Andrew Rasiej is a professional doer, futurist, social entrepreneur, and Founder of Personal Democracy Media, which produces Personal Democracy Forum and other events about how the intersection of technology, politics, and civil society is empowering new levels of citizen engagement. Among its offerings are TechPresident an award winning blog and Personal Democracy Forum, an annual conference held in New York City in June. He is also the Founder a not for profit organization called MOUSE.org focused on 21st century public education, Co-Founder of Mideastwire.com, which translates Arabic and Farsi news and opinion pieces into English, and serves as Senior Technology Advisor to the Sunlight Foundation a Washington DC organization focused on using technology to help make government more transparent.Andrew is the Chairman of the NY Tech Meetup, a 24,000-member organization of technologists, venture funders, marketers, representing start up and more mature companies working in the technology industry in New York City which is currently experiencing a renaissance. Andrew coined such terms as: We-Government, Voter-Generated Content, and Videracy, to help describe the expanding digitally connected world technology industry in New York City which is currently experiencing a renaissance. Andrew coined such terms as: We-Government, Voter-Generated Content, and Videracy, to help describe the expanding digitally connected world we all now live in. In 2005 Andrew ran a highly visible if not ultimately successful campaign for NYC Public Advocate on a technology driven platform to redesign the the office as a network, bring low cost broadband to underserved communities, and open up access to city controlled public data.

Andy Morris, co-founder and partner/principal of The Morris + King Company (MKC), specializes in developing groundbreaking public relations campaigns and innovative branding programs for clients. He has direct responsibility for numerous client relationships and is an acknowledged expert in providing crisis management counseling to high-profile individuals and companies. Mr. Morris also plays a key role in the firm’s overall strategic planning efforts.An outstanding public relations and marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience, Mr. Morris has led communications campaigns for companies in media, arts and entertainment, healthcare, the Internet and various corporate sectors.Mr. Morris is a master at strategically timing news and launch events to generate maximum media attention and exposure. He is also recognized throughout the public relations industry for creating exciting and original communications campaigns and events that build brand awareness. Among his many imaginative and inspired ideas include the writing of the world’s longest letter for Pilot Pen, the world’s first-ever Giant Pumpkin Regatta for Stew Leonard’s and recycling the famed Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree into enrichment toys for animals at the Central Park Zoo as part of a National Geographic Channel launch campaign.

Mr. Morris is the recipient of several honors and accolades for outstanding public relations programs, including the Creativity in Public Relations Award (CIPRA), the Public Relations Society of America’s “Big Apple” award and Bulldog Reporter’s “Silver Bulldog” award. He received a B.A. from Duke University. He serves on the boards of the Middlesex School Alumni Association, TweetDrive and Social Media Week. In addition, he is a Marketing Jury Member of The Real Time Academy of Short Form Arts and Sciences (“Shorty Awards”) and an advisor to Internet Week.

Brian Quinn has produced consumer events for the past 5 years, working for a wide range of companies in the culinary, tech, and corporate worlds, including GroupMe, Michelin Guide, Pernod Ricard, Georges Duboeuf, Moleskine, and others. He has also played the drums for 20 years, produced concerts for 10 years, makes delicious cocktails regularly, and is recognized for founding a groundbreaking supper club in NYC.

Caroline McCarthy works with the social media business world as part of Google+’s marketing team. Prior to Google she was a journalist and commentator for CNET.com, a division of CBS, where she covered social networking, digital culture, entrepreneurship, and new media.

Chaim Haas is Senior Vice President, Technology and Emerging Media at Kaplow, an independent, award-winning consumer public relations agency. He also leads Kaplow’s Knext division, which focuses on the strategic communications challenges of agile, young and driven entrepreneurial brands that have the opportunity to become household names.With more than 14 years of public relations agency experience, Chaim is a results-focused strategic thinker with strong, active media relationships, a deep understanding of social media, and extensive experience planning and managing campaigns for consumer, business-to-business, technology, media and telecommunications clients, as well as coordinating multi-national PR efforts.Chaim graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in marketing from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business.

Christian Borges is vice president, marketing, at Mr. Youth in 2011. He has spent the last 15 years immersed in the world of communications and experiential marketing, during which time he’s carved out a niche developing Communications Strategies that connect and engage consumers both online and off.Prior to joining Mr. Youth, Christian served as VP, Digital Communications/SM PR at Deep Focus since 2007 where he was at the forefront in developing social media, brand channel and digital brand reputation strategies from a 360 degree approach, working with multi-disciplinary teams (creative & technology, media planning & buying) on behalf of an impressive client roster that includes Microsoft (Bing, Window Phone 7), HBO, AMC, Diageo, and Hearst Publishing.Prior to working at Deep Focus, Christian managed large CPG accounts at Weber Shandwick, Ogilvy PR, and Fleishman-Hillard working on brands such as Kraft (desserts & beverage), Evian, Schick Razors and digital youth marketing initiatives for Cingular
Wireless (AT&T).

Colin Nagy works at The Barbarian Group as executive director of earned and social media. He also co-founded the travel company Fortnighter.com, and is also a brand and communications advisor to several NYC-based startups including Percolate, OLO, and Lot18.Prior to joining The Barbarian Group, he was a partner at Attention, a social media marketing agency based in New York. At Attention, Colin helped Tina Brown launch the The Daily Beast, and advised other media companies such as CNN, Newsweek, Mashable and the Guardian. He also represented lifestyle brands such as Ligne Roset and Herman Miller as well as respected hospitality brands Morgans Hotel Group, The Ritz-Carlton and Hilton Worldwide.Previously, Colin worked in policy, crisis communications and public affairs roles for a range of commercial and public sector entities around the world, including The Brunswick Group, based in New York, and the East West Institute, based in Prague.

His work has been cited in publications including The New York Times, The Financial Times, Fast Company, Creativity and Monocle. Colin has written for AdWeek, the innovation blog PSFK, as well as various arts and culture publications. Colin graduated from New York University with a degree in Politics and European Studies.

David Berkowitz is Vice President of Emerging Media with digital marketing agency 360i, where he develops social media and mobile marketing programs for Fortune 500 businesses and leading brands such as Kraft, Mattel, and Bravo. He has written more than 400 columns for MediaPost, and contributes to 360i’s Digital Connections, Ad Age’s Digital Next Blog, and his own MarketersStudio.com. He has spoken at more than 200 events including SXSW, Web 2.0 Expo, iMedia, and ThinkMobile, with guest lectures at Yale, MIT, Google, and Coca-Cola. You can also find him mentioned regularly in the press, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today.

Deanna Zandt is a media technologist and the author of Share This! How You Will Change the World with Social Networking (Berrett-Koehler, June 2010). She is a consultant to key progressive media and advocacy organizations, and her clients have included The Ford Foundation, The Daily Beast/Newsweek, and Jim Hightower’s Hightower Lowdown. She is contributor to Forbes.com via her ForbesWoman “Prospect: Tech” blog, and a social media advice contributor NPR’s flagship news program, “All Things Considered.” Zandt specializes in social media, is a leading expert in women and technology, and is a frequent guest on CNN International, BBC Radio, Fox News and more.She works with groups to create and implement effective web strategies toward organizational goals of civic engagement and cultural agency, and uses her background in linguistics, advertising, telecommunications and finance to complement her technical expertise. She has spoken at a number of conferences, including TEDxBerlin, SXSW Interactive, Personal Democracy Forum,  Netroots Nation, the National Conference on Media Reform, Facing Race, Web 2.0 Expo, Bioneers, America’s Future Now (formerly “Take Back America”), Women Action & The Media, and provides beginner and advanced workshops both online and in person.

Faris Yakob is a strategist, writer, public speaker, creative director and geek.Most recently he was Chief Innovation Officer of MDC and founding partner of Spies&Assassins, the creative technology boutique. Previously, he was Chief Digital Officer at McCann Erickson, and Digital Ninja at Naked Communications.He’s won and judged numerous awards, strategic and creative, served as chairman of the Content&Contact and Integrated juries for the Clios, created the NEW category for the London International Awards, and teaches at Miami Ad School.

He was named one of the top 50 creatives in the world by the Clios, and one of 10 modern day Madmen by Fast Company. He writes and speaks on technology, media, brands and creativity, all over the world and was featured in Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.

If you want him to write, speak, think about things or have ideas for you, you can find him online @faris and farisyakob.com.

Gregory Galant is the cofounder and CEO of Sawhorse Media, a movement to make it easy to find the right people on the social web through products including Muck Rack and the Shorty Awards. Muck Rack is the leading network for journalists on social media which TheNextWeb called “None of the most useful tools ever invented for media professionals.” The Shorty Awards honor the best of social media; past winners include Ricky Gervais, Cory Booker, Conan O’Brien, Sesame Street, Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Bloomberg and NASA.Previously, Greg was an associate producer at CNN.com where he analyzed the latest trends in citizens’ media. Greg has worked at Newlight Associates, a $120M technology venture capital firm. In 1996, Greg founded Halenet, an award-winning Internet strategy firm while in high school.To help fellow entrepreneurs, Greg created Venture Voice, a podcast interview series with the founders of Twitter, LinkedIn, The Vanguard Group, Brooklyn Brewery and more. Greg’s a mentor in the TechStars startup accelerator. BusinessWeek named him one of the “Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs”. He’s also a member of Twitter’s exclusive first name club. You can follow him at @gregory.

Ian Schafer is one of advertising’s most influential voices in interactive marketing and social media. Prior to founding Deep Focus in 2002, Ian was Vice President of the New Media division of Miramax Films.Named a ‘Media Maven’ by Advertising Age and one of Adweek’s “Young Ones”, Ian has been featured in Wired, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Adweek, Advertising Age, USA Today, New York Magazine, Variety, CNN, Fortune and The Hollywood Reporter. Ian also sits on the executive board of the Social Media Advertising Consortium, and the Global Advisory Board of Global Social Media Week.An avid technologist, Ian blogs at http://www.ianschafer.com and can be followed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ischafer.

Jared Hendler brings over 20 years of creative management experience in branding, advertising, digital media & technology forged from over a decade in the corporate world along with having founded and managed 2 new media startups.At MWW, Jared directs digital, social and creative strategy across all practice areas. As digital continues to democratize media, MWW recognizes the need for it’s clients to leverage the power of digital and social strategy, content creation, distribution and measurement.Prior to MWW, Jared worked with Katalyst Media. Founded in 2000 by Ashton Kutcher, Katalyst was named top 10 in advertising and marketing by Fast Company, Katalyst is a studio for social media that connects entertainment with technology and brands.

Prior to Katalyst, Jared was the Worldwide Executive Creative Director for Edelman Digital. Jared directed creative strategy with a focus on digital engagement. Expertise included everything from web site builds, Facebook programs, e-kits, online media relations, online promotions and partnerships, to email marketing and mobile campaigns.

Jared’s entrepreneurial spirit was grounded with 10 years of experience within the WPP family at Grey Advertising. Jared was the Executive Creative Director and co-founder of G2 at WPP from 1992 and grew the group from 2 people to over 100+ in NY, while spearheading the development of over a dozen international offices around the WPP network.

Jared is the author of a digital media blog, a prior board member of the Art Directors Club, a Blue Ribbon Judge for the Emmy Award’s broadband category and is an advisory board member of Social Media Week. Jared participates at industry events such as: Adtech, Digital Hollywood, Adage 2.0.

He is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and resides as their East Coast Chapter Chair.

Jesse Kirshbaum is the CEO, founder and senior talent agent. He specializes in procuring talent for concerts, tours and endorsement deals for his various clients all over the world. He has been on the frontline of the music business for the past ten years.Besides his talent agency, Jesse is also the co-founder and visionary behind SoundCtrl, a music and technology convergence platform and community. He shares a dynamic enthusiasm and passion for shaping the new music business one very rare tweet at a time.

