Creative Operations Innovations

Dax Alexander

Chief Operating Officer & General Manager

Oliver

OLIVER is the world leader in building and supporting in-house agencies. In his role, Dax leads global teams that deliver cutting-edge content and marketing solutions for some of the world’s most demanding brands. Throughout his career, Dax has specialized in designing and implementing frameworks and governance strategies for processes and technologies that enhance creativity, efficiency, and effectiveness. Today, his focus is empowering diverse, high-performing teams to leverage AI and other technologies to deliver transformative solutions that exceed expectations and set new industry standards.

Ian Owens

Global Manager of Media Asset Management

Riot Games

Ian Owen started his career working in broadcasting for the Memphis Grizzlies and NBA Entertainment. After falling into the MAM world during eight years in professional basketball, he made the move to the collegiate ranks. For five years, Owen built workflows and provided asset management as a service to the University of Notre Dame as a part of ND Studios. He joined Riot Games late in 2022 as the Global Manager of Media Asset Management now oversees a growing team in Ireland, Singapore, Los Angeles and Seattle, Washington where he is based today. Owen and the Global Content Operations team are excited to build a content services platform that will set the standard for the future of esports and beyond.

Jeffrey Von Spangenberg

Operations Director, Creative Production

Restoration Hardware

As a creative operations and luxury marketing leader with over two decades of experience, Jeff von Spangenberg operates at the intersection of big ideas and smart execution. Jeff specializes in helping brands not only craft exceptional narratives but build the systems that allow those narratives to scale globally, seamlessly, and impactfully. His work focuses on transforming creative ambition into operational excellence.

Currently Senior Director of Creative Operations at RH, Jeff leads enterprise-level initiatives that merge technology, brand strategy, and cross-functional collaboration. From designing integrated tech stacks, like PLM, DAM, and CMS systems, to managing multimillion-dollar project budgets, he helps architect the creative infrastructure behind one of the world’s most recognized luxury brands. Jeff has also spearheaded the global translation of RH’s creative content into seven languages, helping ensure international growth while maintaining brand voice and aesthetic. He also serves on the Digital Strategy Steering Committee.

His expertise lies in aligning creative teams, executive leadership, marketing, merchandising, and engineering around unified processes and shared goals. Whether launching agile hybrid production models or redefining global content workflows, Jeff has led transformative initiatives that preserve artistic integrity while enabling commercial scale. At the heart of his work is a belief: great marketing doesn’t just inspire -it performs. And behind every standout campaign is a system designed to elevate the creative voice.

Justin Hancock

Senior Manager, Social Content, Window Seat Brand Creative

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Justin Hancock is a 17-year social and digital marketing veteran, currently leading Brand Content and Social Growth at Delta Air Lines. He’s built award- winning strategies for brands like REI, Miller Lite, Samsung, and Pepsi’s bubly, and now drives cultural storytelling and community impact for one of the world’s most recognizable travel brands. His work has been recognized by the Webby and Shorty Awards among others, and he’s known for connecting bold creative with real-world results.

Kifka Kingan

Director, Project Management & Creative Operations

L'Oreal USA

At L'Oréal USA, Kifka Kingan leads Creative Operations for SkinCeuticals, where she orchestrates project management, resource allocation, and workflow optimization for this high-performance global skincare brand. With strategic oversight of cross-functional processes and technology integration, she ensures operational excellence while elevating creative output.
Her professional journey spans music video production in New Zealand, fine art curation, fashion campaigns, and global beauty marketing, cultivating her distinctive ability to translate creative vision into scalable operational frameworks. This multidisciplinary background provides a unique perspective on building systems that balance structure with creative freedom.
Kifka approaches creative operations with a hybrid art/math mindset, leveraging systems thinking to solve complex organizational challenges. She specializes in implementing adaptive workflow systems and strategically integrating AI tools to enhance creative production while preserving human ingenuity.
Her leadership philosophy centers on creating people-first operations that simultaneously deliver business results, a balance she's achieved across multiple industries and market environments. Passionate about future-proofing creative teams, she champions methodologies that value both systematic thinking and strategic rule- breaking.
At the Creative Operations Innovations Summit, Kifka will join the panel "How AI Tools are Transforming Marketing & Creative Workflows," sharing insights on navigating technological transformation while maintaining creative excellence in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

Linda Brosseau

Director, Marketing & Creative Operations

Udemy

Linda Brosseau is an operations and business-strategy leader who turns complex initiatives into scalable results. For more than two decades, Linda has steered go-to- market strategies, global campaigns, and process optimization for Udemy, Apple, GoPro, Levi Strauss & Co., and Guitar Center, building high-performing teams and systems that take creative ideas from brainstorm to launch.
A former major-label marketing director turned tour manager, Linda learned to orchestrate countless moving parts under pressure while keeping empathy for both creators and customers at the forefront.
Known for uniting creative vision with operational rigor, she now focuses on strategic planning and technology enablement, guiding companies through operational transitions and showing how practical automation frees capacity for meaningful work to thrive.

Makayla Chibaya

Marketing Coordinator

Samsung HVAC America

Makayla Chibaya is a Marketing Coordinator at Samsung. She's passionate about the creative process involved with branding from ideation to execution.

Outside of her corporate work, Makayla brings the same drive and teamwork to the lacrosse field. A former collegiate athlete, she now coaches high school lacrosse and continues to play competitively. She proudly represents Zimbabwe—her home country—as a member of the Zimbabwean National Women’s Lacrosse Team. Her experience in athletics has shaped her collaborative mindset, resilience, and leadership style, all of which influence her professional approach.

Matt Croft

Director, Production + Design – Global Communications Agency 123

McDonald’s

Matt Croft has been a valued member of the McDonald’s Agency 123 team for 14 years, bringing nearly 30 years of industry experience to his role. He leads the Production and Design team, where his focus on innovation and collaboration helps drive creative excellence across the board. Matt also serves at the production lead for McDonald’s Worldwide, the company’s largest global event, bringing together over 15,000 franchisees, suppliers and company employees. His leadership and attention to detail play a key role in delivering impactful experiences that reflect the spirit of the McDonald’s brand.

Maxine Fertig-Cohen

Director of Creative Operations

Nuuly

Maxine Fertig-Cohen brings over a decade of production leadership experience to her role as Director of Creative Operations at Nuuly, where she oversees creative operations, photo and video production, photography, styling and art direction. Maxine translates big-picture strategy into actionable plans and brings passion to her work of building a collaborative, creative and efficient team. Most recently, Maxine and her team developed Nuuly’s spring brand campaign which encompassed a variety of channels, including events, CTV, owned media, out-of-home and paid social advertising.

Minha Khan

Creative Director

Fortuna Skin

Minha Khan has been working on Creative teams since 2008, and believes creative services are vital in order to create novel and effective campaigns across channels. She specializes in content-lead creative and digital strategy across organic, paid and earned media as well as traditional placements. As a member of the 'chronically-online', she is always on the lookout for non-traditional creators and influencers to partner with her brands and initiatives.

Paco Toledo

SVP Brand Marketing, Global Head of Creative

Revlon Inc.

Paul Nicholson

Creative Operations Production & Technology Leader

Warner Music Group

Paul Nicholson is a skilled executive leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and operational excellence at the intersection of Creative Operations, Marketing Enablement, Technology, and Cross-Media Production. With over 18 years of experience spanning global companies including Showtime Networks, Warner Music Group (WMX), Peacock, and BarkerNYC. Paul specializes in building and leading highly effective, collaborative teams, processes and systems that deliver measurable results aligned with organizational goals.

Rachel Barth

Director, Air Service Development & Strategic Marketing

Lincoln Airport

Rachel Barth grew up in the small town of Bennet, Nebraska, where her big dreams took off faster than a jet on a clear runway. She pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, earning a bachelor's degree in advertising and a master's degree in marketing and communications. While her career has soared through various industries, it's in aviation where Rachel found her ultimate passion and plenty of turbulence to conquer. Since joining the Lincoln Airport Authority in 2020, Rachel has made her mark in ways that have truly elevated the LNK experience. She earned her Certified Member Designation from AAAE, launched the wildly popular LNK Drive-In Movie Program, and helped land LNK as the official airport of the Nebraska Huskers. Her innovation and leadership haven't gone unnoticed she was named one of Airport Business's Top 40 Under 40 in 2023. Rachel is also a proud member of Women in Aviation's Cornhusker Chapter, where she works to inspire and empower women navigating a male-dominated field. She sits on several industry boards, loves volunteering in her community and of course enjoying life on her family acreage raising her two boys. Her mantra? Challenges are just opportunities in disguise. She believes in standing up for yourself, lifting others along the way, and building a community that helps everyone soar. Thanks to Rachel's creativity, dedication, and flair for connecting with people, Lincoln Airport isn't just a stop on the map-it's a thriving hub for the community and a testament to how high ambition can take you.

Scott Armstrong,

CEO & Partner,

Brainrider

For more than two decades, Scott Armstrong has led teams to deliver award-winning marketing for ambitious companies seeking flexible partnerships and trusted advisors. In 2010, he set out on a mission to create a better marketing agency, providing deeper client collaborations and more client value. Thirteen years and 100+ ‘Riders later, Brainrider partners with high-growth companies to fill capacity and capability gaps with a flexible resourcing model that scales up or down based on client workloads.

Sharanya Ravichandran,

Vice President, Service Design & Experience Strategy, Omni-Channel

JP Morgan Chase

Sharanya is a design leader, speaker, and mentor with 15+ years of experience shaping digital products that enhance the human experience. She specializes in design strategy, bringing a sharp, data-driven approach to solving complex problems. At JPMorgan Chase, Sharanya leads customer experience and design strategy across omni-digital channels, driving initiatives that simplify banking and build financial literacy. Her expertise spans Finance, AdTech, and entertainment technology, with leadership roles at JPMorganChase, PubMatic, and Whip Media Group, where she championed UX for high-growth products and enterprise solutions. From e-commerce and education games to digital publishing, her diverse background fuels a holistic approach to design. Passionate about mentorship and thought leadership, she is dedicated to shaping the next generation of designers.

Sherry Choe

Senior Creative Project Manager

TikTok

Simon Duncan-Watt

Director of Creative & Campaigns, Marketing

CARE

Simon Duncan-Watt is an award-winning Creative Director and brand strategist with over 15 years of experience leading high-impact storytelling, content operations, and integrated campaigns. As Creative Director at CARE, a $1B global humanitarian organization, Simon has scaled content production across 100+ countries while maintaining creative integrity and brand consistency. He led CARE’s first marketing AI task force, streamlining workflows and enhancing output without sacrificing quality, and his campaigns have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and The Guardian, and recognized by the Webby's, Shorty's, Fast Company, and Anthem Awards.

Simon brings a deeply human-centered approach to content strategy, blending empathy, clarity, and innovation to build brands that move people to action.

Stuart Schisgall (Stu)

Principal SEO Specialist - US Cards & CSE

Discover

Stuart Schisgall is a marketing strategist and AI-content pioneer architecting ethical frameworks within enterprise digital ecosystems. As SEO Principal for Discover Financial Services' Credit Card Division and an MBA graduate, Stu designs AI-driven content supply chains that blend algorithmic innovation with human creativity. His work has helped Fortune 500 brands future-proof their authority in regulated industries, redefining scalable strategies for maintaining brand integrity in an AI-transformed marketplace. This expertise is central to his session at the Creative Operations Innovation Summit, where he will share insights on scaling content production without sacrificing quality.

Outside of work, Stu enjoys life in Naperville with his wife and their two young children. He channels his curiosity into bedtime storytelling, where inventing dragon-slaying adventures has honed his knack for marrying structure with imagination. An avid reader of everything from classic literature to behavioral economics, Stu brings a multidisciplinary perspective to ethical AI integration-demonstrating that strategic rigor and creative wonder can thrive together in the algorithmic age.

Thomas J. Stilling

Digital Strategist & Product Leader

Rutgers University

With senior leadership roles at Forrester Research and 20th Century Fox, Thomas is a digital strategist and product leader who has driven digital transformation, led global teams, and shaped strategies for content distribution and media production across media, content, and technology companies.

Thomas is a sought-after consultant and thought leader, and teaches at Rutgers University, where he is the AI DAM program lead designing practical courses on AI, Digital Media, and Digital Asset Management.

A connector and storyteller, he translates complex business and technical concepts into compelling narratives to drive continuous product improvement.

Vinod Suresh

GM and VP Products

Small Business Independents

Vinod Suresh is a leader in product innovation with a focus on building engaging and magical products with Gen AI . At GoDaddy he spearheads subscription as GM to nurture long term customer growth and is also the Chief Product Office for Independents and small business products. Vinod’s previous role include leading Billion $$$ product transformation to ' bend the curve' at Samsclub, incubate WalmartPlus business rooted in behavior and data science.

Domain Expertise Product Management- Hypothesis driven product roadmapping, Product Acceleration , Lean Product , Design Thinking
Metrics - GMV, AD Revenue, LTV, First Place Walletshare, Conversion, Member Savings,
Membership Ecosystem - Growth hacking, Acquisition, Engagement, Retention, Subscription, Membership Benefits, Freemium Model, Add ons, Tiers
Last Mile Ecosystem - Last mile delivery, Pickup, Express Delivery, e-com Shipping
Marketing-Tech Ecosystem - SEO, SEM, Email, CRM, Push, Promo Engine, Personalization, Monetization
Customer-Tech Ecosystem - Ad Tech, Mobile, Customer Care, Web , E2E experience/design Optimization
Customer Data Ecosystem - 360 Customer Profile, Account, Identity, A/B Testing,Trust/ Safety
FinTech Ecosystem - Credit Card Experiences, Wallet , POS, Self Checkout, Card usage , Card Approval, Payment success optimization, Gift cards, Scan & Go
Platforms - problem centric AI / ML , E-commerce , Cloud , Merchandising / Pricing platform, Data Lake platforms, Ad platform,