Speaker: Scott McIntosh of Treehouse Digital
Scott McIntosh is President of DigitalTreehouse, a digital marketing agency based in Franklin, Tennessee, now focused on helping businesses harness AI for real-world efficiency gains. With 15+ years in digital marketing and SEO, including managing newsletter growth for more than 200 brands in publishing, Scott brings a unique perspective on how AI can strengthen, not replace, trusted media organizations. Before his marketing career, Scott served eight years as a Naval Aviation Officer with the U.S. Navy. He holds a BSBA from UNC Chapel Hill and an MBA from Lipscomb University.
Scott is the author of a book on SEO and publishes SmartOwner, a daily newsletter helping business owners cut through the AI hype and find practical applications that actually work. He specializes in showing non-technical teams how to use AI tools and automations to save hours each week while staying focused on what matters most: quality journalism and community trust.
Speaker: Ryan Dohrn of Brain Swell Media
Ryan Dohrn is the owner of Niche Media Events and the founder of media sales training firm Brain Swell Media. He has trained over 50,000 ad sales reps in 7 countries and the sales teams at over 30+ CRMA member titles. Ryan sells media every day and has been a part of over a BILLION dollars in media sales. He is a graduate of the Cornell Executive Leadership Program, and his 30-year media sales and marketing career includes leadership roles at Disney/ABC TV, Morris Publishing, PennWell Publishing, and The NY Times Company. He is an Emmy Award winner, multiple business book author and has been featured in USA Today and on Forbes.com.
Speaker: Bruce Pinchbeck of Letterhead
Bruce Pinchbeck is the Co-Founder and Head of Marketing at Letterhead. He has been an innovative figure in the media industry since he created a popular homework-help website at the age of nine. This website was featured on Oprah and Good Morning America. Before joining Letterhead, Bruce worked at New World Symphony and served as the Chief Creative Officer at WhereBy.Us. He has a rich background in creative direction and entrepreneurship. Bruce is also a National Geographic award winner who balances his professional life with a passion for community art projects.
Speaker: Vatrice Chestnut of Affinity Media
Vatrice Chestnut is the owner of Affinity Media Consulting, a Washington, DC–based firm. With more than 30 years of experience, she has worked alongside entrepreneurs, associations, nonprofits, and government agencies to strengthen brands, improve operational efficiency, and support organizational growth. Her work includes managing publications and creative initiatives, as well as helping organizations develop and apply strategic communications that position them for long-term success.
Speaker: Meg Asby of PDX Parent
Meg Asby is the Digital Content Director at PDX Parent Magazine in Portland, Oregon, where she built the publication’s award-winning social media and short-form video strategy from the ground up. Under her leadership, PDX Parent earned Parenting Media Association Gold Awards for Best Use of Social Media, Overall Strategy, and Short-Form Video in 2024 and 2025, with reels reaching seven-figure view counts. Meg specializes in practical, sustainable social strategies that drive real audience growth and revenue.
Speaker: Natalie Sorge of NPS
Natalie Sorge is a Digital Director at NPS Media Group who partners with publishing organizations to turn digital strategy into measurable growth. She specializes in helping publishers increase online engagement, conversions, and revenue through integrated solutions that include SEO, paid media, email marketing, and web development. Natalie works closely with clients to clarify goals, align digital initiatives with brand growth, and translate performance data into actionable insights—often through customized Data Studio dashboards that support smarter, faster decision-making.
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