Defining the Future of Digital Media

November 4-7, 2018 | Austin, TX

No other conference comes close to offering the community, exchange of ideas and learning opportunities of the AdMonsters Publisher Forum [drop the mic].

About

No other conference comes close to offering the community, exchange of ideas and learning opportunities of the AdMonsters Publisher Forum [drop the mic].

  • Connect with your peers to advance the digital media industry.
  • Delve into the latest topics focused on maximizing revenue.
  • Experience a unique event with an agenda you help set.
  • Interact with technology service providers and see their solutions in action.
  • Take away actionable insights for your company, your department and yourself.

Registration for this event is now only $1,395 and includes:

  • 3.5 day of discussion and discourse
  • Keynote addresses from industry visionaries
  • Attendee-led sessions and workshops
  • Small group breakouts covering a wide variety of ad op current topics
  • Sunday evening cocktail reception and dinner
  • Monday evening Tech Crawl networking reception
  • Sponsor & attendee Monday dinner
  • Tuesday afternoon off-site activities
  • Attendee-only Tuesday dinner
  • Breakfasts and lunches during the conference

EARLY BIRD RATES EXPIRE SEPT 28! 

Keynotes

  • Bob Pearson

    Bob Pearson

    Senior Advisor

    Forget Advertising—Let’s Talk Storytizing

    To truly grasp their role in helping brands effectively reach their target audiences, digital media companies must first understand how marketing strategies have evolved to deliver comprehensive messaging across seemingly countless platforms. W20’s Bob Pearson argues that advertising has given way to Storytizing, in which brands leverage their data stores to match content and creative with audiences no matter where or what their doing. This isn’t only a leap forward for marketers, however—Storytizing also enables publishers to be better engage both their advertisers and their audiences.

  • Si Brown

    Si Brown

    Founder and CEO

    Augmented Reality: Even Better Than the Real Thing

    Though augmented reality has quickly become a larger part of actual reality, we’re only scratching the surface of potential use cases for the technology—especially when it comes to digital advertising. Skignz Cofounder Si Brown takes us on whirlwind tour of the current coolest applications of augmented reality and expounds on how all publishers can leverage the technology in their monetization efforts.

Speakers

  • Adrian D'Souza

    CXO
    Digital Strategic Consulting Services
  • Rick Welch

    Chief Revenue Officer
  • Stephanie Layser

    VP, Advertising Technology and Operations
  • Emry DowningHall

    SVP, Programmatic Revenue and Strategy
  • Eric Hill

    Sr. Manager, Digital Advertising Operations
  • Jana Meron

    Strategic Advisor
  • David Rowley

    VP, Revenue Technology
  • Jeffrey Mayer

    Vice President, Programmatic
  • Chip Schenck

    SVP of Data and Programmatic Solutions
  • Kim Lauterbach

    Sr. Director, Audience & Programmatic Platforms
  • William Won

    Senior Director, Sales Operations
  • Amanda Binns

    Regional Vice President, Customer Success
  • Taylor Coulis

    Head of Mobile Partnerships
  • Shane Nantais

    Co-Founder and CEO
  • Maria Breza

    VP, Ad Quality Measurement and Audience Data Operations, SXM Media
  • Samuel Youn

    VP, Programmatic
  • Tim Wolfe

    VP of Revenue Operations
  • Brie Manakul

    SVP of Revenue Operations
    Nucleus Marketing Solutions
  • Amanda Gomez

    VP, Revenue Operations
  • Markus Lauscher

    Head of Ad Technology
  • Mark Fruehan

    EVP, GM Velocity
  • Steve Stup

    CRO
  • Roy Firestone

    Senior Director of Product
  • Geoff Wolinetz

    VP, Client Relationships
  • Jim Egan

    VP, Business Development
  • Joseph Lospalluto

    EVP, Americas
  • Daniel Druker

    Chief Marketing Officer
  • Gavin Dunaway

    Product Marketing Lead
  • Rob Beeler

    Founder & CEO

Don’t take our word for it. Over 98% of attendees leave with tangible learnings that they can apply in their job:

“Best event in our space. All Ad Ops people should attend, it is actionable and the only place where you can interact with your people for hours on end.”

“This is a great experience to meet other people in your same industry who are going through similar issues. It is an opportunity to learn about new solutions as well as contribute to the community.”

“It’s the one place to go and collaborate with other publishers. The learning environment is invaluable.”

“AdMonsters Publisher Forums is the place where your career takes off.”

Sessions

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Sunday, Nov 04

Clear filters
  1. 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm

    New Monsters Welcome Session

    Are you a Publisher Forum rookie? Come down and hear what the next few days are about—and you'll get to meet rookies like yourself.

  2. 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    Welcome Networking Reception

    Meet your fellow attendees over drinks and snacks! Participants will be broken up into groups and asked to complete a (fun, we swear!) activity that will inform the agenda and discussion over the coming days.

  3. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

    Opening Reception

    Sponsoring companies join the conversation and nosh.

Monday, Nov 05

Clear filters
  1. 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Breakfast

    Best get a big helping of this scrumptious breakfast because you've got a long day ahead!

  2. 9:00 am - 9:20 am

    PubForum Kickoff

    A big hello from emcee Rob Beeler, AdMonsters Chair, who will share the house rules, introduce the AdMonsters team and give an overview of the next few days.

  3. 9:20 am - 10:00 am

    Monday Keynote: Forget Advertising—Let’s Talk Storytizing

    To truly grasp their role in helping brands effectively reach their target audiences, digital media companies must first understand how marketing strategies have evolved to deliver comprehensive messaging across seemingly countless platforms. W20’s Bob Pearson argues that advertising has given way to Storytizing, in which brands leverage their data stores to match content and creative with audiences no matter where or what they're doing. This isn’t only a leap forward for marketers, however—Storytizing also enables publishers to better engage both their advertisers and their audiences.

  4. 10:00 am - 10:20 am

    Chairman’s Corner: Welcome to the New Living Room

    For ages, digital publishers have been yearning for access to consumer living rooms via the TV set. Great news—thanks to connected TV and the proliferation of OTT devices, the “new living room” is open to all digital publishers. However, monetizing is a bit more complicated than flipping a switch. AdMonsters Chairman Rob Beeler engages FreeWheel VP of Client Relationships Geoff Wolinetz on the expansion of monetization opportunities in the connected TV arena including FreeWheel’s DRIVE initiative; how to take advantage of changing consumer habits with video-on-demand on set-top boxes; and audience optimized campaigns on linear versus addressable.

  5. 10:20 am - 10:40 am

    Reward Me! Opt-In Video and the Future of Rewarded Consumer Engagement

    Game developers have been the unexpected trailblazers in mobile in-app advertising and today many widely adopted monetization techniques are a result of both their creativity in developing new ad formats and willingness to embrace innovative formats introduced to them. At the same time, traditional publishers and media companies intent on expanding their digital footprint have tried to apply their programmatic advertising strategies to their apps, with mixed results. Simply applying desktop strategies to mobile app won’t maximize revenue or ensure quality.

    As consumers continue their move to apps, there is a golden opportunity for bridge the gap between the programmatic expertise that was formed in the age of desktop with innovative mobile-first strategies, to create app-first ad experiences that produce better engagement, higher ROI for advertisers and maximum monetization for publishers. 

  6. 10:40 am - 11:00 am

    Morning Networking Break

  7. 11:00 am - 11:50 am

    Publisher Session 3: The Mobile App Situation

    Although apps seem to be the preferred way for mobile users to digest content, monetizing them continues to be a royal pain thanks to technical challenges (argh, not another SDK!), lackluster creative, and a lack of competitive demand offerings. But there are glimmers of hope in regards to programmatic and native—Flipboard’s Rick Welch leads us through the current state of mobile app monetization and keys in on the technology that will drive the space forward.

  8. 11:00 am - 11:50 am

    Publisher Session 1: How Evolved Is Your Ops Team?

    Most ad operations departments have come a long way from the early days as title-less firefighters. However, have we actually evolved into our peak form (for the moment!), or are we still struggling up the ladder? In this highly interactive session, Intersection’s Adrian D’Souza will outline the history of ad operations over the last 20-odd years while asking the audience to evaluate their departments’ progress and what it will take to get to the next level.

