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Speakers & Panelists for Aartrijk Brand Camp 2009

In addition to the Aartrijk team, Brand Campers will learn from — and interact with — a number of experts and real users.

Liz Strauss is a Chicago-based social media and web strategist who has worked with businesses, universities and service professionals on strategic growth through networked relationships, communication and performance. She is the author of How to Write a Successful & Outstanding Blog, An Insider’s Guide to the Conversation That’s Changing the World and CEO & founder of SOBCon, an elite social media business conference.

Daniel Honigman is digital communications supervisor at Weber Shandwick, an international PR and communications firm. He is a popular speaker on social networking and is co-founder of Old Media, New Tricks, a site targeted towards people working in mainstream media that provides tips about social and new media. He previously was social media strategist and editorial engagement strategist at Tribune Interactive and the creator of “Colonel Tribune,” the Chicago Tribune’s widely-embraced Web ambassador that became one of the more popular Twitter and web personalities run by a traditional media organization.

Brad Keown is Midwest director of sales at Facebook, one of the most popular social networking sites on the Web. Prior to Facebook, Brad spent seven years at Microsoft, where he managed digital advertising and search teams.

Andrew Liakopoulos is principal in the Human Capital Practice of Deloitte Consulting. Andy’s consulting engagements include a variety of projects such as workforce transformation, mergers and acquisitions, process outsourcing/off-shoring, organization restructuring, and corporate culture transformation. Andy leads Deloitte’s National Talent Strategies practice and is leading Deloitte’s deployment of Mass Career Customization to the external marketplace. Andy has been interviewed by and appeared in several industry publications including The Economist, Insurance Networking, National Underwriter and Reactions Magazine. Andy holds an MBA from the University of Illinois with a concentration in Organizational Behavior. www.deloitte.com

Marcia Hansen, social media marketing manager at Allstate Insurance Company, acts as editor for VehicleVibes.com, an Allstate automotive blog and social media hub with educational and entertaining content, video, games and the new Vehicle Vibes Radio show. Marcia is also the voice behind the Allstate Twitter channel (@allstate) and manages the company’s Facebook Fan page. In addition, she manages other Allstate social media initiatives, including FrienderBenders.com, Allstate’s user-generated content site about bad driving habits and AllstateUpdates.com where site visitors can get all the info about Allstate they want to blog, tweet and share. Twitter: @marciahansen @allstate www.vehiclevibes.com www.frienderbenders.com www.facebook.com/allstate www.youtube.com/vehiclevibes www.allstateupdates.com

Kristin Rielly is new media developer at Irwin Siegel Agency in Rock Hill, N.Y. A licensed agent with 10 years experience, she also has a strong background in computer graphics, communication and customer service. She has combined those skill sets to implement innovative methods of driving new business campaigns, including a popular agency blog. Her efforts have been featured in Rough Notes magazine and ProgramBusiness.com.

Laura Mazzuca Toops is editor of American Agent & Broker, a leading industry trade publication. Laura has experience in a wide range of insurance and financial services communications, including journalism, public relations and marketing. She extended her magazine’s reach with her industry blog.

Nibby Priest is vice president of Vaughn Insurance Agency Company, where he is actively using social networking to attract and retain business. He is known nationally for his insurance agency automation consulting work with the AGENA Corporation and National Users of AGENA Systems, and he is the former owner of a computer company.

Liz Kittell is marketing representative for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Nebraska, where she manages brand development, Web site traffic growth, UI and advertising revenue. She is actively uses Twitter and Facebook to communicate with and educate members and industry colleagues.

Cindy Donaldson is marketing director at Founders Insurance Group, an independent agency in Torrington, Conn. Since joining Founders, Cindy has spearheaded the firm’s social networking efforts, which include a popular industry blog. Twitter@FoundersGroup www.foundersgrp.com foundersgrp.wordpress.com www.linkedin.com/in/cindydonaldson

Robin Erickson, Ph.D is a manager with Deloitte Consulting LLP. Robin works in the Human Capital practice and currently leads the program management of Deloitte’s Integrated Marketing Offering for Talent. Robin is also an adjunct instructor at Northwestern University where she teaches courses on team leadership and decision making. She has a Ph.D in Organizational Communication and Change from Northwestern University, where her focus was on the retention of downsizing survivors; a master’s degree in communication from Northwestern University; a master’s degree in theology from Northern Seminary; and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Peter van Aartrijk Jr., CIC, has more than 25 years of branding and communications experience, including advertising, consumer research and education, marketing, public relations, publishing, and Web development. As a spokesperson for clients and employers, Peter has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox News and other networks, and he has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and other national press. He is a frequent speaker and is co-author of Zoom, a guidebook on branding for independent agents.

Maureen Wall Bentley is Aartrijk’s vice president, brand strategy. She has more than 20 years of senior-level branding, publishing and corporate communications experience. She began her career as an editor at Murdoch Magazines and then Condé Nast Publications, and went on to broader communications at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, including the research, development and launch of its national brand program, Trusted Choice. Since joining Aartrijk, Maureen has focused on brand and communications audits; brand strategy; advertising, Web and marketing creative; and public relations.

Aaron Moore has more than a dozen years of experience as a graphic communications specialist. He has created identity systems, corporate collateral, point-of-sale materials, advertising creative (all media) and direct mail campaigns, and he has won multiple Baltimore Addy awards for his work. He has taught a course on small-business brand recognition and currently teaches graphic design at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He is a board member of the Baltimore chapter of the American Institute for Graphic Arts.

Rick Morgan is a senior associate at Aartrijk, where he works with clients to develop and implement successful Social Web strategies for their marketing-communications. He also currently is serving as Interim CEO for the Applied Services Client Network (ASCNet). A leading authority on insurance industry technology, Morgan is the originator of transactional filing and co-developer of Silver Plume. He served as senior vice president of ConfirmNet and senior vice president of marketing for Applied Systems, and he is active in the Agents Council for Technology (ACT). Rick also owned an independent insurance agency in Boulder, Colo., and was cofounder, publisher and editor of The Automated Agency Report (TAAR).

Charles Wasilewski is director of marketing communications for Aartrijk. He has more than 25 years of business communications experience with multiple audiences, including customers, employees, analysts, investors and media. Charles focuses on marketing communications; content for the Web, blogs, and social networking sites; publicity; and editorial efforts on behalf of Aartrijk clients. Starting as an editor at A.M. Best Co., he then led Home Life’s public relations and oversaw employee/sales communications. At The MONY Group, Charles managed media relations, financial communications and the annual report; and he spearheaded the corporate-wide effort to reinvigorate the MONY brand for NYSE listing.