What happens when you get a collection of true thought leaders, entrepreneurs, storytellers, tweeters, visionaries and a world-class athlete in a single room?  You get the Brand Camp ’09 experience: engaging conversations with like-minded people that inspire change and transform gray matter with each spoken word and each character of every tweet.

Why Detroit?  Detroit is a blue collar, manufacturing town that was built on the back of the automotive industry which was the Silicon Valley of its day. The cheese has moved and Detroit is currently going through a brand crisis.  It is the perfect location to discuss how social media, personal branding and passion is changing the way we work and live.

Super Heroes/Professors

The list of Rock stars that rocked Lawrence Tech University providing nutrious content for attendees to consume for 7-hours and shared in short 140 character burst of information.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/manoian/4009145335/in/set-72157622580068302/

Mitch Joel, Ken Brown, Scott Monty, Rohit Bhargava, Hajj E. Flemings ,  Valeria Maltoni, April Holmes,  and Robert (Bob) Fish (Not Pictured)

What others are saying about Brand Camp ‘09

• Mitch Joel (@MitchJoel) -  SPOS #175 – Personality And Authenticity With Rohit Bhargava
• Mitch Joel (@MitchJoel) -  The Key to Your Personal Brand
• Nikki Stephan (@EstrellaBella10) – Personal Branding + Social Media = Brand Camp University
• Brian Ambrozy (@icrontic) – BrandCamp University 2009
• Mike McClure (@Mike KMcClure) – 10 Things I learned at Brand Camp `09
• Andrea Freile - Marketable Myself Through Social Media
• Chris Reed (@darealchrisreed) – Personal Branding, Live from Brand Camp University

Is Brand Camp a conference, an experience, or a movement? Only time will tell, but for now it is a passionate community of early adopters who are growing their personal brands and businesses with social media.

Nominate a Brand Icon.
Do you know someone with a strong personal brand? A person that really understands what it means to Grustle?

We want them to attend Brand Camp University 2009 on us.

Here is how you can nominate them to attend:

Leave a comment on this post with the name of the person you are nominating and why you feel should attend.

OR

Tweet their name and why they should attend (include the hashtag #brandcampu)

We will extend offers to attend the conference for free based on the nominations we receive.

(Note: You can only self-nominate if you recommend someone as well.)

Thanks for your participation!

Today we released the official design for the Brand Camp ‘09 graphic tee design.  The Brand Camp Conference t-shirts will follow the Air Jordan tradition and every year we will drop the hottest social media conference t-shirt design in the land.  Be apart of the Brand Camp shirt genealogy and get your social media lifestyle wear.

Brand Camp II (2009): Design Specs:

• Design:  The design integrates: “I Grustle all Day.” and “Brand Camp”
• Garment: American apparel 100% cotton garment will be used for a great fit.
• Colors:  Brown/Yellow/White

Note: To get your Brand Camp ‘09 t-shirt you have to attend the conference. : )

It wasn’t that long ago that 30-year careers at a single company were the norm. Today, with fluctuations in the marketplace and corporate stability more questionable than ever, the notion of the company taking care of the individual is but a faint memory. At the same time, we’ve been the recipients of a gift in the way of technology that creates publishers, journalists, pundits and thought leaders of out anyone who puts their mind to it.

This session will explore the notion that the individual and the brand are merging and will raise a number of complex questions:
- In the process of this movement of so-called “personal branding,” how does one begin to balance the personal and professional?
- Where is the line drawn, or does such a line no longer exist?
- What are some key behaviors in a brand representative, and how can those be applied to your business?
- As the brandividual becomes more well known, is the company the greater beneficiary, or is the individual?
- What happens when this person decides to leave the company?

To hear this session, register for Brand Camp ‘09.  You won’t want to miss Scott.

Early Bird Registration Ends 9/18!!!

Please feel free to share.
eFlyer Code:

<a href=”http://www.BrandCampU.com“><img src=”http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3928350591_673fa098f1_o.jpg” width=”864″ height=”1152″ alt=”Brand Camp ‘09 – Personal Branding 2.0 Conference (eflyer)” /></a>

Brand Camp University is proud to announce its partnership with the April Holmes Foundation, Inc. The goal is to use the power of “Social Influence” via Twitter, Facebook, blogs and our conference to raise awareness. With each ticket purchased for Brand Camp ’09 you are contributing to the April Holmes foundation.

Mission of the April Holmes Foundation
Helping The Mission, Monetary, educational and service gifts are asked of you to continue this mission of the April Holmes Foundation so we may be able to provide scholarships, medical assistance, tutoring, & social opportunities to enrich the livelihood of persons affected by disabilities. Since we are 501(c)(3) organization, your contributions are tax-deductible.

Charity Tweetup: The Brand Camp University Conference tweetup will be accepting donations (optional: not required for entrance) for the April Holmes foundation.

We are very excited to engage and encourage our online communities to truly do something remarkable to help impact lives.

