Speakers

Debra Abrams, Director of Employment Services at Urban League of Philadelphia
Debra Abrams originally joined the Urban League of Philadelphia in May of 2006 as the Employment Specialist and Accounting Manager. Before long her duties and responsibilities grew and she shifted solely into the area of employment, where she is currently responsible for managing of all employment programs, including job seeker assistance and employer relations, job development, job training programs and project management.

Gary Ackerman, President and Co-founder, M3Mobile
Gary has positioned M3 Mobile Marketing as one of the leaders and experts in the mobile marketing channel. Before joining M3 Mobile Marketing, Gary held a number of senior-level management positions in which he was primarily focused on new business development from large national accounts. He also has experience in exploring and structuring strategic partnerships with media, communications and technology companies.

David Ade, AIA, LEED A.P., Principal, SMP Architects
Mr. Ade is currently the principal-in-charge of the new Sustainable Urban Science Center for the Germantown Friends School. This state-of-the-art laboratory facility integrates the school’s pedagogy with active and visible green building and site design strategies. Mr. Ade has presented at a number of green building conferences, including Greenbuild, EnvironDesign and Global Engineering.

Alicia Agnew, Small Business Development Consultant, African American Chamber of Commerce
Alicia Agnew is a Small Business Development Consultant for the African American Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia, PA, a Board Member for Women In Transition, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Recently, she was selected as a Pennsylvania New Leader by the Center for Progressive Leadership.

Cheryl Amaya, Entrepreneur’s Entourage
Cheryl Amaya is inspired by helping others see their ideas through and enjoys working with other motivated and enthusiastic entrepreneurs. She has been highly trained in the field of education, team dynamics, project management, marketing and staff training. Cheryl has over 12 years of professional work experience as a Magazine Publisher and a Teacher in the industries of marketing, sales and education.

Det Ansinn, Chief Gaming Officer, Mobile Tag Company and 1337pwn.com
Det Ansinn is founder of BrickSimple LLC, Mobile Tag Company, and the 1337pwn.com gamer web site. He consults companies and clients on mobile application development and emerging super phone strategy. Working with iPhone, Palm Pre, Android, and Blackberry platforms, Det is at the forefront of the mobile web.

Norman Badler, Director, Center of Human Modeling and Simulation, University of Pennsylvania
Norman Badler, University of Pennsylvania Professor of Computer and Information Science, has been active in computer graphics since 1968. He is the Director of the SIG Center for Computer Graphics, directs Penn’s BSE in Digital Media Design undergraduate program and co- directs the Masters in Computer Graphics and Game Technology.

Mel Baiada, Principal, Base Camp Ventures Mel Baiada is Managing Partner at BaseCamp Ventures and President of Basecamp Business. He was CEO at both the Bluestone Software and Bluestone Consulting. … Mr. Baiada has demonstrated an ability to recognize business opportunities, attract capital and talented employees, and profitably exit a technology company investment.

James A. Baker, Mayor, City of Wilmington
Mayor Baker’s first two terms as Mayor have been marked by an emphasis on strong fiscal management, a slate of initiatives to stabilize and strengthen Wilmington’s neighborhoods through increased homeownership, new and expanded business development throughout the City, and continued development of the City’s riverfronts. Mayor Baker introduced several pioneering initiatives, including Delaware’s first rewards-based curbside recycling program, the Instant Ticketing Program, and the Vacant Property Registration Fee Program.

David Barrie, CEO, David Barrie & Associates
David Barrie creates, produces and directs innovative, large-scale urban renewal and creative programs in the U.K. and abroad. Clients include public agencies, real estate companies, NDPBs, NGOs and NPOs. His current projects in Moscow, London and Cardiff highlight community involvement, social enterprise and e-participation. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Barrie. Blog: http://davidbarrie.typeapd.com.

Steve Barsh, Partner, DreamIt Ventures
Steve Barsh is currently a Partner in DreamIt Ventures, a leading pre-seed business accelerator in Philadelphia.  Steve is also a Project Faculty member at The Wharton School where he teaches and guides international MBA teams that focus on developing actionable, U.S.-focused, go-to-market plans and expansion strategies for an array of international companies.

Beate Becker, Founding Director, DIGMA Design Industry Group of Massachusetts
Beate Becker, Founding Director of DIGMA – the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts – has led pioneering creative economy initiatives at the city, state and regional levels. She has written and spoken extensively about her work, making good use of her education from Bennington College and the Yale School of Management.

Sean Blanda, Partner, Technically Philly
Sean Blanda, along with Chris Wink and Brian James Kirk, founded Technically Philly, an entrepreneurial news project launched on Feb. 9, 2009 to cover the trends, news and people involved in Philadelphia’s technology and creative industries. Blanda was named one of the top 100 young journalists of 2008 by UWIRE.

Gloria Bell, Founder, Red Stapler Consulting
After 25 years of successful business operations and communications experience, Gloria Bell followed her passion and founded Red Stapler Consulting.  She now uses her organization and communication skills to discover creative ways to assist freelancers, small businesses and start-up companies with business operations, social media consulting and promotional event planning.

Doug Bellenger, COO, PhindMe Mobile
Doug Bellenger is the co-founder and COO of PhindMe Mobile. He has diverse background in leading product design, engineering and development teams in pharmaceuticals, medical device development, and software engineering. Doug sits on the Board of Directors for Philly Startup Leaders and is an alum of both RIT and Drexel.

Hardik Bhatt, Developer, Comcast
Hardik Bhatt’s overall knowledge and experience spans from being an efficient software engineer, a proficient 3D modeler and animator, and an effective web developer. Currently, he is the Community Coordinator for the Philadelphia chapter of the International Game Developers Association and an Application Developer in Comcast’s Entertainment Television (CET) Department.

Jeffery P. Bodle, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Jeffrey P. Bodle is a partner in Morgan Lewis’s Emerging Business and Technology Practice. He focuses his practice on meeting the business and legal needs of emerging businesses, entrepreneurs and investors in the life sciences and technology sectors. Jeffrey also concentrates his practice in venture capital, corporate finance, and merger and acquisition transactions.

Josette Bonafino, Executive Director of MYX: Multicultural Youth eXchange
Josette Bonafino is the co-founder and Executive Director of MYX: Multicultural Youth eXchange. Since 2002, Josette has been conceiving, curating and facilitating collaborative art projects aimed at making Philadelphia’s youth more sensitive toward diverse cultures and social issues relevant to all people. A native Philadelphian, Josette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Desiree Booker (aka Myrikal), high school student, performer, anti- violence advocate
Desiree began her career as a rapper at age 10 with a program called R.A.R.E. She expanded her career to modeling, being an anti-violence advocate, motivational speaker, and a junior servant leader.

David Bookspan, Founder, DreamIt Ventures
David is Founder and principal in DreamIt Ventures, LLC – a pre-seed stage venture firm www.dreamitventures.com, and Founder and Chairman of Monetate, Inc., which changes the signage in online stores depending upon who is walking down the aisle. David previously founded and was President and CEO of MarketSpan, Inc. (acquired by LexisNexis CourtLink).

Mitch Bowling, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Online Services, Comcast Cable
Mitch oversees all aspects of Comcast’s Online business – the nation’s largest provider of residential broadband with more than 14 million customers to date. He is responsible for all day-to-day operations, subscriber acquisition and competitive response. Additionally, Mitch is responsible for retail operations, Comcast’s corporate web site and cross product business operations.

