Real Talk on AI + Marketing: Live Expert Panel and Small-Group Roundtables

Discover the real impact of AI on marketing at the AMA Nashville’s “Real Talk on AI + Marketing,” an immersive thought leadership event designed for professionals at every stage.

The session blends a fast-paced executive panel featuring Vijay Alagarason, VP of Technology, Tractor Supply; Missy Acosta, Senior VP Brand Experience for DDTN; Meg Chamblee, Executive VP for Tennessee at UDig; Carly Holm, Founder & CEO at Humani HR and moderated by Jacqueline Hayes, AMA President and Founder of Crayons and Marketers, and is followed by facilitated, interactive table conversations, offering practical insights, peer networking, and expert perspectives.

Attendees will explore how AI is transforming marketing teams, job roles, and industry opportunities—guided by AI and CMO leaders from big brands and regional firms and specialized facilitators. Whether you’re an aspiring marketer or an established CMO, this dynamic gathering equips you with actionable strategies for adapting, thriving, and shaping the future. Join us for meaningful dialogue and direct answers to your toughest AI questions, in a format that ensures both inspiration and hands-on learning.

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About Our Speakers:

Missy Acosta

As Senior Vice President, Brand Experience for Delta Dental of Tennessee, Missy is focused on branding, marketing, customer experience, and communication, as well as corporate social responsibility and government relations. Her contributions have resulted in boosting revenue for local and national markets, wearing “many hats” to achieve the company’s strategic goals. Making an impact beyond selling products has always been important to Missy. She has been successful in promoting and increasing awareness about oral health and wellness as well as influencing public policy.

Missy is a sought-after speaker on marketing, cause branding and more, having presented at national and regional conferences. Missy has received a number of awards and accolades over the years including Nashville Business Journal’s C-Suite Award, Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of the Region Award, Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer of the Year Award, March of Dimes Catalyst Award, and she has been named to the Women of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal, Distinguished President by Kiwanis International for her leadership of the Nashville Kiwanis Club, and 15-to-Watch by PR Week Magazine. As a freelance writer, she has been published in The New York Times, MIX Magazine, Country America, Christian Bride, and Campus Life, among others.

Meg Chamblee

Meg Chamblee is the Executive Vice President for Tennessee at UDig, a technology consulting firm that designs and builds the custom digital workflows, interfaces, and experience layers that enterprise off the shelf software cannot provide. UDig ensures clients’ employees and customers use the software they’ve invested in and has woven AI into the delivery of almost every project. Meg joined UDig in 2020 to start and lead the firm’s Nashville office and Tennessee market, which has grown over 10x since its founding. UDig was awarded the Best in Business Award by the Nashville Business Journal (NBJ) in 2023 in the local office, private company category and was named Tractor Supply Company’s Service Partner of the Year in 2024 due to successful delivery and partnership of AI-enabled solutions. Prior to joining UDig, Meg held senior leadership roles at regional and global technology firms, where she honed her expertise in digital transformation, client relations, and leadership.

Meg is an active community leader, serving on the board of the Greater Nashville Technology Council (GNTC) where she co-founded and continues to co-lead the Emerging Leaders in Technology (ELITE) program, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. She is a past president of Women in Technology of Tennessee (WiTT) and recently ended her term on the board and executive committee of Williamson Inc. Meg is a graduate of Leadership Brentwood, and previous recognition includes NBJ 40 under 40, GNTC Volunteer of the Year, and GNTC Champion of the Year.

Meg is a Nashville native and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology-sociology from Birmingham-Southern College and a master’s degree in management from the University of Alabama. Meg lives in Brentwood with her husband and two children. Meg is passionate about empowering others through technology and is dedicated to fostering innovation and inclusivity in every team she leads.

Carly Holm

Carly’s passion for business and HR started early more than 15 years ago. She spent a decade at CIBC and Bank of America in both Canada and the US, working as an HR Business Partner and in HR Change Management. From there, she began Humani with the mission of creating a successful business with an incredible workplace, while in turn supporting clients who are doing the same.

Carly is passionate about helping founders and executives grow their companies by elevating their People Operations. As recognition for her success, she was awarded the Forty Under 40 Award in 2022 for Canada’s National Capital Region and the 2025 Enterprising Women award.

Outside of work, Carly loves spending time with her husband and their 3 young boys and staying active.

Jacqueline Hayes

Jacqueline Hayes, MBA, PCM®, is the Principal and Chief Marketing Strategist at Crayons & Marketers, an inclusive marketing firm she founded in 2013 to help businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies connect meaningfully and responsibly with multicultural and multigenerational consumers across all backgrounds and abilities.

Before launching Crayons & Marketers, Jacqueline served as the Marketing Manager for Harpeth Marketing, where she led the firm’s content marketing division, supporting market research firms nationwide. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), where she served on the National Board of Directors for six years, spanning three terms. She currently serves as President of the American Marketing Association, Nashville Chapter (AMA Nashville), after previously serving as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Jacqueline also sits on the board of PENCIL as Secretary, You Have the Power, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Metropolitan Nashville Chapter. She serves as a business mentor for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center's Twende program and a Business Advisor for the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program. 

Jacqueline earned a Master of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. She is a certified Digital Marketing Professional and a Professional Certified Marketer®. A graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, she has been widely recognized for her contributions to business and community service.

Her accolades include the 2013 PENCIL Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award, the 2014 NAWBO Nashville Community Enrichment Award, and the 2019 WBEs Who Rock Award from MBE Magazine, recognizing her entrepreneurial achievements. In 2020, she was nationally recognized in Marquis Who's Who in America and received the Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award. She continued to earn recognition with an Enterprising Women of the Year Award from Enterprising Women Magazine in 2021. Most recently, in 2024, Crayons & Marketers was honored as Tennessee Women-Owned Small Business of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA).