The Agenda

NOV 02, 2025

Sunday

6:00 - 7:30 PM | Welcome Event
Join us at American Social (601 S Harbour Island Blvd, Tampa) for our welcome event, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks & networking. Presented by Tiger Pistol and Vya Systems.

NOV 03, 2025

Monday

All events to be held at the Hotel Flor, 905 N. Florida Ave, Tampa 

7:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
Connect with fellow marketers.

8:00 AM | Welcome & Introduction 
Hear from the event founders, Michael Hyam and Liane Caruso.

8:15 AM | Beyond the Breakthrough: The Future of Google AI
Presentation Hosted by: Josh Allen, VP of Marketing & Sales at Location3

This forward-looking panel will explore how Google’s latest AI advancements are reshaping the franchise landscape. Top CMOs from leading franchise brands will share insights on what’s working today, what’s coming next, and how to prepare your marketing strategies for the AI-driven future. From search to personalization to local activation, discover how to harness AI for smarter decisions, stronger performance, and sustainable growth.

9:00 AM | From Impressions to In-Store Impact: Cracking Offline Attribution
POWER PLAY by Andrew Walkinshaw, Regional Vice President at AdTaxi, and Will Fraker, VP of Brand and Performance at The Good Feet Store

How do you measure the true impact of digital campaigns beyond clicks and conversions? In this session, The Good Feet Store and their agency Adtaxi share how they integrated offline tracking to capture demos and purchases influenced by digital ads. You’ll learn the setup, execution, and business results of connecting online engagement to in-store outcomes—and walk away with a clear framework for bridging the gap between digital attribution and real-world sales impact.

9:20 AM | Speakers & Screens: Building Trust Through Audio & CTV
Presentation by Jeremy Troutt, Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships at iHeart Media

This session will explore the latest audio trends, how listener behaviors are evolving, and why these channels excel at building authentic connections. Then we’ll explore how pairing audio with Connected TV creates a “speakers and screens” effect that amplifies reach, recall, and intent. Learn how these top-funnel channels work together to create bottom-funnel conversions, how targeting and measurement have evolved, and how franchise marketers can leverage them for both brand growth and franchise development. You'll walk away with a blueprint for multi-platform campaigns that build trust and deliver measurable growth.

10:05 AM | How Goldfish Swim School Tripled Enrollment with Omni-Channel Direct Mail
POWER PLAY by Karen Wenning, CFE, Business Development Manager, Suttle-Straus, and Shana Krisan, CFE, CMO at Goldfish Swim School

Go behind the scenes of Goldfish Swim School’s 2025 omni-channel direct mail campaign that fueled 8,555 new members in just 90 days, tripling enrollment impact over the previous year. This session will break down how direct mail, paired with social and digital, became a powerful brand awareness strategy that delivered thousands of new members and generated $8.1 million in potential lifetime value. Learn how an integrated approach can drive measurable results and inspire your next big campaign.

10:35 AM | The New Franchise Consumer: AI, Loyalty, and the Rise of Digital-First Decision-Making
Presentation hosted by: Nick Dan-Bergman, CMO at LT.Agency. Panel: Katherine LeBlanc, SVP of Marketing at 4Ever Young, Ashley Mitchell, CMO, VP, Marketing at ZorAbility/East Coast Wings + Grill/Sammy Sliders

Consumer behavior has evolved — and many franchise brands are struggling to keep up. From AI-assisted search to loyalty-driven decision-making, the modern customer expects seamless digital experiences, personalized offers, and consistent service across every touchpoint. This trend-forward panel will break down findings from the 2025 Franchise Trends Report. They’ll explore the rise of the Digital Decision-Maker, what’s driving brand preference today, and how franchisors can adapt their strategies to meet rising expectations and close the gaps that hinder growth.

11:20 AM | From Paid Search Dependence to Brand Resilience
POWER PLAY by Aditya Varanasi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Awarity, and Brooke Janousek, CMO of GarageExperts & Versatile

Discover how Garage Experts, in partnership with Awarity, shifted from an overreliance on paid search to building lasting brand strength. In this Power Play, the CMO of Garage Experts and the Founder of Awarity will share how top-of-funnel advertising elevated organic search and branded search traffic, expanded brand awareness, and strengthened brand equity that drove new customer acquisition across their franchise locations. Learn how diversifying your marketing mix can reduce dependence on one channel and create a more resilient foundation for long-term growth.

11:40 AM | Networking Lunch
Connect with fellow marketers and leaders over lunchtime.

12:40 PM | Beyond the Basics: AI Tools Every Franchise Development Marketer Needs
Presentation by Ingrid Schneider, Founder of Stay in Your Lane + Train in Your Lane

Spoiler: it is not another boring funnel chart. Come hang out in this session where we pull back the curtain on the latest tools, shiny AI tricks, and lead-gen moves that actually work. By the time you sit down, AI will have already changed again, which makes it even better. This is the fun, slightly chaotic, totally fresh side of franchise development marketing. You will laugh, you will scribble notes, and you will leave with at least three “holy crap, why are we not doing this” ideas.

1:25 PM | AI Playbook: Fast Wins You Can Steal Today 
POWER PLAY by Ingrid Schneider, Founder of Stay in Your Lane + Train in Your Lane, and Kelli Schroeder, MBA, CFE, VP of Franchise Development at Threshold Brands

We are pulling back the curtain on how AI is shaking up marketing and franchise development. Real data, real wins, and maybe a few “oh wow” moments that you can steal for your own playbook. It is short, it is snappy, and it will leave you wondering why every session is not run at double speed.

1:45 PM | What Happened to SEO? Enter Search Everything Optimization
Presentation hosted by: Joseph A. Mohay, MBA, President of Franchise & Multi-Location, Ignite Visibility. Panel: Vera Shafiq, Marketing Consultant, at VS Strategies LLC, Angela Paules, CMO at Buzz Franchise Brands, Alex Preddie, Director of Sales & Marketing at RocketBarn, Mary Mills, VP Marketing at College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving

Search isn’t what it used to be. As algorithms shift and AI reshapes discovery, franchisors must rethink how prospects find them. This session explores the future of “Search Everything Optimization”—from Google’s AI-driven results to social platforms, maps, and local listings. Learn strategies to maintain lead quality, generate leads faster for new locations, and keep your brand visible everywhere your customers are searching.

2:30 PM | Turning Conversations into Conversions: AI Chatbots That Drive Growth
POWER PLAY by Will Fraker, Founder & CEO of AGNTMKT, and Lizzie Webb, Vice President of Operations at IMAGE Studios.

AGNTMKT & IMAGE Studios developed an AI chatbot to transform how prospects engage with our brand online. In this rapid-fire session, we'll share why we built it, how it captures and nurtures leads 24/7, and the measurable impact it’s having on local marketing growth. You’ll see how AI can instantly answer questions, keep prospects moving through the funnel, and free your team to focus on high-value conversations.

3:00 PM | Roundtables
Dive into key marketing topics at three 30-minute, focused roundtable sessions led by franchise marketing experts. 

4:45 PM | Networking Happy Hour
Connect with the marketing leaders you heard from throughout the day. Hosted by Mission Disrupt.