Malik Boyd, Managing Partner, PBMarketing, LLC.
An insightful, passionate marketer, Malik has proven his ability to chart successful brand paths for companies. With a decade of noted success, 6 years in senior management, Malik brings a mix of passion, creativity, and execution. Malik co-founded Premiere Brand in 2004, serving clients like Cuervo Black, NBMBAA, and Keep Philadelphia Beautiful.

Peter Bressler, Founder, SRS Energy
Peter Bressler is the Founder and current Board Chair for SRS Energy. SRS Energy develops and manufactures premium solar roofing tiles designed to seamlessly integrate with traditional roofing products for sustainable residential and commercial roofing.

Tanya L. Bridges, Vice President, Legal Affairs, Dada Entertainment Tanya Bridges is Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs for Dada Entertainment. Her major responsibilities include content acquisition and licensing with record labels, music publishers and other content rights holders. Tanya has extensive experience in intellectual property law, including copyrights, licensing and litigation.

David W. Brown, President & CEO, BrownPartners
David W. Brown founded BrownPartners as a full service minority-owned ad agency influencing consumers from all walks of life. BrownPartners is a three-time Pepperpot award winner (one of the industry’s highest honors for public relations campaigns) and is the only agency in the Northeast to be honored with a Mosaic Award.

Christopher H. Burns, Founder, IDC Partners, bPartner, and Intern U
Prior to forming IDC Partners in 1991, Chris Burns led AT&T’s Computer Systems, Network Sales Division Team in sales for two years. Chris has sold approximately $145 million dollars worth of services in his eighteen year entrepreneurial career. A finalist in the 1999, 2000 Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 40 under 40 Philadelphia Business Journal and MS 50 Leadership award recipient, he currently serves as Board member and Technology Chairman for the Philadelphia Police Athletic League (PAL).

Peter Byar, Senior Industrial Design, Bressler Group Peter is a Senior Industrial Design with over 30 years of product development experience. He has been involved in literally hundreds of new product design projects for companies including Black & Decker, Schick, Becton Dickinson and other leading brands. Peter brings historic perspective on the shift in attitudes around sustainability as well as practical technical knowledge regarding materials and manufacturing processes.

Liz Bywater, Ph.D., Founder, Bywater Consulting Group
Dr. Liz Bywater is internationally recognized for her expertise in leadership excellence and workplace performance. A seasoned consultant and coach, she helps her clients achieve dramatic improvements in individual and organizational effectiveness.

Mary Carroll, Senior Project Manager, Francis Cauffman
With over 20 years of experience, Ms. Carroll has been a member of the Science & Technology team since joining Francis Cauffman in 2002. Her expertise lies in providing planning solutions for academic research, corporate, pharmaceutical, biotechnology facilities and labs. She is a registered architect in the state of New York and a member of the American Institute of Architects. She has been a LEED accredited professional since 2006 and is a member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers.

Scott Carroll, Animator, Blue Sky Studios
Scott is a CG character animator working at Blue Sky Studios, where he’s animated on the two most recent Ice Age movies and Horton Hears a Who. Scott has also worked at George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, and as an instructor at the on-line animation school, AnimationMentor.com.

Anne Cecil, Director, Design and Merchandising, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, Drexel University
Since 1988, Anne Cecil has been teaching courses in Art, Design, Digital Media and Merchandising at various local institutions. She currently teaches at Drexel University where she is Program Director of Design & Merchandising. Anne continues to explore methods to bring global experiences into the classroom through technology.

Chris Cera, Founder, VuzitChris co-founded Vuzit where he is the CTO. Vuzit is a B2B software company that sells online document publishing products. Prior to Vuzit, Chris managed all R&D, customer relationships, and IT operations at another startup, Drakontas. While at Traffic.com Chris co-developed the first real-time 3D traffic reporting system used by FOX, ABC, CBS, and NBC at over 70 TV stations in the top 25 US markets.

Samori Coles, Founder, Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings
Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings (LDB) is a decade-old Philadelphia-based Recording Studio that offers hands-on, one-on-one instruction in audio engineering and music production. A graduate of Creighton University with dual degrees in Finance and Marketing, Samori merged his business education and training with technical and on-the-job training in audio recording and music composition.

Margaret Collins, Director, Creative Enterprises and the Arts, Piedmont Triad Partnership
Margaret Collins currently serves as Director, Creative Enterprises and the Arts with the Piedmont Triad Partnership in Greensboro, NC. She works with creative industry sectors throughout the region to build the creative economy and workforce. Specific initiatives include architecture, design, serious games, digital marketing and entrepreneurship for creatives.

Jennifer Cover-Payne, President, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
In 2000 and 2005 Jennifer Cover-Payne was the Greater DC liaison for Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Studies and the arts resource for the Greater Washington Board of Trade Creative Community Study. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington and Leadership America.

Ian Cross, CEO, I-SITE
Ian Cross is a fan of animation, architecture, interactive design, the beautiful game and building communities – both real and virtual. He is also CEO and co-founder of I-SITE [www.i-site.com], a Philadelphia interactive design and marketing firm that enjoys working with innovative products and people.

Andrew Dahlgren, Program Director, Urban Studio
Andrew Dahlgren is Program Director of Green Village Philadelphia’s Urban Studio. While getting his master’s degree in industrial design and after, Andrew has been working on ways to promote the local in terms of manufacturing, design, and sustainable living. His many ventures overlap in finding real world, Philadelphia based applications for the design process.

Diane Dalto Woosnam, Chairman, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
A long time arts administrator, Diane Dalto Woosnam was appointed Chairman of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts by the Governor of PA in 2002. Previously, she served as Director of the Office of Arts and Culture for the City of Philadelphia. Diane was Co-Chairman of the Arts, Culture and History Transition Committee for the Governor of Pennsylvania, Edward G. Rendell and Chaired or Co-Chaired three Transition Committees for Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

Nic Darling, Partner and CMO, Postgreen
Nic Darling is the Director of Marketing for Postgreen, a real estate development company specializing in modern, healthy, energy efficient buildings. He is a thinker, a writer, a designer and, most noticeably, a talker. A self proclaimed start-up addict, Nic has a penchant for bold beginnings and innovative ideas

Dr. Donna DeCarolis, Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives, LeBow College of Business
Donna DeCarolis is the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. She has researched, written and lectured extensively on various aspects of entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization. Her recent accomplishments in entrepreneurship education have significantly contributed to advancing Drexel University’s ranking as a top entrepreneurship university by Princeton Review.

Greg DeKoenigsberg, Senior Community Architect, Red Hat
Greg DeKoenigsberg is a Senior Community Architect for Red Hat. He is a former chairman of the Fedora Project, an open source software development community with over 10,000 volunteer contributors. He serves on the advisory boards of several open source advocacy organizations, writes about open source issues, and speaks at open source events worldwide. He has been with Red Hat since 2001.

Gene DePrez, Director of Innovation, Creative Sheffield
Gene DePrez is Director of Innovation for Creative Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Creative Sheffield is an organization which integrates the activities of several merged predecessors including city and regional regeneration, business and inward investment, enterprise and skills development and expanded initiatives, innovation and the knowledge economy. It aims to effectively transform Sheffield’s regional economy.

David Dickson, District Director, Philadelphia, U.S. Small Business Administration
As District Director, David is responsible for the delivery and management of the Agency’s financial and business development programs throughout the eastern forty counties of Pennsylvania. Dickson has worked as a volunteer in several Chambers of Commerce and a Star City Commission, being especially active in workforce and economic development initiatives.

