Digital Atlanta

Adam is a co-founder of Looxii (look-see), a social media analytics startup based in Atlanta, Georgia. His daily routine is never really the same, but almost always includes handling business development, providing customer support, designing/tweaking user interfaces, and dreaming about crazy social media reports. Fundamentally, he is a design geek with creds from Georgia Tech (MS in Digital Media) and a healthy obsession with tacos. You can usually spot him zipping around the ATL by bike to meet with clients and colleagues.

Adam Steinberg is co-founder of PlacePunch, where he is responsible for product management, marketing and sales. At PlacePunch, Steinberg has worked with top global brands to create and implement innovative location-based marketing programs.

Steinberg brings years of experience building and marketing innovative social-media products. Previously, Steinberg served as a product marketing manager for ThePort Network, co-founder at Adynammic, and Technology Evangelist at Techrigy.

Steinberg holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Clemson University.

Amani Channel is a specialist in traditional and digital media. During his career he's worked as a news reporter, content/community manager, media consultant, and he's an award-winning video producer. He currently serves as a Sr. Producer at KEF Media, a company that specializes in broadcast PR. Channel has worked with brands and organizations that include Coca-Cola, Hershey's, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, Masterbuilt, Kennesaw State University, the School of Audio Engineering, and Hillsborough Community College to mention a few.
During his broadcasting career, Channel's content, commentaries, and rep…

Anne Murray serves Southwest Airlines as the Senior Director of Marketing Communications. Anne leads the company’s Marketing Integration efforts ensuring collaboration and consistency of communication priorities. She oversees the Brand Engagement, National Strategic Partnerships and Social Marketing teams that drive Customer Engagement for the Southwest brand.

In her twenty year history with Southwest, Anne has served in a number of Marketing leadership positions including Online Marketing, Advertising, Sports Marketing, and Promotions.  She is a passionate and innovative brand marketer an…

Ashley Payne is the Manager of Digital Media at Georgia Aquarium- click here for more details. 

Ayoka Chenzira is a prolific film and video artist whose works span features, animation, documentary, performance art, and experimental productions. As a screenwriter, producer, and director, she has worked on special film commissions in Austria, England, and Brazil and lectured extensively about film throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. Chenzira was born during the 1950s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and earned a B.F.A. in film production from New York University and an M.A in education from Columbia University. You can find her online at www.ayoka.com

Blair MacIntyre is an Associate Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Tech, where he’s directed the GVU Center's Augmented Environments Lab for over 10 years. He has conducted Augmented Reality research since 1991, with the goal of understanding AR’s potential as a new medium for games, entertainment, education and work. He has collaborated on a variety of AR projects over the years, focusing in the past five years on handheld AR game design, interaction and evaluation. Dr. MacIntyre leads the Qualcomm AR Game Studio and Argon AR Platform projects at Georgia Tech. His…

Brandon Eley is an Interactive Director, entrepreneur, author, and professional speaker with over 11 years of experience in online marketing and e-commerce from both the perspective of an e-commerce retailer and a consultant. As the Interactive Director for Kelsey Advertising & Design, Brandon oversees interactive projects, online marketing campaigns and information architecture.

He is the co-author of "Online Marketing Inside Out," and writer/editor of the SitePoint Tribune email newsletter that reaches over 200,000 web professionals weekly. Brandon is the founder and President of 2BigFeet.c…

ROAM Atlanta Venue Leader

Caleb Clark is an Atlanta native, software engineer, and serial entrepreneur who is leading the drive to uncover the science behind fan engagement. Caleb started Mobilization Labs in late 2005 under the name "WeTheCitizens" with a vision to build a grassoots mobilization platform that could rival the growing influence of big-money politics. The company’s first product, Wildfire Platform, has transformed how campaigns of all sizes -- Presidential, gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns -- recruited and mobilized volunteers and donors.

Caleb has led Mobilization Labs through three funding r…

Christien Louviere has over 8 years of experience in sales effectiveness strategies and emerging media technologies for Fortune 1000 brands.  Currently, he is Director of Business Development at Vitrue, a social media technology company and is also the co-founder of SalesLoom, which helps brands with their sales operations and technology needs. Christien has also been a featured writer for the American Express OPEN Forum and Brazen Careerist.

Dan Webber is President and Co-Founder of Digitainment Georgia, an organization which fosters digital entertainment collaboration and innovation to create jobs in Georgia.   He is also Co-Founder and Vice President of the Social Executive Council – a non-profit professional organization for
senior executives to collaborate on developing enterprise-wide social business
strategies.

