9:00am // Registration

Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort and Conference Center, Swan Ballroom 10
 

10:00am - 3:00pm // Conference Sessions

Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort and Conference Center, Swan Ballroom 10

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Smarter Sales, Real Results: How AI Is Powering Change at Hearst Newspapers

Modernizing sales and training inside a legacy newspaper organization comes with unique challenges especially when digital transformation, new product rollouts, and cross-divisional collaboration are accelerating all at once. At Hearst Newspapers, Sales Operations, Enablement and AI have teamed up to meet the moment.
 
In this session, Katerina White, Director of Sales Operations and Enablement for HNP, and Mike McCarthy, Senior Director of AI Business Solutions for HNP, will share how their teams are applying AI to streamline onboarding, modernize training, and drive adoption of new products and processes. From building GPT-powered tools that support tenured reps, to supporting market rollouts, they’ll offer practical examples of how tradition and innovation can coexist and thrive.
 
Attendees will leave with practical insights and proven examples of how operational strategy and AI innovation can come together to drive real results in today’s fast-changing media environment.
 

Katerina White, Director of Sales Operations and Enablement - Hearst Newspapers

Michael McCarthy, Sr. Director of AI, Sales and Business Solutions - Hearst Newspapers

 

Case Study: Reactivating Digital Subscribers with SMS - The Spokesman-Review

To address the challenges associated with email marketing, Aaron Kotarek, GM & COO of the Spokane Spokesman-Review made the move to implement an SMS marketing strategy with mobile messaging. This approach involved following key steps including data collection, direct & Instant Messaging, and testing, tuning, and optimization. After just five (!) mobile messaging campaigns -- powered by the Subtext platform -- the team saw incredible results: 

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• 350%+ Increase in Reactivated Subscriptions: By utilizing SMS, the group achieved a remarkable increase in reactivated digital subscriptions, outperforming previous email campaign results.

• Improved Engagement Rates: SMS messages garnered significantly higher open and response rates compared to email, demonstrating the effectiveness of direct and immediate communication.

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Moderated by Bill Bradley, Vice President of Business Development - Subtext

Aaron Kotarek, General Manager & COO - The Spokane Spokesman-Review

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Case Study: Automating Opportunity-to-Order with Hubspot - Postmedia Network

The Lead-to-Cash workflow is one of a newspaper's most critical and complex processes, yet executives rarely pay any real attention to it. It is simply the collection of all activities—from finding a lead, processing orders and, finally, getting paid. It’s a complicated process that requires a lot of people, systems, integrations, and workflows. Those who focus on optimizing the Lead-to-Cash ecosystem get a well oiled machine that can drive revenue while keeping costs down. In this session, we’ll see how Postmedia Network implemented a world-class solution to automate order creation from Hubspot opportunities. 

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In this session, we’ll tap both live demo and discussion so you can learn how to: 

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• Automate the opportunity to order process

• Implement a CRM-centric solution for sales teams

• Drive key production and fulfillment processes from your CRM

• Eliminate low value / high touch processes with smart automation

• Structure successful integrations regardless of your CRM or OMS platforms

• Increase CRM system adoption for sales reps

Mike Sallows, Vice President of Production & Operations - Postmedia Network

Christopher Prinos, Founder & CEO - Indigo Trigger

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12:30pm // Lunch Break - Swan Ballroom & Osprey Breakroom

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Case Study: Targeted Email, Reimagined: Unlocking Performance with Better Data, Smarter Audiences, and AI - NewsMax Network, Site Impact & Data Axle

Email marketing is evolving—and it’s never been more powerful. In this dynamic session, Site Impact and Data Axle will explore how they’re reengineering the targeted email channel using richer, more accurate data, AI-curated audiences, and strategies focused on lower-funnel intent. The result? Higher engagement, stronger conversion rates, and campaigns that actually move the needle. We’ll break down how smarter data sourcing, predictive modeling, and real-time optimizations are changing the game for performance marketers. If you think email is a legacy tactic, think again—this is email built for the modern demand funnel.

Jon Babicz, Head of Digital Media - MediaMax Network
Daniel Babb, Sr Director, Digital Solutions & Partnerships - Data Axel​

Greg Heiman, Vice President of Business Development - Site Impact

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Case Study: Streamlining Success: How Tribune Company Used ClickUp to Power Work Management - Tribune Publishing

As media organizations evolve to meet modern demands, efficient work management has become a competitive advantage. In this session, we’ll explore how Tribune Company is leveraging ClickUp to drive alignment, accountability, and agility across teams. From intake to execution, Tribune has built a scalable framework inside ClickUp to manage creative production, campaigns, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic initiatives—all while improving visibility and reducing operational friction.

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Through real-world examples and lessons learned, attendees will gain insight into how Tribune has customized ClickUp to support its workflows, foster adoption, and maintain operational discipline at scale.

Shalonda Lewis, Sr. Director of Ad Operations & Shared Services - Tribune Publishing

Kelsey Smith, Senior Digital Advertising Operations Manager - The Orlando Sentinel​

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2:00 - 3:00pm // Workshops & Breakout Sessions​​​

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3:00pm // Happy Hour
Sponsored by VISTAR MEDIA

Our insanely popular 10am - 3pm conference schedule ensures our sessions are lean and the day moves fast. We'll break at 3pm to kickoff Happy Hour (3-4pm) and give you time to get ready for the evening action. 

5:00pm // EPCOT Center 2025 Food & Wine Festival - Park Entry Starts

Join us at Disney's EPCOT Center for the Annual Food & Wine Festival. Just a 10 minute walk from our host resort at the Disney Swan Resort and Conference Center, all guests get to enjoy park entry at 5pm and get a few hours to explore this iconic Disney property. Cocktail hour and dinner kickoff at 6pm at Italy Isola in EPCOT's Italy Pavilion. We'll get fireworks, followed by our group ride at Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind (limited to the first 100 registrants). 

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6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Cocktail Hour & Dinner, Italy Isola - World Showcase

Sponsored by Adcellerant

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Buffet Style Dinner & Drinks

9:00 PM - Fireworks

 

9:15pm - 9:30pm // Group Ride - Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind

Sponsored by Indigo Trigger

At the conclusion of the EPCOT fireworks, this year's bashers* will be treated to a group ride on Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind. This family-thrill attraction features the first ever reverse-launch on a Disney coaster and is one of the largest fully-enclosed coasters in the world! An innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering—this coaster rotates 360 degrees so you can focus on the action! Click here to see if this ride is for you. 

 

*this year's group ride is limited to the first 100 registered guests and is included with your conference registration. 

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9:30pm // Bash After Dark - Disney Boardwalk
Raise a glass as you enjoy the musical stylings of a pair of piano prodigies. No request is too obscure. These musical maestros can play anything. Well, almost anything. Go ahead—try to stump them!

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View the Disney Boardwalk map here