Conference Session Speakers
Hajj Flemings (@HajjFlemings) – Principal of Brand Camp/Author of ‘The Brand YU Life’
Hajj is the founder of Brand Camp University and author of “The Brand YU Life: Re-thinking Who You Are Through Personal Brand Management.” He has been featured on ESPN.com, BusinessWeek.com, BlackEnterprise.com, various blogs and travels nationally speaking as a branding expert enabling personal and business brands to remain relevant. His branded clients include Walt Disney, NFL athletes, Ford Motor Company, Skechers Footwear, U.S. Department of Defense (Telecom Division) and numerous colleges and universities to name a few. His book was selected as one of Fast Company Magazine 2008 Readers Choice Business Books of the year.
He is a former collegiate athlete turned adjunct lecturer at his alma mater, Michigan Technological University, where he wrote the personal branding curriculum. He received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech University and his MBA from Lawrence Tech University. He is married to his lovely wife, Kasandra and cherishes his beautiful daughter Kennedy Nicole.
For more information: www.BrandCampU.com
PR Sarah Evans (@PRSarahEvans) - President of Sevans Strategy/Founder of #journchat
A public relations and new media consultant, Sarah works with many non profit, social good and technology companies. But it’s her personal mission—to engage and employ the use of emerging technologies in all communication—that connects her with a rapidly growing base of more than 40,000 people.
A self-described “social media freak,” Sarah initiated and moderates #journchat, the weekly live chat between PR professionals, journalists, and bloggers on the microblogging platform, Twitter.
She is a guest writer for Mashable, one of the most popular social media blogs in the world; runs her own blog at PRsarahevans.com; and shares a daily resource for PR professionals called Commentz.
Sarah can be seen in the February 2010 edition of Vanity Fair’s America’s Tweethearts, Forbes’ 14 Power Women to Follow on Twitter, invesp’s Top 100 Most Influential Marketers of 2009and ereleases’ 30 PR Experts to Follow on Twitter.
For more information: www.PRSarahEvans.com or Follow: #journchat
Ari Weinzweig – Founder of Zingerman’s Deli
Ari Weinzweig is CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses,
which includes Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Bakehouse, Creamery, Catering, Mail Order, Zing-Train, Coffee Company, Roadhouse and the newest business—Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory. Zingerman’s produces and sells all sorts of full flavored, traditional foods in its home of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ari is the author of a number of articles and books, most recently, “Zingerman’s Guide to Better Bacon” (Zingerman’s Press), “Zingerman’s Guide to Giving Great Service” (Hyperion), and “Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating” (Houghton Mifflin). Ari was recognized as one of the “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America” by the 2006 James Beard Foundation. Ari is an engaging and down-to-earth speaker who regularly presents keynotes and workshops to businesses and non-profits around the world.
For more information: www.Zingermans.com
Lynne D. Johnson (@LynneLuvah) - SVP of the Advertising Research Federation
Lynne d Johnson is SVP, Social Media for the Advertising Research Foundatio, where she is responsible for content, brand and social media development and strategy, as well as developing consumer insights, market research, and true metrics for the industry at large via the ARF Social Media Council. As a consultant, Lynne works with Web and media properties on content, brand, and social media development and strategy. She’s also a sought after speaker, and has presented keynotes and moderated panels around the world about the future of media, web 2.0, women in tech, African-Americans in tech, hip-hop and tech, and the intersection of music and technology.
A widely published author and blogger, Lynne wrote the foreward for Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand, by Shel Holtz and John C. Havens (Wiley, 2008) and was the technical editor for Google Voice For
Dummies, by Bud E. Smith and Chris Dannen (For Dummies 2009). Since 2001 Lynne has published Lynne d Johnson || Diary (Music, Media, My Life), the winner of the 2006 Black Weblog Awards Black Blogger Achievement Award. She also currently blogs for Jack Myers MediaBizBloggers.
Prior to the ARF, Lynne was Senior Editor & Community Director for Fastcompany.com where she oversaw both content and community functionality, wrote the Digital Media Diva blog covering technology, media & marketing, social media, and gadgets, and also built the foundation for the magazine’s expert bloggers’ network. Prior to Fast Company, Lynne served as General Manager, New Media for VIBE and SPIN magazines, where she and her team launched the first ever magazines for mobile devices.
For more information: www.arf.org or www.LynneDJohnson.com
Peter Shankman (@Skydiver) – Founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO)/The Geek Factory
PR Week Magazine has described Peter as “redefining the art of networking,” and Investor’s Business Daily has called him “crazy, but effective.” Peter Shankman is a spectacular example of what happens when you merge the power of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with pure creativity and a dose of adventure, and make it work to your advantage. An entrepreneur, author, speaker, and worldwide connector, Peter is recognized worldwide for radically new ways of thinking about Social Media, PR, marketing, advertising, creativity, and customer service.
Peter is perhaps best known for founding Help A Reporter Out, (HARO) which in under a year has become the de-facto standard for thousands of journalists looking for sources on deadline, offering them more than 125,000 sources around the world looking to be quoted in the media. HARO is currently the largest free source repository in the world, sending out over 1,200 queries from worldwide media each week. HARO’s tagline, “Everyone is an Expert at Something,” proves over and over again to be true, as thousands of new members join at helpareporter.com each week.
In addition to HARO, Peter is the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc., a boutique Marketing and PR Strategy firm located in New York City, with clients worldwide. His blog, which he launched as a website in 1995 at http://shankman.com, both comments on and generates news and conversation.
Peter’s PR and Social Media clients have included the Snapple Beverage Group, NASA, Sprint, Haworth, The US Department of Defense, Walt Disney World, Abercrombie and Kent, The Ad Council, American Express, Discovery Networks, New Frontier Media, Napster, Juno, Dream Catcher Destinations Club, Harrah’s Hotels, and many others.
A marketing pundit for several national and international news channels, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, Peter is frequently quoted in major media and trade publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, The Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, FOX News, and USA Today
For More information: www.Shankman.com
Wayne Sutton (@WayneSutton) – Business Development/ Marketing Strategist for TriOut
Wayne Sutton helps individuals, startups and businesses succeed in understanding how to communicate on the social web via brand strategy, social networks and location-based services. With nearly 10 years experience in the technology and social media sector, he’s provided counsel to business leaders ranging from founders of small start-ups and representatives of non-profit organizations to CEOs of large and small corporations.
Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag. Wayne is the president of the Triangle Social Media Club chapter. Wayne has spoken at various conferences and events such as SXSW, Social Media Breakfast, Triangle American Marketing Association, Pubcon Austin and Blog World. Staying current with the ever changing trends in the technology community. Wayne loves making videos, blogging, educating and inspiring others.
For more information: – www.socialwayne.com or www.TriOutNC.com
Olivier Blanchard (@TheBrandBuilder) – Principal of Brand Builder Marketing
Olivier professional background in 80 words or less: Military then B2B then B2C. Fortune 500s and SMBs. Product Management, Sales Management, Marketing Management, Brand Management, Operational Management, Social Media Management. Marine Nationale, T&S Brass, Microsoft, K2, Corante, SYNNEX, WOMMA, Hincapie Sportswear, LikeMinds, F360, Marketing Profs, SCHA, Furman University, Design Centers International, America’s Mart, Smartbrief, Centers For Disease Control, The Federal Reserve System, Red Chair Group. What I Do: As BrandBuilder Marketing‘s principal and senior strategist, I help companies develop, build, integrate, manage and measure Social Media Programs. I also help companies manage their reputations online and offline, and establish leadership in their markets. I often train company executives and project teams in all matters of social media managementand measurement, then help them build and integrate effective programs into every facet of their business, from Public Relations, business development and market research to Human Resources and Customer Support.
For more information: www.theBrandBuilder.wordpress.com
Cd Vann (@thatwoman_is) – Founder of unGeeked e’lite Retreats
Cd Vann is founder of unGeeked e’lite Retreats. unGeeked e’lite Retreats focuses on a balance of community, attendees exchanging strategic ideas and solid information in addition to interacting and learning based on “7 SoMe Brand Engagement Spots,” such as internal and external branding; outbound and inbound marketing; talent acquisition; customer service and sales. She’s also the owner of e’lite Magazine where established e’lites are profiled and future e’lites can contribute articles they can share with the readers. Cd is also the former owner of Sohobiztube.com and Magazine Soho. Cd participated on the following local boards: SCORE, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Cerebral Palsy and the Black MBA Association. Cd is a gadget freak. But will always remain unGeeked.
For more information: www.unGeekedelite.com
Re-Brand Detroit Panel – There is going to be a 4-person panel that we are going to add to the conference (all Detroit Based Speakers).
