General Manager
Propaganda3

Topic: Apps & Taps: Gamification of Physical Spaces

John Kreicbergs is a 19-year veteran of the Kansas City advertising, marketing and technology scene. Starting at Bernstein-Rein in 1999, he has served stints at Barkley, VML, DEG and Meers Advertising, working with such brands as Burger King, Visit KC, Hostess Cakes, Blue Cross Blue Shield, McDonalds, and many more. His passion for digital innovation brought him to Propaganda3 in 2013 where he currently serves as the general manager for the firm’s app development efforts. As a result of that work, Kid Rocket Studios — a kids-focused entertainment development startup — was launched in 2014 following the success of Propaganda3’s interactive comic book app “Kung Fu Robot.” In 2015, Propaganda3 also launched a new event-based digital engagement platform called AppTapp. In addition, John is the founder of RKO Workshop, which specializes in museum exhibit design and educational interactive experiences, and is the marketing co-chair for Kansas City’s award-winning Boulevardia festival.

Principal | Strategist | Lead Designer
Wheelhouse Creative

Topic: Brand Therapy

Cathy Solarana is the founding principal and lead designer at Wheelhouse Collective. She’s energized by design and loves partnering with innovative and socially responsible organizations. Cathy and her multi-disciplinary teams employ research, strategy, and idea driven solutions to help her clients achieve their business goals. She believes that the creative process and collaboration should be as exciting as the results — powerful brand experiences that make true connections, are memorable and produce strong outcomes.

Along the way, Cathy taught design and concepting at Creighton University and was a senior designer at Bailey Lauerman. She has been active in the local design community since 1999, serving on the AIGA Nebraska chapter board in several positions, including as president, and is currently its Director of Diversity and Inclusion. With more than 25 years of experience in branding, strategy, and design, Solarana’s work has been recognized nationally by The One Show, The Art Directors Club, Graphis, the Print Regional Design Annual, Logo Lounge, and HOW International Design Annual, among others.

SKAR Advertising

Topic: Working with startups to brand products

Director of Communications
Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center

Angela Roeber has more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience, primarily in the non-profit industry. As the Director of Communications for Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center, Angela plays an integral role in planning, directing and coordinating the marketing and communication efforts for Project Harmony’s programs, services, events and campaigns.

Within her first year at Project Harmony – followers doubled and the volume of likes and shares experienced through Project Harmony’s social media platforms were the highest ever since the program started in 2013.

Angela launched the Project Be Someone Campaign in April 2017 with national recognition – July 21 is now recognized as National Be Someone Day.

She has established strong media relations – securing $623,581 in earned media for 2017 with a publicity value of $1,870,743.

Angela was invited to present at the National Children’s Alliance 2018 Leadership Conference in Washington, DC this past June where she shared what it takes to build a strong communication foundation, the right partners needed and the creative process for cultivating and engaging all audiences.

President & CEO
Insurance Marketing Institute, Canary & Coal

Randa’s enthusiasm for marketing and advertising as a career and lifestyle keeps her at the leading edge in strategic digital communications. Having worked as an account director at major agencies in Nebraska and in Chicago, Randa has developed expertise in managing projects incorporating a wide variety of disciplines including branding, media, print, interactive, digital, public relations and project management.

Randa is a recognized thought leader on the power and appropriate use of new media including social media and digital placement. She has been a featured speaker at seminars and conferences across the globe. Her expertise in social media in regulated industries lead her to be selected to serve on the committee that drafted model compliance guidelines for the insurance industry.

In addition to her role on the PRSA Nebraska Board of Directors, she has served on the American Advertising Federation Omaha board and on the board of Insurance Advertising Compliance Association. She is a past president and board member of the Mid-America Direct Marketing Association and currently adjunct professor of Marketing Strategy and MBA programs at Bellevue University. She has a BA from University of Nebraska Lincoln in Communication Studies and Public Relations and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from University of Nebraska Omaha. She is the recent recepient of the 2018 American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year.