Cool People Saying Smart Things™ — September 2026

Event Description

Cool People Saying Smart Things™ by UFO is not your typical marketing event.

It is a high-energy, low-pressure lunch gathering where amazing speakers drop the smartest insights they are seeing across their industries. No hour-long talks, just straight-up smart stuff you can use.

This time around, you will hear from leaders in communications strategy, the future of work, and media and streaming, all in a venue with a canoe on the ceiling, incredible food, and a vibe that feels nothing like a conference room.

The crowd is a mix of marketers, creatives, freelancers, founders, and brand folks you actually want to talk to. And the food is legit. GF, vegan, and vegetarian options included. Your ticket price will be worth the lunch alone.

People keep telling us:

"Such a great event. Loved the casual but inspiring vibe and the smart speakers"

"I left with pages of notes and ideas"

"It was casual, creative, and full of people who actually get it"

Come for the smart things. Stay for the people.

Meet the Speakers

Mimi Rasor

President, Rasor Marketing Communications & Author of The Rasor SHARP Method

Mimi is the founder and president of Rasor Marketing Communications, celebrating 21 years in business this year. With more than 30 years of agency and corporate communications experience, she helps organizations clarify their message, strengthen their brand, and communicate with purpose across health care, B2B, B2C, government, transportation, and infrastructure. She published The Rasor SHARP Method this year.

Expect three ways to make your communications work harder: proving an outcome instead of counting eyeballs, pointing your budget at the one segment that actually moves, and why AI search just made earned media urgent again.

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Steve King

President, People At Your Service

Steve spent 25 years in the corporate world, including key leadership roles at Cintas and Michelman, before founding People At Your Service. PAYS solves complex problems for business clients through fractional staffing, executive coaching, and outsourced service solutions. He is a firm believer in businesses running on an operating system like EOS.

Expect a clear-eyed take on what AI is doing to knowledge work, why upskilling never stops anymore, and why every one of us is now in sales.

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Rachel Gordon

Media & Strategic Partnerships Executive, NBCUniversal Local

Rachel has nearly 20 years of experience helping brands connect with audiences across broadcast, digital, CTV, and streaming. At NBCU she works with advertisers to develop integrated marketing solutions across NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock, with a focus on new market development for Peacock. A relationship-driven leader and creative thinker, she is passionate about bringing people, ideas, and brands together in meaningful ways.

Expect a state of the state on streaming, why premium content and live sports still win, and why LA28 should already be on your radar.

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What to Expect

Bold Ideas: Three speakers, three different lanes, all sharp and actionable
Fresh Perspectives: From measuring what actually matters to the future of work to where media is headed
Casual Vibe: A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, not a stuffy conference
Incredible Lunch: Great food, with GF, vegan, and vegetarian options available.

Details

Date: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST

Venue: Somerhaus, 1415 Republic St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Tickets: $20 per person

Parking: Recommended street parking, Washington Park underground lot, or the 3CDC lot at Vine St and 15th

Agenda

10:30 to 11:00 — Doors open for early bird networking
11:00 to 11:15 — Check-in and grab lunch
11:15 to 11:30 — UFO introduction
11:30 to 12:30 — Cool people
12:30 to 1:00 — Closing and mingling

Do not miss out on this one. See you at lunch.

Contact the host of Cool People Saying Smart Things™ - September 2026