Agenda

Sun – Nov 10, 2024

    1:00pm – 4:00pm 3 Hrs
  • PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP: Ad Tech Accelerator - Mastering Ad Ops Tactics

    Yield
    Prebid
    Identity
    1:00pm – 4:00pm

    Want to earn credits to help boost your career and resume? Register for this workshop add-on presented by AdMonsters, AdExchanger, and Prohaska Consulting - the Ad Tech Accelerator, an innovative initiative designed to provide media professionals and executives with the advanced strategic and tactical training needed to excel in the fast-paced world of ad tech operations and revenue strategy. This session focuses on a tangible-level (hands-on-keyboard) of a variety of activities that come across various publisher-facing ad tech roles. The focus is to not only understand the what/why but also the how. The hands-on aspect to accomplish common tasks will be the focus of the training. The outcome is more capable and aware individuals to help produce results within their own companies. Ideal Audience Ad Operations (mid-level)β€― Revenue Operations leaders to understand tactical capabilities Pricing & Planning teamsβ€― Yield Operations Analytics & BI teamβ€― Ad Product teamsβ€― Technology teams focused on Ad Tech solutions 

    • Matt Prohaska

      Matt Prohaska

      CEO & Principal // Prohaska Consulting
    • Ameet Shah

      Ameet Shah

      Senior Director, Global Tech, Publisher & Data Strategy // Prohaska Consulting
  • 5:30pm – 6:00pm 30 mins
  • New Monsters Special Welcome

    5:30pm – 6:00pm

    Are you a Publisher Forum rookie? Do you have any idea what you've gotten yourself into? Come down and get the prep you need to conquer the conference... And meet some fellow greenhorns.

  • 6:00pm – 7:00pm 1 Hr
  • Publishers Welcome! A Workgroup Networking Reception

    6:00pm – 7:00pm

    Meet your fellow Publisher attendees in this fun and friendly session that sets the stage for the rest of the event! Grab a drink as we break you up into small workgroups and complete a (fun, we swear!) tech-focused icebreaker activity that will inform the agenda and discussion over the coming days.

  • 7:00pm – 9:00pm 2 Hrs
  • Publisher Forum Welcome Dinner

    7:00pm – 9:00pm

    We kick off Publisher Forum with a good, old-fashioned party! All attendees come together to eat, drink, and get to know each other. 

Mon – Nov 11, 2024

    8:00am – 9:00am 1 Hr
  • Breakfast

    8:00am – 9:00am

    Come enjoy a hearty breakfast to fuel your mind for a day of learning ahead!

  • 9:00am – 9:10am 10 mins
  • Welcome to Publisher Forum Scottsdale!

    9:00am – 9:10am

    A big welcome from AdMonsters Content Director Lynne d Johnson, who will share the house rules, introduce the AdMonsters team, and provide an overview of the next few days.

    • Lynne d Johnson

      Lynne d Johnson

      Content Director // AdMonsters
  • 9:10am – 9:50am 40 mins
  • By the Bootstraps: Balancing Organizational & Personal Growth as a Publisher

    9:10am – 9:50am

    Drawing from his experience building & leading programmatic monetization across multiple bootstrapped businesses, Emry Downinghall, SVP, Programmatic Revenue and Strategy at Unwind Media, shares insights and lessons learned in the ever-evolving world of ad monetization. This keynote will explore the critical factors that drive success, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies for personal and organizational growth for publishers.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Identifying critical focus areas for individual development
    • Translating business success into personal career growth
    • Navigating the challenges and opportunities in ad monetization
    • Practical lessons learned from building two successful publisher businesses
    • Emry DowningHall

      Emry DowningHall

      SVP, Programmatic Revenue and Strategy // Unwind Media
  • 10:10am – 10:40am 30 mins
  • Networking Break

    10:10am – 10:40am
  • 10:45am – 11:30am 45 mins
  • Building Bridges: How Smaller CTV Publishers Connect with Key Players

    10:45am – 11:30am

    In CTV, smaller publishers are finding innovative ways to forge strong relationships with key players, ensuring their content stands out. This session will explore how these publishers are navigating challenges like fragmentation and limited transparency by leveraging Deal IDs, direct buyer relationships, and curated deals. We'll also discuss the vital role SSPs play in maintaining inventory quality through curation and transparency, offering insights into how these strategies help smaller CTV publishers thrive alongside the industry's biggest names.

    • Aki Garrett

      Aki Garrett

      VP of Business Development // Revolt Podcast Network
  • Scaling Together: The Future of Collaborative Publishing Networks to Unlock New Revenue Streams

    10:45am – 11:30am

    Smaller publishing brands often struggle to attract agency dollars due to perceived sub-scale reach. This session explores how publishers within the same category can band together to create a unified marketplace, significantly expanding their reach and appeal to advertisers. Learn from the innovative approach of BOMESI’s multicultural marketplace, where cohort sites collaborate to offer agencies a one-stop shop. Discover how this model can be applied across various publishing categories, enabling brands to unlock new revenue streams and thrive in a competitive environment.

    • Justin Barton

      Justin Barton

      Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Partnerships // Black Enterprise
  • 11:40am – 11:50am 10 mins
  • Digital Media Drilldown: The Secret Sauce for Unlocking Revenue through Audience Amplification

    11:40am – 11:50am

    What’s your game plan when third-party cookies vanish and referral traffic dries up? This report uncovers how publishers are cracking the code on audience amplification to thrive. With third-party cookies going bye-bye-bye, referral traffic taking a nosedive, and AI changing the rules, reaching your audience has never been more critical — or challenging. We’ve gathered insights from industry insiders, spotlighted bold case studies, and rounded up the hottest tactics to help you turn audience amplification into your ultimate growth hack. Get ready to amplify your reach and watch your revenue soar.

    • Lynne d Johnson

      Lynne d Johnson

      Content Director // AdMonsters
    • Becky Peck

      Becky Peck

      Group Publisher // AdMonsters
  • 11:50am – 12:30pm 40 mins
  • Keynote - The New Premium: Navigating the Future of Digital Audience Engagement and Content Monetization

    11:50am – 12:30pm

    In today’s digital landscape, where Americans spend over 8 hours a day interacting with media, defining what “premium” means has become more complex for both media owners and consumers. Is ad-free content still the hallmark of premium, or does audience value lie in something deeper? This session examines the tools and strategies media owners need to engage and sustain audiences, whether through flexible tech stacks, smart ad strategies, or content tiers. We’ll explore the role of trust and authenticity in a world dominated by recommendation algorithms and generative AI, while also addressing the evolving meaning of premium content and experience.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Defining premium in the eyes of media owners vs. consumers
    • Leveraging flexible tech stacks and lifetime value models for audience growth
    • Who can succeed with super-premium, no-ad models, and who needs a balanced ad approach?
    • Building trust and authenticity amidst the challenges of generative AI
    • Practical strategies for sustained audience engagement and profitable growth
    • Ana Milicevic

      Ana Milicevic

      Principal and Cofounder // Sparrow Advisers
  • 12:30pm – 1:30pm 1 Hr
  • Lunch

    12:30pm – 1:30pm
  • 1:50pm – 2:10pm 20 mins
  • The Cookie is Crumbling, But Your Strategy Shouldn’t

    1:50pm – 2:10pm

    In deciding to not fully deprecate cookies, Google gave consumers more power to control their data—and your visibility of them. With this change, signal loss will become persistent and pervasive, and publishers will only thrive if they discover, deliver, and double-down on the core value they provide to their users. Building a winning value proposition has never been more important for your long-term success, and PCH Media can help.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Learn the continued value of building a sustainable first-party data strategy
    • Uncover the increased importance of a fully permissioned approach
    • Explore meaningful value exchange to unlock your data potential
    • Discover the power of data collaboration in meeting the needs of your consumers
    • Roey Franco

      Roey Franco

      Chief Product Officer // Publisher's Clearing House
  • 2:10pm – 2:50pm 40 mins
  • One Big Problem - Amplifying Your Audience

    2:10pm – 2:50pm

    Join this dynamic town hall session designed for ad ops and rev ops professionals. Bring your biggest audience development challenges to the table and collaborate on innovative solutions to turn your strategies around. We'll focus on overcoming current obstacles to amplify your audience strategies for success in the evolving digital media landscape.

  • 2:50pm – 3:30pm 40 mins
  • Afternoon Break

    2:50pm – 3:30pm
  • 3:30pm – 4:15pm 45 mins
  • Small Group Workshops

    3:30pm – 4:15pm

    Engage in dynamic small group discussions to learn from the collective wisdom of your peers. This is your opportunity to discover new audience strategies, to learn how to boost your career journey, and make improvements with other challenges you encounter every day from your peers who are working through the same experiences. These workshops are designed by our attendees for our attendees to learn from one another.

  • 4:25pm – 5:00pm 35 mins
  • Workshop Report-In and Day 1 Wrap Up

    4:25pm – 5:00pm

    This is the time to report in about all of your newly discovered strategies to make your life easier when you return to work. Share with everyone so we can all reap the benefits of your discoveries!

    • Lynne d Johnson

      Lynne d Johnson

      Content Director // AdMonsters
  • 5:30pm – 7:00pm 1 Hr, 30 mins
  • Tech Crawl Happy Hour

    5:30pm – 7:00pm

    In this unique and fun format for tech discovery, you'll have the opportunity to do a "Tech Crawl" to investigate new technologies from our sponsoring Tech Providers where you'll learn a bit about how each company is changing the digital advertising industry. (Of course, there will be drinks and snacks to liven up the conversation.) Swipe in with each Tech Provider you visit, and attendees that meet our magic number will be eligible for a serious prize ($$$) given out during dinner.

  • 7:00pm – 9:00pm 2 Hrs
  • The Big Dinner

    7:00pm – 9:00pm

    A beautiful meal enjoyed by publishers and sponsors together, accompanied by music, prizes, and surprises! You're guaranteed to walk away with 10 new meaningful connections after the AdMonsters Big Dinner.

