EXPLORATIONS IN THE EVENT-VERSE
CREATIVE CURIOSITY
See what’s on the horizon
in the event industry
and what you can do today
to strengthen your brand story.
OWNABLE EXPERIENCE
Learn the latest experiential technology
and trends and how they can
help you amplify your
brand experience.
PERSONALIZED INTELLIGENCE
Understand the tools you
need to elevate interactions
with your customers and
boost your marketing strategy.
DEX HUNTER-TORRICKE
Head of Communications,
Oversight Board for Meta,
Former Head of Communications
at SpaceX, Executive Communications
Manager at Facebook,
and Executive at Google
STEVE MAPES
VP, Strategy & Planning
Impact XM
HEATHER GRIFFIN
VP, Marketing
Impact XM
MATT GRANT
VP, Live + Digital Production and Technology
Impact XM
JOY KAUFMAN
Senior Creative Director
Impact XM
CHARLES FRY
Founder
CODE Exitos
KEVIN PADDEN
Executive Creative Director
Impact XM
AND MORE...
11:15 AM-11:30 AM ET
MORNING ENTERTAINMENT
Get ready for an exciting event with some energizing music from our DJ!
11:30 AM-12:35 PM ET
WELCOME & KEYNOTE
Welcome to Rethink: Technology 2022
Jared Pollacco, CEO, Impact XM & Mike Sandler, VP, Client Service, Impact XM
To kick off our Rethink: Technology event, Jared Pollacco will introduce some fresh brand thinking from Impact XM, and its relevance in today’s Tech Event marketplace, while Mike Sandler will overview highlights of the day’s programming.
The World in Sight: A Guide to the Key Technological Trends of the Next 10-20 Years (and What They Mean for Brands and Organizations)
Dex Hunter-Torricke, Head of Communications, Oversight Board for Meta, Former Head of Communications at SpaceX, Executive Communications Manager at Facebook, and Executive at Google
Dex Hunter-Torricke spent a decade helping the tech industry’s biggest names figure out how to talk about, brand, and share news of breakthrough products. This has given him unparalleled access to the issues keeping Silicon Valley executives up at night as well as the exciting developments ahead. During this talk, Dex evaluates the emergence of macro societal trends, including the rise of globalization and nationalism, as well as the development of specific technologies including virtual reality and live-streaming, to forecast which technologies will take hold and how they will alter life, work, and business operations permanently.
12:40 PM – 1:40 PM ET
INSIGHT SESSIONS
Before the Metaverse Singularity – An Event Manager’s Playbook
Steve Mapes, VP, Strategy & Planning, Impact XM
The Metaverse offers us a new future where we will travel amazingly realistic 3D digital worlds, shop new digital products, immerse in gaming environments – and attend events like we could never imagine. But it will be years before technology, networks, devices, and human expectations coalesce into the “Metaverse singularity” – where the Metaverse will be seamless, persistent, and expected for events.
In this session we’ll review 5 opportunities for event managers to integrate Metaverse components into events now, and build a migration path to the future.
The Ferrari with Flat Tires: Technology and Strategy in Event Marketing
Joy Kaufman, Senior Creative Director, Impact XM
This session expands on interactive and immersive technology to explore the balance between technology trends and strategy so no matter what your next digital activation may include, it does not fall flat with your audience. This session will include a few examples of successful use of technology to create memorable experiences and active engagement.
Optimizing Message Alignment with Your Target Attendee – The W.H.Y Framework
Heather Griffin, VP, Marketing, Impact XM
Personalization has made customers pause and pay attention to your brand’s message in a sea of marketing content. But today, customers expect relevant content in relation to what they are doing, anytime, anywhere and in the format of their choosing. It is their journey that dictates our event strategy.
In this session, we will cover the importance of customer-centric marketing and how it applies to the event channel. We will then cover best practices and tactics through the framework of understanding W.H.Y. – Who (W) your target is, How (H) you will truly connect with that audience, and Why (Y) your audience would care about your message or event. Understanding the W.H.Y will not only help your marketing approach pre, during, and post event but also improve the right ROI for your business.
