Leveraging AI for Word of Mouth Acceleration: Trends & Tools for 2025

Join Rhea Allen, President/CEO of Peppershock Media, for an exclusive session tailored to corporate marketing directors, C-level leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs. In this workshop, Rhea will dive into how AI-driven trends and tools can elevate your Word of Mouth Accelerator Program. Through her Rhea’s 5 R’s framework—Ratings & Rankings, Reviews, Recommendations, Relevant Leads, and Referrals & Rewards—she’ll show how to harness the power of AI to boost brand visibility, drive customer loyalty, and accelerate revenue growth. Learn practical strategies to integrate these trends into your marketing efforts and make a measurable impact in the year ahead. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and unlock the full potential of word-of-mouth marketing in 2025.

About Rhea Allen

Rhea Allen, President/CEO and Co-Founder of Peppershock Media, and founder of The Marketing Expedition Community, is known for her story-telling passion and extreme diligence in obtaining effective media campaign results by planning and crafting relevant and compelling messaging. As an in-demand integrative marketing consultant, national presenter, keynote speaker, and podcaster, Rhea emphasizes team building and creating a culture where she and her team can carry out superior work for loyal Peppershock clients. You might say that she facilitates clients and crew through the creative process, but really, she has fun! With a television news and promotions background in the Treasure Valley, as well as the top 12 markets in Seattle, Rhea brings an investigative, documentary, and testimonial style to her work that both informs and entertains! Rhea and her husband Drew Allen, Co-founder and COO of Peppershock, have two boys, Emerson and Kaden, they enjoy spending time in the great outdoors together.

Mastering Influencer Marketing: Proven Strategies for Brands in 2025

Discover the power of influencer marketing in this session with Katie Williams, the creative force behind @TravelingSpud. Learn how influencers work with brands from start to finish—covering everything from crafting impactful stories to maximizing visibility. Dive into actionable strategies, including how to form authentic partnerships, avoid common pitfalls, and leverage the latest influencer marketing trends to stay ahead of the curve. From the rise of micro and nano influencers to the growing influence of AI and video content, this session will equip you with the tools to create campaigns that connect and convert. Whether you’re new to influencer marketing or looking to refine your approach, you’ll leave with practical tips to implement immediately.

About Katie Williams

Meet Katie Williams, the creative force behind the Traveling Spud (@travelingspud), an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog based in Boise, Idaho. With over 10 years of marketing experience and a background in tech marketing, Katie combines her professional expertise with her passion for travel to inspire her audience through engaging and impactful content. She shares unique ways for Idahoans and out-of-state travelers to explore their backyards, featuring hidden gems, domestic and international travel tips, and attainable advice for adventurers of all kinds. After leaving her corporate tech career, Katie embarked on a solo journey across 45 countries and six continents, which fueled her passion for empowering women to explore the world solo. Today, she leads women’s group trips, and continues to share her adventures on Instagram, TikTok, and her blog.

Flying With Your Feet On The Ground

It’s easy to get swept up in the latest trends. AI, shiny new martech tools, mass customization, SEO strategy shifts, voice search optimization, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain applications, influencer marketing, the expansion and proliferation of social media platforms—the list goes on. Each innovation vies for marketers’ attention, demanding focus in a relentless stream of evolution.

But while the tools and trends may change, the fundamentals of marketing remain steadfast. In this session, we’ll explore a framework for navigating and leveraging these emerging trends without losing sight of the core principles that drive effective marketing. Learn how to stay current and innovative while keeping your strategy grounded in what works. Join us to find the balance between flying high with new opportunities and staying firmly rooted in the essentials.

About Bill Wynne

William R. (Bill) Wynne is an accomplished and award-winning faculty member in the Marketing Department at Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics (COBE). He serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for COBE and is the Consulting Principal and Founder of the North End Performance Group.

Bill’s teaching portfolio spans undergraduate, MBA, and Executive MBA programs, where he has delivered courses in Principles of Marketing, Professional Selling, Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Strategic Brand Management, International Marketing, Strategic Communications, and Leadership Capstone Courses. His dedication to teaching excellence earned him the prestigious ASBSU Golden Apple Award.

Beyond the classroom, Bill is deeply involved in academic leadership and student development. He serves as an ex officio member of the Curriculum Improvement and Assessment Committee, the Undergraduate Policy and Curriculum Committee, and the Responsible Business Committee at COBE. Additionally, he is a faculty advisor to the Bronco Life program, which supports the personal and professional development of Boise State’s student-athletes, with a focus on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities and athlete branding.

Bill brings a wealth of industry experience, having held executive, leadership, and board roles domestically and internationally with Ford Motor Company and Con-way Freight. His professional expertise spans a variety of industries, including management consulting, water purification, luxury and public transportation, physical therapy, hospitality, premiums and incentives, computer services, banking, logistics, convenience retailing, public safety, and the performing arts. As a professional percussionist, Bill has performed for diverse audiences, including three U.S. Presidents, during his recording and performance career.

Bill earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.