As the Marketing for the Culture Summit approaches its third anniversary, the annual event organized by the African American Marketing Association (AAMA) is significantly evolving since its inception. Scheduled for June 5-6 in Houston, Texas, this year’s summit aims to be the most impactful yet. It features an impressive lineup of speakers from major brands including HP, Dallas Mavericks, LinkedIn, and Amazon.
“I am grateful,” AAMA President Michelle Ngome tells Brand&Culture, “In February, we hit the five-year mark. Looking back on my plans, this is when I was going to establish the conference, and here we are in year three. I couldn’t have imagined anything better.”
Under the theme “Plot Twist: The Art of Being a Disruptive Storyteller,” the summit will delve into cutting-edge marketing strategies infused with elements of Afro-futurism. This theme underscores the summit’s commitment to exploring new narrative frontiers. It encourages marketers to think outside the box with Katie Casey, the marcoms innovation program manager at HP, who will kick off the event with her keynote address, “Marketing Unscripted: AI and the Narrative 2.0 Era.” Long’s extensive experience in marketing innovation at HP makes her a fitting choice to set the tone for the summit.
Katie Casey’s journey in the design and technology industries shows an unwavering passion for innovation and a profound global impact. At a young age, Casey co-founded a concert promotions company and design agency, empowering touring musicians in the college market. Her ventures caught the attention of prominent record labels and led to a successful acquisition by Live Nation. Driven by relentless curiosity, Casey touts her contribution to creating hands-free QR code-driven payment systems with Exxon Mobil, revolutionizing mobile payment interactions worldwide. She redefined commercial signage installation at LSI Industries through inventive remote 3D planning, optimizing efficiency for global scaling in North America, Mexico, Canada, and France. Now, as a marcoms innovation program manager at HP, Long continues to push boundaries with generative AI Prompts, transforming HP’s global marketing communication processes and content generation.
The AAMA-produced summit will also feature a stellar lineup of speakers from top brands. In addition to Katie Casey’s keynote, HP’s Ashley Bunkley, executive communications manager, will moderate the panel “Cut Through The Noise: Clarity in Messaging.” Alexandria Williams, director of marketing, sponsorships & merchandise for the Dallas Mavericks, is to lead a session titled “Talk to Me Nice: How to Convey Your Message to Various Audiences,” discussing effective communication strategies in marketing. Melody Price, community manager at LinkedIn, moderates the “Archetypes: Disrupt. Connect. Win” panel, exploring brand archetypes and their role in connecting with audiences authentically. Kaylyn Hill, customer content producer at Amazon, will participate in the “Breaking the 4th Wall” lunch session, sharing insights on creating compelling customer content and the role of storytelling in brand strategy.
Beyond the main stage presentations, the summit will feature interactive workshops and breakout sessions on various topics, including analytics, brand storytelling, corporate versus creator dynamics, and video marketing. Notable speakers include Chris Cheetham-West, Google analytics expert, and JP Hightek, global branding & media expert. Networking remains a cornerstone of the summit, with numerous opportunities for attendees to connect, build relationships, and explore potential collaborations. From the welcome reception on June 5th at Late August to the various networking breaks throughout the event, participants can expect ample chances to engage with peers and industry leaders.
The Marketing for the Culture Summit is designed for marketing professionals at all levels, corporate marketing teams, business owners, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone interested in learning more about marketing to diverse audiences. The event is supported by notable sponsors such as HP, Content Marketing Institute, Onward Search, and Black Girl Sunscreen, reflecting its growing significance in the marketing community.
Beyond the main stage presentations, the summit will feature interactive workshops and breakout sessions on various topics. These include analytics, brand storytelling, corporate versus creator dynamics, and video marketing. Notable speakers include Chris Cheetham-West, Google Analytics Expert, and JP Hightek, Global Branding & Media Expert. Networking remains a cornerstone of the summit, with numerous opportunities for attendees to connect, build relationships, and explore potential collaborations. From the Welcome Reception on June 5th at Late August to the various networking breaks throughout the event, participants can expect ample chances to engage with peers and industry leaders.
The Marketing for the Culture Summit is designed for marketing professionals at all levels, corporate marketing teams, business owners, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone interested in learning more about marketing to diverse audiences. The event receives support from notable sponsors such as HP, Content Marketing Institute, Onward Search, and Black Girl Sunscreen, reflecting its growing significance in the marketing community.
“I believe we have hit our stride and attendees know they will receive quality programming and have a good time with us,” Ngome says. “The Marketing for the Culture Summit is becoming the central hub for AAMA’s growth with attendees, members, and partners. I truly believe we’re on the verge of becoming the go-to marketing event for marketers, creatives, and entrepreneurs.”
