Meet the Keynote Speakers

CHIP KIDD

Chip Kidd is an American graphic designer, editor and author, best known for his book covers. As of 2024, he is the vice president and art director at Knopf and editor-at-large for graphic novels at Pantheon. He is the author of two novels and numerous non-fiction books on comics and graphic design, with a particular interest in DC's Batman series. Kidd is the recipient of four Eisner Awards, the 2014 AIGA Medal and the 2007 American National Design Award for communication design.

Designer, Author, Book Cover Illustrator

STEVE PACHECO, CEO

DAWN REEVES, EVP

AAF is the nation’s leading professional organization for the advertising, marketing, and communications industry. Founded in 1905, AAF represents a nationwide network of local clubs, college chapters, and industry professionals dedicated to education, advocacy, and innovation. Dawn Reeves serves as EVP of Member Services & Programs, while Steve Pacheco is President and CEO, guiding the organization’s national strategy and outreach. Together, they lead initiatives that support creative excellence, professional development, and the next generation of advertising talent.

AAF National

TED WRIGHT

In 2015, Phil Kotler described Ted Wright as, “The Pioneer of modern Word of Mouth Marketing.” As the CEO of Fizz, Ted Wright has led one of the largest word of mouth marketing firms in the world since 2001. Operating in 13 time zones around the world, Fizz’s clients include Coca-Cola, LVMH, JetBlue, Audi, Intel, Quidel, and FIFA.

Ted has taught at the Wharton School since 2010 and in 2014 wrote the best-selling Word of Mouth Marketing book entitled “Fizz”. For fun, Ted surfs poorly and takes pictures of street art. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Chicago’s business school and has been together with his very patient wife since 1987.

Owner/CEO, Author

SONNY VILLARREAL

As VP of Brand Leadership at Lopez Negrete Communications, Sonny’s primary objective is to guide the clients’ businesses forward through collaborative and innovative marketing solutions.

Over his agency career, Sonny has led notable brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Samsung, MoneyGram, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, CenterPoint Energy, 76®, Phillips 66, Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee, and the 2020 Census. His strategic balance of creative integrity and business objectives has resulted in locally, nationally, and internationally awarded campaigns. Sonny has also been recognized with the "Rising Star" award from the Culture Marketing Council and the Mosaic Star from the American Advertising Federation.

A Harvard graduate with a degree in psychology, Sonny's marketing foundation is deeply rooted in understanding the intrinsic motivations that drive customer behavior. He also leverages this expertise to support creative development, improve internal communications, and guide his team through strategic decision-making by recognizing the psychological factors that influence both creative output and collaborative success.

Vice President of Brand Leadership, Lopez Negrete Communications

ZAC PRITCHETT

For the past 20 years, Zac has helped bold brands grow across retail, hospitality, telecom, healthcare, and more – partnering with clients like The Home Depot, Biltmore, Cargill, Red Lobster, UCHealth, and Metro by T-Mobile.

Today, as chief development officer at TRG – an independent agency behind some of America’s most memorable brands – Zac serves on the executive team leading agency growth and new business strategy, connecting ambitious brands with their next great agency partner.

Whether building brands or relationships, Zac approaches leadership the same way: with a foundation of integrity, a drive to make things better, and a belief that the strongest growth is designed to last.

A Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Zac lives in Dallas with his wife, Suzanne, and their two daughters – always looking forward to the next concert, the next crossword puzzle, and the next DIY project around the house.

CDO, TRG

SUSAN SAURAGE-ALTENLOH

For more than 30 years, Fortune 500 companies have turned to Dr. Susan Saurage-Altenloh for answers about consumer and business-to-business marketing.

Founder and Chief Insights Officer of Saurage Research, she has facilitated almost 18,000 qualitative sessions and managed thousands of quantitative and hybrid studies to help clients understand issues crucial to their success. The firm, which stays on the early adoption curve of new techniques and methodologies, has won numerous regional and national awards for its unique approach to uncovering data and helping marketers transform insights into big ideas.

Susan earned her PhD in Marketing and her Masters in Analytics from Capella University. Prior to these degrees, Susan earned her MBA at The University of Texas at Austin and her BBA at Houston Christian University. For fun, Dr. Susan spends time in the gym with weights or in the kitchen playing chef.