2025 Brand Side - Home - Brand-Side Creative Conference

BRAND-SIDE: A CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVES WITHIN

Brand-Side is our two-day conference aimed squarely at the inner dynamics of the very best in-house creative departments. With sessions from some of the most acclaimed brand and marketing leaders in the industry, Brand-Side is a one-of-a-kind experience that gives creatives in this space a behind-the-scenes look at the tactics and cultures behind the teams who build, maintain, and grow a brand’s presence in the market.

Whether being Brand-Side is a new experience for you or you are a seasoned in-house leader looking to invigorate your team, you will come away from the conference with inspiration, connections, and practical applications to up your creative game. Sessions will tackle topics like ‘How do you establish a strong creative culture if your brand isn’t considered ‘creative’? What is the best way to steward your brand internally and also work seamlessly with external agency partners?’ and much more.

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

210 Molloy St.

Nashville, TN 37201

September 24-25, 2025

Schedule is subject to change

Day 1, September 24 Day 2, September 25

Day 1, September 24

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Registration & Breakfast

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM

Welcome

10:10 AM - 11:00 AM

The Heartbeat of the Brand: The Agency That Matters the Most

Let's stop pretending external agencies have the secret sauce. Verizon's SVP of Creative & Brand Design, Ricardo Aspiazu, is ready to pull back the curtain on a new creative paradigm. This session isn't just about the rise of in-house teams; it's about their dominance. Learn how Verizon is leveraging its unique insider advantage to drive innovation, accelerate sales, and build an unshakeable brand from within. It's time to take back control of your brand's destiny.

Ricardo Aspiazu

SVP, Creative & Brand Design || Verizon

11:05 AM - 11:55 AM

Session Details Coming Soon

Jen Bucci

VP, Head of Design || Anduril Industries

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM

AI: Your Next Creative Leap

Sandro Corsaro shows in-house creative teams how to use AI as a creative multiplier to visualize ideas, align on vision, and scale production. With wins from Wayfair and a career spanning entertainment, publishing, and e-commerce, he shares proven ways to turn an imaginative spark into bold brand breakthroughs that connect emotionally and build lasting value.

Sandro Corsaro

Head of Global Creative & Content || Wayfair

12:50 PM - 1:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM - 2:35 PM

Why did I say yes to presenting today? How Amazon teaches you to question everything.

Join Jo Shoesmith as she dives into Amazon's culture of curiosity and how it fosters innovation, radical thinking, and big ideas.

Jo Shoesmith

VP, Global Chief Creative Officer || Amazon

2:40 PM - 3:25 PM

Round Table Session

A more intimate forum to discuss the day's sessions, providing a platform to exchange insights, share best practices and foster networking among attendees and speakers.

MORE ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS COMING SOON

Sergio Claudio

Head of One School

Next-Gen Talent

Roundtable information to come.

3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Is the democratization of design ruining the industry?

It’s the kind of question that shows up in Reddit threads or sparks debate on panels. As simple, easy-to-use design tools like Canva put creative powers in more hands, some worry it’s devaluing design itself. In this thought-provoking session, Canva’s Executive Creative Director, Cat van der Werff addresses the backlash head-on. She unpacks the identity tension within the industry, makes the case for why more design literacy doesn’t mean worse design, and argues that the future of design relies on those bold enough to scale it.

Cat van der Werff

Executive Creative Director || Canva

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Group Dinner

Enjoy local New American cuisine, quality cocktails, and optional bowling with fellow attendees and speakers at Nashville’s Pinewood Social.

Day 2, September 25

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

The R Word:
The Myth of Risk and Why It’s Holding Everything Back

A few years ago, putting healthy beverages into beer-style cans and calling it Liquid Death seemed like a dumb, risky move. But Andy would argument, it’s the safest thing they could have done. He’ll dissect why the binary choice between “risky” and “safe” is a myth we tell ourselves, and how we need to reframe our point of view to make breakthrough work.

