Speakers and Panelists

2012 Speakers (List is being updated daily)

Janice Person, MonsantoBlog.com & JanicePerson.com

How to Deal With Your Critics, Blogging Day #2

Janice Person is a fourth generation Memphian who moved to St. Louis in 2011. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t passionate about communications – taking photos, writing copy, thinking about headlines and working with others. While studying communications in college, a friend of the family hired Janice to work at a farm magazine and something took hold. Janice still remembers the first on-farm interview vividly and has since learned a lot from the farmers she’s met. Having lived in various regions, from a population center like metro New York to a town of 600 in the Mississippi Delta, she has had the chance to see lots of people & places. Her love of communications revolves frequently around sharing other people’s stories — some family and friends are still surprised she became an “aggie” as an adult. She has worked with a number of controversial topics throughout her career in public relations (currently with Monsanto Company) and knows how bad it can feel to have someone take an unfair swipe at a blog post because they have a different opinion. She writes for the company’s Beyond the Rows monsantoblog.com and has a personal blog about her colorful adventures in agriculture, travel (esp. cotton) and with people who rock at janiceperson.com.

Russ Henneberry,TinyandMighty.com

Three Overlooked Ways to Build the Email List of Your Dreams, Social Media Day #1

Russ Henneberry is Founder of Tiny & Mighty Media, a consultancy and blog focused on the creation of a fulfilling income and lifestyle for solopreneurs.  He is a marketer, writer and speaker who has worked in the digital marketing space since 2004.  His work over the past 8 years has focused primarily on providing execution, training and consulting services on the methods of online attraction, retention and conversion of sales leads and prospects.

Russ is the managing editor of the Crazy Egg heat mapping software blog, The Daily Egg.  A blog that grew from zero to 60,000 visitors in the first four months.  He manages 30+ writers that create content focused on conversion optimization and analytics.  The blog, recently accepted into the Smashing Magazine network generates online sales, leads and referrals for the software company, Crazy Egg.

Russ is a frequent speaker both locally and nationally.  Most recently, Russ is speaking on the topic of blog monetization at Blog World in New York City alongside industry leaders such as Robert Scoble, Scott Stratten and Chris Brogan.

Sadie Lankford, SlapDashMom.com

Guest Blogging #LikeABoss, Blogging Day #2

Sadie Lankford is the creator of Slap Dash Mom and a handful of other blogs. She created her first profitable blog in 2011 and 6 months later sold it to move on to other projects. Sadie is a lesbian vegetarian mother located in St. Louis. Passionate about many controversial subjects, she writes about them frequently. She is also passionate about helping others, and teaches classes around the St. Louis area about couponing, blogging, and healthy living. You can stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Terrence Gaines, BrothaTech.com

Why Go Mobile?: Tips & Techniques to Mobilize Your Site For Greater Reach, Social Media Day #1

Ivan Temelkov, SCORCH Agency

Measuring Online Success with Google Analytics, Social Media, Social Media Day #1

Ivan Temelkov is a seasoned Digital Marketing Specialist with 7 years experience in the SEO, SEM, SMA and Web Development arenas.  He has spent the majority of his career working with a multitude of B2C and B2B clients including AT&T, Charter Communications, Audible and The Michelson Organization just to name a few.  A certified Google AdWords Advertising Professional since 2006 and a former Yahoo! Search Marketing Solutions Ambassador.  His passion for internet marketing and interest in upkeep with market demand have contributed towards dedication and commitment towards pursuit of success.  You can interact with him in the social realm by getting in touch on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.  His current position entails in holding the Digital Marketing Director at SCORCH Agency, a full-service marketing company specializing in Branding, Design, Social Media and Digital Marketing.

Kristi Bonney, Live and Love Out Loud.com

Unleashing the Power of Photography in Blogging and Social Media: Photography Tips for Social Media User, Social Media Day #1

Kristi Bonney is a mother, blogger, photographer and native Hawaiian transplant living in a small town in southern Missouri. She writes about motherhood and photography on her blog, Live and Love Out Loud, and uses compelling images and a unique writing style to inspire readers to create, seek out and capture the beauty in their everyday lives.

Kristi has shared her expertise about photography in social media at Eli|Rose Social and was recently interviewed by Tamron USA as well. She is also one of the chosen bloggers for the popular Toyota Women’s Influencer Network (TWIN).

Connect with Kristi on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or stop by her blog and say hi.

Kim Wolterman, Author and Publisher

Beyond the Blog: Tips for Turning Your Blog Into a Book, Blogging Day #2

Kim Wolterman has three blogs and has written and published several books. She is on the board of the St. Louis Publishers Association and speaks on how to write book proposals, various aspects of publishing and e-books. Kim also teaches a class on how to write, publish and promote non-fiction books and one on researching the history of your home at St. Louis Community College.

Marcie Hill,  Published Author, Writer, & Blogger

Freelance Ain’t Free: The Do’s and Don’ts of Freelancing for Sites & Publications, Blogging Day #2

Marcie Hill, MS, is a writer, blogger and author with over 10 years of writing experience. Her freelance successes can be found in international and local print and online publications including St. Louis Magazine, Toastmasters Magazine, N’Digo MagaPaper, and Mahogany Magazine. She is currently a contributing writer for The Chicago Independent Bulletin community newspaper.

Her love for blogging is felt through the four blogs she owns and manages: The Write Design Company, Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource, Marcie Writes, and Real Skate Stories. She has been published on some of the top blogging and writing sites including ProBlogger, Basic Blog Tips, BlogWorld and About Freelance Writing.

She  has published two eBooks: The ABCs of Blogging: Blogging Basics from A to Z and The ABCs of Live Blogging: Quick Tips for Live Blogging Success. The ABCs of Live Blogging is the first book ever published on the topic.

Connect with Marcie on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Will Hanke, SEO and Marketing Pro, WheresMyBusiness.com

Keep Your Blog From Being Deleted by Google, Social Media Day #1

Will Hanke is St. Louis’ top independent SEO professional.  His business, aptly named “WhereIsMyBusiness.com”, helps small and medium sized businesses reach the top of search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing.  Will teaches monthly SEO classes and holds SEO webinars and bootcamps for small business owners throughout the year.  He is an avid SEO blogger and has authored several ebooks on Internet marketing.  You can always find him speaking throughout the St. Louis area to local Chambers, Associations and other business groups on everything from link building to generating warm leads through your website.

Business: http://www.WhereIsMyBusiness.com

Blog: http://www.willhanke.com

Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/Where-Is-My-Business/

JaTara Barnes, MLIS Candidate, Blogger

Social Media Security: Tips on Safeguarding Your Online Reputation, Social Media Day #1

JaTara Barnes is a librarian-in-training masquerading as a technology consultant and web developer/designer. She has two degrees in computer science and more than a decade of experience in the technology field, where she was a software developer and tester. As an information professional, she explores the intersection of technology, people and information. Her passion is geeking the world one person at a time, by connecting people with technology.

A recent transplant to St. Louis, she enjoys exploring the city with her family, reading a good YA novel and yelling at the television.

Find her online at:
About.me — http://about.me/jatara
Twitter — @jatarabarnes
LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/in/jatarabarnes

Danielle Oser, APR

So What? Who Cares? What’s In It For Me? 101 Ways to Get People to Pay Attention to Your Online Activities Offline, Social Media Day #1

Currently I serve as the Business Development Specialist for Benefit Plans Plus where I am responsible for preparing and overseeing communication, public relations and e-marketing activities for the firm.
Additionally I serve as an Adjunct Professor for Lindenwood University, specializing in promotions, communications and marketing.

Since joining the firm in 2001 I have worked with the Consulting Group in the Production of the Distribution Software Guide, the Marketing Group with the firm rebranding program and development of the firm website and overall marketing strategy for the Benefits practice.

My client work includes assisting BPP find the right target markets and customers for their products and services. I am adept at writing, strategic public relations and marketing strategy and web design.

Prior to joining the Brown Smith Wallace family I provided a variety of national, regional and local companies with public relations support. My work with the Missouri Y2K program earned the Silver Anvil award, the Oscar of public relations.

A graduate of the University of Utah, I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication/public relations with a minor in English. I have also completed graduate studies in Digital and Interactive Media at Lindenwood University.I am also Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Annie Haarmann, Reliv Inc.

Getting Real With Social Media Measurement, Social Media Day #1

Annie Haarmann is an award-winning marketing professional specializing in social media, SEO and integrated marketing campaigns. As the Digital Marketing Strategist at Reliv International, she leads a social media team, creates content for print and web, and manages a social media/copywriting internship for up-and-coming marketing pros. In her spare time, Annie offers marketing consulting services at annieharm.com and provides a humorous perspective on her blog, anniewashere.com.

Sade Tagbo

Black Belt Personal Development for Today’s Blogger, Blogging Day #2

The first time Sade Tagbo stood up to speak a Toastmasters meeting, she knew she had found her calling. Two years later, through knowledge, focus, intensity and daily execution, she was awarded the top speaking award for the Eastern Missouri and Southwest Illinois District of Toastmaster International. Since then Sade has continued speaking at schools, churches and women’s groups in the St. Louis area on faith, parenting, homeschooling and personal development. When she is not wearing her speaking hat,  Sade is a blogger at http://www.sadetagbo.com, a homeschooling mother of two, a brown belt martial artist and a social media consultant for small businesses in St. Charles County, MO.

Ashlyn Brewer & Nick Sargent, Standing Partnership

The Search…for an Effective Google+ Strategy, Social Media Day #1

Ashlyn Brewer

As a marketing associate at Standing Partnership, Ashlyn builds and executes reputation management, business development and digital communications strategies for internal and external clients. Her work includes using blog strategy, SEO, analytics and content marketing to help organizations achieve their goals.

Ashlyn’s recent work includes spearheading the re-launch of Standing Partnership’s website and completing WOMMA’s community manager certification. She manages Standing Partnership’s blog (www.standingpr.com/blog) and tweets about reputation management, digital strategy, TV and video games at @ashlynbrewer.

In her free time, Ashlyn serves on the board of Social Media Club St. Louis and volunteers with the St. Louis Area Foodbank’s Social Media Avengers. Her primary goals for 2012 are eating at all 26 Thai restaurants in the St. Louis region and making Nick Sargent cry.

Nick Sargent

As an associate at Standing Partnership, Nick provides corporate reputation counsel for clients on internal communications, change management, communications planning and digital strategy. His recent work includes developing a YouTube series for a local university to highlight its top research professors and managing the redevelopment of Standing Partnership’s new website.

Before joining Standing, Nick previously worked for Saint Louis University, where he earned his MBA in 2010. A WOMMA certified community manager, Nick tweets about corporate reputation, internal communication, social media and ridding the world of the scourge known as provel at @nicksargent.

When he’s not chasing his 18-month-old twins around South St. Louis, Nick enjoys being a part of the St. Louis Area Foodbank’s Social Media Avengers and proving Ashlyn Brewer wrong.

Lamar Tyler, New Media Strategist, Consultant, Award winning Blogger, BlackandMarriedWithKids.com

Creating Big Time Web Video With a Small Time Budget, Social Media Day #1

Lamar Tyler has been called a New Media Strategist, Consultant, Blogger and Filmmaker but basically he just creates good content. Lamar’s strategic approach of using social media to promote his independent film projects has resulted in a huge following, including a fan base of over 100,000 on Facebook. Lamar has leveraged that fan base to build relationships, and develop a grass roots film distribution network across the country. Along with his wife Ronnie, Lamar runs the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com and has been featured in The Washington Post, Parenting Magazine, Essence Magazine on CNN’s Headline News, NPR, SiriusXM and many other print, broadcast and online media outlets. After spending 15 years in IT Lamar currently focuses much of his time coaching professionals and major brands spanning several industries, on how to leverage audiences by using strategic social networking techniques.

Jenna Petroff, Public Relations and Social Media Manager for Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc

Keynote: Let’s Talk About REAL Public Relations, Shall We?, Social Media Day #1

Jenna Petroff is the Public Relations and Social Media Manager for Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of CKE Restaurants (also parent company to Carl’s Jr.), and of the largest quick-serve restaurant chains in the U.S. Jenna co-founded the chain’s social media program in 2008 and currently spearheads all publicity efforts, is part of the company and agency team leading community optimization, co-directs regional Facebook communications, manages the Flickr site, is the voice of the brand on Twitter and Google+, and presides over the brand’s Pinterest page.  Specializing in influencer relations, project development and management, emerging media strategy/tactics, integrated marketing programs, and planned giving administration, Jenna is a frequent speaker and presenter at both on and offline events and conferences, including: Vocus, Social Fresh St. Louis, American Marketing Association (AMA), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), RealTimeNY 11, ExactTarget Connections 2011, Show Me the Blog and Social:IRL. Her work has been honored and acknowledged by several organizations and outlets, including: QSR Magazine (Best in Social Media, 2009), AMA (Best in Bold Marketing, 2011), ExactTarget (Best Social Media Campaign – Hardee’s 50th Anniversary, 2011), Forrester Groundswell (Most Energizing Campaign Finalist – B to C, 2011), and OMMA (Best Integrated Online Campaign Finalist, 2011). She also serves as Senior Board Member of Social Media Club – St. Louis, is a Development Board Member and Co-Chair of the Public Relations and Marketing Committee for Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, and is a member of the Corporate Sponsorship Advisory Committee at Autism Speaks – St. Louis Chapter. Jenna is also the former Editor-at-Large and fashion/lifestyle columnist of Girl’s Guide to the Galaxy and plans to eventually launch her own blog. She is a self-professed word nerd, super mom, accessories addict, sarcasm connoisseur, insomniac, control freak…oh, and her favorite word is magniloquent.

Nicholas Gilham, A Branded You

Personal Branding, A Branded YOU. Leave Your Mark, Stake Your Claim, Blogging Day #2

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Bios & Photos Coming Soon:

Tammie Holland, Magic 104.0 FM, KMJM St. Louis, From Broadcast to Radio, How This Diva Does It!

***Additional speakers will be added and announced. Please check back for additions.