Tuesday, May 21st, 2019

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Track I: Haas Conference Center, Room 172-173, Live Webcast

The Power of Influencers: Accelerating Brand Value Across Platforms - From Internet TV - Mobile - Social Networks

Spencer McClung, Principal, Advisory Firm Three

Isaac Rosales, Sr. Manager, Partnerships & Campaigns, Univision Creator Network

Gregg Martin, Actor/Content Creator

Owen Leimbach, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Tiny Horse

Brian Sokolik, Talent Manager, Authentic Talent & Literary Management

Jade Sherman, Vice President, Digital Media, Abrams Artists Agency

Ceslie Armstrong, CEO & executive producer, NYTEX Productions LLC, Moderator

Spencer McClung is an entrepreneur and executive in digital media and technology. He is currently a Principal at Advisory Firm Three, a management consulting firm, with a primary focus on digital/social media, brand building, and creator/influencer marketing. Prior to joining Advisory Firm Three, Spencer was EVP, Media and Partnerships at ipsy, where he was responsible for managing the company’s Media business, which includes ipsy’s Programming/Editorial Studio, Creative, Sales/Integrated Marketing, BD, Creator Community,

and live events businesses. Prior to joining ipsy as EVP, Media and Partnerships, Spencer was Chief Operating Officer at Kin Community and was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the company’s Programming, Talent Network, Sales, BD, Finance, Strategic Planning, HR and Legal teams. Prior to joining Kin as COO, Spencer was head of Corporate Development and a Board Member of CERECONS, a cloud-based healthcare IT platform, acquired by HCSC in 2013. Prior to CERECONS, Spencer held leadership positions in Business Development, Advertising Sales and Finance at Yahoo, Launch Media and Disney. Spencer and his wife have two children and live in Los Angeles. Spencer holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA in Finance with honors from Texas A&M University. Specialties: Digital/social media, brand building, influencer marketing, strategic planning, business development, programming, branded content, financial analysis, capital raising, M&A, technology.

Jade Sherman is the Vice President of the Alternative Programming, Digital Media, Licensing and Branding division at Abrams Artists Agency. Jade has worked with a multitude of social media influencers who have been significant in creating enormous tracking with fans and brands. Her experience in new business development, client relations and deal negotiations on behalf of clients in areas of hosting, brand ambassadorship and digital advertising campaigns has been instrumental in her talent’s exponential growth. Jade began her career at MVP Sports Group, specializing in digital media and marketing for Major League Baseball players.

Gregg Martin is an actor, writer, director, producer and content creator, as well as a member of the Television Academy and SAG-AFTRA. His acting resume extends to network television including appearances on Marvel Agents of Shield, Body of Proof, Jimmy Kimmel Live in addition to the Kirstie Alley Michael Richards' sitcom and the Nickelodeon show Game Shakers as well as various web-series and TV movies and commercials. He has partnered with some of the world's largest social media stars, creating professional short form, digital branded, and long-form MCN content. To date he has written and acted in over 100 videos including directing one with Jennifer Lopez shot in Vegas. Additionally, Gregg has gained prowess as an expert of social media's influence in the entertainment world - being featured in a number of publications and conferences including the NY Times, Screen Actors Guild, AFI and NBC Primetime. Little known fact is that Gregg has long running standoff with Sacha Baron Cohen based on his near perfect impersonation of Borat. You can connect with him at www.uGregg.com.

Owen Leimbachh, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Tiny Horse: With over a decade of leadership in new media production and product development, Owen provides strategy and oversight for the Tiny Horse team. During his time at MTV News, Owen developed many of their current operational workflows, and produced two presidential election cycles during his six years in their newsroom. Owen has developed and executed digital strategies for MTV, The White House, and X Factor USA. In 2009, he served as Chief of Staff for the Rwanda Development Board, followed by a year as a media analyst at a hedge fund before leaving to create Tiny Horse.