Helen Diemer, President, The Lighting Practice
Helen Diemer is the President of The Lighting Practice, a Philadelphia-based architectural lighting design firm. She has more than 25 years experience designing lighting for public, corporate, retail, healthcare, hospitality and education environments. Her firm is responsible for the lighting of the historic Fairmount Waterworks, the sculptures and facades on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the Avenue of the Arts’ new color-changing façade lighting.

Geoff DiMasi, Principal, P’unk Avenue
Geoff DiMasi leads up P’unk Avenue and is the co-founder of Independents Hall.
He organizes the Junto (http://junto.org/), co-organizes Ignite Philly, and lends a hand in coordinating events like BarCamp Philly. He founded the Passyunk Square Civic Association in South Philadelphia and was an artist member and board member of Vox Populi gallery. He currently serves on the Marketing Committee for the Board of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Barry Dornfeld, Senior Manager, Center for Applied Research
Barry brings to his consulting work and teaching a diversity of experiences in business, organizations, higher education, social science and media making. He focuses on the culture and structure of organizations, how to help them develop, works with and speaks to groups in diverse industries around the world.

Kevin Dow, Deputy Commerce Director Neighborhood and Business Services, City of Philadelphia
Kevin Dow was appointed Deputy Director of Commerce for Neighborhood and Business Services in 2008. In this capacity, Kevin helps lead the city’s efforts to develop business friendly strategies to help both small companies and major corporations in Philadelphia thrive as well as to spur growth across key industry sectors. He has strategic oversight of the City’s newly-created Office of Economic Opportunity and is responsible for the expansion and support of minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.

Rachael Downey, Principal and Founder, Studio Graphique
Rachel Downey is principal and founder of Studio Graphique, a brand development consultancy and environmental graphic design firm (EGD). The company creates effective communications supported by high-end creative in the disciplines of branding, placemaking and wayfinding.

Melinda Emerson, CEO, MFE Consulting
Melinda Emerson is a veteran entrepreneur and small business coach whose areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media marketing.  Melinda’s first book, Be Your Own Boss! How to Quit Your Job and Start Your Own Business in 12 Months or Less! will be released in early 2010.

Gwendolyn A. Faison, Mayor, City of Camden
Since her inception into the government sector, Gwendolyn has made tremendous strides in community improvement, social empowerment, and fiscal responsibility. In her tenure as Mayor, she has reorganized various city departments for more efficient government, recouped block grant money to clean up city parks and pave city streets, established a working relationship with city faith-based organizations to develop after-school programs and helped to correct the inadequacy of the formula used to estimate city water bills.

Christine Fajardo, Co-Founder, principal Designer, Bliss & White LLC Christine Fajardo is an award-winning graphic designer with extensive experience in print and web design. She is co-founder of Bliss & White, a Philadelphia-based design firm. Christine earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut in 2001 and is currently a Master of Fine Arts candidate in Graphic Design at Tyler School of Art, Temple University.

Susan Firestone, CEO and Founder, Siw Thai Silk, Inc.
Susan Firestone manages company operations and design development. Firestone has over 20 years of international management and finance experience, as well as a lifelong love of handcrafted textiles and international design. A frequent traveler to Thailand, Susan has developed a cadre of creative and manufacturing resources in a number of village co-ops.

Matthew Fisher, President and Co- Founder, Night Kitchen Interactive
Matthew Fisher is President and co-founder of the design studio Night Kitchen Interactive, where for over 12 years he has produced interactive educational programs, online exhibits, and communities-of-practice for arts and culture organizations. Matthew consults with clients such as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Constitution Center and the Pew Charitable Trusts on engaging audiences and building community online through interactive and social media.

Mike Flanagan, Managing Partner, Bressler Group
A hybrid, Mike spent the first half of his career in marketing communications for firms including Ketchum and Carton Donofrio Partners. He went back to school for industrial design and has led the business development effort at Bresslergroup over the past 13 years.

Hajj Flemings, Founder, Brand Camp University
Hajj Flemings is the founder of Brand Camp University and author of The Brand YU Life. He has been featured on ESPN.com and BusinessWeek.com, and travels nationally speaking as a branding expert. His book was also selected as one of Fast Company Magazine 2008 Readers Choice Business Books of the year.

Gerald Furgione, Director of Business Development, PhillyCarShare. 
Since joining this innovative non-profit in mid 2006, Jerry Furgione has been responsible for growing PhillyCarShare’s number of corporate users to over 1200 companies and has helped change the way Philadelphia businesses think about sustainable transportation options.  Jerry’s job is to plan, initiate, and carry out direct marketing and sales activities including networking, prospecting, presentations, and promotion of the PhillyCarShare brand.

Karen Gagnon, Program Manager, Cool Cities, Urban Revitalization Division MSHDA
Karen Gagnon is assigned to spearhead Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm’s “Cool Cities” initiative, which has become a movement and a nationally acclaimed collaborative model for economic engagement and community revitalization. It has resulted in a new way to think about urban policy. Cool Cities is novel, effective, significant, and transferable!

Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia
Katherine Gajewski is responsible for implementing Greenworks Philadelphia, the city’s comprehensive and ambitious sustainability plan. Previously, Katherine served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff in the Mayor’s Office. In this role, she managed a number of major citywide projects and led a number of the Nutter Administration’s community outreach efforts, playing a major role in the public engagement during this year’s budget process in the City of Philadelphia.

Chuck Gamble, Executive Vice President, Gamble and Huff
Charles "Chuck" Gamble is currently the Executive Vice President of the legendary record label Philadelphia International Records (TSOP). Chuck has executive oversight and responsibility for directing all label operational, marketing, promotional, finance and catalog licensing functions of Philadelphia International Records, its Publishing Operations (Gamble-Huff Music), its Entertainment Division (The Sound of Philadelphia Entertainment Group), its Merchandising Division (TSOP Souvenir Shop), and its Real Estate Division (The Great Philadelphia Trading Company).

Nathan Gasser, Founder & President, Rock River Star
Nathan Gasser is Founder/Principal of Rock River Star, an internet development firm specializing in open source content management systems. He has participated in numerous web development projects over the past 15 years, with a focus on non-profit, public/private, and higher education clients. Mr. Gasser holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Allen Geiser, President, Geiser & Son, bookbinders
Allen Geiser and Son is a full service bindery offering quality workmanship and knowledgeable ideas to implement your binding project. They are flexible enough to adjust from bookbinding to manufacturing custom boxes, ring binders, slip-on covers, certificate covers, menus, foil stamping and more. With a network of graphic arts associates, Geiser & Son prides itself on meeting design specifications while creating an affordable product.

Mario Gentile, Partner, Shift_ Design
Shift_Design’s focus is on creating sustainable product systems aimed at the retail market and providing architectural services. As a licensed architect, Mr. Gentile has been involved with residential, commercial and institutional building projects in both national and international locations.

Jennifer Gleeson Blue, Co-founder, GenEdge
Jennifer Gleeson Blue is Co-founder of GenEdge, coaching’s only intergenerational collaborative focused on leveraging generational diversity as an asset. Jennifer is an International Coach Federation member, serves as Vice President of Communications for the Philadelphia Area Coaches Alliance and has been published in Choice Magazine and ASAE Now.

Sallie Glickman, CEO, Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board
The Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, which was established in 1999. Ms. Glickman currently serves as the chief executive officer and corporate secretary. In this role, Ms. Glickman unites her passion for innovation, education, and social equity with her commitment to expanding economic opportunities for individuals and fostering economic growth for the city and region.

Michelle Grimley, Program Manager for the Character Education Grant in the School District of Philadelphia
Michelle Grimley has been involved with Philadelphia education non-profits in a variety of roles for over 10 years.  Michelle’s role for the past four years is the Project Manager for character education/service learning for The School District of Philadelphia.  She supports K-8 teachers in their implementation of class projects and guides the senior project pilot program in 9 District comprehensive high schools.

Monica Gursky, Interactive Art Director, I-SITE
With sketchbook in hand, it’s obvious that Monica is an artistically driven individual. Her client experience is diverse, from pharmaceutical sites to the branding of luxury residences. She has won various national and international awards for her work and takes great pride in staying two steps ahead of oncoming design trends.

Sue Hamilton, Vice-President, Devine + Powers
Sue Hamilton heads Devine +Powers’ Tourism Group. Sue offers creative program development, national and international media relations, promotions and event planning services. She has more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience, including 16 years with the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, most recently as director of international marketing.

Ken Haycook, Owner, Kendel Group

Ken Haycook is the owner of Kendel Group, an international Business Coaching company based in Little Rock. He has been in management for over 25 years in various levels from Crew Chief to Director of Operations. He has worked in management for several Fortune 500 Companies.

Jacqueline Hill, Director, Pennsylvania Minority Business Enterprise Center
Jacqueline is currently the Director of the Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Center, a service provider for the US Commerce Department, a program of The Enterprise Center. Advocating on behalf of Minority Business, she has worked hands-on with hundreds of companies to grow their businesses. Jacqueline has completed the Entrepreneur Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University, Don H. Jones School of Industrial Administration and the Dartmouth University, Tuck School of Business.

Renee Hobbs, Professor of Communication, Temple University
Renee Hobbs is one of the leading authorities on media literacy education in the United States. She is a professor of communication at Temple University’s School of Communications and Theater, where she founded the Media Education Lab. A leader in the provision of media literacy curriculum materials, Hobbs also created the nation’s first national teacher education program for media literacy, the Harvard Institute for Media Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Stacy Holland, Co-President and COO of the Philadelphia Youth Network
Stacy Holland is one of three founders of the organization which was created in 1999. She is responsible for oversight of the design and development of the infrastructure for this $25 million not-for-profit agency as well as the management of a city-wide service delivery plan for approximately 18,000 students annually.

Susan Jacobson, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Temple University
Dr. Susan Jacobson is an Assistant Professor of Journalism at Temple University. Her research focuses on new media and journalism. She has more than 10 years’ experience in the new media industry, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Area New Media Association (PANMA).

Neen James, CEO, Neen James
Neen James, MBA CSP, is an International Productivity Expert known for her ability to deliver information with credibility, personality and a genuine sense of fun. She is a high energy speaker who educates, entertains, and engages audiences across the globe. Subscribe to Neen’s productivity E-zine at http://neenjames.com

Blake Jennelle, Director of Marketing, TicketLeap
Blake Jennelle is the Founder and President of Philly Startup Leaders and the Director of Marketing at TicketLeap. In less than two years, Blake has grown PSL to over 400 members. They will host over 20 entrepreneurial events in 2009, including the Entrepreneur Expo, the Founder Factory, the Entrepreneurs Unplugged and Fishbowl Series, and monthly Happy Hours.

Peter Kageyama, Partner, Creative Cities Productions
Peter is the co-founder and producer of the Creative Cities Summit, last held in Detroit in 2008. In 2009 he produced and directed a documentary film about Creative City founder Charles Landry. The former President of Creative Tampa Bay, Peter works with urban change agents all over the world.

David Kanter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Curriculum, Instruction and Technology in Education, College of Education, Temple University
David E. Kanter, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology and Biology at Temple University. He designs and researches technology-enhanced inquiry-based science curricula. He studies how to train teachers to teach such curricula. He teaches in the new TUteach program, improving how future science and math teachers are prepared.

Ami Kassar, CIO, Advanta Corp.
Ami Kassar is the Chief Innovation Officer of Advanta. In addition, he is President of Ideablob Corp.  In a prior life, he was the founder of Shop2Give.com.  Ami received his MBA from the University of Southern California, and his BA from Brandeis University.  Ami lives in Upper Dublin, PA with his wife and kids.

Neil Kleinman, Ph.D., Professor of Media and Communication, University of the Arts
In addition to being a professor at the University of the Arts, Dr. Neil Kleinman is the senior fellow in the Corzo Center for the Creative Economy. Until recently, he served as Dean of the College of Media & Communication and Director of the Philadelphia Applied Research Labs. Neil has published and taught in a number of discipline areas: law, literature, writing, technology, design, the digital economy and marketing, as well as on the influence of technologies on society.

Fred Koenig, Shareholder, Volpe and Koenig
A founding partner of Volpe and Koenig, Fred Koenig has extensive experience in securing and enforcing intellectual property rights in a wide range of diverse product and technology areas, including computer software, wireless communication, e-commerce, cosmetics, toys, games, and textiles. Fred is well-versed in copyright and trademark law and is a frequent presenter on intellectual property topics.

Peter Kountz, Ph.D, Head of School, The Charter High School for Architecture + Design
Dr. Peter Kountz has been the Head of School for the Charter High School for Architecture + Design since 2005. He has been Head of large K-12 schools in Pittsburgh and Brooklyn, as well as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Chicago and the University of Rochester. Kountz, a musician, writer, and consultant, has been involved with school and university teaching and administration since 1969.

Jill Kowalski, Development Director, Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Jill Kowalski is Development Director of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and has been researching; designing, and advocating green design for 13 years on both the national and local level. Before entering the non-profit sector, she was a licensed commercial interior designer with an environmentally responsible focus.

Alan Krauss, Sr. Director, Investment Group, Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Alan Kraus is the Director for Information Technology Investments at the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania managing a portfolio of more than 40 active early stage IT company investments. With investments generally ranging from $100,000-$500,000, Alan has presided over with investments that have created 100’s of jobs in Pennsylvania and raised more than $150,000,000 in follow-on funding.

Laris Kreslins, Owner, Lime Projects Laris Kreslins is a Philadelphia-based entrepreneur with 10 years’ experience in social media outreach, audience acquisition, and ad sales. In 2005 he founded Lime Projects, a company that specializes in bespoke brand experiences, viral and grassroots marketing. Clients range from Fortune 500s to nonprofits. Laris holds a BA from Temple University.

Chris Krewson, Executive Editor, philly.com
Chris Krewson is the Executive Editor of Online News at the Philadelphia Inquirer. For more than 10 years he has worked closely with newspaper and digital media professionals to bring news gathering and presentation into the 21st century.

Kara LaFleur, Co-Founder, Geeks Who Give

Artist and social networking habitué Kara LaFleur received her BFA in Photography with a minor in Bookmaking from University of the Arts, where she focused on alternative image-making processes. Since graduation she has been involved in nonprofit sector, and recently co-founded Geeks Who Give, which channels the Philadelphia tech scene toward socially-conscious causes.

Cynthia Lambert, Executive Director, South Jersey Cultural Alliance
Cynthia Lambert is the Executive Director of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance, a nonprofit service organization supporting the region’s arts, history, cultural organizations to encourage the participation of residents and visitors in the cultural life of the region. Ms. Lambert has an undergraduate degree in Art from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Frank Lee, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Computer Science, Drexel University
Dr. Frank J. Lee is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He received a B.A. in Cognitive Science, summa cum laude, from University of California, Berkeley in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2000.

