Case District IV Annual Conference 2025

15 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a CMO

Hindsight is always 20/20, but why do we have to wait on hindsight. This session is designed to help you take your leadership to the next level. As a first-time CMO, Dr. Carrie Phillips faced several struggles when she was elevated into her first CMO role. And like most, she had some successes...and also some failures. In this session, she’ll candidly share managing mistakes she made, offer some lessons she learned the hard way, and provide practical takeaways to support your management journey. Whether you’re a seasoned leader, interested in the CMO role, or leading a team for the first time this session will help you think about your own leadership and ways to continually improve.

Speakers: Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

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Collaborate with Creatives

Participants will collaborate in small groups to create a print marketing campaign of their choosing from start to finish, guided by experts Carrie and Trey. The simulation will walk them through the key stages: planning, design, printing, and distribution. Groups will start by outlining a basic marketing plan, brainstorming with insights from Carrie and Trey. They’ll then sketch a quick mock-up using pre-printed design elements, discuss print options, and explore distribution strategies. The session wraps up with a collaborative share-out, offering practical insights into the creative process and decision-making behind effective print marketing.

Speakers: Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Trey Laverty, Director of Sales Development, Slate Group