He is currently CIO of Prime Holding BV, which is the parent company of prIME Oncology and TRM Oncology. prIME Oncology is a global professional Independent Medical Education organization specializing in educational …

Dave Williams is recognized as one of the nation's leading innovators and thought leaders in digital advertising, social media advertising, and search engine marketing and optimization. His depth of experience in interactive advertising helps customers identify key industry trends and how to capitalize on them to derive significant business impact and competitive advantage.  Dave is the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award from Technology Association of Georgia’s 2010 Tech Marketing Awards. His most recent venture is BLiNQ Media, an employee-owned social engagement advertising company …

Dave Haan of Creative Circus has spent three decades in and around the advertising industry. He is a student of advertising history and has accumulated quite a few war stories of his own during long stints with FCB, McCann Erickson and Frankel (the finest Sales Promotion company ever) and postings in Chicago, Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Detroit and LA. Dave has had the pleasure (and he means that) of working with Coors, Molson, Mazda, General Mills, Nestle, S.C. Johnson, Sunkist, Visa, Dreyer’s, Clorox and Zicam. Dave has a Master’s in Advertising from Michigan State and has taught Adver…

David began his career as a New Product Marketing Manager for the Canadian division of Apple Computers. He is seasoned in leading departments, setting strategies and demanding immediate results from himself and those around him. David quickly showed his expertise in the digital world by increasing online store sales and site traffic for The Home Depot and enriching the interactive user experience for Delta Airlines before joining 22squared in May 2008. He brings his experience from working with brands like UPS, Earthlink, Sabre Travel Systems, Coca-Cola, Durex, and Beazer Homes with him and ha…

Denise Evans Elsbree is Chief Executive  of Trio media group which is a full-service advertising, PR, interactive and new media company. Trio also has a full TV/Film production division that produces HealthWatchMD as well as other entertainment projects.  Denise advises clients on social media strategies with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and blogging to increase brand strength and sales. Denise is an experienced technology leader, having founded and sold StayOnline.net – a company that became the largest wireless internet company in the hospitality industry. She is a fully immersed…

Social Media & Branding consultant tha teaches marketers how to measure, optimize and build current new media efforts to increase value and develop strong relationships between brands and fans. Avid skateboarder who tweets to relax. Clients include Ryan Seacrest Productions, Chrysler, Cingular Wireless (AT&T), Georgia Tech, InterContinental Hotels Group, Mercer, Ogilvy & Mather, Reader’s Digest, Qualcomm, Turner Network Television.

Dr. Kendra A. King is a sought-after political thinker and commentator on political and spiritual leadership, Hip Hop politics and culture, African-American politics, the Black church, and leadership training and development. She is an Associate Professor of Politics at Oglethorpe University and the Director of the Rich Foundation Urban Program. She instructs both undergraduate and graduate courses on American Politics, Political Theory, African-American Politics, and Urban Politics. Dr King’s newest course, The Politics of Hip Hop, is generating plenty of buzz on and off campus.

Emma Loggins is the founder and editor of the popular entertainment site FanBolt.com where she blogs daily on the latest entertainment news, movie/TV reviews, her opinions on current happenings in the media, screening/filming/casting opportunities, and more. The site currently has over 120,000 registered members and receives an average of 950,000 hits per month.

Emma also runs a web design firm LNP Studios where she helps businesses by designing and optimizing their web presence and also their social media marketing. She has worked with small firms as well as large entertainment companies in …

We started as independent contractors in 2002 and have been doing it ever since. Patrick Ingram, Janel Bersabal, Nathan Wright and Adam Rosenberg comprise of Extras Casting Atlanta. 

Glenn Stegall is the Head of Services for Gabacus, where he oversees client training and support. He is a social media enthusiast and political activist. As a student at UGA, Glenn ran for mayor of Athens, GA. In the yearlong campaign he helped organize an education initiative that resulted in a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. He won the distinction as the youngest candidate to qualify for mayor in Athens history. As Head of Services for Gabacus, Glenn continues to work with local government and police departments around the country to improve public safety.

Harry N. Palles is a seasoned business executive with over 20 years technology executive management and sales experience in Atlanta.  Before joining Rocket Dispatch as CEO, he has held positions in various large and small organizations including IBM Global Services, Unisys, Bank of America, Derivion, FirstView and Harbor Payments, an American Express Company.  Harry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration degree from Louisiana State University.  