Let’s Get Real about NFTs – Integrating Blockchain Tech at your Events
Charles Fry, Founder, CODE Exitos
NFTs and Blockchain Technology are often-misunderstood but potentially game-changing technologies. In this session, we will go back to the basics of NFTs and give guidance on few ways Event professionals can incorporate NFT technology into their digital engagement toolkit. NFTs can be used on the show floor, with your remote engagements, and as a connector for hybrid events. Don’t be the last person to understand – and use – this next-gen technology! Join us for an exciting discussion with practical advice you can use today.
Interactive and Immersive Tech (for your next event)
Kevin Padden, Executive Creative Director, Impact XM
This session will provide a survey of technology and techniques that can help you add interaction and engagement immersion on the floor at live events and tradeshows. While no single presentation could cover all of this field, we will focus on actual examples of Display Tech, Touchless Tech, Mobile Device Integration, plus an example or two of some off-the wall solutions that are available for use today. This session is sure to provide some thought-starters (and maybe even stir up a little FOMO) as you see what other Tech Exhibitors are up to out there.
Maximizing Measurement: Best Practices for Attendee Data Capture & Reporting for Virtual, Hybrid, or In-Person
Matt Grant, VP, Live + Digital Production & Technology, Impact XM
We’ll take a fresh look at the fundamentals of measuring event and attendee data via various KPIs and benchmarks. Whether your event portfolio is virtual, hybrid, or in-person, we’ll discuss the numerous ways to plan, develop and execute measurement strategies that capture the data that can help marketers and decision-makers evaluate the effectiveness of their programs.
1:40 PM-2:20 PM ET
VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT THEATER
Magic, Mentalism and Digital Mayhem!
Take an entertainment break from all the serious learning with some virtual magic! Be prepared to participate in a truly mind-blowing experience. It’s fun, it’s easy … and it’s all in the name of charity!
2:25 PM – 3:30 PM ET
STATE OF THE SHOW & CLOSING
CES, Mobile World and SXSW – Learning from the Triumvirate of Trend-Makers
Steve Mapes, VP, Strategy & Planning, Impact XM
If it is new Tech, Connectivity or Culture, chances are it premiered at CES, Mobile World or SXSW. After a long pause, the in-person versions of these events bounced back with a vengeance, powered by a backlog of never-stopping innovation, and curated under a post-pandemic lens of evolving consumer preferences and expectations.
Join us as we identify and explore 5 trends shared across these events and what they mean for us as event professionals, consumers, and global citizens.
The Insiders’ Perspective
Erik McKinney, VP, Executive Creative Director, Impact XM, Brittney Leeb, Senior Director, New Business Development, Impact XM, Kristi Ruskuski Martins, Account Director, Impact XM Moderated by Frank Verrilli, VP, Business Development, Impact XM
Our panel of event experts will discuss their observations of the evolving trends in events, how they are working with companies to help them to engage with audiences after the pandemic, the role of tech and design in the human-centered experience, and what they expect for the second half of 2022 and beyond.
Closing Remarks
Mike Sandler, VP, Client Service, Impact XM
As Rethink: Technology 2022 wraps up, Mike Sandler will share closing remarks about the event and inspiring thoughts on the future of the technology marketing industry.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET
SOLUTIONS SHOWCASE
Check out our solutions showcase to see the latest in all things tech and engagements.
WANT TO JOIN THE MAILING LIST?
“RETHINK IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH COLLEAGUES ACROSS DIFFERENT MARKETS WHILE ENGAGING IN EDUCATIONAL INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING. IT’S ALSO A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE BEST, BRIGHTEST AND NEWEST DIGITAL HAS TO OFFER.
RETHINK IS A MUST ATTEND PROGRAM!”
– Isabelle G
Head, US Meeting & Convention Management, Bayer US LLC
