Sessions
MAY 13 Day One
9:00 AM - Keynote
Sweet Learnings from Utah’s Fastest Growing Brands
- Britnee Bromley Nuehring
Discover the top lessons learned by Crumbl employee #6 and its first chief marketing officer as she became a passionate, hyper-growth addict dedicated to growing brands and businesses.
Keynote Speaker Bio
Britnee Bromley Nuehring is a marketing, branding & growth consultant at Ampleo and has built some of the nation’s fastest growing and successful brands. Currently, she is the co-founder of ALYZE – where health, fitness, wellness and precision medicine meet.
Before joining Ampleo in 2024, Britnee worked at various digital marketing and PR agencies, where she grew brands in dozens of industries, from trucking and engineering to cosmetics and healthcare.
She left the agency life to join Crumbl Cookies as its vice president of marketing and chief communications officer, leading out on all marketing strategy and fulfillment, as well as operations and customer experience as Crumbl grew from store #9 to #950. By the time she left Crumbl, the brand had expanded to all 50 states and three countries, with a collective audience of 12 million followers on social media and 1 million via the Crumbl app.
After becoming a multi-unit Crumbl franchisee, she joined Mixhers – a hyper growth e-commerce rocketship with 25,890% YOY growth – as its chief marketing officer. She left that venture in September of 2024 to support even more exciting, worthwhile concepts as a fractional CMO, consultant and advisor.
If Britnee is not traveling (most recently with her seven-year-old to find “Nessie” in Scotland), you’ll likely find her meditating or hanging with her BFF/husband. She received a communications degree with a PR emphasis and a minor in tourism & hospitality from Utah Valley University.
10:10 AM - Session One
Curate for Clarity: Building Trust in the Age of AI
- Nate Taylor, Web UX/UI Project Manager | IT Web Team
AI is changing how people use your website, sometimes before they even visit it. Students and parents are asking tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini for quick answers, and those answers often come straight from pages like yours. That means your content represents you, whether someone clicks through or not. If it’s clear and current, you look helpful. If it’s cluttered or outdated, you don’t. In this session, we’ll cover a few simple shifts (i.e. clearer headings, direct answers, less excess, and up-to-date essentials), that make your site easier for AI to use and even better for real people.
Video Saved the Marketing Star
- Logan Wilber, News Director | UMAC/Utah State Today
“Video Saved the Marketing Star” offers insight into the data and findings from the first six months of UMAC’s efforts in producing media assets to promote stories to news outlets locally and across the state. At ABC’25 Logan presented on the shrinking media landscape and how the staffing cuts to newsrooms were impacting local coverage, and these are the results of UMAC’s efforts to overcome that obstacle.
No Lights? No Camera? Action!
- Moderator: Andrew Diamond, Director of Photo & Video | UMAC
- Joined by guest panelists
Video doesn’t have to mean studio lights, full crews, or big budgets. In today’s university landscape, powerful stories are being captured everywhere — from marketing campaigns to social feeds.
In this dynamic panel, a marketing manager, a social media creator, and a full-time videographer come together to explore how any team can create compelling video, and how to do it in a way that still strengthens and protects the university’s brand and promotes the story.
We’ll dig into what matters most (and what doesn’t), how production approaches differ across campus, and give you direction to tackle your next video.
Back to the New Future: Because the Future of Search Starts by Rewinding the Clock
- Lindsi Glass, AVP | UMAC
In this session, you’ll learn how AI and digital platforms are redefining search and discovery and why preparing for what’s next requires going back to what’s always mattered the most.
The Digital Frontier: Developing the USU Roblox Experience
- David Sharratt, Assistant Director of Web Strategy | UMAC
The next generation of student engagement is being built right now. Join us as we unveil the development progress of USU’s new Roblox initiative. This showcase offers a transparent look at our "boots on the ground" development, featuring a tour of our immersive environments and a demonstration of the gameplay mechanics currently in testing. Whether you are interested in game design, software development, or digital strategy, come see what we have built and where we are headed next.
11:15 AM - Session Two
How to Literally Make Actually Better Pictures Like a Sigma
- Levi Sim, Photographer | UMAC
In this class, you will high-key learn to make better pictures with any camera, including phones, no cap. You will lock-in get skibidi composition principles, ideas for posing a squad of 6-7 shorty kings and baddies, and looksmaxxing tips to make photos that slay — no delulu trends that won't last. You'll skip the sus apps and Ohio techniques. Bet.
Compliance by Design
- Moderator: Julie Duersch
- Panelists: Allen Hill, Megan Cox, Denis Ahimbisibwe, and Liliana Acosta Santacruz
As USU employees, we are all responsible for compliance. This panel will explore key areas of compliance that you need to know, including security, data privacy, payment, and accessibility. Come fill your knowledge gaps to make informed, compliant decisions. Panelists will share practical insights to help campus partners navigate complex requirements with confidence.
Writing Bacon in a World of Hogwash Content
- Lael Gilbert, Communication Specialist | Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Stacie Denetsosie, Communication Specialist | Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Communication is changing at breakneck speed, but quality writing still matters, earning the attention of your audience and encouraging engagement. Understanding what your reader needs is key to getting them through to that final line: clear information, human connection, and a few zingy words. Join two experienced USU communication professionals to learn ways to put personality into your paragraphs, develop your professional voice and how to get the right kind of writing attention.
Preserving the Aggie Story: How University Archives Can Power Aggie Storytelling
- Kelly Rovegno, University Archivist | Special Collections & Archives
- Jen Kirk, Government Information Librarian & Assistant Department Head for Special Collections & Archives | Special Collections & Archives
- Dan Davis, Photograph Curator | Special Collections
- Department: Collections & Discovery
The Utah State University Archives is home to over a century of documents, photographs, publications, and digital material that capture the essence of Aggie life, from the university’s founding days to today. Attendees will learn what’s available, how to access it, and how archives can help tell a more compelling, consistent Aggie story.
U-State 2.0 Unveiled
- Aimee Brunson, Logo & Production Coordinator | UMAC
- Ashlee Karren, Art Director | UMAC
- Jay Wright, AVP | UMAC
Meet UMAC’s new (kind of) logo and visual brand identity team as we unveil U-State 2.0. We will introduce the new Aggie Brand Masters certification program that unlocks the door to Utah State’s visual identity mastery, shared governance and insider benefits. We will also answer your questions from the recent Logo Management and Visual Identity Climate Survey.
1:30 PM - Session Three
AI Wrote This Title: Death to the Blank Page
- Steve Chambers, Director | University Development
This presentation is designed to demystify AI for a marketing audience at a university level, focusing on practical application rather than just "the hype." It balances the technical landscape of 2026 with immediate, actionable strategies.
From Inquiry to Enrollment: Salesforce Marketing Cloud in Action
- Ryan Jensen, Director | Enrollment Marketing/Enrollment Strategy & Innovation
Last year, we explored what it could look like if every message a prospective student received from Utah State University felt like part of the same conversation. This year, that vision is live. In this session, attendees will revisit the shared student journey, see how Salesforce Marketing Cloud now powers USU’s baseline recruitment and admissions communications, and explore how colleges and campus partners can meaningfully contribute without duplicating efforts. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how student communications are coordinated, where personalization happens, and how their teams can play a role in improving the experience for future Aggies.
The Designer’s Kitchen: Cooking Up Web Design with Print Ingredients
- Tracey Johnson, Webmaster of Statewide Campuses | UMAC
Branding plays a vital role in the competitive landscape of higher education—from student recruitment and alumni engagement to advancement efforts and legislative funding. Yet there is often a disconnect between the look and feel of printed materials and the design of related web pages. This is an opportunity to align messaging, tone, and visual identity across both print and digital platforms for consistent user experience. Think of it like a cooking show: print is the pantry, and the web is the oven. You already have excellent ingredients; the web simply transforms how they are prepared, presented, and served.