Iconic Atlanta writer, small business owner, back page columnist & blogger for Atlanta Magazine. Hollis runs Atlanta's largest writing school, The Shocking Real Life Writing Academy.  She has honed her social media skills to the point that it is the only marketing she uses to promote her academy. You'll never say, "But I have nothing interesting to write" when she's around.

Derived from years of technology consulting, Jason understands how to quickly identify and deliver solutions based on user feedback. As Product Manager for Teledini, he intermixes his years of software development and management with a splash of creativity. That trilogy of expertise makes him uniquely qualified to lead Teledini's product direction.

Jeff Funk is an Emmy, Promax, and Addy Award-Winning Writer, Producer, Multi-Platform Content Creator, Coach and Speaker. He's experienced in executing strategic communications as well as content that magnify brand recognition across multiple media platforms (TV, Online, Radio, SMS, Multimedia, Print) and is responsible for brand activations that generate revenue, bolster viewer engagement, ratings as well as streamline sales workflow processes for The CNN News Group, Hearst-Argyle TV, The Turner Entertainment Network and Tribune Broadcasting.

He’s currently the Creative Director for …

Jenny Munn is a freelance Atlanta Copywriter who specializes in SEO and website copy. She helps clients promote their products and services and execute their marketing, communications and PR strategies—online and offline. Jenny has had the privilege of writing copy for The Home Depot, Georgia Pacific, The Real Chow Baby, SunGard, and many other agencies, SMBs and solopreneurs. Through a DIY SEO strategy, Jenny generates 50% of her business through a well-optimized WordPress website. Jenny loves blogging, speaking on marketing topics, all things WordPress, and working with driven, passi…

John Beisner has over 20 years of experience leading sales and services organizations  in technology consulting, software, payment processing and financial services.  He leads the strategic growth of Twitpay as it pioneers social commerce.  He has been with Twitpay from inception to the addition of over 50 clients.  

Prior to Twitpay, John was responsible for Client Services with Silverpop where he oversaw customization services for over 200 of their largest clients.  John's payment processing career spans both CheckFree (Fiserv) and Harbor Payments where he lead software implementation practic…

As Marketing Manager at ShopVisible, Kendrick is dedicated to sharing stories that illustrate how ShopVisible's commerce technology transforms businesses.

Kendrick earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics from Emory University. Her passion and understanding of marketing is rooted in her interest in people and how they interact with one another and the world around them using language and technology.

Faith and Culture Track Leader

Lamar Tyler is a filmmaker, blogger, father and husband with over 15 years of technology experience in industries such as Government, Telecomm, Healthcare and Broadcast Television.
Along with his wife Ronnie, Lamar has built a social media movement around the promotion of marriage in the African American community. The Tyler’s were recently selected by Essence as a Power Couple on The Move on a short list of 23 couples that included names like the Obamas, Will and Jada Smith and Jay-Z and Beyonce. Their blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com was recently named one of 2010's 10 “Must Read” bl…

Write2Market CEO, Lisa Calhoun is proud to have helped dozens of companies break their first Wall Street Journal article and reap the rewards of well deserved recognition. Lisa received her MBA from University of Texas with honors in 2003, the same year she launched Write2Market. The firm has been recognized by Wall Street Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, and USA Today for its innovative approach to publicity. Lisa is also a frequent guest columnist, speaker and author, and is president of the Atlanta Chapter of Entrepreneur’s Organization, a global network of 7,000 entrepreneurs in 38 countries…

Mandy is passionate about Sustainability with a special focus on sustainable agriculture. Serving on the board of Georgia Organics, allows her to support the sustainable food movement which includes local farmers, restauranteurs and even a couple of chickens who lay beautiful eggs.

During the day, Mandy is the Director of Management and Strategy for the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance in Atlanta, Ga. She will focus on organizational structure, capacity and processes at the organization.

Prior to this role, she was Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta. Under Mandy’s dire…

Marcel has more than 12 years experience building, implementing and managing enterprise-level solutions in a diverse collection of industries. As President and Founder of Soket, a SaaS-based command center that provides a single place for local organizations and their PR and marketing agencies to orchestrate their web presences, he oversees operations, business development and product management. Prior to Soket, Marcel founded innerEcho, a business and technology consulting firm he lead for 6 years until he sold it in 2008. He has a B.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a M…

Marshall Seese, Jr. is the Founder & CEO of Mowgli, LLC, an Atlanta-based social gaming company.  Marshall is an experienced entrepreneur with a background in music, technology, and law. He earned a law degree from the University of Michigan and after starting his career with the preeminent technology law firm Morris, Manning & Martin LLP in Atlanta, GA, became a founding partner of BCLS Legal, also in Atlanta.

In late 2008, Marshall sold his stake in BCLS and joined The North Highland Company as their lead Corporate Counsel. Marshall has since left North Highland to focus full-time on Mowgli…

Owner of Global Culture Science Brands (www.globalculturescience.com), Filmmaker (director/actor/writer), and global advocate. On the boards of Women In Film & TV of Atlanta, and the United Nations Association of Atlanta. Interested in social media and how it connects people cross culturally. Multicultural Track Leader for Digital Atlanta 2011. On Twitter @Culturatist .

Interactive Strategy Coordinator @PointsofLight & @HandsOnNetwork. On Twitter @MikeNealis.

Mickey Desai's career path has wound its way into and out of the corporate sector. As an entrepreneur, Desai founded The Nonprofit Snapshot, a micro-assessment and dashboard for nonprofit organizations.  Most recently, he co-founded Cherry Belly, LLC to create a different offering of online games, referring to this startup endeavor as "the most fun and frightening thing I've ever done."  Desai remains active in the nonprofit world, currently serving on the Georgia River Network board of directors, and advising nonprofits on their management practices.

Social Media Consultant, Creative Loafing columnist and Huffington Post Blogger. Mike helps small businesses across the country set up their social media strategies. He has written numerous marketing strategy articles for Adweek, Mediaweek, and Marketing Age and teaches monthly blogging workshops for Atlanta entrepreneurs. 

Mollie Spilman is the senior vice president, and head of Americas marketing at Yahoo!.  Spilman is responsible for developing the strategy for b2c and b2b marketing for North America and Latin America that drives user and advertiser engagement. Spilman has spent over 20 years in the media business and has held key leadership positions, including a five year stint at Advertising.com, both pre and post AOL acquisition, where she held the role of Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.  She has also held senior positions at various other media companies including Time Warner, Meredith Corporation and Di…

Natalie Keng, Founder/Owner of Chinese Southern Belle LLC and Atlanta native, managed the family restaurant business then graduated from Vassar College (B.A. Asian Studies) and Harvard University (M.P.P. Management and Policy). Before starting her own business, Ms. Keng led corporate diversity training, strategic marketing teams for Fortune 500 companies and served in public office. Through hands-on cooking demos, market tours and promotional events, Chinese Southern Belle merges the best of culinary delights, practical tips entertainment and cultural exploration! Chinese Southern Belle is reg…

Nick F. Nelson serves as Principal and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of LiquidSoul Media (LSM). As CMO, Nelson is responsible for the company's marketingoperations including strategy, creative design and account services. An expert inmulticultural lifestyles, Nelson has become a trusted advisor for those looking tofind impactful ways to target multicultural consumers leveraging non-traditionalmediums.

Octavia E. Nasr is the founder of Bridges Media Consulting and Editor of OctaviaNasr.com. She dedicates a large portion of her time to writing, providing commentary, and lecturing on Middle East politics and current affairs. Her expertise also engulfs the marriage between social and traditional media with a focus on employing social media in newsgathering and reporting. You can find her online at http://octavianasr.com

Ms. Subramanian has had nearly 20 years of fun in entrepreneurship by applying techniques of advanced mathematics and analytics to business problems and delivering value to businesses. A shortlist of companies who have benefitted include Dell, AGCO, Caterpillar, Porsche, NCR and NAPA.  Women in Technology (WIT) named Radhika Subramanian a 2008 Woman-of-the-Year finalist, acknowledging her important role as a mentor and her unique influence in her industry, organization and community. Ms. Subramanian serves on the Small Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In 1998, …

Renu Kulkarni is Founder and Executive Director, FutureMedia℠ at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  FutureMedia is an interdisciplinary research and economic growth program that explores, enables, and transforms new ways of how Content is Created, Distributed and Consumed.  Our charter is to connect universities, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and industry to create an open innovation ecosystem to leverage and build upon existing world-class efforts at Georgia Tech and that of our partners in Georgia and worldwide.   FutureMedia supports the GT Research Institute (GTRI),…

As a leading marketing strategist, Roberto Gomez leverages over 20 years ofexperience in multicultural cross-channel consumer marketing, interactivemedia (mobile - social - web) and promotional-print management solutions. Askill sets that is helping and inspiring clients to obtain and retain their businessleadership in both general and culturally influence markets, buy connecting atmultiple touch points with extreme market strategies that build relationships,and impact decision .