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Why You Should Attend This Event

WOMMA events always feature the best and brightest minds in the business. These are the true experts who have mastered word of mouth and all are eager to share their wisdom and expertise with you.

. . . and these fantastic expert speakers

Allrecipes.com • Disneyland • DuPont • Hachette Filipacchi • Ice.com • KFOG Radio
Microsoft • Intuit • Sprint • Virgin • RealTravel • TiVo


Julie Atherton, SVP & Director, US Interactive, Hill & Knowlton

Julie joined Hill & Knowlton as the US Director of Interactive & Innovation in November 2005. She is a leading marketing strategist, focusing on advanced digital media (interactive/enhanced television, wireless, gaming, broadband and on-demand content) and its application to and enhancement of both traditional and non-traditional marketing. Julie works with marketers to develop and execute cross-platform strategies including WOM, interactive, wireless, content development and integrated marketing initiatives.

In the 1990s, Atherton successfully built and was CEO of one of the foremost broadcast commercial production companies in the U.S.A.- The Atherton Group - with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London. The Atherton Group produced commercials, music videos, broadcast promos and developed long form content for numerous Fortune 500 companies. From 1998 to early 2003, as Founder and CEO of CYLO, Julie and her partners built a digital interactive agency, focusing on emerging interactive technologies and on-demand advertising models, formats and solutions. CYLO's service offering to agencies and marketers included: defining the marketing strategy for and the design and implementation of interactive/enhanced television, VOD, DVR and broadband and wireless technologies.

Julie is an experienced senior manager and executive with numerous awards, including Gold and Bronze Lions, Clios and the 2001 Bandie Award for Volvo/NCAA 2001 ("World's first fully integrated campaign" - WSJ, March 2001). She has worked with many Fortune 500 marketers, including Nike, Ford, Toyota, General Motors, Nissan, Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Pfizer, Merck, Kellogg's, Volvo, Anhueser Busch and American Express.

 

 

Chris Baggott, Co-Founder & CMO, ExactTarget

Chris Baggott, a founding partner of ExactTarget, is best described as the "visionary" behind ExactTarget's on-demand outbound email software solutions. Chis was named to BtoB Magazine's 2004 "Who's Who in B-To-B", and Forbes "Best of the Web" in 2005 for his Blog. He is a recognized speaker on database and e-marketing, with over 50 appearances in 2005 at national conferences, tradeshows and regional business and marketing organizations. He has also been featured in Inc. Magazine.

Chris works closely with ExactTarget customers to advise them on how to ensure their success by enhancing deliverability, using dynamic content to create more personal and relevant email, optimizing email for better outcomes and being legally compliant with anti-spam laws. As chief marketing officer, Chris is responsible for driving the strategic direction of ExactTarget's market definition and position, new business development and partnerships, and has led the growth of the company to over 5,000 customers in just four years.

Chris' idea for a permission-based email software system stemmed from his experience as the CEO and president of Twyford Group, where he practiced extensive database marketing, yet with no means to utilize his detailed customer knowledge. Before founding the Twyford Group, Chris was marketing manager for RR Donnelley's catalog business and also spent five years with Abbott Labs as the leading sales executive and sales manager for their Diagnostics Division. Chris is a graduate of Evergreen College, Olympia, Washington.

 

 

Kathy Baughman, Principal, ComBlu

Kathy Baughman is a principal of ComBlu, a firm that specializes in word of mouth (WOM) marketing and customer advocacy programs. ComBlu is a joint venture between HLB Communications and the M Group. ComBlu offers a comprehensive array of WOM services including readiness assessments, identification of key influencers and customer evangelists, activation strategies and execution, and measurement. In addition, Kathy has been president of HLB Communications in Chicago for the past 25 years. Kathy also serves as the WOM practice head of Pinnacle Worldwide, a network of 60 independent public relations firms in over 60 cities across the globe.

During her career, Kathy has earned the reputation for quickly identifying the essence of a communications challenge and offering innovative solutions. Her approach is that of a management consultant with emphasis on the points of leverage that can maximize, streamline or enhance an organization's communications assets. Kathy has expertise in customer advocacy, organizational change, reputation and crisis management, marketing public relations and communications process improvement.

Kathy has extensive experience in the healthcare, financial services, professional services and e-commerce industries. She has developed and executed programs for such companies as Deloitte & Touche, American Hospital Association, Qwest Communications, Verizon Wireless, Spencer Stuart, Duff & Phelps, Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sara Lee corporation, Catalyst International, GE Capital, Harris Bank and many others.

 

 

Clark Benson, CEO, eCRUSH.com

eCRUSH.com and eSPINtheBottle.com are the original PG-13 social sites -- hybrids between social networking and a "flirtatious/crushing" focused community for the teen set. Benson is a serial entrepreneur; in addition to founding eCRUSH, he is also the founder and CEO of record industry research and marketing firms Almighty Institute of Music Retail and ISIS Listening Stations. eCRUSH has profitably innovated teen marketing strategies in a number of channels - word of mouth/buzz marketing, online research and lead generation (as a way of letting teens use their attention as a form of electronic currency -- a true "share of choice" revenue model).

 

 

Jeff Beringer, VP, Web Relations Group, GolinHarris

Jeff Beringer leads the interactive communications team at GolinHarris -- one of the world's leading communications and marketing services firms. He counsels blue chip brands on innovative ways to use technology to enhance their communications campaigns and build dialogue with key audiences. Beringer's team supports major brands around the world including Disneyland, Sony Ericsson, Nintendo, Dow Chemical, and McDonald's. Jeff co-created GolinHarris' "Dialogue" integrated media engine and is a regular speaker on digital communications trends, opportunities, and best practices.

 

 

Liz Bigham, VP/Director, US Brand Marketing, Jack Morton Worldwide

Liz Bigham serves as Vice President and Director of Brand Marketing, US for Jack Morton Worldwide. In her current role, she aligns Jack Morton's business development activity with the efforts of the marketing group, increasingly in a global capacity. She is also a significant force behind the agency's annual proprietary research. Each year, Bigham works in partnership with Sponsorship Research International (SRi) to develop a study measuring the effectiveness of experiential marketing by gauging audience receptiveness to the practice. Prior to joining Jack Morton, she completed graduate studies in art history and worked in several New York museums. She is a frequent speaker on Jack Morton's best practices, including a recent engagement at the American Marketing Association (AMA) in Chicago.

