AMA Atlanta: Can You Hear Me?

Almost everyone you know carries a voice-activated smartphone and chances are, they are also increasingly utilizing voice-activated devices at home to hear news updates, schedule reminders and yes, even shop. Almost everyone you know has uttered the words “Siri, what is the weather like outside?”. So, the question becomes, if almost everyone you know relies on voice activation and virtual assistants in their daily activities, how can brands contextually market their products and services to consumers in a more meaningful way?

The AMA Innovation is bringing together speakers that can offer different perspectives on how brands are leveraging voice and audio as a part of their holistic marketing strategies to engage differently with consumers today.

We’ve seen a shift in marketing investments and strategies away from linear media toward streaming and digitally native platforms and that shift has accelerated in light of COVID.

We’ll discuss these shifts in how brands are operating based on changes in consumer behavior and where we see that going in the future. Attendees will walk away with a new perspective on how to reach consumers, and they will gain tools that will allow them to effectively develop innovative voice and audio marketing strategies as part of their total communications approach.

*The zoom link will be sent closer to the event date to the email address used when registering.

Speakers:

Joe Belliotti (Moderator)—Co-Founder, The Music Division—(Formerly: Head of Global Music at The Coca Cola Company)

Joe Belliotti is Co-Founder of The Music Division and a 20+ year music and marketing industry-recognized leader. Most recently spent 8 years as Head of Global Music for The Coca-Cola Company where he architected and led global scalable strategies, partnerships and initiatives across the company’s portfolio. Previously established entertainment marketing firm Brand Asset Group and in creative development at the publishing arm of Maverick (a Madonna/Warner Music JV).

Joe co-created and produces the “Decoding the Music Experience” podcast series in partnership with Advertising Week/AW360 and has been recognized by Billboard Magazine multiple times on the list of most influential people in music “Power 100” and branding “Branding Power Players”. He speaks regularly at major industry events including SXSW, Midem, Advertising Week, The Gathering and many others.

Susan Bennett—Voice of Siri

You may not know Susan Bennett, but you definitely know her voice! Susan is a voice actor, singer, and speaker whose voice has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV commercials for such clients as McDonald’s, Macy’s, Goodyear, Papa John’s, Fisher-Price, and more. She is the voice of Delta Airlines gates worldwide, as well as hundreds of GPS and phone systems, but you probably know her best as The Original Voice of Siri.

Susan has appeared on nationally televised programs The Mariah Carey Merriest Christmas Special, The Queen Latifah Show, CNN, Showbiz Tonight, The Jack & Triumph Show, the new To Tell the Truth, and she read the Top Ten list for David Letterman!

Susan was born in Burlington, Vermont, and spent her youth in New England. She was always interested in music and acting, which she pursued during her four years at Brown University, singing in theater productions, and in the jazz band, “Conglomerate.” Susan was the leader of the singing group, The Chattertocks, as well. After graduation, she married NHL hockey player, Curt Bennett, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Curt played for The Atlanta Flames, and Susan began her voiceover and singing career. Susan toured with Burt Bacharach as a backup singer, and later toured and traveled the world with Roy Orbison, also singing backup vocals, with a featured duet. She sang jingles as well for such clients as Coca-Cola, Georgia Power, Kroger, and Krystal restaurants. It was after a jingle session that Susan was asked to voice a commercial when the scheduled voice actor didn’t show up. She discovered that voiceover was something she did well and enjoyed, so she got a vocal coach, an agent, and started on a career that is still going strong. Since revealing herself as the Original Voice of Siri, Susan has a new career as a speaker, working with people at Harvard, The Federal Bank of Atlanta, Tedx Talks, Women in Business, Business Professionals of America, SwiftFest, etc.

Susan continues to live and work in Atlanta, Georgia, along with second husband guitarist and audio engineer, Rick Hinkle, of Audiocam Music. Susan and Rick had a private event band called “Interactive!” for more than two decades, and they still continue to work together in their 60’s and 70’s rock and soul band, “Boomers Gone Wild!”

Susan has one child, son Cameron Schuyler Bennett, who is a photographer, living and working in Los Angeles (www.cambennett.com).

Check out Susan’s website at www.SusanCBennett.com to hear demos of her voice work and speaker events; or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ SiriouslySusan; or check out her Facebook Fan Page, Susan Bennett-voice of Siri.

Ashley Tarica—Senior Sales Executive, Pandora

Ashley Tarica is a Senior Sales Executive at Pandora, starting in 2012 as part of the inaugural Atlanta-based Client Services team and subsequently moving into Sales covering the Southeast Region. She works with both holding-level agencies and multiple Fortune 500 clients directly, educating them on a range of audio, rich media and video advertising across both Pandora and SoundCloud. She serves as an Ad Innovation expert to her peers, supporting both Traditional Radio and Digital Audio strategies. Ashley is deeply passionate about music – bumping everything from Harry Styles to Led Zeppelin, pop-culture, rom-coms, and her 1.5-year-old son, Nash.

Andre’ Macklin—Brand + Culture Evangelist, Google

André delivers thought leadership and inspiration to Google’s top global partners by helping them. transform their businesses leveraging Google’s magic. As a branding specialist, he has created breakthrough YouTube strategies for one of the largest retailers in North America by helping them navigate the ever-evolving ways that audiences consume media; making the brand famous on the platform.

Prior to Google, André spent nearly ten years in the network television industry developing strategically creative promotions and sponsorships for brands from key industries, including motion pictures, gaming, toys, big-box retail, food, beverage, QSR, automotive, travel and consumer packaged goods. He helps brands drive revenue, increase traffic and smash through the clutter.

André earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Morehouse College in Atlanta.