Kelly R. Lee, President & CEO, Innovation Philadelphia
Kelly Lee leads efforts to support economic growth in the Philadelphia Region through the development of the region’s creative economy as a global hub for creative enterprises, services, and talent; the attraction and retention of young professionals ages 25-34 vital to economic growth; and fostering entrepreneurism that will define Philadelphia’s future growth.

Julie Lenzer Kirk, Chief Muse, Path Forward International, LLC Y. Renee Lewis, Chief Catalyst, Path Forward International, LLC
Julie Lenzer Kirk and Renee Lewis, Chief Muse and Chief Catalyst respectively, lead the team at Path Forward International, a firm dedicated to igniting results-driven and sustainable innovation in companies and with entrepreneurs world wide. Successful entrepreneurs, award-winning instructors, and sought-after speakers, they have been featured bloggers at the World Innovation Forum and are frequently quoted in the press on topics of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Michal Levy

Michal Levy is a visual artist and musician. In her film One (2007), she continues to explore the unique relationship among color, shape and sound, a journey that began with the award-winning Giant Steps (2001), which has been screened at over 30 film festivals worldwide.

Alice G. Lindenauer, Director of Work Force Development, SEI
Work Force Development is responsible for coordinating, managing, and monitoring SEI’s talent lifecycle arena. Such areas include corporate recruiting, retention and work/life programs, leadership development, employee services, such as relocation and immigration, and talent lifecycle information management systems. Alice Lindenauer ensures the services the team provides to SEI employees are in line strategically with the company’s long and short term vision and are consistent with corporate culture.

Nicole A. Lipkin, Nicole A. Lipkin, Co-Author, Y in the Workplace: Managing the “Me First” Generation
Dr. Nicole Lipkin is a business psychologist and executive and entrepreneurial coach.  She is the owner of Equilibria Coaching and Consultation Services, a business/organizational coaching and consultation firm and Equilibria Psychological and Consultation Services, LLC, a group psychology practice, both based in Philadelphia. Nicole coaches and consults with leaders/executives, entrepreneurs, small businesses and organizations and provides coaching and training services for Generation Y employees and those who manage them. 

Mark P. Loschiavo, Senior Executive in Residence and Executive Director, Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship, Drexel University
Mark Loschiavo is President of First Serve Strategies, a professor of management at Drexel’s LeBow College of Business, and is responsible for all entrepreneurial activities at Drexel. First Serve Strategies consults companies in change management and leadership. Mark held various leadership positions over a 15-year career with IBM, where he had fiduciary responsibilities for a $1 billion profit center and management responsibilities for a 340-person organization.

Mark Lueders, Owner, The Ceramics Shop
Mark Lueders received his MFA from the University of Pennsylvania in painting and his BFA from Miami University in Ohio. Mark established a ceramics program for the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 where he taught for 11 years. His current work combines both computer technology, and traditional craft techniques. He is the owner and inventor of theceramicshop.com, the fastest growing Pottery Supply House on the east coast.

William Lynch, Dean, Goodwin College of Professional Studies, Drexel University
Dr. William Lynch is the dean of Drexel University’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies which is comprised of two distinct academic units, the School of Education and the School of Technology and Professional Studies, and a division incorporating Continuing Education and Customized Learning Solutions. Prior to coming to Drexel, Dr. Lynch served as vice president for operations and acting CEO for GWSolutions, Inc. and executive director of George Washington University’s Center for Distance and Mediated Learning.

Peter Madden, Founder and President, AgileCat
Peter Madden, a nationally recognized branding expert, founded AgileCat in 1999 as an agency specializing in brand strategy, advertising, design and public relations. AgileCat clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Clair Global, Parente Randolph, Advocare and more. Madden also writes on brand marketing and agency life for Advertising Age. AgileCat can be found at WeGetU.com.

Richard Maimon, Principal, KieranTimberlake
Richard Maimon is a Principal at KieranTimberlake, an internationally recognized architecture firm noted for its fusion of research and practice. The firm has received over one hundred design citations including the 2008 Architecture Firm Award, the highest honor bestowed on a firm by the American Institute of Architects.

Dennis Manning, Scindocs, LLC Dennis Manning. Dennis is a Philadelphia-based attorney practicing in the area of intellectual property. Dennis has extensive experience in intellectual property-related transactions and has counseled numerous start-up ventures. He is a graduate of Temple University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review, and a graduate of Yale University.

Michael Manthey, Artist

Michael Manthey is trained in the art of jewelry design. He works strictly with one-of-a-kind commission work, cutting and carving his own stones. Michael exhibits his work at the Wexler Gallery and over the last ten years, has given classes in his studio to students of all ages. He has taught & lectured at many public schools, community art centers, Temple University, Moore College of Art, University of the Arts, and Bucks County Community College.

James Maransky, Principal, The EnVision Group, developer of IceHouse
James Maransky is a real estate developer and broker who specializes in environmentally-conscious new construction. Jim earned his MBA from Villanova University and worked as a consultant for electric utility companies completing best case scenario analysis for the operation of power plants and analyzing bulk power marketing deals. Jim is currently working on The Icehouse, a registered LEED for Homes multi-family Development in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia.

John McInerney, VP of Marketing and Communications, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

John McInerney leads the operations and strategic direction of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s marketing programs and directs Engage 2020, an initiative focused on doubling cultural participation in Greater Philadelphia by the year 2020. John holds a BS in Business Administration from Loyola University (New Orleans) and an MS in Arts Administration from Drexel University.

Russell Meddin, Founder, Bike Share Philadelphia
Russell Meddin is the founder of Bike Share Philadelphia, an advocacy group with the mission to bring public use bicycling as a compliment to public transportation to the City of Philadelphia. He is the contributing editor to the primary international source of public use bicycling news and information, The Bike-sharing blog. He is an avid cyclist who has always used a bicycle not only for recreation, but also for transportation.

Jonas Milder, Professor, Industrial Design Department, The University of the Arts, Master of Industrial Design Program
Mr. Milder has been a full-time faculty member in the industrial design department at The University of the Arts, Philadelphia since 1997. He served as chair of the undergraduate program for industrial design between 2002 and 2006 and became director of the Masters of Industrial Design (MID) program in 2007.

Erika Mijlin, Documentary Producer, Editor and Founding Partner, Artifact Pictures
Erika Mijlin is a producer, editor, writer, and founding partner of the media production company Artifact Pictures. Some recent professional credits include: The View From Amber Street (Co-Producer/Writer); Virtual Memory (Writer); The Adventures of Teddy P. Brains (Co-Producer/Animation Producer); From Philadelphia to the Front (Associate Producer/Cinematography); and Viewfinder (Co-Producer/Editor).

George W. Miller, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Temple University
George Miller (gwm3@temple.edu) is a freelance writer, photojournalist and assistant professor of journalism at Temple University. He teaches, among other classes, a course entitled, "The Entrepreneurial Journalist."

William Milnazik, Owner, Axis Visual
William Milnazik worked for a major Philadelphia design studio from 1980 – 1997. In 1997, he started and continues to operate AXIS visual. AXIS visual positions their clients with a brand and a visual “face” that inspires, educates and motivates existing and potential customers.

Emily Morgan, President & Chief Visionary, Delegate Virtual Business Solutions
Emily Morgan is the President and Chief Visionary of Delegate Solutions and Entrepreneur’s Entourage. She is a Penn grad, a member of IVAA and serves on the Board of DVVAA as VP of Communications. She has been featured in multiple media outlets speaking on Virtual Professionals.