What You Need to Know About the CMS
- Danielle Bosco, Programmer/Analyst Lead | IT Web Team
Learn what’s new and next along with tips and tricks to maximize your work within the University’s CMS (Modern Campus).
2:35 PM - Session Four
What’s Your Hook? Reeling in an Audience with Your Social Media Posts.
- Kelsey Keller, Social Media Specialist | UMAC
In the social media world of fast scrolling and short attentions spans, let’s talk about how to catch your audience, hook, line and sinker. No, this presenter is not a fisherwoman. Just a person who is passionate about creating content along with a good theme.
Website Policy: Now What?
- Ben Renard-Wiart, Director of Web Strategy & University Webmaster | UMAC
- Julie Duersch, IT Web/CMS Director | IT Web Team
With the approval of USU’s website policy last year, dive into what that means to you and your websites now and moving forward.
One View: The Power Dashboard for Statewide Marketing
- Dana Rhoades, Director of Marketing Operations & Analytics | UMAC
- Ricky Flores, Strategic Enrollment Marketing Manager | UMAC
- Pedram Jahangiry, Professional Practice Associate Professor/Project Mentor | Analytics Solutions Center
- Analytics Solutions Center Students: Ellie Angus, Carter Daly, Owen Mendiola, & Ryan Nkunda
See the new Statewide Campus marketing insights dashboard in action - built through the collaboration of Statewide Marketing, Statewide Campus Administration, and the Analytics Solutions Center.
Practical Accessibility for Modern Communicators
- Megan Cox, Digital Accessibility Officer | Digital Accessibility Services
- David Pruden, Executive Director | Disability Resource Center
Accessibility influences how people experience Utah State—from websites and social media to events and communications. Discover simple, practical ways to create accessible content and experiences across your work.
MAY 14 Day Two
9:00 AM - Workshop One
Design Smarter Not Harder: Graphic Design Secrets to Boost Your Next Project
- UMAC Design Team - Liz Lord, Jeff Lofland, Liz Stanger, and Aimee Brunson
LIB 002 (seating cap: 40)
Four graphic designers walk into a room...and spill their best secrets, creative hacks, and shortcuts. This fast-paced, intermediate level workshop, featuring UMAC's award-winning design team, will help transform your next work project, make it shine, and have you designing like a pro in no time.
What is Your Website For (and Not For)
- Jordan Taylor, QA Lead | IT Web Team
- Julie Duersch, IT Web/CMS Director | IT Web Team
HH Lab 124 (seating cap: 30)
Explore how purposeful content, user focused structure, and brand aligned practices can transform USU websites into clear, effective communication tools. You’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls, make smarter content decisions, and create a better experience for your audiences.
Making Goated Pictures in Real Life
- Levi Sim, Photographer | UMAC
HH 130 (seating cap: 30)
We will low-key use the tips from the lecture class and actually make pictures. Bring your phone, your changeable lens camera, or your digital. We will walk around campus, finding bussin' places to photograph people for marketing and communications use. No more giving NPC pictures. Charge your batteries, dress for the weather, and expect to move furniture.
11:00 AM - Workshop Two
- UMAC’s Utah State Today team: Logan Wilber, Taylor Emerson, Ben Nielsen, Henry Lopez-Ortiz
DIY Journalism
HH 126 (seating cap: 20)
We’d love to create videos for all your stories, unfortunately, time is precious and the boys are busy. Come take a look at, and play around with, some of the easy to use (and mostly budget friendly) video and sound equipment our team uses and recommends for your colleges and departments. The video team will be there to show you how to use and answer any questions you have about the various items which can assist you in your video storytelling endeavors.
What’s New in Analytics
- Logan Loertscher, Analytics Lead | IT Web Team
- Julie Duersch, IT Web/CMS Director | IT Web Team
HH Lab 124 (seating cap: 30)
A lot has changed with how analytics are provided to website decision-makers across campus! Come learn more in this hands-on workshop as we dive into what you can learn from your analytics report!