MTM Visionaries: Pentair Pool & 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
Mary Horwath, Chief Marketing Officer of 2026 Special Olympics USA Games and Jillian Swift, Chief Marketing Officer of Pentair Pool Live on May 11th
Topic: Purpose, Partnerships & Brand Power: How Pentair and the Special Olympics Turn Marketing into Meaningful Experiences
In today’s marketing landscape, brands are increasingly expected to stand for something meaningful, while still delivering measurable business impact. Join Mary Horwath (CMO, 2026 Special Olympics USA Games) and Jillian Swift (CMO, Pentair Pool) for a dynamic conversation with Kathy Hollenhorst, Chief Community Officer of Marketers That Matter ®, live on Zoom on Monday, May 11th at 2:00 PM ET | 1:00 PM CT | 11:00 AM PT.
As Pentair serves as the official swimming sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, this partnership provides a unique window into how organizations collaborate to create experiences that inspire audiences, engage employees, and strengthen brand affinity.
Together, Mary and Jillian will share how purpose-driven, experience-led partnerships can become powerful platforms for brand building, community engagement, and long-term loyalty while benefitting both organizations and the communities they serve.
What You’ll Learn:
- Purpose-Driven Brand Building – How mission-led storytelling strengthens brand connection and inspires audiences
- Strategic Partnership Activation – Lessons from Pentair’s role as the official swimming sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
- Experience-Led Marketing – How to effectively create memorable moments that build loyalty across customers, employees, and communities
- Marketing Leadership at Scale – Examples of managing complex initiatives, partnerships, and stakeholders to deliver real impact
- Leadership & Career Advice – What today’s marketers wish they knew earlier
This conversation is for marketers at every stage, whether you are responsible for building a brand, managing partnerships, delivering memorable customer experiences or leading a team. Expect real talk, fresh ideas, and strategies you can put to work immediately.
👉 Reserve your spot today!
Register here
Speaker Information:
Jillian Swift, Chief Marketing Officer, Pentair Pool
Jillian Swift is Chief Marketing Officer for Pentair Pool, a leading company committed to helping the world more safely and sustainably enjoy water, life’s most essential resource.
With 20+ years of experience, Swift brings a proven track record of running effective, high performing marketing programs. In her current role, she is responsible for transforming Pentair Pool’s marketing culture by driving customer centricity, brand strategy, digital transformation and employee engagement.
Swift began her marketing journey with Penton Media where she quickly advanced to a managerial role overseeing top accounts including the American Red Cross, Emerson and The Hartford. As the Head of Marketing for global dessert ingredient provider, PreGel in North and South America, she helped secure the company as the leader in the frozen yogurt ingredient industry.
Prior to joining Pentair, Jillian held multiple leadership marketing roles at Electrolux, where she contributed to aggressive aftermarket growth, exceptional customer experience and brand storytelling for top brands including Frigidaire, Eureka and Sanitaire.
With a journalism degree from Ohio University as her foundation, Jillian has extensive marketing experience with both B2C and B2B companies, as well as in corporate and agency environments. Swift’s passion for marketing is only surpassed by her love for her 4-year old little boy, Anson, her family and friends, and a constant hunger for travel and culinary adventures.
Mary Horwath, Chief Marketing Officer, 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
An Ad Age Top 100 Marketer with over 35 years of sports business experience, Mary Horwath is a visionary strategist renowned for turning niche products into global movements. Most notably, she orchestrated the rise of Rollerblade Inc., transforming a hockey training tool into a $100M+ cultural phenomenon. Throughout her trailblazing career, Mary has broken significant barriers, including serving as the first female Program Director for the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team and collaborating with dozens of iconic brands such as the NBA, Polaris, and Shock Doctor.
Today, as the Chief Marketing Officer for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Mary is dedicated to accelerating the global inclusion movement through powerful, truthful storytelling. Inspired by the Special Olympics athlete oath, her mission is to attract and engage a new generation of supporters, ensuring that every individual involved is “markedly transformed” by the experience. She considers it a privilege to contribute her expertise to this extraordinary community, aiming to leave a lasting legacy of inclusion and empowerment for athletes everywhere.