In addition to her work with Social Media Week, Jessica Lawrence is the Managing Director of NY Tech Meetup, the world’s largest meetup and a non-profit dedicated to supporting New York’s technology industry. She is also a TEDx organizer, speaker, and columnist. Previously, Jessica was a CEO for the Girl Scouts in Southern California. She is an avid baker and general fan of any pastry product.

Joel Smernoff is the co-founder of Potential.ly, focusing on helping users uncover social recommendations. Previously, he was the CEO of MarketSharing, an ecommerce marketplace for small business owners, the co-founder of 960 Media, helping veterans transition back to civilian life, and the President of Paltalk, the largest real time video-based community. Prior to joining Paltalk, Joel was a key founding member of AOL’s first brand extension, AOL for Small Business, after holding an executive position on Netscape’s Netbusiness team. Joel graduated from the University of Michigan with both a BSE in Naval Architecture and an MBA in Finance.

Jon Steinberg is the President and COO at BuzzFeed in NYC. He was previously Strategic Partner Development Manager on Google’s SMB (Small Medium Business) Partnerships team. Prior to Google, Jon was the Director of Business Development at Majestic Research and the founder of iBuilding, a commercial real estate software company backed by Tishman Speyer Properties, Benchmark Capital, and 12 Entrepreneuring. He is a graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and holds an MBA from Columbia University. He lives with his wife and two little kids on the Upper East Side.

Kenny Miller is the founder and Executive Creative Director of digital agency, KMco, where he drives the development of products and platforms for clients including: AMC Networks, Comcast, The New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Conde Nast and Nickelodeon.

Prior to launching KMco, Kenny led key strategic digital initiatives at Viacom including launching 2 digital cable channels for Nickelodeon (Noggin and Teen Nick) as well as 4 years as Executive Vice President and Creative Director for MTV Networks Global Digital Media. In this role, Miller created a set of technologies and processes to strengthen Viacom’s worldwide digital businesses. He developed and implemented systems that grew global traffic by more than 10 million monthly uniques through the integrated improvement of SEO, Video Players, and Social Networking.

Miller first joined Viacom in 1992 as Executive Producer and Technical Director at Viacom New Media, Viacom’s first digital media arm responsible for video game publishing, as well as Viacom’s first interactive cable tests with AT&T. During this period he also led R&D teams that created the first interactive music games for MTV.

During 1991 and 1992, Miller worked in Silicon Valley as an artist in residence and a designer of experimental interfaces for Apple’s storied Human Interface Group.

Miller graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering, and earned a Master’s degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he has also served as an adjunct professor.

Kristen Maverick is the Director of Earned Media at interactive advertising agency The Barbarian Group. In her current role, Maverick works with clients to grow their presence within social communities and develop creative ways to generate word-of-mouth, newsworthy campaigns.Throughout her career, she has had the pleasure of working on award-winning work with clients including Pepsi, Mattel’s Barbie, Expedia, GE and General Mills.She was recently named one of AdAge’s 2012 Women to Watch honoring women in the media, advertising and innovation space.

Paul Kontonis is a leading voice in the shaping of the digital video industry with over 15 years of interactive media experience. Paul is the GM of next generation studio, Magnet Media Originals, which combines the best storytelling with the best of social engagement into high quality web series originals and video content networks.In 2012, Paul was elected to a second term as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Web Television, a non-profit organization founded in 2008 to promote and recognize excellence in web video. Paul provides leadership and strategic vision to the industry through such pioneering efforts as the IAWTV Awards at CES, and by representing producers, distributors, and advertisers at industry events.As Lead Advisor to Outrigger Media, Paul co-developed and launched OpenSlate, a online video analytics data platform which is the only platform to deliver actionable information about the value of YouTube video to advertisers. OpenSlate launched in mid-2012 to the advertising and online video communities and is tracking the top 15,000 producers.

