Catherine Thacker
Vice President of Customer Engagement and Digital Marketing
Catherine leads Customer Engagement for Panera, championing transformation efforts to incorporate AI-powered decisioning into CRM, expand the reach of personalization efforts beyond email and push to SMS, web, kiosk & app and overhaul the MarTech stack, drawing on her 20+ years of experience in CRM, Personalization and Loyalty at iconic brands including McDonald’s, Ulta Beauty & Discover.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
From Audience to Advocate: Building Brand Loyalty Across Sports, QSR, and Retail
2:00 PM - 2:40 PM
In a world of infinite scroll and shrinking attention spans, the most sophisticated brands aren't just competing for clicks — they're building ecosystems of devotion. Four women leading digital strategy at some of America's most-loved consumer brands share how they're turning passive audiences into deeply engaged communities, and what it takes to drive that transformation from the VP seat.