Senior marketing leaders in the DC metro area are getting a more structured—and better resourced—place to compare notes.

The American Marketing Association DC Chapter (AMADC) has named Social Driver as the Presenting Sponsor of the Executive Marketer Leadership Circle (EMLC), formalizing a partnership designed to strengthen one of the region’s most exclusive peer networks for top marketing and communications executives.

The move officially launches EMLC Presented by Social Driver, signaling an expansion in programming, access, and support for CMOs, executive VPs, and senior partners operating across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

A peer network built for the C-suite

The Executive Marketer Leadership Circle was created by AMADC’s board alongside senior marketers to address a gap many executives quietly acknowledge: there are few confidential, peer-driven spaces where marketing leaders can speak candidly about what’s actually working—and what isn’t.

EMLC is intentionally selective, bringing together senior leaders from nonprofit, government, and corporate organizations. The goal isn’t networking volume, but relevance.

As presenting sponsor, Social Driver will help power a platform where members can:

• Build trusted, high-value relationships with fellow C-suite decision-makers

• Tackle leadership, operational, and organizational challenges in a confidential environment

• Accelerate professional growth through peer learning and experience sharing

• Access exclusive events and research tailored to executive-level needs

• Network across sectors that increasingly intersect in modern marketing

In practice, EMLC Presented by Social Driver will host CMO-only events throughout the year, along with private receptions aligned with select AMA signature gatherings. Members also gain access to discipline-specific research and curated insights designed to help leaders navigate an increasingly complex marketing landscape.

Why Social Driver—and why now

Social Driver’s role as presenting sponsor reflects more than brand alignment. The agency has built a reputation in DC and nationally for blending marketing, communications, digital strategy, and civic impact—often at the intersection of public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Joy Levin, advisor to the EMLC program, framed the partnership as a values match.

“We are excited to partner with Social Driver, a nationally recognized agency that shares our vision for authentic leadership and innovation,” Levin said, pointing to the firm’s client work, thought leadership initiatives such as Chief Influencer, and its philanthropic arm, The Driver Foundation.

For AMADC, the sponsorship helps ensure EMLC can scale thoughtfully—adding resources and programming without diluting the peer-driven ethos that makes the circle valuable.

Executive communities are evolving

The partnership also reflects a broader shift in how senior marketers approach professional development. Traditional conferences and webinars still have their place, but many executives are looking for smaller, trust-based forums where conversations go deeper than trends and tactics.

In an era shaped by AI disruption, organizational change, and heightened scrutiny on marketing ROI, CMOs are being asked to lead transformation—not just campaigns. Peer communities like EMLC provide a rare space to pressure-test ideas, compare leadership approaches, and learn from others navigating similar complexity.

By backing EMLC, Social Driver is aligning itself with that evolution—supporting leadership development as much as execution.

Strengthening the DMV marketing ecosystem

For the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, the launch of EMLC Presented by Social Driver reinforces the area’s role as a hub for sophisticated, cross-sector marketing leadership. The DMV’s mix of government agencies, nonprofits, advocacy groups, and global enterprises creates challenges that don’t always mirror those in purely commercial markets.

That context makes peer learning especially valuable—and sponsorships like this one essential to sustaining high-quality, executive-level programming.

As marketing continues to expand beyond communications into organizational leadership, partnerships like AMADC and Social Driver’s point to a future where community, credibility, and collaboration matter as much as tools and tactics.

Get in touch with our MarTech Experts.