  9. 11:00 am - 11:50 am

    Publisher Session 2: Niche Audiences at Scale

    As marketers strive to reach more and more niche audiences while maintaining high-enough performance to warrant large media spends, publishers and tech providers alike need to build scalable systems to support these requests. How do you organize a large audience base in a way that allows for even the most niche audiences to be targeted, but leave room for optimization and opportunity for unique reach? Vox Media's Will Won, Director, Concert Marketplace Revenue, shares his insight into managing an audience portfolio that yields over 200 million monthly uniques across the industry’s most prestigious editorial brands. He’ll walk through learned best practices when it comes to third-party layering and how building smart first-party segments has been a productive solution for both marketers and the business.

  10. 12:00 pm - 12:20 pm

    Question the Tech: Round 1

    What’s going on with the hottest names in ad tech? Who is debuting game-changing products? What digital media trends are the providers excited about… and what’s making them nervous? During these brief but insightful panels, we’ll get the real scoop on the latest industry developments. This time: Simplaex, FatTail, Confiant, PowerInbox

  11. 12:20 pm - 12:40 pm

    From Location Data to Movement Science

    To compete and succeed in a fast-evolving, increasingly mobile landscape, location is the key to the contextual advertising that helps publishers monetize. Yet advertisers and publishers alike have to think well beyond zip+4 and IP address in their quest for real relevance. In the session, Mark Fruehan, EVP GM, Velocity at Verve, takes the stage to explain how advertisers can fight the good fight by thinking beyond location to an array of data points, including uses, transactions, and patterns over time, an approach Verve calls Movement Science.

  12. 12:40 pm - 1:40 pm

    Lunch

    After a crazy morning of content, we bet you could use a bite!

  13. 1:40 pm - 2:10 pm

    Digital Media Leadership Awards Panel

    Recipients of the Digital Media Leadership Award are chosen based on career trajectories, department success under their leadership and their general strides in taking ad operations to the next level of importance within an organization. They inspire ops professionals with their personal achievements while offering keen insight on the present and future ops situation. Austin's recipients will take to the stage to discuss how ops has driven their career, what's occupying most of their time at the moment, and the top trends on their radar.

  14. 2:10 pm - 2:30 pm

    Media Quality: Beyond the Metrics

  15. 2:40 pm - 3:30 pm

    Publisher Session 3: Prepping Your A/B Testing

    A/B or even multivariate testing can be an extraordinarily useful tool for evaluating demand partners, gauging ad product performance, refining creative, campaign optimization, and more. But to get the most out of A/B testing, the revenue team needs an overarching strategy for procedures, metrics, and reviewing results. Samuel Youn shares the details of Chegg’s A/B testing setup and offers publishers best practices on building their own testing programs.

  16. 2:40 pm - 3:30 pm

    Publisher Session 1: How Publishers Succeed Through Client Success

    In a constantly-changing industry where technology is upending business models and how publishers generate revenue, campaign strategy and client service are as critical as ever. After a significant overhaul, Advance Local’s David Rowley will share lessons learned from the experience, and strategies for developing team structure, workflow and processes that stay resilient in the face of constant change.”

  17. 2:40 pm - 3:30 pm

    Publisher-Sponsor Session: Audio Ads—Can You Hear the Opportunity?

    From music streaming to podcasting to voice-controlled speakers and in-car advertising, it’s clear that digital audio advertising is a marketplace that has already taken off, but is immature enough that plenty of players can still reap the benefits. The targeting and data opportunities seem limitless, but audio is a format many in digital advertising are unfamiliar with—investment will need to precede profits. SoundCloud’s Jeffrey Mayer gives a tour of the the programmatic digital audio space and ruminates how both publishers and tech providers can get in on the market, whether it’s through streamed content such as music or podcasting, or even in-car channels. 

  18. 2:40 pm - 3:30 pm

    Publisher Session 2: The User Value Project—Rate Card of the Future?

    The brief history of digital advertising is filled with obsession over CPMs and revenue per page. But now that we have both the data and the technology to finely parse them, shouldn’t publishers be considering the value of actual users—the worth per page view and even their long-term business prospects? News Corp’s Stephanie Layser takes you inside her massive user value project and expounds on its potential for programmatic, placement decisioning, bid optimization, and even the rate card.

  19. 3:30 pm - 3:50 pm

    Afternoon Networking Break

  20. 3:50 pm - 4:10 pm

    Question the Tech: Round 2

    AdMonsters Chair Rob Beeler and Editorial Director Gavin Dunaway get the industry lowdown during these brief interviews with sponsoring tech providers.

  21. 4:10 pm - 4:40 pm

    Publisher Ad Tech: The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

    Publishers love the demand they get from major platforms but don’t always love the marriage to their tech. Learn how smart publishers are keeping the demand sources they love while gaining the control and transparency they need. 

  22. 4:40 pm - 4:50 pm

    Monday Wrap-Up

  23. 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

    Publisher-Sponsor Tech Crawl

    In this unique format for getting to know the tech providers sponsoring the Publisher Forum, attendees have the opportunity to do a tech crawl to investigate new technologies, 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.) Sponsoring companies will give attendees markers, and those that grab enough will be eligible for a serious prize given out during the Attendee-Sponsor Dinner.

  24. 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

    Publisher-Sponsor Dinner

    A gourmet meal enjoyed by attendees and sponsoring tech provider together, accompanied by music and... surprises?

Tuesday, Nov 06

Clear filters
  1. 8:00 am - 9:00 am

    Breakfast With Sponsors

  2. 9:00 am - 9:50 am

    Augmented Reality: Even Better Than the Real Thing

    Though augmented reality has quickly become a larger part of actual reality, we’re only scratching the surface of potential use cases for the technology—especially when it comes to digital advertising. Skignz Cofounder Si Brown takes us on whirlwind tour of the current coolest applications of augmented reality and expounds on how all publishers can leverage the technology in their monetization efforts.

  3. 9:50 am - 10:10 am

    Industry Buzz

    AdMonsters Editorial Director Gavin Dunaway teams up with The Media Trust CRO Steve Stup to take a hard look at GDPR and possible future US data privacy regulation; to explore how to give advertisers viewability feedback that will impove life for both parties; and to share the latest horror stories emerging from TMT's malware desk.

  4. 10:10 am - 10:30 am

    Understanding Inventory Quality: The IQ to Unlock Brand Spend

    As brand dollars flood into programmatic pipes, buyers and marketers are looking for more than protection from bots and IVT alone. The concept of inventory quality has evolved beyond being “not fraud” and buyers are now demanding more from their media partners. Learn how you can overcome common inventory quality myths and how we can create an environment welcoming of brand ad budgets in a session led by PubMatic’s Amanda Binns, Regional VP, Customer Success.

  5. 10:30 am - 10:50 am

    Networking Break

  6. 10:50 am - 11:10 am

    Question the Tech: Round 3

    AdMonsters Chair Rob Beeler and Editorial Director Gavin Dunaway get the industry lowdown during these brief interviews with sponsoring tech providers. 

  7. 11:10 am - 11:30 am

    State of Ad Ops

    AdMonsters Chairman Rob Beeler and Editorial Director Gavin Dunaway use the information supplied in the Sunday Workgroups to liven up the morning while also commenting on the overall state of digital advertising.

  8. 11:30 am - 11:50 am

    AI Is Transformative and You Should Be Using It Now—Here's How

    The full extent of machine learning's application to publishing remains to be seen, but as it stands publishers can stop revenue loss and maximize ad inventory by injecting AI into their current operations. From improving viewability, managing invalid traffic and restoring impressions lost to ad-blocking, Daniel Druker will get into the data on how machine learning can maximize revenue by up to 20%.

  9. 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm

    Panel Breakout 1: Direct-Sold Ad Ops

    Where the real work gets done! We'll dive into workflow, trafficking and discrepancies, client services, dealing with sales, and much more.

  10. 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm

    Panel Breakout 2: Advanced Programmatic

    You got takes on header integrations, PMPs, data targeting, or anything else programmatic? This is the place where you BRING THEM.

  11. 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm

    Special Session: From Ad Ops to Startup

    Has your inner entrepreneur been screaming to get out? Well, good news, ops professional—the experience you’ve accumulated during your years in the digital advertising trenches is highly valuable in a re-invigorated startup market. AdMonsters veteran Shane Nantais will explain why ad ops professionals are preternaturally suited for the startup world and offer best practices for transferring skillsets into a new environment.

  12. 12:50 pm - 5:00 pm

    Off-Site Activities

    Let's get out of this hotel and enjoy some local treasures! The sponsors join for a variety of fun trips and activities. Check your departure time on the back of your name tag.

    Whip & Neigh Neigh | 1:00 PM  & 2:15 PM

    Shooting & Sharp Things | 1:15 PM 

    Tie & Fly | 1:30 PM and 2:45 PM

    River Ramble | 1:30 PM

    Hawk Walk | 2:30 PM

    Tie & Fly | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

  13. 6:15 pm - 10:30 pm

    Publishers' Night Out: Clive Bar on Rainey Street

    Join us down on Rainey Street - Austins famous Entertainment District where renovated homes have turned into Bungalow bars in this popular tucked-away street in downtown Austin. You’ll find relaxed bars, bartenders, and a cool vibe on this street known for corn-hole and food trucks. Live music and some fun entertainment are a sure bet!


    Tonight we have turned Clive Bar into the AdMonsters playground! Clive Bar is Rainey’s cooler older brother - it was the first bar on Rainey and you’ll want to slip into it’s semi-secret bar in the small shack out back to try some Mezcal.


    Gather in ballroom foyer outside our General Session room at 6:15 PM SHARP for a departure at 6:20 PM via police escort. Please note - the vehicles cannot wait!


    Attire: Casual attire and a jacket as we will be outdoors!

Wednesday, Nov 07

Clear filters
  1. 8:00 am - 9:00 am

    Breakfast

  2. 9:00 am - 9:20 am

    AdMonsters Business

    There's a lot going on at AdMonsters—webinars, surveys, meetups, oh my!

  3. 9:30 am - 10:10 am

    Publisher Breakouts Round 1

    <p><strong>MAKE YOUR SELECTION IN THE BREAKOUT MODULE IN THE MOBILE APP</strong></p>

    <p><strong>When Advertising Is Not Revenue Priority #1</strong><br />
    Sarah Burns, Dominion<br />
    Lost Pines 1<br />
    <br />
    <strong>What Is the Ideal Creative QA Setup?</strong><br />
    Mike McLeod, PGA Tour<br />
    Lost Pines 2<br />
    <br />
    <strong>Dealing With Demos</strong><br />
    Joe Friend, Fox<br />
    Gone to Texas Screening Room<br />
    <br />
    <strong>Google Ad Manager Changes: The Fallout</strong><br />
    Monique Watford, Spiceworks<br />
    Ranger Room</p>

  4. 10:10 am - 10:30 am

    Networking Break and Check Out of Hotel

  5. 10:30 am - 11:10 am

    Publisher Breakouts Round 2

    <p><strong>MAKE YOUR SELECTION IN THE BREAKOUT MODULE</strong></p>

    <p><strong>Header Bidding and Yield Optimization</strong><br />
    Kevin Antoine, Watson<br />
    Lost Pines 1<br />
    <br />
    <strong>Native Ad Optimization</strong><br />
    Reva Lucia, Edmunds<br />
    Lost Pines 2<br />
    <br />
    <strong>Viewability, Brand Safety, Verification</strong><br />
    Lauren Maturo, Hulu<br />
    Gone to Texas Screening Room<br />
    <br />
    <strong>Campaign and Account Management Best Practicest</strong><br />
    Doug Park, Expedia<br />
    Ranger Room</p>

  6. 11:20 am - 12:00 pm

    Publisher Roundtables

    Discuss a variety of topics with your peers:

    1. Hiring and Training
    2. Viewability and IVT
    3. Workflow and Order Management
    4. Account Management/Client Services
    5. Ad Quality and User Experience
    6. Reporting and Reconciliation
    7. Blockchain and Emerging Tech
    8. Data Management and Alliances
    9. Vendor/Partner Management
    10. GDPR and Other Regulations
    11. Social
    12. Branded Content and Creative Studios

  7. 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

    Report In and Wrap-Up

    Let's shut this mother down with a recap of the breakout sessions and roundtables.

