So much happens behind the scenes at events: Securing a unique venue, curating an engaging agenda, snagging all-star speakers and planning after-hours events. And that’s all before the event even takes place! To make this all happen, it takes an army — and in the case of the B2B Marketing Exchange (#B2BMX), that army takes the shape of the Demand Gen Report team. Across editorial, sales, design and marketing, the small-but-mighty DGR team works around the clock to deliver a show-stopping event.
To pull back the metaphorical curtain, this blog series will highlight the key players and teams powering the B2BMX event series. Next up are our content creators, though that’s somewhat of an oversimplification, as these ladies wear many hats. Let’s meet this team:
B2BMX: Who are you and what is your current role?
Marisa Jentz: I work as the Content Specialist for #B2BMX and Demand Gen Report (as well as for our sister event, the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, and publication, Retail TouchPoints). I’ve been a part of the team for just about five years and focus primarily on promoting our content, events and webinar series via email and social channels. If you’ve ever opened an email from #B2BMX, you’ve seen my work. 
Kelly Lindenau: I’m Demand Gen Report’s Sr. Managing Editor, and for #B2BMX, I contribute wherever necessary, whether it’s helping Marisa write copy, coordinating roundtable meetings or liaising with speakers on Klaudia’s behalf. I’m also the co-host of the #B2BMX Podcast, and you’ll likely catch me on stage moderating a breakout track in Scottsdale.
Eva Jackson: I’m the Director of Brand Marketing for Demand Gen Report and #B2BMX. As a newer member of the DGR team, I’ve loved playing a key role in the planning and promotion of all the great content and events that we offer. Prior to joining DGR, I spent a decade working in B2B tech and consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. (Marketing trades, that is; don’t expect me to know anything about auto mechanics or calculus.) I joke that if I could just put “proficient at getting sh*t done” on my resume, that would really be all you need to know. I am happiest at work when I can execute a variety of work, from writing copy and organizing events to analyzing reports and building pivot tables. Man, I love a good pivot table.
B2BMX: What’s your favorite part of the B2B Marketing Exchange?
Jentz: Since joining the team right after the 2018 #B2BMX, I’ve had a front-row seat to watch the event grow and transform. I think my favorite part has been seeing the evolution of content and topics discussed — this event really allows the community to be at the forefront of up-and-coming trends and provides them with the opportunity to be early adopters of game-changing strategies.
Lindenau: I’m a people person and have a love/hate relationship with remote work, so I’d have to say my favorite part is getting to network with everyone face-to-face! I also love soaking in all the knowledge from the sessions and getting new ideas for upcoming content features.
Jackson: As a former sponsor of #B2BMX, I love how it combines timely content with exposure to vendor solutions that marketers can apply to their own initiatives. I’ve been to other conferences throughout my career where the content felt too generic and catered to a much larger audience. Because #B2BMX is hyper-targeted to the B2B space, you know the takeaways will actually be applicable to your initiatives. Plus, you’re surrounded by other marketers with the same challenges and visions, which makes networking much more meaningful. I look forward to seeing some of my favorite fellow marketers at #B2BMX every year!
B2BMX: What’s the last TV show you binged or book you read?
Lindenau: I haven’t binged it yet, but I have my eye on “1899” on Netflix. I’m one episode in and the premise seems sort of “Manifest”-esque, but darker and more twisted. Fingers crossed they don’t lose sight of the plot like the Manifest writers did!
B2BMX: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Jackson: I love to cook and host dinner parties, so you’ll likely find me in our kitchen trying out a new recipe to impress my friends. I also am obsessed with my dog Lily, my cat Vinny and my husband Jeffrey (in that order), so I’ll also be annoyingly showering them with affection.
B2BMX: What album do you currently have on repeat?
Jentz: Other than writing, music is my biggest passion, so this is a pretty loaded question as I am constantly adding new albums into my rotation. I’ll answer this by sharing my favorite album of 2022: Big Thief’s “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You.”
B2BMX: Can you tell us about your favorite creative campaign?
Jentz: I was actually just admiring the entire #SpotifyWrapped campaign with some colleagues. It has so many elements that make it special: It’s personalized, shareable and creates major FOMO for those who don’t use the product. There was buzz days before Wrapped even officially dropped — it’s a really powerful marketing tool for Spotify.
Lindenau: I’ll join Marisa in taking the topical route: Progressive’s NFL replay commercials. I’ve enjoyed most of Progressive’s commercials for a while now (just not the ones with Flo and her team), but the red flag replays take the cake. The campaign has a knack of taking everyday disagreements and infusing humor in them while complementing the football games (J-E-T-S, baby!) they run alongside.
Jackson: One of my proudest campaigns was while I was at my last gig and partnered with #B2BMX. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Demand Gen Report brilliantly pivoted to executing their signature event virtually. In my role at PFL, we partnered with #B2BMX to execute an automated welcome package for attendees of the virtual event. We were able to deliver a slice of the experience of an in-person event (like an interactive agenda, fun swag and some tasty treats) to attendees at home, bridging that gap between digital and physical events.
