Jeremy Kees (Ph.D.) is widely recognized as a leading voice at the intersection of academic research and business practice. Jeremy holds a variety of senior leadership positions at Villanova University, most notably being named the Richard J. and Barbara Naclerio Endowed Chair in Business. He is also the Founding Director of the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights and the Consumer Insights Lab, initiatives that translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions for organizations seeking to better understand and engage consumers.

Jeremy also brings deep consulting experience with global brands and trade groups. In these roles, his hallmark is bridging rigorous research with pragmatic strategy, equipping leaders to turn insights into action and drive measurable impact. In addition to his industry consulting experience, he has been appointed to prestigious roles in the U.S. Federal Government, including serving more than a decade as a Special Government Employee and serving on the FDA’s Risk Communication Advisory Committee. In these positions, he has applied evidence-based research to high-stakes policy and communication challenges, helping regulators and industry leaders align science, messaging, and trust in ways that shape markets and protect consumers.

Ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in his field, Jeremy has published more than 80 peer-reviewed academic articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters. He serves as Coeditor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. His academic work, recognized with numerous awards, focuses on how people interpret information, make decisions, and respond to risk, insights he translates into actionable strategies for businesses navigating complex consumer environments.

Jeremy is an active investor in early-stage marketing technology start-up companies and is an active board member for entities in both the public and private sectors.

Ramon Jones (MBA, The Wharton School) is a seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in financial services and insurance, recognized for his ability to lead organizations through transformation, growth, and change. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer for a Fortune 100 brand, where he modernized the marketing function into a world-class, digital-first organization. His strategy not only elevated customer engagement but also strengthened advisor and intermediary partnerships, resulting in record business growth during his tenure.

As part of this transformation, Ramon redefined and expanded brand partnerships, successfully integrating platforms such as the NFL into the company’s strategy with award-winning outcomes. His leadership in brand innovation and execution has been recognized with multiple industry honors, including the Adweek Brand Genius Award (2023), the Adweek Marketing Vanguard Award (2024), and recognition among Fast Company’s Brands That Matter (2024).

In addition to his marketing leadership, Ramon brings deep expertise in internal and external communications, public relations, and crisis management. He has consistently guided organizations through complex challenges with clarity, transparency, and credibility—strengthening trust among customers, employees, and key stakeholders.

Ramon’s career also spans significant operational and strategic leadership roles. He led the Western U.S. property and casualty business for a leading insurer, overseeing growth and performance across a large multi-state region. He has also held leadership positions in corporate strategy, call center operations, financial services underwriting, and pricing. Earlier in his career, as an Engagement Manager with Accenture, he led strategic initiatives that advanced the integration of marketing and technology for Fortune 100 financial services firms.

Beyond his corporate career, Ramon serves on both public company and nonprofit boards, where he contributes his expertise in governance, brand strategy, risk oversight, and stakeholder engagement. His nonprofit board work reflects a strong commitment to strengthening organizational effectiveness and advancing community impact.

As the Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Banking Operations for PNC Bank, Mark Allen (MBA, The Wharton School) transformed the retail banking operations into a data-driven decision-making organization, leveraging automation and increased efficiencies. He led a team of 2,000 across three production lines that onboarded and supported over 3 billion transactions anually for the bank’s 11M retail customers and $210B of deposits.

Prior to PNC, Mark held various leadership positions at Comcast Corporation, where he ultimately centralized and directed customer service strategy, operations, and financial performance across the organization. As Senior Vice President of National Customer Service Operations, he utilized technology partnerships and process automation to drive significant increases in customer and product satisfaction, resulting in a move from 12th to 5th in JD Power’s industry rankings.

Previously, as a Principal at Katalyst Venture Partners, Mark served as an advisor and frequent interim C-suite leader to portfolio companies as they navigated complex M&A transactions, capital raising, and liquidity strategies