Lou Musante, CEO, Catalytix
Lou Musante is Managing Partner of Catalytix Inc. a strategic thinking and research firm he co-founded with Dr. Richard Florida and Dr. Kevin Stolarick. Lou has worked in regional economic development for over 20 years. His focus areas are entrepreneurship, organizational culture and innovation. Musante is 60, married with five daughters including a set of twins. He considers himself a business "infopreneur."

Mark Naples, Managing Partner, Wit Strategies
WIT Strategy is a strategic communications consultancy that serves clients who do business on the web in the US, Europe, and Latin America. Mark’s experience in media, marketing and public affairs with firms such as Ogilvy & Mather and Kearns & West has ranged from lobbying for the "Baby Bells" as part of the Telecom Reform Act of 1994 to the summer 1996 re-launch of AOL.com and the successful repositioning of three different, mature web companies in 2004 and 2005.

Michael A. Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia
Michael A. Nutter, the 98th mayor of Philadelphia, has set a course for America’s sixth largest city aimed at growing the regional economy in a sustainable manner, dramatically improving public safety and investing in education and workforce development. With a pledge to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America, Mayor Nutter has launched an aggressive strategy, Greenworks Philadelphia that will reduce the city’s carbon footprint and train Philadelphians for new green collar jobs, from weatherization to solar panel installation.

Aaron Ogle, Software Developer, Avencia
Aaron Ogle is a software developer at Avencia, a GIS software development firm based in Philadelphia, PA. Besides being a tech geek, he is a walkability advocate, a distance runner, an amateur theologian, an environmentalist, a backpacker, a coffee aficionado, a writer, a reader, a husband, and a dad.

Wendy Pannier, Aubuchon and Associates
Wendy Pannier is a writer, editor, trainer and business consultant. Her work has focused on improving the communications skills of highly trained technical people to help them move ideas up through organizations from conception to acceptance and profitable use. Wendy became a partner in Aubuchon and Associates in 1997.

Connie Pearson-Bernard, President, Seamless Events, Inc.
Seamless Events is dedicated to creating made-to-measure event and association services. Prior to founding Seamless Events, Connie was in Relationship Marketing for Spherion at Microsoft. She executed a communication to top decision-making customers including managed budgets, planned events, and much more. Connie graduated Magna Cum Laude and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from West Chester University.

Dave Phillips, Public Affairs Specialist, State Farm Foundation
Dave Phillips is a Public Affairs Specialist for State Farm handling media, community, and government relations for Eastern Pennsylvania including the City of Philadelphia. Dave has been a local point person on various company initiatives including the State Farm Dangerous Intersection study; the State Farm/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Child Passenger Safety Study and Teen Driving research; and recently State Farm’s commitment to the America’s Promise Alliance and teen dropout crisis.

Barbara Raphael, President, Raphael Webscapes LLCBarbara Raphael is the president of Raphael Webscapes LLC, a web and identity design firm founded in 1999. Winner of numerous awards including Forbes Best of the Web, Raphael Webscapes has led local municipalities from no web presence into the Internet age with sites designed with the latest standards.

Fredricka Reisman, Ph.D, Director, Drexel/Torrance Center for Creativity and Innovation, Drexel University
Dr. Fredricka K. Reisman is a professor in the Goodwin College of Professional Studies, and founder and former director of Drexel’s School of Education. Additionally, she served as Drexel University’s assistant provost for assessment and evaluation, Interim Associate Dean for Research for the School of Technology and Professional Studies of the Goodwin College, and serves as director of the Drexel/Torrance Center for Creativity and Innovation.

Ruben Reyes, President, Lyquix, Inc.

Ruben Reyes is a technology consultant who helps clients successfully take advantage of information technology. He has worked in the Internet and telecommunications industries for Fortune Global 100 companies and his own businesses since 1997. Before starting Lyquix Ruben was a Solution Sales Manager for Nokia Networks.

Gavin Riggall, Partner, Shift Design
As founding partner of the Philadelphia based Shift Space Design LLC, Gavin has designed and overseen technical development of various building fabrication projects emphasizing a blend between sustainable design and creative innovation. His professional experience includes architectural design and building construction in residential, commercial and institutional projects.

Scott Ritchie, Associate, SMP Architects
Scott Ritchie is currently the project architect for the new Sustainable Urban Science Center for the Germantown Friends School. He is also serving as the project manager during the construction phase of the project. Mr. Ritchie is also currently the project designer for the Kensington CAPA High School in Philadelphia.

Michael P. Rittinger, Partner, Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg & Ellers
Michael P. Rittinger concentrates his practice in the representation of private investment funds, privately-held companies and publicly-traded corporations in connection with a wide variety of complex transactions, including equity and debt offerings, venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and similar transactions.

Angel Rodriguez, Executive Director, Empowerment Group
Angel Rodriguez has many years of senior management experience in the areas of housing and economic development. Early in his career, Angel’s work focused on at-risk populations in alternative educational programs in Philadelphia, first working with Special Education students and then working with New York City’s drop out population.

Tony Romeo, Senior Vice President and Brand Liaison, XLNTAds/Poptent
Tony Romeo is a partner and SVP of XLNTads, which crowdsources video creative through its Poptent social network. Previously, he was a Professor at London Business School and Columbia University and a senior executive with Unilever in Europe and the US, heading Corporate Strategy Development and founding its Interactive Brand Center.

David A. Rubin, Partner, OLIN
David’s extensive background in fine art allows him to sensitively express OLIN’s philosophy of blending art and science to transform social and environmental systems. Current projects include Temple University Campus Development Plan in Philadelphia; Yale University School of Management in New Haven; and Potomac Park Levee and Canal Park on the National Mall in Washington DC.

John Saal, Principal and Founder, UnTuck LLC
John Saal is an award-winning graphic designer, specializing in brand and identity strategy and development. After gaining extensive knowledge from various industry-related jobs ranging from ink-covered pressman to pixel-pushing interactive director, John co-founded Untuck Design Studio in 2005 with his partner in life and business, Amy Saal. www.untuck.com

Chuck Sacco, CEO, PhindeMe Mobile
Chuck Sacco leads PhindMe Mobile, whose technology automates the design and generation of mobile web applications. Combined with text message marketing, social networking and mobile search, PhindMe’s mobile web apps provide businesses with a powerful set of digital marketing processes needed to reach and engage with an increasingly mobile consumer.

Nancy Santiago Negron, Director, Policy and Planning, Philadelphia Youth Network
Nancy Santiago Negrón currently works for the Philadelphia Youth Network, a $33 million non-profit that serves as an intermediary between the School District of Philadelphia, state and municipal elected officials, and the region’s business community. Her current project involves developing a youth workforce preparation system for the creative economy. The end goal of this project is to develop a young, creative workforce that becomes THE creative force for the region’s businesses and organizations.

Mark Schulz, Project Manager, Red Stripe Plane Group
Mark Schulz has been actively involved in the music industry for almost twenty years. Currently, he works as a project manager for the Red Stripe Plane Group, an entertainment company that includes RSP Music, Dusk Nightclubs, Telequins, and the Newark Bears baseball. He is also President of Darkmark Management, a project and consulting firm serving the music and entertainment industry in the Philadelphia region.

Jason Schupbach, Creative Economy Industry Director, Massachusetts Department of Business Development
Jason Schupbach is the first-in-the-nation Creative Economy Industry Director at the Massachusetts Department of Business Development. In this job he focuses on the nexus of creativity, innovation and technology to grow the creative industries cluster in the state, including film, tv, digital media, videogames, design, advertising, music, and publishing businesses.

