What You Missed at Comma Copywriters’ Cheesecake & Content Chats Phoenix

At Comma Copywriters, we may spend a good portion of our time behind the computer, but we relish the opportunity to get out and network with the best, too. Sometimes, it involves an excuse to eat rich desserts. Win-win! 

That was the case a few weeks ago when we kicked off our Cheesecake & Content Chats 2025 tour with an energetic and insightful event at Kiln Biltmore in Phoenix. Kiln Biltmore offers a flexible coworking space that empowers teams of all sizes to achieve their goals. (Side note: If you haven’t checked out their facility, you owe it to yourself to make it happen.)

Cheesecake, Community, and Connections

The consensus is that the gathering was picture-perfect (seriously, the photos look professionally staged, but all the smiles are 100% genuine). It was an all-around success in our books. Arizona’s brightest marketing leaders showed up with enthusiasm, thoughtful questions, and a willingness to engage. 

Our own Director of Business Development, Lisa Baker Heaton, said it best on LinkedIn: "The insights were 🔥." The agenda was packed full of actionable ideas and candid advice from our expert speakers who were steeped in their craft. Attendees walked away ready to elevate their marketing strategies in 2025 and beyond. The event’s delicious cheesecake and vibrant connections only made the Phoenix session sweeter — no pun intended.

Before we get to the takeaways, we want to say a heartfelt “thank you” to the Arizona marketing community for such a warm welcome on this first leg of our multi-state tour. It’s leaders like you who bring events like this to life, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partnership. We anticipate the same reception as we orchestrate our Colorado event next month. 

Key Insights 

We were proud to host four incredible marketing leaders who brought fresh perspectives and expertise to the discussion. Each delivered their own remarks and then offered additional insights in a Q&A panel at the conclusion of the event.

Here’s a recap of their comments and how you can apply them to your work:

Bill Backus: Building Authentic Brands

Bill Backus has earned a reputation as a sought-after strategist, professor, and creative director. The founder of Back:us Agency, his firm is focused on scaling brands across the Southwest. He’s worked with brands like McDonald’s, Fanta, Century Link, Swift Transportation, DreamWorks SKG, The Kroger Company, and Payless Shoe Source, to name a few. He’s also head of national brand at Childhelp, the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect.

While on stage, Bill introduced his actionable “HOMIE” framework that helps leaders breathe new life into their brands. This is an acronym that stands for “honor your legacy, open conversations, mobilize your team, innovate fearlessly, and elevate with purpose.” He highlighted how authentic branding comes from a place of building genuine connections and listening to your audience and their needs. His session left attendees exploring how to make their brands unforgettable and posed the challenge to lay a foundation that drives loyalty.

Mandy Walker: Aligning Marketing With Business Goals

Mandy Walker cut her teeth in the fast-paced world of New York City. Her work challenged her to justify marketing’s worth to leadership while keeping her team aligned and motivated. Her real-life experience led her to develop her company, Growth Activated, and the framework of the same name. The latter is a tool designed to help marketing leaders build effective strategies, get buy-in from the C-suite, and lead with confidence.

Mandy’s comments tackled one of marketers' biggest challenges: gaining buy-in from CEOs and CFOs. Her approach reflects three distinct growth paths (low, moderate, and high investment) and equips marketers to tie their budgets directly to results, bridging the gap between marketing and leadership.

Jermaine Peguese: Breaking Out of the Sameness Trap

As head of content and brand at Nexford University, Jermaine Peguese’s career reflects large-scale experience in leadership, team building, strategy development, operations execution, and creating success out of opportunity.

Jermaine lit up the room with a call to action to marketers everywhere to escape the “sameness problem.” With so many brands relying on the same data and trends, Jermaine contends it’s best to speak to the whole person, not just a persona. His presentation was a masterclass on creating content that humanizes your audience and their experience with your brand. 

Zoe Hawkins: Tackling Editorial Debt

Zoe Hawkins is a self-described former video game and tech journalist turned content marketer. She’s the principal content marketer at Sumo Logic, a SaaS Log Analytics Platform. Zoe brings more than a decade of professional experience to her role. She’s skilled at turning technical jargon into clear communication. A marketing leader in the B2B tech space, Zoe has made contributions in the areas of marketing and strategy. 

Zoe expanded our knowledge base when she introduced us to the concept of “editorial debt.” The idea is that aging content libraries can be a liability because they can drag down a brand if not consistently maintained. Attendees left her session with strategies for refreshing high-priority content and ensuring their editorial efforts continue to work for — and not against — them.

Each speaker took us on a journey that reflected the challenges many of us face in marketing today. The collective wisdom was both motivational and relevant as we look to owning our position in the marketplace.

A special shout-out to our speakers for their thought-provoking sessions and to all the Arizona marketers who joined us for this first stop on the tour. We simply couldn’t have done it without your presence, energy, and enthusiasm. Events like this thrive because of your willingness to show up literally and figuratively. 

Join Us in Utah and Colorado

We’re just getting started. We’re thrilled to bring the Cheesecake & Content Chats Tour to other marketing hubs in 2025. Here are the details for our upcoming events at Kiln Workspaces in other cities:

📍 Lehi, Utah – April 16 

📍 Denver, Colorado – May 14 

📍 Provo, Utah – September 10 

Mark your calendar — and tell your friends! Don’t miss your chance to connect with industry leaders, gain actionable insights, and enjoy decadent cheesecake while you’re at it. Click here to view upcoming events and register now.

We can’t wait to see you there — cheesecake in hand!