Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit ADWKDC to Explore AI, Brand Trust and the Future of Marketing Oct. 14 in Washington

The Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit will bring marketing, advertising, public relations, communications and media professionals together Oct. 14, 2026, at the MLK Library Conference Center in Washington for a day of discussions, presentations and networking.

Co-produced by Capitol Communicator and Potomac Tech Wire, the summit will also host ADWKDC, featuring an advertising track presented by the American Advertising Federation’s Washington chapter. The event serves professionals from brands, agencies, associations, government, technology companies and other organizations.

The program opens with a CMO outlook panel featuring Sheila Blackwell of MANTECH, Allison Moss of Just Ice Tea and Kim Bolt of the Washington Spirit. A fireside conversation follows with AJ Jones II, executive vice president and chief strategic and corporate communications officer at Monumental Sports and Entertainment, and PRNEWS Managing Editor Nicole Schuman.

Sessions will address several major themes:

• AI and search visibility: How traditional search engine optimization and generative engine optimization are evolving, what helps brands appear in AI-generated answers and how marketers can measure visibility across search platforms.
• Responsible AI and practical automation: How communications teams can establish AI governance, protect trust and manage risk. A live demonstration will show an AI agent gathering information, drafting work and identifying decisions that require human judgment.
• Public affairs and policy communications: Washington’s changing communications environment, shifts in public policy advertising and the use of audience intelligence to guide targeted campaigns.
• Brand building and audience engagement: Strategies for connecting with emerging audiences, developing brand advocates and using trust to support behavior change.
• Social media, journalism and creators: Social platform strategies, practitioner case studies and the distinctions between creator journalists and influencers.
• B2B marketing and advertising technology: Changing buyer behavior, demand generation, AI’s influence on purchasing decisions and developments reshaping advertising technology.
• Trust and behavior change: How behavioral science, audience insights, trusted messengers and strategic media can move people from awareness to action. Panelists will share case studies and practical approaches to building trust and measuring meaningful outcomes in public health, safety and community campaigns.

The schedule includes breakfast and registration beginning at 8 a.m., opening sessions at 9 a.m., lunch and networking on the roof deck, and a closing cocktail reception from 4 to 5 p.m.

To register and view the full speaker lineup, visit marcomsummit.co. The complete agenda is available at marcomsummit.co/2026agenda.

About the Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit

The Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit is an annual gathering of marketing, advertising, public relations, communications and media professionals. Co-produced by Capitol Communicator and Potomac Tech Wire, it combines industry discussions and practical presentations with opportunities to connect with peers and business leaders.