Location

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa

575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd
Cedar Creek, TX 78612
(512) 308-1234

*Rooms at the special AdMonsters group rate must be booked when you book your AdMonsters Publisher Forum registration. 

AdMonsters rate: $298 inclusive of all taxes & resort fees

Networking

Our Networking events are where Publisher Forums go from conference to full-scale event experience: 

Opening Reception for Attendees | Sunday – 6:00-7:00 PM
Meet your fellow attendees over drinks and snacks! Participants will be broken up into groups and asked to complete a (fun, we swear!) activity that will inform the agenda and discussion over the coming days.

Opening Night Reception | Sunday – 7:00-10:00PM
Meet. Mingle. Kick of the Publisher Forum with your fellow Ad Ops brethren.

Attendee-Sponsor Tech Crawl | Monday – 5:30-7:30 PM
This unique event is where the rubber meets the road. Speak with tech providers in a casual setting about your specific challenges, get personalized attention and real-world solutions. Drinks and snacks provided.

Attendee-Sponsor Dinner | Monday – 7:30 – 10:00PM
A gourmet meal enjoyed by attendees and sponsors, accompanied by music and… surprises? Always one of the highlights of Publisher Forum!

Off-Site Activities | Tuesday – 1:00 – 4:00/5:00PM
Your brain needs a little break after all this thinking! Enjoy all that Austin offers with activities that range from adventurous to enriching. You’ll make connections that will last long past the adrenaline rush.

  • Whip & Neigh Neigh (horseback riding)
  • River Ramble (kayaking or rafting) 
  • Zip & Sip (ziplining and beer tasting)
  • Shooting & Sharp Things (axe throwing, archery, trap shooting)
  • Tie & Fly (fly fishing)
  • Hawk Walk (falconry)

Check out full descriptions of the Austin activities

Publisher Dinner | Tuesday 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Look forward to an unforgettable meal to top off a memorable day. AdMonsters has found a gorgeous local spot for attendees to enjoy first-class food and beverage, as well as the good company of your ad ops peers.

Who's Attending

Sponsors

FAQ

Who attends Publisher Forum?

AdMonsters Publisher Forums are designed specifically for digital strategists and operations and technology leaders at online publishers, content creators and mobile application developers. AdMonsters reviews and approves each individual participant to ensure a conversation amongst a community of senior peers in digital media.

 

What should I expect at the Publisher Forum?

Most sessions are open to attendees only, except for Sponsor Workshops, Panels, and Networking Sessions.
The Publisher Forum conference takes place over three days, beginning with a cocktail reception and dinner on Sunday evening and ending at 5 PM Wednesday. The agenda includes:

  • 2-3 keynotes by industry visionaries
  • Sessions led by ad ops leaders who are also part of the AdMonsters community
  • Breakouts covering a wide variety of focused and ad-ops relevant topics

The 30-60 minute attendee sessions include presentations, round-table discussions and case studies on a wide variety of relevant topics such as: ad serving technology, inventory management, organizational structure, business process automation, ad operations policies, rich/streaming media and more.

 

Why should I register early?

Two reasons:

  • The price for Publisher Forums goes up as we get closer to the event date
  • We always sell out since we limit the number of attendees to keep the conversations open and flowing   

 

IAB Digital Ad Operations Recertification

Attending the full Publisher Forum can earn your 8 credits towards your IAB Digital Ad Operations Recertification.

 

Cancellation Policy

All conference fees are non-refundable. Substitutions will be accepted.  Non-payment or non-attendance due to natural disaster or any other reason does not constitute cancellation or refund. If for any reason Access Intelligence/AdMonsters decided to cancel or postpone this event, Access Intelligence/AdMonsters is not responsible for covering airfare, hotel or other travel costs incurred by the attendees. No hotel cancellations available within 30 days of event. Note: All payments must be received before entering the event.

 

IAB Digital Ad Operations Recertification

Attending the full Publisher Forum can earn you 8 credits towards your IAB Digital Ad Operations Recertification.