To say influencer marketing is big is an understatement, and it's likely going to get bigger. Join DFWIMA and industry experts as we dive into the ins and outs of the influencer marketing and content creation today. Hear from brands, agencies, and content creators navigating an ever changing landscape and trends we can expect in the future.
Group Director, Agency Services of Aspire
Auburn Berry is the Group Director of Agency Services at Aspire, the influencer marketing platform and strategic influencer marketing services for high-growth brands. Auburn has 11 years of external communications experience with a primary focus in social media, influencer marketing, PR, crisis communication and brand events. Some of her prior experience includes working for brands such as Sally Beauty and European Wax Center and in the field of journalism at Newsy.
Head of Marketing-Brand Partnerships at LTK
Rodney leads marketing and insights to grow LTK’s client roster and brand partners’ businesses. LTK is the #1 tech-enabled power partner for Creator Guided Shopping with 18M monthly shoppers that drove $3.7B in trackable sales last year.
LTK was founded in Dallas, TX in 2010 to empower the world’s premium lifestyle Creators to achieve maximum economic success. LTK has nearly 200 LTK millionaires and thousands of creators who are earning a full-time wage on the LTK platform. Clients include top retailers and brands around the world.
Prior to LTK, Rodney was an entrepreneurial marketer, founding and leading marketing for food-tech, fintech, ad and marketing services companies working with major leading brands in CPG, entertainment, financial, retail, technology, telco and travel industries.
He is a featured thought leader for sources like Forbes, Harvard Business Review and SXSW and a top followed marketer on social media with over 100,000+ social followers.
Associate Marketing Manager at Pizza Hut
Lauren Bowles began her career agency side here in Dallas at Slingshot and then TraceyLocke before joining Yum! Brands in 2018 on the Pizza Hut Marketing team. In her early years at Pizza Hut, Lauren led Social and Digital Marketing and in 2021, shifted to leading the brand’s Influencer Marketing and Brand Activation efforts.
In these new verticals she’s proudly propelling the business forward by putting Pizza Hut at the center of culture, aging down and diversifying the brand. In Lauren’s short tenure, she has launched influencer campaigns featuring Yung Gravy, collaborated on Pizza Hut’s first ever anthem, negotiated Pizza Hut appearances on Seth Meyers’ and Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night shows and most recently, led one of the brand’s most impactful initiatives to-date: The World’s Largest Pizza.
Social Business Specialist at Southwest Airlines
Meet Kara Salazar, a seasoned social media professional with over 5 years of experience in social media strategy and influencer marketing. Currently a Social Business Specialist at Southwest Airlines, Kara excels in creating and executing influencer campaigns that support key business priorities and build brand loyalty. With a background in community management across internal and external social media platforms, Kara is skilled in enhancing a brand's reputation and developing content for internal social networks to increase adoption and engagement among employees. Kara also has experience in leading exploratory efforts and pilot programs for new social and digital programs, and leading the social surprise and delight program in partnership with the Social Care team. Prior to Southwest Airlines, Kara worked as a Social Media and Influencer Manager at European Wax Center where she developed and executed social media, community, and influencer strategies that aligned with overall marketing messaging and plans, and led relationships with influencers for their ambassador program. Kara is always looking for new trends in social media tools, channels, and applications as well as influencer marketing programs to stay ahead of the curve.
Digital Creator/Founder of Stens In The City
Meet Courtney Stensland, the founder of StensInTheCity, an award winning 'Social Blogger/Influencer’ by Dallas Morning News. Stensland is a social (media) butterfly with an eye for design who pursued a dream in creating a digital presence focusing on all things food, drinks, entertainment & FUN! How did StensInTheCity start? Well, after her 40+ hour work week, she found herself craving even more. This drive led her to create a recognizable brand name for herself where she would advertise and market for local companies and national brands. Crazy enough? This full-time hobby on an after-work/late-night schedule became a full-time job! Courtney around the clock to create an inclusive community showcasing the best of Dallas and she is just getting started. Courtney works hard and has fun doing it, landing partnerships with some of her all-time favorites like the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, Tiff’s Treats, etc.