 

 

John Bloomstrom, EVP, Manager of Influencer Marketing, Northlich

John joined Northlich in 1986, serving a variety of clients representing consumer products, financial services, and healthcare. With ten years of client-side experience as marketing director for Ambulatory Medical Care and sales promotion manager for Huffy Bicycles, he contributes keen insight and a deep understanding of marketing from a client’s perspective.
He encourages a disciplined approach to developing influencer marketing programs to make sure clients identify the most vocal and viral advocates for their brands. John has been a featured speaker at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conferences and other national marketing and branding events.

 

 

Sam Decker, VP, Marketing & Products, Bazaarvoice

Sam Decker has spent his career as a marketing leader in startups, as a consultant, and recently for Dell -- maximizing marketing, technology and online business results. As Senior Manager of Dell Consumer eBusiness for four years, Sam drove 4x growth in online conversion rates and consumer online sales over $3 billion. Sam launched Dell's Consumer CRM & Segmentation team, improving processes for sales call routing, direct mail, email, and customer experience.

Today, Sam is VP of Marketing & Products for Bazaarvoice.

Sam is a recent Green Belt, but a lifelong student of continuous marketing improvement through statistical analysis and creativity. He is also author of "301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas" and "How to Market with Computer User Groups."

 

 

David Dickey, Director, eBusiness Strategy, Channel and Content Management, Sprint

David leads the teams that drive strategic development and execution of Sprint-Nextel's traditional and online consumer and business direct marketing, with emphasis on customer retention and loyalty, as well as retail traffic acceleration, his teams deliver more than 500 million direct customer touchpoints annually. In previous roles at Sprint, David developed Sprint-Nextel's first integrated consumer segmentation strategy, served as general manager of Sprint's consumer eBusiness group, helped lead the national launch of the company's fixed wireless broadband products, and directed marketing strategy for national wireline broadband. Prior to joining Sprint, he spent ten years in San Francisco with Nestle, Hoffman/Lewis Advertising, and Deloitte. David also serves on the board of directors of Luna Vineyards and Inertia Beverage Group, both in Napa, California, and is the City Treasurer of Mission Hills, Kansas. David received his BA in economics and history from Stanford University and obtained an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

 

Deborah Eastman, Chief Marketing Officer, Biz360

As chief marketing officer, Deborah is responsible for many of the client facing functions at Biz360 including marketing, sales and professional services. Working day to day with clients, she guides product direction and manages the account teams that work with clients during the decision process and post-sales support. In addition, Deborah's marketing responsibilities include product marketing, marketing communications and field marketing. Her experience in building teams that focus on client satisfaction and delivering profitable growth is driving the company's success.

Deborah has over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and the strategic business development of technology products and consulting services. Before joining Biz360, she served as a vice president and managing director at BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting) where she held a number of global leadership positions. Deborah led BearingPoint's marketing and brand development and the global account program. As the consulting arm of KPMG split from the partnership, she was responsible for setting up much of the marketing infrastructure and establishing the organization's initial brand guidelines. With a strong focus on customer success, Deborah established the company's first customer loyalty program, which gave clients a voice and increased the value of BearingPoint's consulting services.

A native of Northern California, Deborah studied Computer Science at San Jose State University and started her career as a software engineer developing embedded systems for a telecommunication test equipment manufacturer. She leveraged her technical background to build a successful career in technology oriented sales and marketing.

 

 

Richard Fielding, VP Director, Insights & Analytics Group, Starcom Worldwide

Richard Fielding leads Starcom North America in the field of media research where his remit is to ensure Starcom and its clients maximize their competitive advantage leveraging best in class insights and analytics. During his five year tenure at Starcom he has evolved the research discipline from a reliance on syndicated third party data to one of customized consumer centric models, tools and strategic alliances that enable clients to optimize media investment based on a return on objectives approach.

Richard first made his presence known in the press by guiding Starcom's analysis of TiVo's new second-by-second ratings product, the first numbers to provide such detailed insight on the viewing patterns of DVR subscribers. The analysis offered valuable views on consumer engagement with commercials as viewed on DVRs, and engagement levels as they related to program type and recorded viewing versus live viewing. Recently, his team completed a large scale Print Engagement Study which has supported Starcom's magazine investment group's new output based accountability positioning.

Richard joined Starcom in 1998 as regional research director for Asia-Pacific and also served as a member of the China/Hong Kong Research Management Group. During his tenure with Starcom in Asia, he was instrumental in the P&G China AOR win, which at the time was the largest account win in Asia outside of Japan. Richard is also the author of Media Pathways, a unique and proprietary research tool designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of consumers and how they interact with and relate to media. Before joining Starcom, Richard was with AC Nielsen in Malaysia, where he ran their media measurement division. He also served in Jakarta for Nielsen, launching Asia's largest TV PeopleMeter Panel. He began his media career in 1990 at Taylor Nelson AGB, the UK's largest research company, and whilst there helped establish the company's presence in the emerging markets of Poland, Russia and India.

Richard is a regular speaker at global industry conferences and holds an MBA from Sheffield University, U.K.

 

 

John Finegan, CEO, Beck Ag

John has 25 years of sales and marketing experience and has successfully led organizations ranging from $1M to $125M in revenue. After graduating with a B.S. degree from Penn State University, he served for two years in the U.S. Peace Corps, his career began with Chevron Corp. While at Chevron, he completed Northwestern University's year long Kellogg Management Institute.

In 1996 he and partner Charlie Beck formed Beck Ag. The company pioneered the use of business to business word of mouth marketing and sales strategies in the Agricultural industry. The company successfully helped Ag and Ag-related businesses to drive adoption of products and services through the use of word of mouth. In addition to Beck Ag John owns MTI Information Technologies a database marketing organization.

John recently served on the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Board. He was the recipient of the Ag industry's "Ag Communicator of the Year" award in 2000 and in 2005 received the Dilworth Award for Innovation.