Tues – Nov 12, 2024

    8:00am – 9:00am 1 Hr
  • Breakfast

    8:00am – 9:00am
  • 9:00am – 9:05am 5 mins
  • Welcome Back to Day 2 of Publisher Forum Scottsdale

    9:00am – 9:05am
  • 9:05am – 9:45am 40 mins
  • Buy Side vs Sell Side Smackdown

    9:05am – 9:45am

    Join us for a high-energy smackdown where buy-side and sell-side experts clash and collaborate on maximizing value through cutting-edge connectivity and data strategies. Discover how to leverage TTD SPO, Google Ads/Sandbox, and contextual intelligence to enhance targeting and creative impact. Plus, explore partnerships with non-competitive sites to amplify reach. It’s a showdown of differing viewpoints with one goal: data-driven success.

    • Therran Oliphant

      Therran Oliphant

      Chief Strategy Officer // Hand Raiser Marketing
  • 10:05am – 10:35am 30 mins
  • Mastering the Ad Stack: Synergies in Bidding and Supply Path Optimization

    10:05am – 10:35am

    Dive into the intricate world of programmatic advertising as we explore the powerful intersection of bid throttling, traffic shaping, dynamic price flooring, and bid enhancement techniques. This session will uncover how these strategies work together to maximize revenue, improve efficiency, and navigate the ethical challenges in today's complex ad ecosystem.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Understand how bid throttling and traffic shaping can be leveraged to enhance the efficiency of your supply in the eyes of SSPs and DSPs
    • Learn the pros and cons of ID bridging and spoofing, and their impact on various recipients in the supply chain
    • Discover strategies to optimize your ad stack by balancing revenue goals with ethical and environmental considerations
    • Gain insights into future trends in programmatic advertising, including AI-driven optimization, fraud detection and the effectiveness of dynamic price flooring
    • Explore practical tips for implementing these techniques to increase your bottom line while maintaining transparency
    • Justin Wohl

      Justin Wohl

      CRO // Snopes.com
  • 10:35am – 11:05am 30 mins
  • Networking Break

    10:35am – 11:05am
  • 11:15am – 12:00pm 45 mins
  • Maximizing Post-Election Ad Revenue: Strategies for the Home Stretch

    11:15am – 12:00pm

    With the election behind us, publishers and advertisers still have massive opportunities to drive engagement and revenue. In this session, Carlos Bracho and Walt Houseknecht will dive into how Politico’s ad stack revamp allowed them to capitalize on surging interest in political news and paved the way for continued revenue growth, showcasing how innovative ad tech strategies can maximize revenue, even after major attention-driving events.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Learn how to optimize your ad stack for peak post-election engagement.
    • Discover how Politico US revamped its ad delivery and saw immediate revenue gains.
    • Explore strategies to maintain ad performance and capitalize on heightened user attention post-election.
    • Get practical tips on multi-adserver and multi-vendor integration for long-term revenue growth
    • Carlos Bracho

      Carlos Bracho

      Vice President Global AdTech // Axel Springer
    • Walt Houseknecht

      Walt Houseknecht

      Executive Director, Ad Tech Operations // Politico
  • Social Survival: Publishers' Playbook for Thriving in the Era of Search Decline

    11:15am – 12:00pm

    As referral traffic from search engines and social platforms dwindle, publishers are rethinking their strategies to maintain audience engagement and revenue. This session delves into how publishers are recalibrating their social media approaches and diversifying their traffic sources to stay competitive. Discover actionable insights on optimizing content for multiple platforms, investing in owned channels, and building direct relationships with your audience. Learn how to navigate the challenges of reduced visibility and platform dependence by exploring new opportunities and staying agile. This session is a must-attend for anyone looking to future-proof their publishing strategy and thrive.

  • 12:10pm – 12:45pm 35 mins
  • Group Reflection Roundtables

    12:10pm – 12:45pm

    Following the themes of the morning, you'll divide into interest areas with your peers to dive deeper. Get real with actionable next steps and inspirations.

  • 12:45pm – 1:15pm 30 mins
  • Pick Up Boxed Lunches

    12:45pm – 1:15pm

    Grab your portable lunch before heading out on your next adventure!

  • 1:30pm – 5:00pm 3 Hrs, 30 mins
  • Off-site Activities

    1:30pm – 5:00pm

    Your brain needs a little break after all this thinking! Attendees get to select from a variety of local experiences while making new connections. Pick an activity that sparks joy, from active adventures in the Scottsdale landscape to activating your competitive streak, or choose to relax and unwind at our Pool Party; there are always 5+ activities to choose from so there's something for everyone! See the full activity descriptions here

    • Party Bike Pub Crawl
    • Scottsdale Segway Tour
    • Scottsdale Greenbelt E-Bike Tour
    • Sonoran Desert Hike
    • Heated Pool Party
  • 6:30pm – 9:30pm 3 Hrs
  • Monsters Night Out

    6:30pm – 9:30pm

    Don't miss Tuesday night, where we excite and delight attendees with a private party that is not your father's stuffy conference wrap-up party. Our private Tuesday party in downtown Scottsdale is full of fun and surprises. Some call Monsters Night Out the highlight of every Publisher Forum! 


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