For more information:

April Holmes Website: www.AprilHolmes.com
Twitter: @AprilHolmes

“Life is truly about giving more than it is about receiving and we look forward to giving back”. – Hajj E. Flemings

Date Start:
Tuesday – September 1st

Contest End:
Monday – September 28th

Grand Prize Winner Announced:
Friday – October 2nd

———-

Participants have a chance to win some great “supplies” that can be used to help identify, improve and capture their brand, including:

(1) A free copy of one of the following books:
• Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel
• Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava
• The Age of Conversation by Gavin Heaton & Drew McLellan (featuring Valeria Maltoni and Scott Monty)
• The Brand YU Life by Hajj E. Flemings
• A Leap of Faith by Ken Brown

(2) A free ticket (Admission) to the Brand Camp University 2009 Conference

One passionate grand prize winner will receive one free ticket to Brand Camp University 2009, all five books and a Flip Video Camera.

Here is how to win:

Share how your personal brand affects your personal and/or professional life in a blog post or video blog post. There is no specific length or time requirement. Just be creative.

OR

Submit a photo of a minimum of five items that best represent your brand to the Brand Camp University Flickr photo pool.

Photo example here:

For extra credit (and an extra chance to win) add the Brand Camp University – Honors Program widget to your blog or Web site.

Honors Program Widget

Code
<a href=”http://www.brandcampu.com”><img src=”http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3876934180_0788233c8c_o.png” width=”126″ height=”115″ alt=”Brand Camp ‘09:  &quot;Honors Program&quot; Widget” /></a>

Winners of books and tickets will be selected throughout the contest, with the Grand Prize winner announced on Friday, October 2nd.

Here is how it works:

o All entries must be tagged #brandcampu
o If you’re submitting a blog/video blog post, please leave a link within the comments section of this post so we can quickly find it.
o The contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (and it can’t be to a PO Box).
o Winners of book copies and tickets will be announced throughout the contest.
o If you have already purchased a ticket for the event and win a free ticket, your purchase will be refunded.
o The contest will end on Monday, September 28th
o The Grand Prize Winner will be announced Friday, October 2nd

I wish you the best!!!

Announcing Open Enrollment for Brand Camp ‘09!!!!

Conference Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009
Early Bird Registration: $120 (Ends September 14, 2009)
General Registration: $150

Brand Camp University is an interactive conference that brings together the best and brightest minds in communications, marketing, brand development and business management to explore how social media has revolutionized the way individuals and companies position themselves personally and professionally.

Location
Lawrence Tech University
21000 West Ten Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48075

Speakers
Brand Camp University 2009 will feature world renowned thought leaders and local experts in the fields of social media marketing, Web strategy, business, branding and communications, including:

• Rohit Bhargava – Author of “Personality Not Included” and Senior VP of Strategy & Marketing for Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence
• Scott Monty – Digital and Multimedia Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company
• Mitch Joel – Author of “Six Pixels of Separation” and President of Twist Image
• April L. Holmes – 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist and first woman of Brand Jordan
• Robert (Bob) Fish – CEO and Co-Founder of Biggby Coffee
• Hajj E. Flemings – Author of “The Brand YU Life” and Founder of Brand Camp University
• Ken Brown – Best Selling Author of “A Leap of Faith” and McDonald’s Franchisee

Seats are limited so register today!!!

For updates follow us in Twitter:
@HajjFlemings
@Bchesnutt
@BrandCampU
#brandcampu

Join the Facebook Fan Page:
Brand Camp U – Fan Page

I’m pleased to bring you the second video from the 2008 Brand Camp University Personal Branding 2.0 Conference, with Scott Monty Director of Social Media at Ford talking about Social Media & You: Tips for Success in your Career.  His presentation includes his now famous quote “What happens in Vegas – Stays in Google.”  He has some excellent information to share.  Sit back and enjoy.

Thanks to Portage Media Solutions for producing the video.

The new Pete Thomas walks around with a body fat percentage in the single digits, compared to the 51% body fat he dragged around in his 400+ pound pre-Biggest Loser days. And he doesn’t just walk anymore. Pete works out an hour per day five days a week.

As a child, Pete never learned about nutrition and exercise due to his transient lifestyle – a result of his mother’s serious mental illness. Several times as a young child, he was left alone or with his younger sister for weeks at a time, forced to find food wherever he could.

Although an avid reader, Pete missed major portions of elementary school as he was in and out of multiple foster homes. Still, he managed to graduate with honors from Detroit Kettering High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

After attending the University of Michigan, Pete worked to build a successful career. That’s when years of poor eating habits began to catch up with him. During his first 14 years of marriage, he gained 10 pounds per year, despite following a number of fad diets.

“Being on The Biggest Loser really saved my life,” Pete says. The knowledge he gained revolutionized the way he eats and exercises, so that now, more than three years after being on the show, he has successfully kept the weight off.

Based on his experience at The Biggest Loser Ranch and extensive research into the science of weight loss, Pete has developed ‘Lose It Fast Lose It Forever™,’ a 10-week class that is helping the obese achieve a new lease on life.

He has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runners World, TV Guide, The Detroit Free Press, inTouch Weekly and Real Health (Cover).

As a full time motivational speaker Pete now travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to sales organizations, businesses, churches and community groups nationwide.

www.winningman.com