 

 

Pinny Gniwisch, Vice President, Marketing, Ice.com

Pinny has been responsible for developing strategic alliances with the leading internet companies on the Web. Combining his knowledge of the jewelry business and his marketing insights Pinny has been a major contributor to making Ice.com one of the leading jewelers on the Internet. "I believe customers feel at home visiting Ice.com-with its established values, spirit, attitude, merchandise and service," he says. "My goal is to create and deliver an experience that will generate long-term customer relationships."

 

 

Fabio Gratton, Principal & Co-Founder, Ignite Health

Fabio Gratton is the Chief Innovation Officer and a founding partner of Ignite Health, one of the fastest-growing healthcare agencies in the US. Ignite has won more than 80 industry awards, most of them for its interactive work. At Ignite, Gratton works closely with the agency's creative and account teams, as well as with client marketing groups. He is responsible for developing Internet strategies for all agency clients, including pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and diagnostic. In addition, he is responsible for incorporating new technologies into Ignite's overall offerings. Gratton's focus on pharmaceutical discoveries and the technologies to market them is not unusual for his family, which is well-known in scientific circles around the world. His grandfather is considered the "Father of Italian Astrophysics," while other relatives are top researchers in the fields of biophysics, psychology, astronomy and entomology.

He looks forward to bringing healthcare education - in the form of games, animated videos and other innovative techniques - to those living with chronic illnesses. Gratton, who was born in Rome, has lived in the U.S. since 1978. Raised in Urbana, Illinois, he attended the University's elite laboratory school, where he studied video production and created a number of short films that aired regularly on a local cable television channel. Moving to Los Angeles, he was accepted in UCLA's acclaimed film program and combined college with an internship at Paramount Pictures' story department. After graduation, he signed on with the William Morris Agency as a screenwriter, which led to an assignment working with Tom Cruise's production company. There - in addition to working on Jerry Maguire and Mission: Impossible - Gratton learned the nuts and bolts of running a studio from Cruise's partner, Paula Wagner.

Today, Fabio Gratton has transferred those skills to the realm of pharmaceutical marketing at Ignite. He is a member of WOMMA, The Medical Marketing Association, and a member of Medical Marketing & Media's Editorial Advisory Board.

 

 

Ann Green, SVP, Marketing Solutions, Millward Brown

Ann brings extensive marketing, research, client service, and interactive expertise to Millward Brown. She currently heads up Millward Brown's North American marketing solutions initiatives. This unit delivers the company's newest solutions which help clients build, grow and manage their brands. Prior to this, Ann was Vice President in client service, working with leading clients and spearheading new product innovations for North America, which included identifying client needs, building relationships with third-party vendors, and exploring enhancements in technology.

Ann began her early career with Millward Brown, later holding key positions with leading research firms Ipsos-ASI, where she worked with a roundtable of interactive advertisers to create new standards of interactive measures, and at NFO Interactive, where she was responsible for the development of their retail and ecommerce-based business. Just prior to returning to Millward Brown, Ann held consulting positions for several research companies and advertising agencies, including Harris Interactive and Grey Interactive. Ann holds a bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in mathematics from Fairfield University.

 

 

Manisha Gupta, Director 2.0, Cafepress.com

Manisha Gupta, Director 2.0 of Cafepress.com, is a savvy Product Manager who can think globally and act locally. She understands the practical uses of technology and their importance in the business world.

A results-oriented general manager with strong strategic, analytical, Managerial and execution skills, her focus has been applying industry trends in technology to create new products in the consumer space - custom content, online services, imaging, and process automation. Manisha is Interested in anything that empowers the masses - Web 2.0, micro payments, custom content, etc.

Manisha has extensive experience in early stage team development, product strategy, product management & development, operations, merchandising, business development and customer support with both public and private companies. She has played a significant role in the growth of Cafepress.com (specially Product Development and Community labs) and Fatbrain.com.

 

 

Bill Hanekamp, Co-Founder & CEO, The Well Advertising

Bill is co-founder and CEO of The Well Advertising, an innovative marketing firm that focuses on emerging media strategies and techniques - such as microsites, email campaigns, RSS, blogs, mobile, and online advertising - to deliver more efficient, ROI-based marketing solutions for its clients.

Bill has been in the online world since 1995 when his agency began creating online material for Sony Electronics, American Express, Sprint, and Gore-Tex. He then sold his agency in 1999 to an e-Consulting company looking to add creative and marketing services to its IT and Web offerings. Bill's unique expertise comes from his in-depth understanding of advertising and marketing and a comprehensive grasp of technology. In a world where the CMO and CIO don't often get along, Bill is able to bridge the communication gap to produce strategically sound, creative ideas that work in the real world.

In his former life, Bill managed the campaigns of national and state politicians before moving to Leo Burnett, where he worked on Philip Morris, Dewar's Scotch, and Sony. Bill graduated with honors from Dartmouth College.

 

 

Denine Harper, Senior Strategy Manager, WHITTMANHART

Denine is responsible for the strategic direction and planning for interactive initiatives. In her role, she drives the agency's intimate understanding of the client's target and provides leadership and guidance to account teams in developing compelling marketing communication strategies. She also provides thought leadership with staff by analyzing existing interactive trends, applying them to new situations, and overseeing research initiatives.

Before joining WHITTMANHART, Denine served as an Online Strategic Marketing Manager at Fleet Credit Card Services were she was responsible for architecting, managing, and executing large online and enterprise e-business and e-commerce solutions. Her accomplishments include: NewMedia Invision 2000 Award for online project management tool called E-learning, 1999 Freddie Award of Excellence for healthanswers.com, #2 Vividence (now Keynote) Customer Experience Rankings for best online customer experience. Denine has a BFA from the College of New Jersey in Graphic Design with an emphasis on Multimedia.

