Future-Proofing SEO: What Really Matters in 2026 (And How to Ignore Everything Else)

Name: Future-Proofing SEO: What Really Matters in 2026 (And How to Ignore Everything Else)
Start: 2026-01-22T11:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-22T13:00:00-05:00
Location: The Candy Factory

Schedule

Thu Jan 22 2026 at 11:00 am to 01:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

The Candy Factory | Lancaster, PA

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆
Doors open at 11 am and the event begins at 11:30 am.
Stop guessing. The noise around generative AI in search is louder than ever, making it impossible to know where to focus your resources. This is your 90-minute essential guide for marketing and business leaders who are tired of chasing fleeting trends and ready to build a truly resilient organic SEO strategy.
Our panel of five leading SEO experts will show you how to cut through the static and focus exclusively on the core fundamentals that Google and other search engines will continue to reward through 2026 and beyond.
This is a bring-your-own lunch event. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲
The Candy Factory, 6th Floor – 342 N Queen St. Lancaster, PA 17603
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿
CMO’s, Small Business Owners, marketing practitioners
𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗼’𝘀
🎤 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘁
Ever since he first got connected to the internet (AOL dial-up in 1997), Brandon has been building things online, including personal blogs and websites for churches & non-profit organizations. After serving as an ordained minister for 5 years, Brandon made the switch to digital marketing in 2015. As an SEO Strategist at Sterling Sky, he helps businesses of all sizes get found by their target audience online.
🎤 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲
Lorianna Sprague is a veteran SEO professional with 17 years of experience in search engine optimization, digital strategy, and content performance. She began her SEO career in 2008 and has since partnered with brands of all sizes to improve visibility, strengthen site architecture, and drive long-term organic growth. Lorianna is the Founder and CEO of UPFRONT MKTG, a Lancaster-based marketing agency, where she blends her analytical approach, technical expertise, and collaborative style to deliver impactful, measurable results.
🎤 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗴
Justin Emig is a Chief Digital and Technology Officer and growth leader known for bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and measurable marketing results. With over 15 years of experience leading digital transformation for both D2C and B2B brands, Justin specializes in architecting scalable, enterprise-level SEO strategies that deliver massive organic traffic growth.
As a C-suite executive, he drove a comprehensive SEO and content strategy that regularly results in top 10 rankings for revenue-driving queries. Justin has consulted for many Fortune 100 organizations, including Anheuser-Busch InBev. His expertise lies in using technical fluency (data, infrastructure, and AI) to build durable organic growth machines that yield high-value customer acquisition.
🎤 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘇
Jonathan Bentz is a Growth Strategist at Direct Online Marketing in Pittsburgh. Bentz is an SEO veteran with 20-plus years in the digital marketing game. He’s worked as an in-house marketer and agency guy, advised companies from startup size to Inc. 5000 stage, guested on panels and podcasts, spoken at conferences, and lives the mountain life with a wife, 3 kids, and 2 golden retrievers.
🎤 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮
Michael Arrieta is a seasoned SEO strategist and data storyteller currently building free SEO tools, writing, and consulting. With a deep interest in the intersection of AI and search, he’s exploring advanced use cases for SEO crawlers using custom JavaScript and automation. His work helps brands enhance visibility, fix technical gaps, and scale performance through smart, intent-focused SEO strategies.