2025 CMBAM Annual Conference

Travel

Lodging

CMBAM has secured group rates at two hotels near the Cal State Fullerton campus.

DoubleTree by Hilton Fullerton

Rate: $159/night + tax
Room options: Two double beds or one king bed with sleeper sofa
Booking deadline: Oct. 15, 2025
Hotel direct line: 714-579-7400

Use Group Code P80 for the CMBAM rate

Fullerton Marriott at California State University

Hotel direct line: 714-738-7800

The CMBAM block at the Fullerton Marriott is full, but standard hotel rates are available as hotel occupancy permits.

Air Transportation

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is often the most convenient option for visiting CSUF due to its closer proximity to campus, with a shorter travel time to CSUF than flying into LAX. Expect a 20-30 minute drive from SNA to CSUF with an Uber/Lyft costing approximately $30-$50. Public transportation is available through OCTA. Take the Line 43 bus from SNA to the Fullerton Transportation Center, which is about three miles from CSUF. Download the OC Bus App for more information.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a much larger airport with more flight times available, however it is significantly further from CSUF. Expect a 45 – 50 minute drive from LAX to CSUF, with an Uber/Lyft costing approximately $75 – $100. 

Parking

Parking at Cal State Fullerton is $12 per day on Friday and $6 per day on Saturday and Sunday. Attendees of the CMBAM conference should park in the State College Parking Structure on the Lower Level. Use the ParkMobile app to pay for parking. 

For more information about visiting CSU Fullerton: https://www.fullerton.edu/visit/

Schedule

Thursday, Nov. 6

Kick-off Party

Sponsored by Flytedesk

Madero 1899, 111 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton

Check-in for the convention and meet other attendees while enjoying food and drinks. Bring your media group/publication stickers for a sticker trade!

Friday, Nov. 7

Light Breakfast

Sponsored by Jostens

Titan Student Union, Pavilion C

Pick up your welcome packet if you weren’t able to check-in the night before. Light bites and coffee will be available. Bring publications, media kits and swag for our swap table to share with other schools in the CMBAM lounge.

Welcome & Keynote Speaker

Titan Student Union, Pavilion C

Breakout Sessions, Block 1

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

Breakout Sessions, Block 2

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

Lunch on Your Own

Welcome Back & Raffle Drawing

Titan Student Union, Foyer

Breakout Sessions, Block 3

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

Roundtable Discussions

Titan Student Union, Pavilion C

Sponsorship Available

Happy Hour Open House

Daily Titan, College Park Suite 660, 2600 E. Nutwood Ave., Fullerton

Student Social

Titan Student Union, Titan Bowl & Billiards

Sponsorship Available

Adviser Dinner

Fuoco Pizzeria Napoletana, 101 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton

Saturday, Nov. 8

Light Breakfast

Sponsored by Jostens

Titan Student Union, Pavilion C

Light bites and coffee will be available in the CMBAM lounge.

Welcome & Keynote Speaker

Titan Student Union, Pavilion C

Breakout Sessions, Block 4

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

Breakout Sessions, Block 5

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

Lunch Provided

Sponsored by SN Works

Titan Student Union, Courtyard

Breakout Sessions, Block 6

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

Breakout Sessions, Block 7

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink & Bradford rooms

CMBAM Annual Meeting

Titan Student Union, Hetebrink room

A minimum of one representative per school should attend to discuss the direction of CMBAM for the coming year.

Awards Dinner

Sponsored by Trooh Media

Titan Student Union, Pavilion C

Sunday, Nov. 9

Visit Disneyland

Separate ticket required

Stay an extra day and join CMBAM members at the Happiest Place on Earth!
Purchase your ticket through the special CMBAM link and receive $10 off the regular ticket price. https://disneyevent.com/TM2K25D

Select the one-day, one-park ticket option. Choose Sunday, Nov. 9 as the date you want to go. And make sure to choose Disneyland Park.

Keynote speakers

Matt Prince

Head of Earned Media & Brand Social at KFC

Matt Prince, a nationally recognized public relations executive with two decades of experience including in-house social marketing and PR for major global brands like The Walt Disney Company, Taco Bell and currently KFC as Head of Earned Media and Brand Social. He’s a leading voice in professional development and founder of For You Path, a resource community and platform dedicated to the mentorship and growth of emerging PR professionals. Matt serves as an adjunct professor at Chapman University, where he specializes in social media, influencer marketing, and personal branding. He’s also co-author of Social Media Campaigns, Strategies for PR and Marketing which launched last month.

Speakers

Barbara Allen

Founder of CollegeJournalism.org

Barbara  “Bob” Allen is a Los Angeles-based trainer, consultant and founder of CollegeJournalism.org. Her 25-year track record of improving journalism education and the student journalist experience began when she served as a reporter and teen section editor for her hometown newspaper. She then assumed the role of advisor to the student newspaper at Oklahoma State University before being named the director of student media. In 2018, she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, to serve as the managing editor of the Poynter Institute, where she later was named Director of College Programming. She founded her agency in 2025, working with the journalism educators and students across the country while writing a weekly newsletter. She loves being outdoors, fishing, reading,  playing games and listening to live music with her husband, a professional musician. 