Andy Pearson

VP of Creative || Liquid Death

10:55 AM - 11:45 PM

No,seriously. Why not?

A three-part look at shifting how we see and do things. We’ll call out a few myths, show why small moves hit hardest, and swap comfort for curiosity. You’ll leave ready to charter new paths, poke a few holes, and start bending the rules that never made sense to begin with.

Marlice Johnson

Chief Brand Officer || Sterns Bank

11:50 AM - 12:40 PM

Listening to the Brand: How Sound Shapes Culture, Emotion, & Loyalty

Brand perception isn't just visual or verbal - it's deeply auditory. This session dives into the neuroscience and commerce data behind why sound can boost brand recall by over 90%, heighten emotional engagement, and directly drive behaviour across everything from social to retail. We'll reframe sonic branding and music strategy not as afterthoughts or jingles, but as architectural frameworks for emotional brand experiences. From IVR systems to retail soundscapes, social content to bespoke audio logos, every brand touchpoint is an opportunity to build loyalty through sound. We'll explore how platforms like TikTok and cultural icons like the UEFA Champions League anthem demonstrate that strategic sound design can transcend logos and become cultural signals. We'll walk through how leading brands are embedding sonic strategy into their creative ecosystems – and how in-house teams can take ownership of it.

Roger Sho Gehrmann

VP of Integrated Partnerships || MassiveMusic

12:40 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Moving the Goalposts

How Rocket restaged, redesigned and reimagined the biggest brand in homeownership at the big game. We’ll unpack Rocket's journey from brief day to game day, sharing how a forty-year-old business executed a complete overhaul of its brand identity, culminating in a world-first live commercial crossover that blurred the lines between advertising and activation.

Peter Giorgi

SVP of Brand Marketing, Partnerships & Creative Excellence || Rocket Companies

2:25 PM - 3:10 PM

Round Table Sessions

A more intimate forum to discuss the day's sessions, providing a platform to exchange insights, share best practices and foster networking among attendees and speakers.

Paige Hudson

Global Executive Creative Director at Superside

Scaling Creative Excellence – Redefining Modern Marketing Teams

Creative teams are under pressure to move faster, create more, and stay on brand—with fewer resources.
AI can help, but only when paired with the right talent and workflows. This roundtable will discuss
how AI drives efficiency, redefines roles, and highlights the need to certify creatives in AI skills.
Participants will explore how AI is reshaping creative work, the essential skills for the future,
and strategies to.

Andy Pearson

VP of Creative at Liquid Death

The R Word: The Myth of Risk and Why It’s Holding Everything Back

Keep the dialogue going! Join this speaker-led roundtable for an engaging deep dive into their session themes – where ideas sharpen, questions grow bolder, and insights turn into action.

3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

The House Always Wins: Reinventing the Brand from the Inside Out

When you work brandside, you are the house and that’s your edge. This is a candid, real-talk session on how to use that advantage to pull off bold creative reinvention from within, despite (or maybe because of) the constraints. Learn how to accelerate progress, make a few high-leverage plays that earn trust quickly, and build lasting internal momentum, even within large, complex organizations.

Xanthe Wells

VP, Global Creative || Pinterest

4:00 PM - 4:05 PM

Closing Remarks

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Closing Cocktails

Join us as we close out the conference in style for our specialty cocktail reception, sponsored by our friends at Superside and located at Ella's Bar in the heart of the Hyatt Centric.

PRICING

GENERAL ADMISSION: $1,950

MEMBER PRICE: $1,750

Registration to the event includes all speakers and round table sessions, daily breakfast and lunch, and a group dinner on Wednesday, September 24th.

To access member pricing, please login to your One Club account. The discount will automatically apply at checkout if you have an active membership.

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

PURCHASE MEMBERSHIP

LODGING

Brand-Side will be held at the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville, however, space is limited - see details below and book now!

ADDRESS:

210 Molloy St,

Nashville, TN 37201

ROOM RATE:

$309 per night

BOOK NOW

LOCATION

Set in the pulse of downtown Nashville, the Hyatt Centric blends modern edge with Music City soul—just steps from the neon glow of Broadway and the raw creativity that fuels the city.

Nashville's legendary music scene and thriving arts community make it the perfect backdrop for Brand-Side. As attendees explore the city's iconic honky-tonks, historic venues, and renowned restaurants, they'll be immersed in an atmosphere that celebrates creativity and innovation at every turn. The sights, sounds, and flavors of Music City will undoubtedly inspire and energize, setting the stage for two days of transformative insights.

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

ATTENDEES

Ames, Missy

Creative Director, Maverik

Andrade, Guto

VP Creative, Verizon

Aspiazu, Ricardo

SVP, Creative & Brand Design, Verizon

Barrett, Brandon

Senior Director, Brand Agency Relations, Capital One

Bodunov, Vasily

Creative Director, SnapSupplements

Boucher, Jamie

Director of Creative, Trilliant Food Nutrition

Bradley, Clarence

Copywriter/Creative Leader,

Brand, Kim

Vice President of New Business Development, Whalar

Bucci, Jen

VP, Head of Design, Anduril Industries

Carlsen, Keith

Video Production Manager, Maverik

Carr-Rodriguez, Judith

Partner & CEO, FIG

Claudio, Sergio

Head of Brand,

Collins, Andrea

Creative Account Director, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Cook, Lori

Director of Enterprise Brand Accounts, Catch+Release

Corsaro, Sandro

Head of Global Creative, Wayfair

Creed, Sarah

Director of Content Marketing, Truist

Crossin, Molly

Chief Growth Officer, The One Club for Creativity

Crouse, Chelsea

Senior Creative Manager, Houston Grand Opera

Crow, Sara

Creative Strategist, Intralox

Delhommer, Joseph

US Executive Creative Director, Amazon Brand Innovation Lab

DeWitt, Jordan

Vice President, Creative, Capital One

Duke, Dustin

Global Executive Creative Director, Amazon Ads, Brand Innovation Lab

Edelstein, David

Director Brand Strategy, Versus

Erdman, Jessica

Team Leader, Graphic Design, Grande Cheese Company

Fandel, Lese

N/A, Capital One

Figliulo, Mark

Partner & CEO, FIG

Fontaine, Veronika

Executive Producer, Ntropic

Fuller, Erin

VP Creative Director, Studio, Fetch Rewards

Georg, Alyssa

Executive Creative Director, Expedia Group

Giorgi, Peter

SVP of Brand Marketing, Partnerships, Rocket Mortgage

Gordon, Joshua

Senior Marketing Writer, Sundt Construction

Graham, Kristin

Executive Creative Director, Rakuten

Grillo, Kate

Executive Creative Director, Capital One

Hale, Shana

VP, Global Creative, The Trade Desk

Harkins, Tim

Executive Creative Director, Hook

Harvey, Bryan

Group Creative Director, Upwork

Harvill, Lauren

Creative Director, Frontdoor

Hatfield, Iza

Managing Director, Hook

Henrichs, Jessica

CEO, Colle McVoy

Higgins, Jennifer

Creative Operations, Frontdoor

Hixson, Will

Executive Creative Director, Cornbread Hemp

Hudson, Paige

Executive Creative Director, Superside

Johnson, Marlice

Chief Brand Officer, Sterns Bank

King, Kristen

EVP, Managing Director, ATTN:

Knight, Stephen

Manager, Creative Writing, The Coca-Cola Company

Koch, Brian

Creative Director, POET

Larsen, Lori

Senior Creative Producer, Yahoo Inc.

Latour, Rich

Global Head of Content, Creative & Events, BlackRock

Little, John

Executive Director, Client Services, ATTN:

Lopez Travez, Lucy

Director of Events, The One Club for Creativity

Lynch, Kirkland

CEO, Barking Owl

Mann, Jason

VP - Creative Director, Marketing, Fetch

Marshall, Katie

Creative Manager, Clayton

Maskey, Lisa

VP, Speakers Bureau Director, Raven Public Relations

Mason, Debra

, Verizon

Mathews, Jeremy

Brand Strategist, Copywriter, & Video director, Maverik

Merkow, Jourdan

Director of Creative Operations, Upwork

Morffi, Jonathan

Creative Director, Clinique

Nielsen, Mark

Director, Creative, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Novak, Marianna

Marketing Communication Specialist, Trilliant Food Nutrition

Osborn, Madison

Art Director, Maverik

Ott, Alissa

Manager, Creative Marketing, Penske Transportation Solutions

Pearson, Andy

VP of Creative, Liquid Death

Peninger, Katie

VP Account Service & Business Growth , Lewis

Perry, Gabrielle

Group Creative Director, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Rapello, Hollie

Co-Founder, Raven Public Relations

Raub, Jenne

Creative Director, Varo Bank

Renfroe, Malinda

Vice President of Marketing, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Riddell, Tristan

Creative Lead, Northwestern Medicine

Riley, Lee

Creative Director, Upwork

Robinson, Nathan

Founder + Chief Creative Officer, Ntropic

Robles, Danny

Design Director, Upwork

Rogge, Chris

Sr. Director, Brand & Creative, Favor Delivery

Roth, Elyse

Executive Producer, Sarofsky

Santellana, Roberto

Senior Managing Director | Creative, Technology & Innovation, Verizon

Sausville, Teresa

Executive Creative Director, Checkmark Nestle Purina

Sho Gehrmann, Roger

VP of Integrated Partnerships, Massive Music

Shoesmith, Jo

Global CCO, Amazon

Skidgel, Jennifer

Global Director, Creative Development, The One Club for Creativity

Stoffers, Sacha

Director, Partnerships, Massive Music

Summers, Ryan

Creative Innovation Lead, Sarofsky

Thomas, Colleen

Vice President of Operations, Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA)

Topol, Jeff

Creative Strategy Director - TikTok Creative Lab, TikTok

van der Werff, Cat

Executive Creative Director, Canva

Van Hoven, Matt

Co-Founder, Raven Public Relations

Vandette, Chris

Executive Creative Director, Capital One

Venezia, Louis

Owner/Chief Creative Officer, PILOT CONTENT

Wampler, Sadee

Director of Brand Marketing, Clayton

Wells, Xanthe

VP, Global Creative, Pinterest

Wentland, Brooke

Art Manager, Mead & Hunt

Woodrow, Emily

Group Creative Director, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Worley, Cassie

N/A, Capital One

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

BRAND-SIDE: A CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVES WITHIN

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

210 Molloy St.

Nashville, TN 37201

September 24-25, 2025

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Registration & Breakfast

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM

Welcome

10:10 AM - 11:00 AM

The Heartbeat of the Brand: The Agency That Matters the Most

11:05 AM - 11:55 AM

Session Details Coming Soon

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM

AI: Your Next Creative Leap

12:50 PM - 1:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM - 2:35 PM

Why did I say yes to presenting today? How Amazon teaches you to question everything.

2:40 PM - 3:25 PM

Round Table Session

3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Is the democratization of design ruining the industry?

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Group Dinner

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

The R Word: The Myth of Risk and Why It’s Holding Everything Back

10:55 AM - 11:45 PM

No,seriously. Why not?

11:50 AM - 12:40 PM

Listening ​to the Brand: How ​Sound Shapes Culture, ​Emotion, & Loyalty

12:40 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Moving the Goalposts

2:25 PM - 3:10 PM

Round Table Sessions

3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

The House Always Wins: Reinventing the Brand from the Inside Out

4:00 PM - 4:05 PM

Closing Remarks

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Closing Cocktails

PRICING

LODGING

LOCATION

ATTENDEES

The One Club for Creativity

Follow Us

The R Word:
The Myth of Risk and Why It’s Holding Everything Back

Listening to the Brand: How Sound Shapes Culture, Emotion, & Loyalty