34% of consumers reported that they discovered a brand solely through influencer social media posts, according to the Marketing Dive. This networking event will showcase how to expand your reach and build audience trust through ambassador and influencer marketing. Discover ways to activate your current network, what to consider when hiring an influencer, how to set expectations, and track results, along with key guidelines to ensure a successful campaign.
Food sampling will be provided by entrepreneurs. Ticket sales go to support local businesses.
About the Speakers:
Lizzy (pronounced LEE-see) Diaz-Ortiz is a Chicago-based food enthusiast and diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist known as @KitchenNomad online. Her food photos have been featured by Bombobar, Fab Food Chicago, The Harding Tavern, and others. Growing up in the military, Lizzy lived and travelled around the world exposing her to global cuisines and cultures. These experiences and her Puerto Rican upbringing helped her win an amateur Iron Chef contest judged by Rick Bayless. Lizzy has moderated panels about the food and beverage industry for General Assembly, The Hatchery, and Taste Talks with remarkable guests like Chef Jason Hammel of Lula Café. As a licensed attorney, she published “#Influencers 101: What You Should Know About Social Media Influencer Disclosures” for the American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law section. She is a Pilates reformer, yoga, and beauty product fanatic. Lizzy resides in Jefferson Park with her husband and daughter where they eat copious amounts of ice cream and started family movie nights over the pandemic.
Tamika Price is an influencer and founder of Plant-based Tamika. Before switching to a plant-based diet, Tamika suffered from severe asthma, battled sinus infections every winter and struggled to maintain a healthy weight. After much frustration, time and energy spent with over-the-counter medications, doctor visits and more, Tamika decided to try a plant-based diet. Since switching to a plant-based diet, Tamika cured herself of asthma, shed over 40 lbs without feeling deprived and renewed her quality of life. She created her blog and social media platforms, Plant-based Tamika, to share her journey. Her fun, engaging content shows that a plant-based lifestyle is not a life of deprivation, but a life of abundance and joy. Plant-based Tamika has worked with countless vegan-friendly brands and restaurants to inspire others through her fun, authentic approach to this lifestyle. Tamika’s mission is to spread joy and inspire healing from the inside out. Learn more about Tamika and the vegan lifestyle at www.plantbasedtamika.com.
Julia Rosinus handles Social, Content, and Partnership at Mars Foods. She has been a leader in CPG marketing for more than 12 years. She has worked both at agencies and in-house curating digital strategies for some of the worlds most beloved brands; Nestle, Kraft Heinz, Unilever, Hostess, Expedia and more. Currently, she leads social, content and partnerships at Mars Food on the Tasty Bite brand. Additionally, she is the co-founder of a rapidly growing hydration drink called GoHydrate. Finally, she is pursuing her Master’s in IMC at Northwestern University.
Biz Velatini of My Bizzy Kitchen is a Chicago area food blogger and Weight Watchers member living with diabetes who has found joy in the kitchen after becoming a widow. Cooking and recipe development has given her the confidence to find balance in her weight loss journey as well as the ability to prove that happiness exists in life after loss.
Amari Walls is currently the social media and event specialist for all 44 Mariano’s in Illinois. Before Amari entered the world of marketing and social engagement, Amari devoted her entire life and time to the hospitality industry. Amari realized she loved the food at 16 when she took a Culinary Arts class in high school and fell in love with being in the kitchen. Amari went on to attend and graduate from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Amari quickly realized that she would not take the traditional way to the top of the food chain. She created her lane by entering charity work, schools, catering, and now marketing. In her role Amari works with connecting the community, assisting local vendors, innovating new marketing strategies, and bringing creative pieces to the team. Amari takes her previous culinary skills and knowledge to apply to her new marketing skills. Amari also runs a Visual blogging page “Amari The Foodie. Where she brings in all her culinary pieces, traveling journey and food experiences to life. Amari strives to show herself and others that you can create your path and there is no one recipe to success.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact the center at (312)421-3941.