Paige Hamzik

Director of Publisher Development at Flytedesk

Paige Hamzik is the director of publisher development at Flytedesk. She was the editor-in-chief of her student newspaper (UNC-Chapel Hill’s The Daily Tar Heel) and has spent the last decade working in audience, revenue, and product strategy for both student media and local publications.

Michelle Kurland

Full-Time Lecturer and Faculty Adviser, Cal State Fullerton

Michelle Kurland is an expert in integrated marketing, product launches, strategic planning, media training, crisis communication, and more. She has been teaching at CSUF since 2005 and serves as the Comm Week faculty advertising adviser. Prior to joining CSUF, Michelle served as a vice president for Porter Novelli where her work covered consumer, social marketing, public affairs, youth marketing, healthcare, and business-to-business for clients such as Rolls Royce, Nissan, McDonald’s, Gillette and Krispy Kreme. Michelle also worked for Nordstrom in the sales promotions department after earning her M.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton. She earned her B.A. in Communication Studies from UC Santa Barbara .She recently was presented with the 2025 Outstanding Lecturer award at CSUF.

Chuck Miller

Group VP, Head of Sales & Partnerships at MotorTrend Group (Hearst)

Chuck Miller is a seasoned marketing executive with over two decades of experience leading brand, media and partnership strategies across the automotive and retail industries. As Group VP and Head of Sales & Partnerships at MotorTrend Group, he drives strategic growth and innovation across iconic automotive brands forging impactful partnerships and delivering integrated marketing solutions. Previously, Miller held leadership roles at Mazda North American Operations, where he spearheaded media strategy, motorsports marketing, and retail initiatives, and at Disney Consumer Products supporting retail marketing for global entertainment brands.

Kaitlyn Rowell

Publisher Development Manager at Flytedesk

Kaitlyn is a publisher development manager at flytedesk. She is an alumna of California State University Long Beach, where she was the PR & Promotions Manager at Beach Media for The Long Beach Current (then Daily 49er). After graduating, she went on to be a PR and Social Media Associate at Global Results Communication before coming back to the world of student media. She hopes to pay it forward and be a resource and confidant for college media students.

Linda Shipkey Martin, APR

Partner & General Manager at Westbound Communications (Retired)

Linda Shipkey Martin, APR, recently retired as partner and general manager of Westbound Communications, Orange County. Linda previously was a partner with Porter Novelli, where she managed local, regional and global clients for the multinational firm for 18 years. During that time, Linda served for eight years as the global team leader for the Almond Board of California. Her other food industry clients have included the National Honey Board, Taylor Farms, Golden State Foods and Essentia Water. Linda served on the board of the OC PRSA chapter for nearly 15 years. In 2024, Linda was the recipient of OCPRSA’s Hermes Award, for her lifetime legacy of work. She also is a member of the CSUF Communications Hall of Fame. A believer in community service, Linda has volunteered for and served on the boards of a variety of non-profit organizations including The Ocean Institute, Human Options and the Orange County Business Council.

Roundtable leaders – Alumni Panel

Olivia Weinstock

Production Assistant at Fox Sports
CSULB Alumni (2024), PR & Marketing Manager at Beach Media

Olivia Weinstocks’s career began at the intersection of sports and entertainment, where she quickly gained a reputation for her sharp insight, charismatic on-screen presence, and ability to connect with high-profile athletes and talent. An award-winning sports journalist, actress, and marketing professional, she is currently a production assistant for FOX Sports and a brand ambassador for the Los Angeles Kings. Olivia recently founded LIV Digital Agency to help athletes and clients build their brand through marketing and networking.

Jesse Zhang

Business Analyst at IHOP
U Penn Alumni (2023), President of The Daily Pennsylvanian

Jesse Zhang was President and Photo Editor at The Daily Pennsylvanian, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School with a degree in Marketing and Business Economics & Public Policy. Now working as a Business Analyst at IHOP, he enjoys running, cooking, and going to the beach in his free time.

Sponsors

Saturday Lunch

Sponsor

Interested in sponsoring the 2025 CMBAM conference?

Sponsoring the CMBAM conference allows you to support student media and the work they do in local communities across the country, as well as investing in the future of America’s media landscape, while reaching both students and advisers working on the business side of student media. Whether you want to share products and services that could be of use to student media outlets or get connected with soon-to-be graduates interested in business, CMBAM can help you connect with an interested, relevant audience.

Sponsorship options are selling quickly!

Remaining sponsorships available:

• Lounge
• Student Mixer
• Roundtable
• Exhibit Table
• Welcome Bag

Committee

Michelle Kurland

CSUF Daily Titan
mkurland@fullerton.edu