Paul Schutt, Co-Founder, Issue Media Group
Paul Schutt is the co-founder of Issue Media Group, a Detroit-based media company that publishes online magazines in cities such as Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and is preparing to launch in Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Toronto. IMG publications focus on growth, investment and remarkable new economy talent.

Andrew Schwalm, Writer, Documentary Filmmaker and Web Community Organizer
Andrew Schwalm, formerly of First Person Arts, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization dedicated to non-fiction, is a hyperlocal journalist, ethnographer and local community builder in West Philadelphia. He founded and edits malcolmxpark.org and phillydrillteams.com.

Andradia Scovil, Program Coordinator, Civic Innovation Lab
Andradia started her career as a Corporate Credit Analyst and later an Estate Settlement Senior Associate with National City Bank. She is an inductee in Kaleidoscope’s Cuarenta/Cuarenta Club and a 2009 CWRU Case Study Award recipient. Andradia is currently the Program Coordinator for the Civic Innovation Lab. She received her B.B.A from Ohio University.

Michael Sebright, Founder & Lead Designer, Stimulant Design
Growing up in the agriculture of central Pennsylvania, Michael Sebright now finds himself blended into urban life with a balanced perspective of nature and the surroundings. As a lead designer, Michael owns several companies all committed to improving our global environment with sustainable design techniques.

Harvey Seifter, CEO, Seifter Associates
One of the world’s leading authorities on creativity in business, Harvey wrote Leadership Ensemble, founded Creativity Connection, and has participated in the White House Global Cultural Initiative. During his tenure at the helm of Orpheus and the Magic Theatre, those organizations garnered the Kennedy Center Award and 5 Grammy Awards.

Rasul Sha’ir
When it comes to successful ideas Rasul believes in three things: being fearless, creativity and persistence. This is born from his own experiences in international development, architectural design and in starting his own entrepreneurial enterprise. From his perspective triumph is in the details: the grandest of projects depends on the success of the smallest components.

Christian Shea, Principal, p4mv
Christian Shea is a principal of Philadelphia marketing agency P4MV. He has been developing measurable marketing strategies for organizations across a wide range of vertical markets since 1995. Prior to founding p4mv, Christian was a senior account executive for two Denver advertising agencies where his clients included Agilent Technologies, eSoft and LSI logic.

Grant Shonkwiler, Game Programmer and Designer Megatouch Games
Shonkwiler currently works for Megatouch Games as a Game Programmer and Designer bridging the gap between the creative and technical side of the company to create the next great touchscreen games. He has also written and spoken on game development at several conferences, and spends time helping students and future game developers achieve their dream.

Skip Shuda, CEO, Team and a Dream
Skip Shuda is CEO of Team and a Dream, an Internet Marketing Strategy company that helps Small and Mid-sized businesses achieve visibility to profitability. As a serial entrepreneur, Skip has been building software and Internet technology companies for over 25 years. Team and a Dream helps companies with market and competitive assessments, Internet marketing and social media strategies.

Hilmar Sigurdsson, Co-Founder & Managing Director, CAOZ
Hilmar Sigurdsson is the co-founder and Managing Director of CAOZ – Digital Design & Animation in Reykjavík, Iceland. CAOZ (www.caoz.com) is on the forefront of Icelandic Animation, having released two internationally award-winning CGI films and currently with THOR – The EDDA Chronicles, an International Co-produced CGI feature animation in full production.

Ginny Simon, President, Project Marketing

Ginny Simon is President of Project Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm. Project Marketing works with clients to develop effective media relations, through press release distribution and article placement. She has graduate degrees in marketing and public administration and has served as a Main Street Manager.

Conor Smith, Vice President of Sales and Recruiting, The BOSS Group
Conor Smith is The BOSS Group’s Business Development and Recruiting VP and has been integral to the company’s explosive growth and numerous industry recognitions. Conor has 11-plus years staffing experience, a Communications B.A. from King’s College, Executive MBA from Penn State, PHR Certification, and HR certificate from Villanova.

Joan K. Smith, Associate Director and Managing Editor, InLiquid
Artist, writer, editor, independent curator, and creative communications specialist Joan K. Smith has been active in Philadelphia arts for over 25 years, particularly as a proponent of interactive visual art in non-traditional venues; this focus has now expanded to encompass social media technology. Joan is Associate Director/Managing Editor of InLiquid.com, and holds a BFA from Moore.

Mr. Michael Snyder, Shareholder and Chair, Trademark & Copyright Group, Volpe and Koenig
Mike Snyder, a shareholder with Volpe and Koenig, is an experienced intellectual property attorney. His practice focuses on the prosecution, licensing and litigation of patents, trademarks and copyrights. Mike’s clients include toy and game manufacturers, jewelry designers, artists and authors. Mike is an adjunct professor at Temple University and a frequent presenter on intellectual property topics.

Elysa Stein Soffer, Senior Graphic Design, Bressler Group
Elysa is a Senior Graphic Designer at Bresslergroup. She has broad experience ranging from design for print graphics and packaging to product graphics and graphic user interface development. In addition to practical knowledge of sustainable development practices, she is Bresslergroup’s internal sustainability champion and has initiated and drives the firm’s sustainability efforts.

Nathan Solomon, CEO, superfluid
Nathan Solomon was VP of Business Development at the largest specialty retailer of videogames. Formerly Executive Producer and Chief Technologist at national ad firms, he currently advises major game industry entities on new business categories and strategies.

Gary Sorin, Director of Operational Excellence, NRG Energy
Gary Sorin brings a breadth and depth of corporate experience, and a passion for sustainability. He has conducted significant research regarding sustainable practices including interviews with thought leaders. With his combination of consulting and P&L experience, he has developed a strong ability to think strategically, drive implementation, and bridge diverse executive positions on complex issues.

Thaddeus Squire, Artistic Executive Director, Peregrine Arts
Hailed as a “visionary” voice in the contemporary arts by David Patrick Stearns of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thaddeus Squire is a curator, consultant, writer, and producer. His diverse background has led him to a range of interests from innovative curatorial approaches to the fine and performing arts, to business and entrepreneurship models for cultural enterprise, to research in creative practice and cultural policy.

Alexander Stein, Ph.D., Principal, Boswell Group LLC
Dr. Alexander Stein, business psychoanalyst, advises business leaders and entrepreneurs in enhancing their leadership and organization’s performance through clarifying and strategically harnessing the complex psychological and emotional underpinnings of motivation and behavior. Dr. Stein is Principal, Boswell Group, and Triad Consulting and an award-winning author, speaker, and FORTUNE Small Business columnist.

Gary Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer, City of Philadelphia
Gary Steuer heads the newly created Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, which is tasked with increasing the public’s access to and awareness of the arts, arts education and cultural opportunities and activities; coordinating the efforts of City agencies and cultural institutions; and promoting public and private investment in the creative economy sector.

Kevin Stolarick, Ph.D., Research Director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Dr. Kevin Stolarick has held faculty positions at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and for over a decade worked with technology in the insurance industry as a manager of strategic projects. His research interests include the relationship between firm performance and information technology and the impacts of technology, tolerance, talent, and quality of place on regional growth and prosperity.

Kesi Stribling, Chief Strategist, KSG Strategic Consulting
CEO of KSG Strategic Consulting, Kesi Stribling helps clients improve, promote and sustain their businesses. A noted expert on strategic planning, maximizing partnerships, and marketing, Kesi recently launched 100 DAYS IN (www.100DaysIn.com), an initiative that takes the pulse of the Obama administration and connects stakeholders to the change we need.

Todd Sundsted, NYC Manager, Shift 101
Todd Sundsted is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, author and accomplished technologist based in New York City. He is founding Partner of Science Fair Kids, a management and technology consultancy based in New York City, and Founder and past Managing Director of Shift101’s New York City office. Prior to Shift101, he founded and successfully launched Gazoont, Inc. a health care information startup.

Neil Takemoto, Founder, Cooltown Studios
Neil Takemoto is the founding director of CoolTown Beta Communities, a crowdsource-based placemaking and economic development firm co-developing vibrant urban centers with creatives in partnership with progressive real estate developers and municipalities. He is the author of CoolTown Studios, a ‘crowdsourcing cool places for creatives’ blog that attracts 40,000 unique visitors a month, and the founder of Mobfuse, a crowdsourcing consulting firm, and Bubbly, a crowdsourcing web application.

Dan Taylor, Economic Development Officer, Prince Edward Country
Dan Taylor is a self confessed Creative Economy Geek. After becoming the Economic Development Officer for Prince Edward County in 2001, he realized that he was working in a Creative (Rural) Economy, before he was aware of the language or the concept. Dan’s passion on the subject has driven him to collaborate with and lead a 3 region Creative Economy Data Analysis and Economic Development Action Plan in Ontario.

Melissa Thiessen, Co-Organizer, Twestival
Melissa Thiessen is the city organizer for Philadelphia Twestival, part of the Twestival Global movement. She is also highly involved in Social Media Club Philly, and any other applications of social media where she can help out. Her day job is a neuroscience research technician, studying lighting effects on humans.

Jennifer Thomas, Founding Director, Civic Innovation Lab
Jennifer Thomas has been director of the Civic Innovation Lab since it’s inception in 2003. The Civic Innovation Lab offers mentorship, training, and funding of up to $30,000, for great civic, social and business ideas that can impact Greater Cleveland’s economy Since its launch, in September 2003, the Civic Innovation Lab has granted over $1.4MM to 50 new initiatives, and offered communication and strategic coaching to more than 800 entrepreneurs.

Lou Tranchitella, 3D Artist
Lou is currently a project coordinator for the GameX Industry Summit. Lou is also a 3D and texture artist with experience in 3ds Max and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. He is a member of the VGI (Videogame Growth Initiative) which is an organization that is helping to foster the growth of the game industry in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Branimir Vasilic, Ph.D., CTO, superfluid
Dr. Branimir Vasilic is a physicist and was, until recently, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. He is active in Philadelphia’s budding entrepreneur and tech community and is currently a freelance consultant. He is also a core member of The Hacktory and founder of 8static, Philadelphia’s first monthly chip-music event.

David Walker, Founder, Conjunctured
Born into an entrepreneurial family, David has been forging new trails since childhood. Passionate and progressive-minded, he believes business is about forming a symbiotic relationship with society, providing a means to bring us all together. David is co-founder of 302designs.com, an eco-friendly t-shirt company and co-founder of Conjunctured, a coworking community in Austin, Texas.

Rob Weber, Managing Director, Antiphony
He is currently a Managing Director of Antiphony, a management consulting firm that helps companies create sustainable value through innovation. Prior to Antiphony, Rob was President of Intellifit Corporation a provider of guaranteed fit technology for on-line apparel shopping, a venture backed company that was sold in early 2009.

Jim Wolfe, Co-Founder and CEO, J Street Consulting
Jim Wolfe is a management executive, consultant, and attorney with more than 30 years experience helping emerging growth firms. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of J Street Consulting, a Washington, DC firm providing strategic advice on new products, new markets and new companies. He also serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence and Assistant Professor of Management in the School of Management, George Mason University.

Matt Wolfe, LEED AP, CDT
As the Sustainable Design Coordinator of Gensler Morristown’s hospitality studio, Matt brings a passionate and unique perspective to a variety of project types. His background in design, construction, and international community service fuel his cause of merging sustainability and architecture into a seamless practice.

Jennifer Thomas, Founding Director, Civic Innovation Lab Jennifer Thomas has been director of the Civic Innovation Lab since it’s inception in 2003. The Civic Innovation Lab offers mentorship, training, and funding of up to $30,000, for great civic, social and business ideas that can impact Greater Cleveland’s economy Since its launch, in September 2003, the Civic Innovation Lab has granted over $1.4MM to 50 new initiatives, and offered communication and strategic coaching to more than 800 entrepreneurs.

Tracey Welson- Rossman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Chariot Solutions
Tracey Welson-Rossman is Director of Sales and Marketing for Chariot Solutions, as well as, a board member and Director of Events for Philadelphia Startup Leaders. Chariot Solutions is the leading software consulting firm in the Philadelphia region providing architecture and development for solutions using Java, open source and emerging technologies.

Alina Wheeler, Founder, Alina Wheeler
Alina Wheeler is the author of Designing Brand Identity: an essential guide for the whole branding team– the first book to deconstruct the branding process into a universal, disciplined five-phase methodology. Wheeler is presently working on Brand Atlas: sixty diagrams to chart your business, your brand and your life.

Lance Weiler, Founder, Workbook Project Lance Weiler is a critically acclaimed award winning writer / director. Recognized as a pioneer because of the way he makes and distributes his work – Wired magazine named him “One of twenty-five people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood.” He has successfully self-distributed his films The Last Broadcast and Head Trauma to over 20 countries while grossing over 5 million dollars in the process.

Troy White, President & CEO, Wytehouse Marketing
Troy White is a full service Lifestyle Marketing specialist within the urban and “Generation X/Y” marketplaces. Troy ran several divisions for Sony Music for 10 years. He was responsible for marketing and promoting artist such as Michael Jackson, Sade, Shabba Ranks, Luther Vandross, Snoop Dogg and others. He has been a marketing specialist for over 18 years. Troy started Wytehouse Marketing in 1994.

Ryan Widger, Independent Arts & Crafts Professional
In addition to his studio practice in photography and cultural criticism, artist Ryan Widger teaches and lectures at numerous institutions nationwide, and works as a producer/creative consultant in the entertainment industry. Ryan is a Fullbright Fellow (06-07) and alumnus of University of Pennsylvania (BA), Cranbrook Academy (MFA), and Skowhegan.

Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer, The City of Worchester

Erin Williams is the Cultural Development Officer and Executive Director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, a public private partnership made up of 68 cultural organizations and the City of Worcester, MA. Erin has been instrumental in advancing the Worcester wayfinding and public art program.

Mike Worth, Founder, Game Music, Inc.

Mike Worth is the owner of Game Music, Inc., a company that works with game developers that want catchy, thematic music for their games. Mike’s credits include music for Rush Hour 3, orchestrations for the Emmy award winning TV show, Wonderpets, and sound design for the X-Box game, Fittest.

Paul Wright, Executive Vice President, Operations & Business Development, Micco World, Inc. Paul E. Wright is Executive Vice President of Micco World, a business solutions platform focused on the media & entertainment industries. Rooted in finance, media & technology, Paul has successfully founded two companies, with Micco being his third, produced 2 documentaries and was appointed by Mayor Nutter’s Transition.

Rachael Zimmerman, Executive Director, InLiquid
Rachel Zimmerman is an artist, independent curator, and Executive Director of the nonprofit InLiquid, which she founded in 1999 to increase community, visibility, and opportunities for independent artists and organizations in the Philadelphia area through the internet. Rachel is also principal partner/founder of Studio Z Design.