From April 8-9, 2026, marketing and sales professionals will convene in Downtown Knoxville for the annual Marketing and Sales Innovation Conference and Awards. Hosted by the Department of Marketing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, this connection-focused event brings together industry professionals with department faculty and students to explore the future of marketing and sales through dynamic keynotes, thoughtful sessions and plentiful networking opportunities.

Keynote Speakers: Industry Experience, Prolific Research

The 2026 conference will feature keynotes from Jeff Sundheim, AI business strategist at Google, Danielle Franklin DeSarzant, Mailchimp’s global principal product marketing manager, and Michael Ahearne, professor and C.T. Bauer Chair in Marketing at the University of Houston.

Sundheim returns to Haslam’s Marketing and Sales Innovation Conference and Awards for a second year to share insights gained from partnering with executives at Google’s top clients to develop marketing strategies powered by the company’s most advanced AI tools.

Franklin DeSarzant has over 18 years of experience in marketing, sales, advertising and technology. In her current role, she is responsible for leading go-to-market strategy and Intuit Platform customer acquisition for Mailchimp and QuickBooks apps.

Ahearne researches salesperson and sales organization performance. He serves as research director of the Stephen Stagner Sales Excellence Institute and authored “Selling Today: Partnering to Create Customer Value,” the world’s best-selling professional selling textbook. Recognized by the American Marketing Association as a leading marketing scholar, he has consulted with more than 200 companies.

The Department of Marketing’s senior special events and experiences manager Rena Ishak is excited to welcome the three speakers and understand their unique perspectives.

“Danielle Franklin DeSarzant, Michael Ahearne and Jeff Sundheim are each accomplished innovators in their fields, and I know they will bring invaluable insights for the future of marketing and sales,” she says. “I look forward to seeing the connections that are made and the energy the attendees will bring!”

Conference Meets Curriculum

2026 marks the conference’s third year, but for the first time, marketing students will take the lead in promoting and selling it through Haslam’s Marketing and Sales Skills Lab.

Assistant professor of practice Blair Presley Bone teaches MARK 411, the Skills Lab course focused on selling tickets to the conferences, and explains that the crossover between curriculum and the Department of Marketing’s annual conference provides students invaluable experience.

“Students are gaining hands-on sales experience by selling conference tickets,” she says. “In a small class of just 14, they’re learning to communicate value, handle objections and prospect and close opportunities. They experience the sting of lost sales and the challenge of hearing repeated ‘no’s,’ while building outreach skills that will benefit them in future sales careers and job searches.”

According to Alex Zablah, the marketing department head, Gerber/Taylor Distinguished Professor and Kinney Family Faculty Research Fellow, this connection between students, faculty and industry is at the heart of Haslam’s Department of Marketing.

“Creating opportunities where students apply what they learn in real-world settings alongside faculty and industry is what sets our program apart,” Zablah says. “It’s not just about theory; it’s about preparing our students to lead, to innovate and to make an impact from day one. Students selling tickets the Marketing and Sales Innovation Conference is a perfect example of that mission in action, where learning, connection and innovation converge.”

Ready for Innovation in Action?

With students, faculty and industry leaders working together to bring the event to life, anticipation is growing for what the next Marketing and Sales Innovation Conference and Awards will deliver.

Christine White, assistant professor of practice and the marketing department’s director of partnerships and growth initiatives, believes next year’s conference promises to be a thoughtful exchange of ideas between industry and academia.

“The 2026 Marketing and Sales Innovation Conference and Awards will truly have something for everyone,” she says. “Bringing together the best of industry and academia, the event blends insight and innovation, featuring three powerhouse keynote speakers, bold workshops, dynamic panels and distinctive networking opportunities that inspire fresh thinking about the future of marketing and sales.”

Tickets for the conference are available now and award nominations are open.

Contact:

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu