts alongside financial returns. Companies are developing new products with the simultaneous goals of creating shareholder and societal value. And consumers are increasingly expressing their values through their buying decisions. What is behind this rise in socially conscious business? And how do we accelerate the movement from here?

Suggested pre-read found here.

Seth Green

Founding Director, Baumhart Center, Loyola University Chicago

Break

Strategic Planning Overview

A strong strategic plan is the foundation for an effective board year, and it’s the culmination of everything you’ve learned at Summit. Gain a better understanding of the elements of a powerful and actionable strategic plan and the power of One Big Thing from the Robin Tooms, current PCC president, award-winning past Houston AMA President, and brilliant strategic thinker. You’ll leave with an enhanced strategic planning resource kit to help you set a strong foundation for your chapter year.

Action Plan Meetings (previously Strategic Planning Workshops)

You’re nearly done with the conference. You and your team are bursting with ideas and creative ways to attack your year. Now’s the time—while the iron is hot—to debrief with your team about what’s NEXT. To declare the three biggest takeaways to act on when you return to your chapter, and what your One Big Thing that you and your chapter will rally around this year. This is your starting place for your strategic plan, and what you’re committing to act on when you return. PCC Leadership Advisors are available to help you chart your course for the year ahead, but feel free to break off with your chapter on your own and discuss as a team.

AMA Dine-Arounds (Optional)

Interested in exploring Chicago and its neighborhoods but not sure where to start? Sign-up for a dine-around! We’ve made reservations at restaurants throughout the city to provide an informal opportunity for continued networking, stimulating conversation, and peer learning. Restaurants sign-up instructions will be revealed on-site and in the app.

Gene & Georgetti’s of Rosemont
Harry Caray’s Rosemont
Kizuki Ramen & Izikaya
The Dawson
Eris Brewery & Cider House

Sunday, May 5

Breakfast

Leadership Skill Building

That was Yesterday!

Marketers are addicted to storytelling; and they are at risk of losing yet more of their portfolio as they have with sales, pricing, business analytics, supply chain, and distribution. This session will put you back in charge with what’s next for marketing leaders for 21st Century brand-building; using Russ Klein’s new and original construct, Brand = Experience STORY

Russ Klein

CEO, American Marketing Association

Leadership Skill Building

Leading the Creative Mind

As marketers, we’ve long know what businesses are just now catching up to: Creativity drives serious value in organizations. And those who know how to create a culture where creative minds can thrive—be it in a marketing context or otherwise—have a competitive advantage. Attracting, retaining, cultivating, and directing the creative mind is the leadership challenge of our times. Especially for marketing departments. Creative minds drive innovation, the ability to synthesize data, and solve problems in powerful ways outside the marketing discipline. This workshop will give you key insights, a fundamental approach, and basic skills for leading the creative talent in your teams.

Mihali Stavlas

President-Elect, Professional Chapter Council, Triangle Chapter

Break

keynote

VISION: NEXT

The innovation team of Big Muse & C’EST WHAT? will be producing a highly engaging, music-driven experience that inspires future-focused thinking and extraordinary action, placing everyone in the ideal frame of mind to create what’s coming next.

Michael Perman

Founder, C’EST WHAT?

Peter Himmelman

Grammy and Emmy Nominated Songwriter, Author and Visual Artist

Closing Remarks

Kelly Leonard

Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation, The Second City and Second City Works

Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, overseeing The Second Science Project with the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. His book, “Yes, And,” was published to critical acclaim by HarperCollins. Kelly has spoken at Aspen Ideas Festival, Microsoft and TEDxBroadway and hosts the podcast “Getting to Yes, And” for WGN and Second City. For over twenty years, he oversaw Second City’s live theatrical divisions working with such talent as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Keegan Michael Key and others.

Twitter: @KLsecondcity

Anita Puri

Executive Vice President, Group Account Director, Leo Burnett

Anita Puri is executive vice president, group account director at Leo Burnett. Anita is a client business lead for Leo Burnett.

Prior to joining Leo Burnett, Puri most recently served as chief growth officer of Ounce of Prevention Fund, where she was responsible for leading the marketing, innovation and development functions. As chief growth officer, she led brand identity and positioning development for both Ounce and Educare brands, and the resulting creative and integrated campaigns for multiple programs. She also introduced two new products, increased private funding year on year through audience expansion and micro-fundraising strategies, and developed new cause marketing partnerships.

Prior to the Ounce, Puri was senior vice president, marketing at Digitas where she led various B2B and B2C clients, including Miller-Coors and Kraft. She also held leadership roles at PepsiCo. where she led the Quaker Equity and the Consumer Insights & Strategy teams.

Nneka Carrie Ude

Director of Strategic Planning, Geometry Global

A strategist by nature and designer at heart, Nneka Ude is a highly versatile marketer and tech enthusiast who has spent the last 16 years connecting the dots between people, brands, and culture for brands like Stella Artois, Maker’s Mark, CenturyLink, Coca-Cola, and Barefoot Wines. In 2017, she founded Welcome To THE PATH, a media startup and digital community exploring the impact and influence of the African diaspora in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, tech and culture – in the U.S. and around the globe. 

A Chicago native and longtime Bronzeville resident, Nneka holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MBA in Marketing/International Business from Loyola University Chicago as well as a Digital Marketing Certificate from DePaul University.

Angela Pih

CMO, Halston

Angela is a growth accelerator, brand whisperer and creative marketer who specializes in fast-paced companies, to bridge business challenges with marketing solutions.  With a focus on premium lifestyle brands ranging from beauty, fashion and luxury, Angela is a global marketer who is sought after to spearhead strategic and creative initiatives that energize brands and drive business results.  Angela is attuned to developing collaborative and multi-disciplinary team successes to forge lasting results.  Having lived on three continents and traveled to over forty countries, Angela believes there are universal truths that connect all of us and that we are more similar than we are different.  Currently the CMO of Halston, Angela has held numerous executive level leadership positions for multi-national companies and has mentored many future executives.

Rachel Miller

Workshop Facilitator, Second City

Rachel Miller works as a facilitator and designer of corporate workshops and performs live and on camera for Second City Works. With nearly 20 years of facilitation experience, she is also on the faculty of The Second City Training Center and does freelance work for BI Worldwide and August Jackson. Rachel received a Masters of Arts Administration from Indiana University and has worked for Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, Columbia Artists Management and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She worked in Amsterdam for 5-1/2 years at comedy theater Boom Chicago where in addition to performing she developed the improvisation and corporate workshop curriculum before returning to Chicago. A few of her favorite performing credits: Second City’s Improv All-Stars, guitar/vocal improv duo Vlad & Rachel, Second City’s National Touring Company, Breathing on Cougarness, BFF:DOA, freestyle-rapping at U2’s “Vertigo” European Tour Party and the 9 words she said on an episode of Chicago Fire. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Performance in Oboe from Indiana University.

Shad Kunkle

Workshop Facilitator, Second City

Shad Kunkle is an actor, improv comedian and communications professional with more than a decade of experience on stage and screen. He has performed with Chicago’s famed theater The Second City for more than six years, appearing in productions including “South Side of Heaven,” “What the Tour Guide Didn’t Tell You: A Chicago Revue” and “Sex in the Second City: iLove.” He also toured the country with Second City’s Blue Company. With Second City Communications, which works with more than 400 companies each year, he is a top trainer, facilitator, host and performer. Shad honed his craft at Comedy Sportz and IO Chicago, where he currently performs with long-running improv shows Carl and The Passions and the Armando Diaz Experience. He also does voice over and commercial work, appearing in spots for Walmart and Long John Silver’s, among others. Shad loves his wife, Kate, their daughters, Anna and Winifred, and their belligerently disruptive cat, Azul.

Angela Brutsché​

PCC Immediate Past President, Austin Chapter​

Angela has been involved in AMA for over a decade and served as president of the Austin, Texas Chapter of the AMA in 2011. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English from St. Edward’s University. With experience in association management and a strong belief in the benefits that great associations like AMA bring to the community, Angela earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2009. 

Stacy Armijo

Austin Chapter, Ric Sweeney Volunteer of the Year

Stacy Armijo is Chief Experience Officer for Amplify Credit Union and a 15-year volunteer with AMA, currently as Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors. Dedicated professional, avid member of many boards and proud wife & mama, Stacy’s involvement in AMA has built her career and led her to some of her favorite people in the world.

Seth Green

Founding Director, Baumhart Center, Loyola University Chicago

Seth Green is the founding director of the Baumhart Center, an interdisciplinary center at Loyola University Chicago that equips Chicagoland leaders and students with the business tools to accelerate social impact. Green is also an executive lecturer in the Management Department of Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business, where he teaches courses on nonprofit leadership, social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility.

Green joined Loyola after 15 years of leading institutions at the forefront of fighting poverty and expanding opportunity. Most recently, he served as executive director of Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.), a Chicagoland nonprofit that prepares low-income youth for post-secondary and life success. 

Green currently serves on the Impact Investing Advisory Council of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, on the Council of Advisors of Loyola Limited and as a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.

Russ Klein

CEO, American Marketing Association

Russell Klein has quarterbacked teams for many of the world’s foremost brand names—holding top marketing and advertising posts at Dr Pepper/7UP Companies, Gatorade, 7-Eleven Corporation, Burger King Corporation, and Arby’s Restaurant Group. As CEO for the American Marketing Association, Russ is charged with the transformation of the AMA to become the essential community for marketers.

Mihali Stavlas

President-Elect, Professional Chapter Council, Triangle Chapter

Mihali Stavlas is the founder and CEO of Mellōnaid, an analytical and creative-driven agency in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the past 12 years at Mellōnaid, Stavlas has helped clients capture and recreate their brand’s story, build brand experience and online platforms by encompassing the full spectrum of all its touch points: identity, collateral materials, advertising, marketing, user experience and interactive media. In addition to overseeing Mellōnaid, Stavlas currently serves as President-Elect for AMA’s Professional Chapter Council and has been recognized by the marketing community as the 2015-2016 Triangle AMA Volunteer of the Year and a recent recipient of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award in 2017.

Michael Perman

Founder, C’EST WHAT?

Michael Perman galvanizes teams and whole organizations to think and act differently, while helping them envision a future of prosperity and growth. Michael is the founder of C’EST WHAT? a mindful innovation firm based in San Francisco.

Under his leadership, people become better equipped to make strategic choices regarding where to invest their time, energy and resources for growth. Perman has extensive experience in leading C-Level and Board of Directors-level strategy sessions to establish a future path.

Perman believes innovation is the “ability to perceive alternative realities and the courage to act upon those visions.” His dynamic and creative presentations and workshops illuminate this concept and provides advice on how organizations can take action.

Peter Himmelman

Grammy and Emmy Nominated Songwriter, Author and Visual Artist

With timeless albums like This Father’s Day and From Strength to Strength, Peter Himmelman won a permanent place in the hearts of countless rock fans. Now, the Grammy and Emmy-nominated musician channels his decades of experience in the creative arts to help companies build trust and resilience across their organization, fostering teams that are stronger, more innovative, and more engaged.

Himmelman is the founder of Big Muse, a creative consultancy whose clients include the Gap, Adobe, McDonald’s and other Fortune 500s. He’s delivered his interactive programs to senior executives and students at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. His critically acclaimed book, Let Me Out, systemizes and simplifies the often arduous challenge of turning an idea into a reality.

In addition to helping corporate teams across the U.S. access and unleash their own creativity, Himmelman continues to write and perform new music. His insights on innovation have been published in ForbesTime and the Huffington Post.

Conference Location

Westin O’Hare
6100 North River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: (847) 698-6000

Room Rates:

$149.00 single/double occupancy (plus tax)

Rates are based on availability. Please reserve your overnight accommodations early as there are a limited number of AMA special rates available.

Or call (888) 627-8517 and reference AMA Leadership Summit 2019.

The reservation cut-off date is Thursday, April 4, 2019.

 

Conference Attire

Your wardrobe for the AMA Leadership Summit is business casual, with an emphasis on comfortable. Conference rooms tend to be chilly and warm up as rooms fill, so consider a light sweater or jacket to layer with.

Friday evening we will enjoy a cocktail hour before dinner. This is the more formal night of our weekend, so please wear business attire.

Saturday night will be your night to enjoy the town! Many attendees may choose to take a trip downtown to enjoy Chicago’s fine dining and nightlife, so look to have fun and dress accordingly.

 

Additional Items to Pack

All conference materials will be supplied, so there’s no need to bring binders or notebooks. However, do consider bringing samples of marketing materials from your chapter to share with other leaders. We recommend packing at least 20 samples of your chapter’s marketing materials, from newsletters to membership directories. This is the chance to share and show off your great work!

AMA leaders are great networkers, so bring lots of business cards.

Most importantly, “pack” an enthusiastic and committed team. We strongly recommend you bring as many of your team as possible to the AMA Leadership Summit. A strong leadership team is the most effective way to deliver value, not to mention investing in your AMA power players creates accountability, buy-in and AMA passion in return.

 

Ground Transportation

The Westin O’Hare offers daily complimentary shuttle service to and from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. For domestic flights, pick up is at the hotel shuttle center, which is at door three located just off the baggage claim area. Between midnight and 5:00 am, please call (847) 698-6000 to arrange service. 

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours a day. A trip between the airport and the hotel takes just about 15 minutes and costs $2.25 per passenger. The Rosemont Blue Line station is located just under a half-mile walk from the Westin O’Hare.

A taxi trip takes just under 10 minutes, and the estimated fare is $15 for a single passenger.

AMA Leadership Summit attendees will receive discounted parking at the hotel.

 

ADA

The AMA is committed to providing equal access to our meetings for all attendees. If you are an attendee with a disability and require program accommodations, please contact the AMA Support Center (800-AMA-1150 or customersupport@ama.org), and a member of our staff will ensure that appropriate access arrangements are made. If you have specific disability-related needs for your hotel sleeping room, please be sure to communicate those directly to the hotel when you make your reservation. In an effort to provide the highest quality of service to all attendees, we require that details of all access requests be communicated to our office at least 14 days in advance of the beginning of the meeting.

 

 

 

Special thanks to all our event sponsors!
Interested in exhibiting? Please reach out to Felipe at freyes@ama.org to learn more.

 


Cocktail Reception Sponsor

 

 

Platinum Sponsor

 

 

Sponsors

 

 

 

2019 AMA Leadership Summit