 

 

Zvia Herrmann, VP Marketing - Car and Driver/Road & Track, Hachette Filipacchi Media

Zvia Herrmann is Vice President of Marketing for Car and Driver and Road & Track Magazines. Zvia has over 20 years of experience in the automotive magazine industry, developing brand strategies and communication for the magazines and creating marketing programs for automakers, many of which include word of mouth. Zvia was also V.P. Automotive Network, overseeing the automotive web sites at Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. and launched them to become major players in the online automotive arena. Prior to that she held other marketing positions at CBS Magazines, Ziff-Davis Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Technical Publishing, and Crain Communications. Zvia is also a Founding Member and Director of AWARE, a not-for-profit international organization dedicated to helping women advance in the automotive industry. Zvia has an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

 

 

Trip Hunter, Director, Guerilla Marketing, Renegade Marketing Group

Two of Trip's lifelong passions are marketing and woodworking. So when he came across Renegade's hand saw logo seven years ago, he packed up his tools at McCann Erickson and has been sharpening his saw as the Guerrilla Marketing Director ever since. Dividing his time between biz dev and ideation, Trip has led noteworthy Renegade engagements for HSBC, Nike, IBM and TV Guide. A triathlete and new father, Trip is not one for sitting around.

 

 

Shel Israel, Co-Author, Naked Conversations

Shel Israel writes, speaks and consults on blogging, innovation and communications for an occasional living. He has recently completed "Naked Conversations - How Blogs Are Changing The Way Businesses Talk With Customers," with the legendary Robert Scoble as co-author (Wiley, January 2006).

Shel describes himself as a recovering publicist. He used to own a PR agency specializing in tech startups, and was involved in the initial launches of Sun Microsystems, PowerPoint, Filemaker, SoundBlaster, Napster, MapInfo, Virtual Vineyards and quite a few others.

 

 

Erik Kokkonen, AVP, CNET Networks

Erik Kokkonen is Associate Vice President, Global Publishing Services, at CNET Networks. He is responsible for managing the shared services that help the company's business units better understand, interact with, and serve their audiences. He is currently incubating a new property for CNET Networks, Help.com, that is managed and edited entirely by its users.

 

 

Ken Leeder, CEO, RealTravel

Ken is founder and CEO of RealTravel. Recently named "One of the Twelve Essential Travel Websites" and "Best of the Web" by Forbes, RealTravel is a travel blogging and information site that provides a more personalized and informative experience to travel shoppers and a more effective venue for travel industry marketers than currently exists online.

A seasoned entrepreneur, Ken brings two decades of experience to RealTravel. Prior to RealTravel, Ken founded Full Degree, a successful Product Information Management company that was acquired in 2004. Previous to Full Degree, Ken was head of business development at AdForce, a leading Internet ad serving company. Ken earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from York University.

 

 

Felicia Martin-Hill, Manager, Network Marketing, Virgin Mobile

Felicia Martin-Hill is currently the Manager of Network Marketing at Virgin Mobile USA, a wireless carrier that targets young people with a hip, irreverent, Pay-As-You-Go cell phone service. Since joining Virgin Mobile 3 years ago, Felicia has been responsible for defining the strategy and innovative execution of the company's word-of-mouth program. She identifies partners to accelerate the spread of key messages via non-traditional tactics such as product integration, viral marketing, and the deployment of an influencer team of over one thousand young people as part of the Virgin Mobile "Insider Network". She works closely with various departments within the business to ensure brand advocates are not only leveraged for the promotion of new products and services, but included in the development process as well.

Prior to joining Virgin Mobile, Felicia spent 2 years working as the Managing Editor of Russell Simmons' Oneworld Magazine. Felicia has a BA in Sociology & Communications from Sarah Lawrence College. She currently resides with her family in South Orange, New Jersey.

 

 

Cynthia McCafferty, SVP, Fleishman-Hillard

Cynthia McCafferty joined Fleishman-Hillard in 1998 after working as a consultant for the firm on MetroLink, a public transportation campaign, and on the national rollout of Olean, a fat-free cooking oil made by Procter & Gamble. She brings a diverse background in public affairs to Fleishman-Hillard and is an expert at developing and executing grassroots programs.

Ms. McCafferty's current clients include the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Ethicon Endo Surgery, and National Fire Protection Association. Since joining Fleishman-Hillard, Ms. McCafferty has led the development of the grassroots education and marketing capability. In that role, she has worked on more than 50 grassroots programs for clients including Procter & Gamble, Dannon, Pfizer, Organon, and Astra Zeneca. The grassroots programs have ranged from nutrition and health condition education to wellness products and behavior change.

Before joining Fleishman-Hillard, Ms. McCafferty worked as a consultant on a variety of political campaigns. In addition to grassroots organizing and strategy, her areas of expertise include voter targeting, message development, and direct mail. Her background also includes serving as voter-file director for the Missouri Democratic Party. As voter file director, Ms. McCafferty was responsible for the creation and development of the most comprehensive voter file in Missouri history.

Additionally, she was electoral director for one of Missouri’s largest political-action committees. In that position, she consulted with more than 30 legislative campaigns, providing message development, field strategy, and direct-mail design. As a member of a statewide coalition, Ms. McCafferty also participated in the development and implementation of several successful legislative strategies for the Missouri General Assembly.

 

 

Tim O'Day, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort

Tim began his career with The Walt Disney Company in 1981 in the marketing and entertainment divisions at the Disneyland Resort. Since then there have been few Disney "worlds" not touched by his marketing and communications expertise, including roles at Walt Disney World Resort, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disneyland Paris Resort, Disney Publishing, Disney Consumer Products and the Walt Disney Internet Group.

Through the years Tim has worked closely with many well-known celebrities and artists, has been the creative force behind numerous successful Disney events and campaigns (including the recent Disneyland 50th anniversary celebration) and is a frequent interview guest on TV, radio and in print including "Good Morning America," "LIFE" magazine and "Entertainment Tonight." He is considered one of the foremost experts on the topic of "Disney" and its place in today's pop culture.

Additionally, Tim is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society. His background includes PR and marketing efforts in collaboration with such noted organizations as eBay, Sotheby's and QVC. He is the author of the book Disneyland:Then, Now & Forever and is a contributing writer to numerous publications. Tim is currently engaged as the public relations director for the Disneyland Resort in southern California.

 

 

Ivan Palmer, Strategic Partner, Wildfire

Ivan Palmer is the founder of Wildfire Word of Mouth Marketing, the UK's first dedicated marketing consultancy specialising in word of mouth marketing.

His interest in word of mouth started 3 years ago while researching new customer centric business models. At the time he was working as Planning Director for Joshua, the UK's leading integrated marketing services companies. Previous to that he had been Executive Creative Director and had worked in the creative field as a writer and manager for 15 years. During that time he won over 50 awards for creativity and marketing effectiveness, formed his own agency, and worked on some of the biggest names in advertising, including IBM, Nokia, Masterfoods, NatWest, Help The Aged, Commercial Union, Ford and GSK.

 

 

David Perlmutter, VP, General Manager, NCI Mobility

A native of Chicago, David Perlmutter is a business leader with a background in high-level account management, revenue generation, and a thorough understanding of both the creative process and business development. Now 42-years-old, Perlmutter was a natural marketer from the start, whether selling men's clothes, combining a passion for music with a career in the radio business, attending school at Syracuse University, or leading two companies at the forefront of the multimedia market. He has built a unique skill-set that he is now using as he manages Hi-Tide Media and NCI Mobility.

His clients from around the globe rely on a career's worth of experience in reaching an audience through any and all means available. In achieving positive results, Perlmutter oversees daily business, including P&L responsibilities, sales, business development, research-and-development, and team building. He supports the internal technology team in identifying cutting-edge strategies to utilize in proprietary market/consumer research, as well as database/CRM initiatives for the world's top CPG brands. Doing so requires a client framework and project execution, all of which Perlmutter passes on to clients at high-level strategy meetings with senior and corporate CPG brand/event management, with all sales/marketing goals clearly articulated.

Perlmutter's overall strategic engagement has resulted in the success in new business across many different fields, including the alcohol, automotive, medical, financial, and various media industries, by the creation and implementation of technology strategies to represent the brand and gather mission-critical consumer data in the field. Perlmutter oversaw the development of direct client relationships including the conception and execution of powerful brand programs. This often encompassed managing sports, marketing and entertainment components. This experience is yet another facet of his career that comes into play.

 

 

Joe Pilotta, Vice President, BIGresearch

Joe Pilotta is both the Vice President of BIGresearch and a Professor at Ohio State University, School of Communications. Joe has expertise in contemporary research methodologies, consumer behavior, consumer taste and preference, and globalization of political economy. Joe has conducted over 60 online studies in consumer behavior over the last 3 years. With BIGresearch, Joe launched the first Simultaneous Media Study and a database of over 65,000 observation has been developed.

Joe is currently launching the Simultaneous Media Planning, and a Return on Customer Investment System, and has launched BIGresearch in China. He holds two PhDs from Ohio University (Communication Research)and from University of Toronto (Sociology), Canada. Senior Fellow, Midwestern Universities Consortium for International Activities (BigTen) and Co-Founder of the Center for Globalization, Guatemala. Joe also serves on the ARF, Long-Term Advertising Effectiveness Committee, and the Standard and Measures Committee of WOMMA.

 

 

John Porcaro, Group Manager, Xbox Online Community, Microsoft

John Porcaro is the Group Manager of Online Communications in Microsoft's Global Games Marketing and PR Team. His team is responsible for Online Community for Xbox and Games for Windows, and Internal Communications for Microsoft's worldwide Sales & Mktg employees.

His team is chartered with involving community in their PR and marketing efforts. He runs www.gamerscore.com, the official blog of the Xbox and Games marketing team. His team works with product teams, developers, and executives to help bring the voice of the customer into the planning process. As importantly, he helps provide detailed information to customer evangelists through community websites, involving community members in PR events, and through programs that directly involve members of the community on a daily basis.

John's been at Microsoft since 1990, where he's been a Product Manager, Channel Marketing Manager, Communications Manager, and Events Manager, mostly working in our Consumer Division (currently called Entertainment & Devices Division). Prior to Microsoft, he worked at Sun Microsystems, and Migent Software. He has a Business Administration degree from the University of Washington, specializing in Consumer Marketing and Organizational Behavior.

John has been involved in community and WOM marketing for some time, and has had a personal blog (johnporcaro.com) for several years.

 

 

Ruth Presslaff, President, Presslaff Interactive

Presslaff Interactive Revenue thrives at the cross-road of marketing and technology. Started in 1988, PIR (originally The Media Gallery, Inc.) combines their proprietary state of the art technology with experienced marketing and sales practices. Dat-e Basesm E-mail Marketing software, used by over 100 radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada, exists to help broadcasters identify and learn about their loyal listeners in order to better serve their audience and advertising clients.

Ruth Presslaff has an extensive radio background, ranging from on-air work in New Orleans to Midwest Sales Manager in Chicago and Vice President of Affiliate Relations in Washington DC for the United Stations Radio Network. She started PIR over 18 years ago and is a sought-after speaker on the programming, marketing and sales benefits of interactive technology and database marketing.

Ruth has spoken at numerous conferences including the National Association of Broadcasters, Radio Advertising Bureau Managing Conference, Broadcast Promotion and Marketing Expo and the Country Radio Seminar.

 

 

David Rabjohns, President, MotiveQuest

David is founder of MotiveQuest, a marketing consultancy specializing in helping manage the marketing and business implications of online consumer dialog.

Their unique "Online Anthropology" approach focuses on digging deeper than mere buzz measurement to create models of consumer emotion and loyalty. The eclectic group of world class strategists at MotiveQuest claim to live their Motto "Fearlessly Seeking The Reason's Why?"

MotiveQuest has worked in a wide range of industries with clients including Citibank, DuPont HP, Mini and Motorola.
Prior to starting MotiveQuest in 2003 David was EVP, Brand Strategy Director at Leo Burnett Chicago. David has also worked in marketing and strategy positions at IBM (UK), PepsiCo (Aus), Saatchi & Saatchi (UK) and McConnaughy (US).

 

 

Emanuel Rosen, Author, The Anatomy of Buzz

Emanuel Rosen is the author of the national bestseller The Anatomy of Buzz: How to create word of mouth marketing. The book is based on 165 interviews he conducted in 1998-99 among researchers, consumers and executives who were successful in building buzz for their brands. Prior to writing this book, Rosen was VP Marketing at Niles Software in Berkeley, California. There he was responsible for launching and marketing the company's flagship product, EndNote, which spread to a large extent by word-of-mouth. It was during his ten years with that company that Emanuel started researching word-of-mouth and especially how it can be accelerated.

Rosen started his career in Israel as a copywriter at Ariely Advertising (now part of Publicis) and Kesher-Barel (now part of McCann Erickson), two of Israel's leading advertising agencies. For his work in advertising, he won the Bronze Lion from the Cannes International Advertising Festival, as well as several national awards including two gold medals. He holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and resides in Menlo Park, California.

The Anatomy of Buzz "has managed to generate quite a bit of buzz itself" as BusinessWeek Online noted. The book hit The Wall Street Journal's business best-seller list and is now available in twelve languages. Steve Jurvetson, one of the investors behind Hotmail who coined the term "Viral Marketing" wrote about the book: "Every new company and new product manager hope to benefit from buzz. Many hope that it will just happen, and they are disappointed when it does not. The Anatomy of Buzz explains how to make it happen, bringing analysis, strategy, and insight to the black art of buzz."

Rosen has presented his work in numerous forums to both small startups and Fortune-500 companies. In March 2005 Rosen was a keynote speaker at the first Word of Mouth Marketing Association Summit. He serves on WOMMA's advisory board.

 

 

Steve Sarner, VP Sales, Tickle

Steve Sarner brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience to Tickle with an emphasis in online e-commerce and media sales since 1998. Steve has been instrumental in developing many of Tickle's major brand advertising and marketing relationships. His career began in the travel industry including 4 years at Reno Air where he was Vice President Marketing and Sales prior to the airline's acquisition by American Airlines, Steve then served as Vice President of Business Development for Travelscape.com which was subsequently acquired by Expedia. Steve also served in Sales and Marketing for the successful health assessment site - RealAge prior to joining Tickle Inc (then known as Emode) in November 2000. Steve is a Graduate of California State University at Long Beach.

 

 

Ed Sarraille, CEO, Informative

An energetic leader with over 30 years of Chief Executive and entrepreneurial experience in managing companies and leading them to impressive growth, Mr. Sarraille joined Informative as CEO in June 2005. Previously, he was President and CEO of ProcurePoint, Inc., an Internet startup providing travel procurement software to Fortune 500 companies. Over his five years at ProcurePoint, Mr. Sarraille revolutionized how corporations negotiate for the second largest controllable expense by introducing online reverse auction technology to the space, resulting in the procurement of $300 million in global travel spend on behalf of clients. In addition, Mr. Sarraille built world-class management teams, cultivated a customer list that included Fortune 100 companies such as Microsoft Corporation, Intel, and HP, and built a company with a reputation for best-in-class products and technology and outstanding customer service.

For twenty years prior to joining ProcurePoint, Mr. Sarraille was President and Founder of E.J. Sarraille and Company, an award-winning marketing services company, whose client list included Intel, Oracle, Electronic Arts, Bank of America, Four Seasons Hotels and Royal Viking Lines. Mr. Sarraille spent the first ten years of his career as Corporate Sales and Marketing Director for Hyatt Hotels, where he directed national marketing activities and lead brand development for the corporation as it grew from 15 to 50 hotels.

 

 

Jim Scheinman, Vice President of Business Development and Sales, Bebo

Scheinman is an attorney, entrepreneur and seasoned Internet marketing executive with 15 years of experience. He is responsible for sales and business development activities at Bebo and BirthdayAlarm, which involves structuring major partnerships, creating new revenue opportunities including word of mouth marketing initiatives, product management, marketing and advertising sales.

Previously he was the head of business development at Friendster, and one of the first employees at the pioneering social networking site. He also served as senior vice president of business development at NBC Internet, a $2 billion public company of NBC & GE. Prior to his Internet career, Scheinman practiced corporate and intellectual property law at a leading Silicon Valley law firm. He also founded a family business out of college that grew to become the largest worldwide sports card & memorabilia business.

Scheinman earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Neuropsychology from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor at the University of California Davis School of Law.

 

 

Marc Schiller, CEO & Co-Founder, Electric Artists

Marc Schiller, CEO of ElectricArtists, is an accomplished executive with a wealth of industry and entrepreneurial knowledge in marketing, branding, and public relations. Foreseeing the unique marketing challenges posed by new technologies such as the Internet, Marc founded ElectricArtists in 1997 to create an agency that would re-write the book on how brands should approach marketing in the digital age. Under Marc's guidance, ElectricArtists has seen over 100% growth in profits each year since its inception and is now recognized as the leading agency for digital marketing and strategy in the media and entertainment sectors.

Since founding ElectricArtists, Marc has guided a marketing team that has grown from three employees to over thirty, and has been responsible for the creation and implementation of groundbreaking strategies for a diverse list of blue chip clients. Recent clients have included Starwood Hotels, American Express, Sony/BMG Music, The Los Angeles Lakers, Seventeen Magazine, History Channel, A&E Network, USA Network, IFC Channel, and a host of consumer product, media and entertainment companies. Since it's inception, ElectricArtists has developed and implemented marketing campaigns that led to Gold or Platinum certifications for over 100 music properties. This esteemed list includes releases from such diverse artists as The Beatles, Christina Aguilera, U2, Steely Dan, The Eagles, Matchbox Twenty and more. In the film world, ElectricArtists is known for its cutting edge marketing strategies for such releases as Memento, In The Bedroom, Amelie, Mulholland Drive, and others. The agency's media clients have included Wenner Media (Rollingstone Magazine and US Weekly), Dennis Publishing (Stuff Magazine), Time Inc (eCompany Now) and Gruner + Jahr (YM Magazine).

Under Marc's direction, ElectricArtists is now successfully consulting a broadening array of consumer products and service companies, from video games and executive recruitment to baby care, financial services and more. Marc has guided the Company's efforts in the youth marketing arena, orchestrating creative campaigns for such recording artists as Christina Aguilera, 98 Degrees, O-Town, and Dream; films such as Miramax's 'On The Line'; and consumer products from Mattel and Toymax.

 

 

Robert Scoble, Co-Author, Naked Conversations & Technical Evangelist, Microsoft

Robert Scoble is a technical evangelist who works for Microsoft and maintains the popular blog, Scobleizer. He lives in Bothell, Washington.

Although Scoble often promotes Microsoft products like Tablet PCs and Windows Vista, at the same time he criticizes his own employer and praises its competitors (like Apple Computer and Google). However, some argue that the modest measure of criticism leveled at Microsoft and praise toward competitors serves only to give his Microsoft evangelism credibility. He publishes his cell phone number on his blog and urges people to contact him directly with issues, as well as accepting comments on his blog.

Scoble has long been known as a prominent advocate of both RSS technology and the Tablet PC. He has previously been involved with both these technologies in a professional capacity: at NEC Mobile Solutions, where he was sales support manager, and UserLand Software, where he was director of marketing.

Besides blogging, Scoble is part of the Channel9 MSDN Videos team producing educational and evangelist mini-films targeted towards students and professional developers.

 

 

Chris Shipley, Executive Producer, BlogOn Social Media Summit

Chris Shipley is a leading technology and product analyst. Best known as the executive producer of the DEMO Conferences for IDG Executive Forums, Shipley has helped technology companies bring more than 1,000 new products to market since 1996. As a founding partner and editorial director in Guidewire Group, she consults with emerging technology companies in the U.S. and Europe to identify marketing opportunities and accelerate products to market. Fortune Small Business Magazine placed Shipley on its "Top 10 Minds in Small Business," and the San Jose Business Journal named her a "Woman of Distinction." She has often been cited as a leading influencer by Marketing Computers Magazine. Shipley has covered personal technology since 1984 and has worked as a writer and editor for a variety of technology and consumer media. She is currently authoring a book on the social impact of technology-driven change.

Shipley holds BAs in Literature and Communication Arts from Allegheny College and pursues knowledge and understanding relentlessly.

 

 

Kristine Stebbins, Partner, Director of Client Services, Cole & Weber/United

Kristine has been with Cole & Weber United for over 4 years leading Cole & Weber's Client Service's organization. She has over 17 years of integrated marketing experience on a national and global basis for leading advertising agencies and major Fortune 500 advertisers including Microsoft, IBM, Nike, Dell Computer Corporation, United Airlines, American Express and many others.

Kristine started her career in advertising as a Media Planner at the Ogilvy & Mather office in Honolulu. She quickly rose to the ranks of Media Director with Anderson & Lembke in New York. Her strategic ability to manage clients and build relationships motivated her to transition into Account Management and in 1995 she took on the role of the Director of Client Services at Anderson & Lembke/McCann in the New York Office.

In 1996, she was lured back into the Ogilvy network where she worked as a Vice President and Senior Partner at Ogilvy & Mather in New York and was responsible for driving global integrated programs for multiple IBM product lines. After 5 years in New York, she made the move back west and landed at Microsoft where she led the efforts for the launch of Windows 2000. Most recently she was the Vice President of Marketing for OmniSky - a wireless email and internet company - where she headed up all of the global Marketing activities.

Her passion is creating fully integrated marketing programs which optimize the use of all mediums to create successful campaigns. She led the effort to win the Dell Computer Corporation - Word of Mouth assignment for Cole & Weber in the fall of 2005 and has managed WOM programs for many other brands including Rainier Beer, a Pabst brand and Broadcom, a technology company.

 

 

Brian Steketee, Director of Technologies, Relay Sponsorship & Event Marketing

Brian Steketee, Director of Technologies joined Relay in 2005. His group has been responsible for developing and integrating new technologies into Relay client portfolio. During his tenure at Relay, he has pioneered the development of various technologies including Relay's Event Management and Measurement system the InfoNet, which provides Relay's clients real time access to results. Prior to Relay, Brian drove new business as an Account Director at a Chicago software development and consulting firm.

 

 

Mike Walsh, CEO and Founder, Leverage Software

Mike Walsh, CEO and Founder, drives vision and corporate innovation for Leverage Software. As a pioneer in Online Communities, Mr. Walsh has been instrumental in developing revolutionary business applications for social networking including sales lead generation, word of mouth marketing, employee recruitment, and brand building. Prior to founding Leverage Software, Mr. Walsh was co-founder and Vice President of Sales at mvion and Vice President of Sales and Business Development for ProjectArena which develops professional services automation applications to improve productivity and profitability of services organizations. Mr. Walsh holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and MBAs from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Columbia University.

 

 

Kira Wampler, Senior Marketing Manager, Intuit

From the beginning of her career, Kira Wampler has been passionately dedicated to customers. She had to given that her first job out of college was co-founder and president of her own company. She learned quickly that if you don't serve your customers, you don't eat! Eleven years later, Kira brings her passion for customers to Intuit, helping the QuickBooks team build its word of mouth programs. Piloting online & offline projects, building a word of mouth mindset on the team and evangelizing word of mouth across the company are just a few of the items on her to-do list. Kira recently launched the QuickBooks Women's Small Business Center to provide women business owners with tools, networking and resources to achieve success.

Prior to Kira's word of mouth role, Kira grew the QuickBooks accountant customer base 200% year-over-year, solidifying a key influencer group in the QuickBooks eco-system. Kira joined Intuit after receiving an MBA from Duke University. She has extensive start-up experience, from running her own business to helping two different young companies get off the ground in the San Francisco Bay Area. As employee #20ish at The Sak, Kira ran the international division of the handbag and accessory company, doubling revenues and growing margins by 26% in just two years. As employee #7ish at Financial Finesse, a financial education company, Kira set the company on its path to profitability by focusing its efforts on new customer segments and new product offerings.

 

 

Greg Wester, VP, In-Call Ad Network, VoodooVox

Gregory Wester serves as Vice President, In-Call Ad Network for VoodooVox. The In-Call Ad Network is the first and only nationwide Interactive Voice Response advertising network. The In-Call Ad Network offers advertisers media, contesting, and word-of-mouth campaign capabilities targeted to the millions of 'tweens and teens that call radio station listener lines and MTV's Total Request Live.

Prior to VoodooVox, Gregory was founder and President of Soapbox Marketing, a word of mouth consultancy that helped brands strategize, design, launch, and measure best-practice digital word of mouth campaigns. Its design methodology focuses on understanding and tapping the subconscious motivations that drive person-to-person word of mouth. Soapbox's clients have included: Coca-Cola, TiVo, Bacardi Mixers, GetConnected, AAA, Club Med, and AOL. Gregory has sat on the Direct Marketing Association's net marketing steering committee, is an active participant in WOMMA, and was one of three drafters of WOMMA's Measurement document.

 

 

Esmee Williams, VP, Marketing, Allrecipes.com

Esmee is the corporate voice of Allrecipes.com home cooks, championing features that make everyday meal planning easier and more rewarding. Esmee brings more than a decade of experience in both brand strategy and new product development to her role at Allrecipes.

In addition to her role shepherding Allrecipes.com's consumer experience and brand standards, Esmee works with partners and clients to develop customized marketing and promotional programs for the company. Prior to joining Allrecipes in 1999 Esmee led product development and marketing efforts for multiple brands of home productivity software at Sierra Online. Esmee also spent time at McCann-Erickson managing the communication strategies for the Washington State Lottery, earning both gold and silver EFFIE awards in 1996 for her work on the Lotto and Scratch product lines.

 

 

Julie Wittes Schlack, VP, Innovation & Design, Communispace

One of the founding members of Communispace Corporation, Julie is closely involved with both the design and implementation of Communispace. In her more mature and serene moments (which are most of them), she appreciates the value of passionate feedback and suggestions from Communispace users in informing each new round of product design.

Julie joined Communispace Corporation after having served as manager of learning design for Omega Performance and for Micromentor. Her background also includes consulting and developing training materials for clients as diverse as WGBH, Houghton-Mifflin, Upjohn, Sanders Pharmaceutical, Schering, Tufts Managed Care Institute, Arrow Electronics, and New England Telephone. Julie has received many awards in her 15 years in multimedia, including four New Media InVision awards, an Online Learning award, and three CINDY awards.

Before becoming a multimedia learning designer, Julie ran the publications and training department of a large software company, worked as a technical and marketing communications writer, managed continuing professional education programs for practitioners in the field of lifelong learning, and worked as a psychiatric aide and as a labor organizer in the garment and electronics industries.

Julie has an Ed. M. in interactive technology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. in creative writing and psychology from the University of Michigan. She is a recipient of the Hopwood Award for creative writing.

 

 

Ted Wright, Partner, Liquid Intelligence

Ted Wright is the co-founder of Liquid Intelligence, a Chicago-based word of mouth marketing agency exclusively serving the beverage industry. An alumnus of Booz Allen & Hamilton, Ted spent the 15 years prior to founding Liquid Intelligence advising beverage and other fast-moving consumer goods companies on how to grow markets and build brands. As a partner at Liquid Intelligence, Ted oversees strategy, brand building and Influencer Marketing campaigns. In 2005 Liquid Intelligence's work in these areas was honored with the Gold Clio and an ADDY Best of Show among other awards.

A sought after speaker and media commentator on word of mouth Marketing and the beverage industry, Ted currently resides in Georgia, where he oversees the Liquid Intelligence Atlanta branch. He is an honors graduate of the University of Chicago's MBA program, serves on the board of luxury goods company Mark Gill and is an accomplished SCCA racer.

 

 

Jacqueline Yau, Marketing Manager, TiVo

Jacqueline began her TiVo career launching TiVo Rewards. During her tenure, she has led efforts to harness the love of TiVo subscribers to spread the word about TiVo including the recently concluded search for the ultimate TiVo fan: the TiVo Ambassador. She is currently hard at work at seeding the world about TiVo KidZone, the latest service offering, a feature only from TiVo.

Jacqueline has spread her marketing fairy dust in companies and organizations large and small including Nestle USA, Wild Planet Toys, Hawaii Public Radio, and RealNames Corporation.

Jacqueline is a graduate of Stanford University and the Anderson School of Business at UCLA and a 1997 Coro Fellow.

 

 

Xiaoyan Zhao, SVP & Director, Global Research & Consulting, GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media

Xiaoyan Zhao has 20 years of experience in international research and has been with GfK NOP since 1989, servicing global clients in the United States, Europe, and Japan, leading Roper's efforts to develop capabilities in emerging democracies and markets and establishing and running Roper's Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Hong Kong. Dr. Zhao has conducted research in more than 30 countries around the world in the areas of values, attitudes, and lifestyle trends; positioning and communication; concept and message tests; segmentation; issues, risks, and policy influence; and corporate image and reputation.

She led the firm's development of global trends in the last 7 years, directing the 30-country survey Roper Reports Worldwide. She's delivered insights, presentations, and workshops to clients on four continents and in more than a dozen countries, on a variety of themes ranging from globalization and American cultural affinity, stress, leisure and wellness, to values evolution, technology, and global brands.

Dr. Zhao has directed studies for corporate clients such as Citi Group, Coca-Cola, Discovery Communication, Epson, ESPN, Ikea, Kraft, McDonald's, Microsoft, Sony, 3-M, Toyota, and Volvo, as well as government and non-profit organizations such as United Nations Enzpvironment Program, BBC World, The Nature Conservancy, American Cancer Society, Planned Parenthood, The Met Life Foundation, AARP, Pacific Asia Travel Association, The Wine Institute, and various Washington DC consultancies and agencies.

Her research credentials also include the European Opinion Lead Forum, Russian and Ukranian presidential and parliamentary election polls, election polling in the Dominican Republic, image and international relations surveys in Muslim societies, and the first-ever national poll on independence and democracy in Kazakstan.

Prior to joining The Roper Organization in 1989, she taught Research Methodology and International Communication at Rutgers University and was a Research Associate at Louis Harris and Associates in New York. In 1986, she conducted one of the first scientific surveys in China on professional women's media use, values and lifestyles. She has a doctoral degree from Stanford University, specializing in values and social change. She has been a featured speaker at Global Women's Summit and is a member of ESOMAR.

 

 

 


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