Prior to Magnet Media Originals, Paul was the Vice President and Group Director for Brand Content at Digitas’ The Third Act, where he led the development of original and partnered digital brand content entertainment offerings. Paul was instrumental in orchestrating the first ever Digital Content NewFronts in which video leaders – YouTube, Aol, Hulu, MSN, and Yahoo – held web originals advertiser upfronts in New York City along with 15 other leading content and distribution organizations.

Paul has executive produced numerous original and branded web series, has appeared in a number of publications and digital media books, co-founder of the web video meetup BigScreen LittleScreen and a regular speaker at digital video and media conferences.

After being overthrown as Secretary of the San Antonio chapter of the Transformers Club at a young age, Saneel Radia was forced to fall back on another passion. He now ensures brands make the most meaningful connection with people. He does so as U.S. Head of BBH Labs and Director of Innovation at BBH New York.
An atypical hybrid talent, Saneel has been both a Creative Director and a Media Director. He’s serviced clients such as Google, Kellogg, General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, Procter & Gamble, Nintendo and Miller, helping them craft dynamic communication ideas born from a deep understanding of digital media and culture. One could say he’s the Mayor of the Interwebs.Saneel has been recognized as an Internationalist “Agency Innovator” (2009), an Advertising Age “Twentysomething” (2005) and as MediaWeek’s “Media All-Star” in the Non-Traditional category (2006). He still awaits an award for his superlative Twitter wit as @saneel.In 2009, he graduated with honors from the executive MBA program at the renowned Berlin School for Creative Leadership. However, he did not fall victim to social pressure and rejected numerous Facebook friend requests of his classmates. Yet another accomplishment for which he will receive no award.Saneel currently blogs at bbh-labs.com.

Sara Holoubek is the CEO and founder of Luminary Labs, a consultancy focused on operationalizing innovation. Her firm has helped numerous companies achieve relevancy and business outcome by applying new and agile approaches to people, process, and technology. An active adviser and investor, Sara currently serves on the Pioneer Advisory Group for the Robert Wood Johnson Pioneer Fund and is a formal adviser to private sector companies WMI, Clickable (acquired by Syncapse,) Hoseanna, and Achievemint, and the non profit Step Up Women’s Network.Sara speaks frequently on the subjects of new technology and innovation, and has been widely quoted in publications such as The Washington Post, WSJ.com, Fortune, Forbes, and Adweek. Previously, she served as iCrossing’s Chief Strategy Officer, as well as the President of the Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization (SEMPO). Sara also brings an international perspective to her work, having lived and worked in Latin America and Europe, and is fluent in Spanish and French and conversant in Portuguese. She holds a B.A. from the University of Iowa and an M.B.A. from HEC in France.

Steve Schlafman is a Principal at Lerer Ventures. Steve was previously VP of Business Development at Stickybits Inc. / Turntable.fm and Director of Venture Investments at The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company focused on sports & entertainment, paper & packaging, real estate development, and private equity. Prior to The Kraft Group, Steve worked at Massive Inc. and Microsoft in a variety of Business Development, Strategy and Corporate Finance roles. Steve graduated with highest honors from Northeastern University and you can follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/schlaf.

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, passionate cause marketer, writer and corporate responsibility expert. As SVP/Director of global marketing at Fenton Communications, she focuses on creating visibility for the firm running its CSR practice. She’s a regular writer and contributor for the Harvard Business Review, Triple Pundit and Forbes and has 20+ years experience in marketing, public relations, sustainability communications. Prior to joining Fenton, McPherson was vice president, CSR services at PR Newswire.McPherson serves on the board of Bpeace, an organization dedicated to assisting women in regions of conflict and post-conflict start businesses and Earth 2 Hub, a London-based innovative media platform for science and technology. She also is a member of Echoing Green’s Social Investment Council and Social Media Week’s New York Advisory Council. Additionally, she serves as an adviser to the non-profits: Girls Who Code, Plant A Fish, She’s The First, The Adventure Project and The OpEd Project. Recently, McPherson was selected as a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador.