Marketing Unleashed

Jeff Harmon, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) at SIU Carbondale, will emcee this year's Marketing Unleashed seminar. He is responsible for managing all marketing and communications for the university, printing and duplicating and WSIU. Jeff earned a bachelors degree from University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign and a MBA from Arizona State University. 

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-harmon-abb4422/ 

Website: https://siu.edu/ 

We buy what we buy and do business with whom we do business because our choices remind us - and tell the world around us - who we really are.

So… who are you, really?

What makes you tick? What sets you apart? And how can you leverage your unique awesomeness into something bigger and more profitable?

In this presentation, Ryan Patrick from Wizard of Ads will explore the power of personal branding through an examination of core values, personality types, and … Jimmy Buffet?

About the speaker: Born and raised in southern Illinois, Ryan Patrick spent most of his childhood recording silly voices and mindless musings into his handy-dandy tape recorder. Not much has changed… except that now he gets paid to do it.

Ryan is a copywriter, producer, editor, husband, father, actor, autograph collector, die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan, and a lover of carbs. He is also a partner with the world-famous Wizard of Ads group and co-hosts the MASH Matters podcast, which celebrates the classic television series, M*A*S*H.

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-patrick-53324729/

Website: Ryan-Patrick.com

At the 2025 Marketing Unleashed conference, Allison will share her insights on integrating AI tools into everyday marketing—highlighting practical, accessible strategies that small business owners can implement immediately. From text-based automation to data-driven design and customer engagement, her session is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and confidence to amplify their marketing using today's most powerful AI tools. 

About the speaker: Allison Gower is a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing strategist with over three decades of experience helping businesses connect, grow, and thrive. As the founder and former CEO of The Platform Group Gallery, Allison led a dynamic B2B enterprise that manufactured and marketed an ecologically friendly line of packaging to the promotional products industry. Subsequent to the sale of that company, Allison has focused on providing marketing services to start-ups or early-stage companies, including a clinical stage pharmaceutical operation, a SMS communications service, and a software for service provider. Allison has also served on several Houston-area non-profits, focusing on areas of opportunity around marketing and advocacy. 

With a background in Brand Marketing, a MBA from the Fuqua School of Business, and a BA from Duke University, Allison’s career has spanned industries but has always focused on community-centered commerce and practical outcomes. Allison’s expertise lies in bridging storytelling, branding, and digital tools to build sustainable marketing ecosystems for small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Connect with Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisongower/ 

Website: AllisonGower.com 

Revitalization is about more than bricks and mortar—it’s about people. Jason Duff explores how deeply investing in both physical spaces and human capital creates long-term value. This keynote connects the dots between community culture, business development, and economic resilience, showing how purpose-driven development can build stronger, more connected towns and businesses.

About the Speaker: Jason Duff is the Founder of Small Nation, where he leads a team dedicated to revitalizing small towns by developing spaces, places, and opportunities for entrepreneurs. A fourth-generation entrepreneur himself, Jason grew up working in his family’s businesses, learning firsthand the power of hard work and community investment. After earning his business degree from Ohio Northern University, he launched several ventures including Community Storage & Properties and COMSTOR Outdoor, laying the foundation for Small Nation’s innovative redevelopment efforts in Bellefontaine, Ohio. 

Under Jason’s leadership, Small Nation has transformed downtown Bellefontaine—renovating over 56 historic buildings, launching more than 30 businesses, and creating hundreds of jobs and residential units. He and his team continue to expand their impact nationwide through speaking, consulting, and the development of the Small Nation Mastermind group. Jason also co-owns several acclaimed restaurant concepts, including Six Hundred Downtown and Brewfontaine, and has been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur. He serves on national small business councils, is a trustee of Ohio Northern University, and lives in Dublin, Ohio with his partner Lance and their dog MacGreggor.

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonduff/

Website: https://smallnationstrong.com/ 

This session will explore how small business owners can develop confident, consistent content that connects with their audience. We'll cover the importance of aligning your message with your brand, showing up regularly, and creating a storytelling framework that drives results on social media.

About the speaker: Britni Bateman is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and Chief Marketing Officer for the SIU Foundation. She leads marketing and storytelling efforts that highlight the impact of philanthropy and elevate the SIU brand. A 2010 graduate of SIU Carbondale’s Communication Design program, Britni is passionate about helping others show up with clarity and confidence.

Connect with Britni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britni-bateman-a3b2a259 

“Framing Your Story: Techniques to Make Your Message Matter” will explore how thoughtful, well-crafted storytelling can elevate your brand and deepen audience connection. Drawing on his experience as a photographer, videographer, and podcast host, Jared Long will share practical tips on using visuals, video, and voice to tell stories that resonate. Whether you’re promoting a product, a place, or a mission, this session will help you move beyond generic content to create a story your audience will remember.

About the speaker: Jared Long lives in Harrisburg, IL and is currently working as district staff for Illinois State Senator Dale Fowler as his photographer and videographer. Jared also started his business SO ill CINEMA where he lends his talents to capturing landscape photography and videography with his drones and cameras. This love for showing off Southern Illinois has grown Jared's love for telling better stories and eventually led to the start of the Experience Southern Illinois Podcast that he hosts with Allison Hasler of Southern Illinois Vacation Rentals. Over the years Jared has worked with clients like IDNR, SI Now, The City of Carbondale, The Southern Illinois Made Expo, and more.

Website: https://www.soillcinema.com/

“From Resistance to Curiosity: AI Demos That Break the Ice” explores the real-world challenges and small wins of introducing AI tools to business professionals. Tobias will walk through what’s worked and what hasn’t, when trying to spark interest, overcome hesitation, and build confidence in emerging technologies. From practical demos to moments of skepticism (and the occasional strategic guilt trip), you’ll hear honest lessons from the front lines of AI adoption. Whether you’re facing resistance in your team or trying to get buy-in from leadership, this talk offers insights that might just help move the needle, from resistance to curiosity.

About the speaker: Toby worked as a diagnostician for 28 years in Information Technology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He was asked every day to solve complex problems with a variety of computers, networks, and devices. Toby became the subject matter expert for gaming hardware, virtual reality and augmented reality equipment, and artificial intelligence research. In November of 2023, he was asked to serve as Assistant Director at SIUC’s AIResearch facility, the CVeX.

Website: https://www.cvex.ai/ 

Connect with Tobias on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiaslane/