Craig Vaughan
Craig
Vaughan
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Craig Vaughan is a strategic leader with 25 years of corporate innovation and M&A transaction experience. In addition to closing M&A transactions, Craig has been a leader in transformational initiativesas an executive at Goldman Sachs, Sony Pictures, 21st Century Fox and Creative Artists Agency.
In 2012, Mr. Vaughan founded Vaughan Capital Advisors (“VCA”). VCA is a middle-market M&A advisory firm executing transactions in the media and tech-enabled business services sectors. VCA has closed $20B+ in transaction volume through its sector expertise, client-first approach to deal execution, and the firm’s commitment to aligning all stakeholders on a shared vision of the future.
Craig’s early career at Goldman Sachs informed his ability to lead investments in businesses with iconic brands. His projects have included financing the launch of NBAtv, the acquisition of the San Diego Padres, the corporate carveout of Essence from Time Inc., Ariel Alternatives’ acquisition of My Code and leading early-stage investments in Lyft, Dropbox, Ring, Pillpack and Casper.
Mr. Vaughan lends his philanthropic support to organizations that support arts and education. He is a board trustee at The John Thomas Dye School and the Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation. Craig is on the Debbie Allen Dance Academy NMTC Board and a LA Opera Legacy Ambassador.
Craig graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in Finance and earned an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He holds Series 79, 62 and 63 licenses with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. He is an avid golfer and a member of the Sigma Pi Phi business fraternity. Craig lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and daughter.
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Carol Reed
Carol
Reed
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As Chief Data Strategy Officer, Carol directs the overall data strategy of WPP’s data products and platform business, Choreograph. She is responsible for the strategic application of data for media, creative, communication and experience optimization. Additionally, Carol is serving as the Global Data Lead for The Coca-Cola Company on behalf of WPP OpenX. She is leading a team of cross-discipline data experts (from data strategy to marketing analytics, and customer insights to platform activation) to deliver a next-generation data capability that builds marketing intelligence and drives marketing business objectives across The Coca-Cola Company ecosystem.
Carol is an agency veteran with 20+ years of experience in marketing strategy with a specialization in digital media, programmatic activation, data management, and technology platforms. Previously, Carol was at Digitas (Publicis Groupe) for 15 years where she led both the Programmatic and Media Technology capabilities globally.
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Blackweek Closing Party
Brought to you by
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Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
8:00PM – Late
Speakers & Moderators
Premier registrants only
Global Chief Creative Officer, gotham
Founder, Kitchen Table
Close out Blackweek with @YellowPartyNYC! We are excited to invite attendees and special guests to the Official Closing Party. Open bar from 8-9pm and entry all night with your Blackweek badge.
Hosted by @andreggray
Sounds by @rynhills @lasflaquitas.nyc
Premier Breakfast
Brought to you by
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Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
8:00AM – 8:50AM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Premier registrants only
Global Chief Creative Officer, gotham
Founder, Kitchen Table
Get your day started with coffee, juice, and light fare in the Premier lounge.
Premier Breakfast
Brought to you by
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Details
Date
Wed, Oct 16
Time
8:00AM – 8:50AM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Premier registrants only
Global Chief Creative Officer, gotham
Founder, Kitchen Table
Get your day started with coffee, juice, and light fare in the Premier lounge.
Dabo Ché
Dabo
Ché
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Dabo Ché is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of CHÉ Creative, a culturally-led advertising and marketing agency based in Brooklyn. As a serial creative entrepreneur, Dabo leans into spaces where art and culture create positive change in the world.
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Blackweek Happy Hour Brought to You by VaynerX
Brought to you by
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Details
Date
Wed, Oct 16
Time
5:30PM – 7:30PM
Speakers & Moderators
Global Chief Creative Officer, gotham
Founder, Kitchen Table
We’d love to welcome you to join us for a special Happy Hour during Blackweek 2024 at Gary’s latest venture, Flyfish Club.
We will be enjoying quality time and thought provoking discussions with brand marketers and industry leaders in the club’s cocktail lounge, Cat Tail.
This Blackweek event is proudly brought to you by VaynerX. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
What to Know Before You Go
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By
Oct 14, 2024
We’re excited to welcome you to the inaugural Blackweek! As the conference approaches, we want to share essential logistics, travel tips, and event highlights to ensure you have a seamless and enjoyable experience. Be sure to bookmark this email for your reference before your arrival.
General Conference Information
Date
October 15-18
Venue
Spring Studios, 50 Varick St, New York, NY 10013
Conference Schedule
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
Registration
Avoid the lines and pick up your registration badge before the event! Download the Blackweek App and have your QR code ready for an even easier pickup.
Venue: Spring Studios, 50 Varick St, New York, NY 10013
Time: 12:00 – 6:00 pm
Opening Night Reception
Join us for the opening night of our inaugural marketing conference and economic forum, where you’ll enjoy an evening of cocktails, light bites, inspiring remarks, and engaging entertainment. Connect with fellow attendees and our founders as we celebrate the launch of this groundbreaking event and anticipate the valuable insights to come.
Space is limited. Blackweek Registration and RSVP required. First come, first served.
PICK UP YOUR CREDENTIALS BEFORE THE OPENING NIGHT EVENT
Venue: Hall Des Lumieres, 49 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
Day 1 of Conference Sessions
Venue: Spring Studios, 50 Varick St, New York, NY 10013
Time: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
Day 2 of Conference Sessions
Venue: Spring Studios, 50 Varick St, New York, NY 10013
Time: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
The Business of Creator Storytelling: Ask the Experts Powered by Havas
A Diverse Creator Meetup
Calling all creators, innovators, and storytellers! This Blackweek, step beyond the panels and keynotes and dive into “The Business of Creator Storytelling: Ask the Experts,” an exclusive meetup designed for those who want to not only be inspired but to act. Hosted at Havas and curated with today’s leading voices in the creator economy, this event is all about empowering you to make your next move with confidence.
Time: 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Blackweek Connect
A focused event connecting emerging talent with industry leaders, offering students and junior professionals networking, career development, and learning opportunities to empower the next generation of advertising leaders.
Venue: 3WTC, New York, NY
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
BLACKWEEK HIGHLIGHTS
There are a number of interactive and immersive experiences taking place at Blackweek, including:
- Stage Speakers: Hear directly from high-profile speakers who are currently making headlines, including Cindy Gallop, Founder & CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn, MJ Acosta Ruiz, Journalist at ESPN, Philonese Floyd, Activist and Brother of George Floyd, Shannon Sharpe, 3x Super Bowl Champion & Pro Football Hall of Famer, and many others!
- Power Hour Sponsored by Haleon: Recharge with us at Power Hour, sponsored by Haleon! Join us on Wednesday, 10/16, and Thursday, 10/17, in the Blackweek Café from 3-4pm for superfood smoothies and cold-pressed juices that can help support digestive health, enhance brain function, and provide an energy boost!
- The Blackweek BEVEL Experience: Experience crisp lines from BEVEL, the first and only head to toe grooming brand designed for sensitive skin and coarse hair. Our expert Barbers and Grooming Specialists Candice Villafane Ryan and Jomo Kenyatta will be available from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday, October 16th, and Thursday, October 17th. No need to book—just roll through to get a touch up while enjoying real conversation on our BEVEL Talks stage. Join in on candid discussions led by our expert host Saleam Singleton about honoring BIPOC men, navigating the world and the weights they carry, supporting their tribes, and normalizing mental health and wellness. Don’t miss this unique blend of grooming services alongside meaningful dialogue! Complimentary BEVEL products will be made available for attendees to take home, with daily giveaways of a Bevel Pro awarded to select winners!
Conference Sessions
All sessions at Blackweek are open to registered attendees (Executive and Premier Registrants). Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately, we are unable to reserve spots in advance. If there’s a session you’re particularly excited about, we recommend arriving early to ensure you get a seat.
Check-in and Badge
Pre-registration is essential for guaranteed admission. Upon arrival, please proceed to the registration desk with the QR code in the Blackweek App ready to be scanned. Once we scan your QR code, you will receive your badge. For your safety, badges must be visible on your person at all times during conference functions. If you lose your badge, we will not reprint it, and you risk not gaining re-entry to the conference or any ancillary events.
Getting to Blackweek Made Easy!
Enjoy an exclusive 40% discount (up to $10) on one trip with promo code BW2024, valid from October 15th through October 18th.
Conference Inquiries & Policies
Dress Code
The dress code for the conference is relaxed smart casual attire. Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably while maintaining a polished appearance.
Media, Recording, and Photography Policy
The Blackweek stage is on the record for journalistic purposes, allowing journalists to quote speakers in their coverage. Offstage interviews are subject to agreed-upon ground rules. Still photos taken from your seat are allowed, but please avoid using flash. Do not obstruct aisles, as this disrupts our official photographer.
Video and audio recordings are prohibited, as the content is copyrighted. While short quotes are permitted under fair use, full transcripts are our intellectual property. This policy applies to all conference attendees.
Partners
We are proud to partner with industry leaders who are joining us for this inaugural gathering of influential figures in marketing, media, and beyond. Thank you for your support.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your participation in Blackweek, please contact us at info@blackweek.co.
We can’t wait to see you!
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Blackweek CEO Lounge, Powered by WPP
Powered by
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 15
Time
12:00PM – 3:00PM
Speakers & Moderators
RSVP Mandatory: Space is limited. Registration and RSVP required. First come, first serve.
Global Chief Creative Officer, gotham
Founder, Kitchen Table
WPP and Blackweek are partnering to help expand visibility for diverse agency founders who are looking at potential M&A opportunities. WPP’s M&A team will host a private by invitation only CEO lounge inclusive of networking, presentations and real talk about the opportunities and obstacles facing diverse founders seeking M&A opportunities.
By invitation only
This Blackweek event is proudly sponsored by WPP. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Kinney Edwards
Kinney
Edwards
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Kinney Edwards is currently Head of the Creative Lab at TikTok, the in-house creative consultancy. At TikTok he is focused on guiding teams that inspire, educate and unlock the possibilities for marketers to reach their full creative potential on the platform and connect with its unique community.