Isaac Rosales is Sr. Manager of Partnerships and Campaigns of the Univision Creator Network (UCN), Univision’s in-house network and creative studio for digital creators. Isaac is responsible for leading branded content partnerships and influencer integrations across Univision’s multi-platforms, including linear, digital, tentpole programming and radio properties. Most recently, he created the UCN Music Residency which aimed to develop emerging music influencers and grow their social media presence in an effort to launch singles and create brand partnerships. Additionally, he led UCN’s partnership with Facebook, securing five original creator shows for the launch of the 'Facebook Watch' platform in 2017. Isaac has worked with leading brand partners including Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, Pepsi and McDonalds. Prior to joining Univision, Isaac was a motion picture talent assistant to Joe Funicello at ICM Partners. He holds a MBA and MFA in film and television producing from Chapman University.

Brian Sokolik, Talent Manager, Authentic Talent & Literary Management: Brian Sokolik worked his way up from the mailroom at 3 Arts Entertainment to serve as assistant to such figures as Jairo Alvarado, Josh Lieberman and Erwin Stoff before leaving to coordinate development at sports/lifestyle company Lineage Interactive. Drawn to the opportunities in the digital side of the industry—as well as to the prospect of once again servicing top-line talent as a manager—he joined the team at Fullscreen Media, working to build the brand and careers of such digital native creators as The Dobre Brothers, Christina Marie (aka BeautyChickee) and Meghan Currie.  Brian’s clients have since enjoyed sold-out tours across the U.S. and Canada as well as partnerships with such brands as Ubisoft, EA Sports, Coca Cola and AT&T.

Ceslie Armstrong is the CEO and Executive Producer of NYTEX Productions. Armstrong is a media and entertainment premium content creator, innovator, and strategist specializing in positioning brands and organizations for increased consumer recognition, value, revenue and growth. As executive producer, creative director, interviewer and writer with a strong digital marketing and distribution backbone to drive revenue for publishers, organizations, networks using processes that adapt to changing and emerging technologies to connect to audiences and build strong brand relationships. Armstrong’s strategy of “content drives engagement, decisions and revenue,” along with her deep experience in subscriber-based recurring revenue business models, make her an in-demand consultant and advisor for brands and platforms. Armstrong’s company NYTEX Productions, produces original premium content and experiential events including concerts; fine and performing arts; Grammy award-winning artists; talk and music radio/podcasts; interview format; travel and lifestyle. Company brands include “Grapes, Grains & Grub,” “ACES Apex (Art, Culture, Environment, Sporting),” and more. Armstrong has a long career in hospitality and culinary arts including as an owner, operator, chef and brand strategist and has created culinary content for major platforms. She is a co-director of the inaugural Food Tech + Wellness Forum at Digital Hollywood. As the co-founder of Momentum Women Media & Entertainment for 10 years, Armstrong was the company’s Chief Content Officer producing programming for major platforms and events showcasing and recognizing global women innovators, leaders, celebrities, and authors. She is a recognized influencer in the women’s market and has been engaged as spokesperson for many globally known brands. She is a sought-after speaker at universities, organizations and conferences. Armstrong has been in the music industry producing and packaging artists including Los Lonely Boys, Matisyahu, John Cale, Alejandro Escovedo and more. She has created content with renown photographers including Lynn Goldsmith, Henry Diltz, Francesco Scavullo, Billy Name, Patrick McMullan, Christopher Makos, Mick Rock and many more. She has held the post of editor-in-chief, senior editorial positions and contributed to titles including Grace Woman, Marie Claire, Glamour, Mode, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, and more. She has been featured and quoted in hundreds of publications including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Financial Times, WWD, Forbes, Fortune, and Entrepreneur. She has appeared as guest, host and correspondent on Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, The View, E!, Access Hollywood, Food Network, Entertainment Tonight, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, and many more. She lives in the Hill Country on the Texas Wine Trail near San Antonio and commutes to her second home towns of New York City and Los Angeles where she lived for 20+ years. Upon relocating to Texas she was the keynote speaker at the George Bush Presidential Library; received a Texas Press Association award; a proclamation by the State of Texas for excellence in journalism.