Conference

Special Note: Mark R. Warner, U.S. Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia

Mark R. Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008, and serves on the Senate’s Banking, Budget, Commerce and Rules committees. He served as Governor of Virginia from 2002-2006 after spending 20 years as a business leader in the high-tech industry.

Senator Warner was the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning a degree from The George Washington University, thanks to part-time jobs and student loans. He received a law degree from Harvard in 1980.

As a private citizen and philanthropist, Mark Warner helped create the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which has provided health care to more than 600,000 under-served Virginians, and SeniorNavigator.com, a referral network for older Virginians and their caregivers.

As Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner inherited budget shortfalls that ultimately grew to $6 billion. He left office four years later with a budget surplus that allowed Virginia to make the largest single investment in K-12 education in state history, key reinvestments in one of the nation’s best public university systems, and record investments in the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2004, Warner chaired the National Governors Association, and TIME Magazine named him one of “America’s Five Best Governors” a year later. Governor Warner’s bipartisan, results-oriented focus resulted in Virginia being designated as the nation’s “best managed state” and its “best state for business.”

He lives with his wife, Lisa, and three daughters in Alexandria, Virginia.http://warner.senate.gov/

Keynote Speaker & Morning Panel

Keynote Speaker: Chris Anderson

As editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, Chris Anderson is one of the most knowledgeable, insightful and articulate voices at the center of the new economy. He consistently understands before anyone else the new directions the economy is taking and then names the central phenomenon, giving us handles for the business opportunities they represent.

With his New York Times bestseller The Long Tail, he named the rise of the niche as a powerful new force in our economy—why the future of business is selling small quantities of more things to the few people who want those things; how all of those small communities together make up a vast market potential, and how the efficiencies of digital and web technology make it possible.

Now Chris has published Free: The Past and Future of a Radical Price, originally as an article in Wired magazine, and as a book that has generated incredible interest, buzz and debate.

In his presentations based on this research, Chris explains why Free is the future of business and how to thrive through freeconomics—what business models look like when free has emerged as a full-fledge economy.

Chris Anderson is the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine. He worked at The Economist for seven years in various positions and served as an editor at the two premier science journals, Science and Nature. Education background in physics, including research at Los Alamos.

Morning Panel: Marketing & Innovation

Marissa Levin, Information Experts

As Founder and CEO of Information Experts, Marissa Levin leads IE’s efforts to create technology-based integrated communications solutions, human capital strategies, and learning strategies for government agencies and for organizations across a wide range of vertical markets. Marissa has led the organization’s entry into the federal market to achieve a sizeable presence in more than 14 agencies spanning all facets of government (civilian, defense, and intelligence), the capture of multiple GSA schedules, the award of the highly competitive OPM TMA Human Capital and Training Contracts, and many others.

Marissa has become known throughout the regional business community as a leader and visionary. She is also the Women’s Entrepreneurship columnist for the DC Examiner, and is a regular columnist for http://www.womengrowbusiness.com and Yahoo. Under her leadership, Information Experts was recently named as a small business success story for USAID, and was named to the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for 2009. She was also named as a 2008 BRAVO Award winner by SmartCEO Magazine, has been named as a 2009 SmartCEO Smart 100 participant, and also named as one of Washington’s Top 100 Technology Titans for 2009 by Washingtonian Magazine.

Additionally, Marissa has been featured in USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal, Working Mother Magazine, Washington Woman Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, BisNow, and on CBS as a successful woman business owner and working mother.

Bob London, London, Ink

Bob London is president and founder of London, Ink, a marketing and communications consulting firm that helps organizations define and prioritize their products and services based on what the market wants — or doesn’t want — to buy. In pioneering the Virtual VP of Marketing concept, Bob works with established and early-stage companies who aren’t ready for the cost and commitment of a full-time marketing executive to assess their market opportunity, determine the strategic options and develop a practical go-to-market plan.

Bob has successfully managed marketing initiatives with annual budgets ranging from the $150 million network tv launch of MCI Friends & Family (back when network tv really meant something) to $75 (seriously!). His work and writing has been profiled or covered by the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Miami Herald, USA Today and Marketing News, the AMA’s flagship magazine, and he recently spoke at Network Solutions’ Unintentional Entrepreneur series. While building London, Ink, Bob has also become known as a serious networker who continually leverages face to face and online networking channels to generate targeted awareness of his business — an approach he has dubbed, “Cloud Marketing.” He is also a published business humor writer — samples can be seen at Bob-servations.com.

Ramon Ray, SmallBiztechnology.com

Ramon Ray, technology evangelist, is an author, speaker and the editor of Smallbiztechnology.com. Since 1986, Ramon has been using computers and was first “online” in 1995. He is the author of “Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses”, has written hundreds of technology articles and posted thousands of technology news items on Smallbiztechnology.com. His content is syndicated and read by thousands of readers. He has written technology articles for Entrepreneur, Allbusiness, Inc Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, New York Enterprise Report, CNet, Var Business, TechTarget and other media.

Ramon is not simply a technology writer, but as a former technology consultant, has years of hands on experience in building networks, installing software, upgrading computers, configuring mobile technology and supporting the technology small businesses use on a daily basis. He is often quoted in the media, including Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, WCBS Radio, Crains New York, National Federal of Independent Business, Small Business Advocate Radio Show and has been invited to speak at events including the United States Small Business Administration Service Core of Retired Executives “Strategies for Succeeding in Business”, Inc 500, PC Expo, Internet World, American Woman’s Economic Development Corporation and Business Development Institute events.

Distinctions: Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Board of Director’s and Technology Committee Chairperson, Jim Blasingame’s Small Business Advocate Radio Show, Brain Trust Member IBM, Small Business Expert Panel

Steve King, Emergent Research

Steve is a founding partner at Emergent Research where he leads ongoing research to identify, analyze and forecast the trends and shifts impacting the small business sector of the U.S. and global economies. He also researches the impact of the Internet and connective technologies on media and marketing.

Prior to founding Emergent Research, Steve held a number of executive, general management, and marketing positions with both large and small corporations. He is a Senior Fellow and board member at the Society for New Communications Research and an advisory board member at Pond Ventures.

Regularly quoted in the media and an active public speaker, Steve contributes to US News & World Report, the American Express Open Forum, Intuit’s Small Business United blog and other on and offline publications. Steve blogs on his research at www.smallbizlabs.com.

Morning Panel: Strategies for Raising Capital

Shannon Nash, Nash Management Group

Shannon King Nash is a CPA, attorney, author, and entrepreneur. She is the President of the Nash Management Group, an entertainment and business management firm based in Los Angeles and Atlanta that represents venture funds, entertainers, producers, foundations/non-profits, high net-worth individuals and companies. She is also a partner with Atlanta-based Register Lett LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in entertainment, media, corporate and intellectual property law.

Shannon is the author of the award-winning book For the Love of Money: The 411 to Taking Control of Your Taxes and Building Your Net Worth. This practical financial empowerment book uses popular songs (from Marvin Gaye to Snoop Dogg) to teach valuable finance and tax lessons. She also wrote the Vault Guide to Tax Law Careers and Helping the Nonprofit Client. She has been featured as a tax, finance and legal expert in numerous publications, including: Global Finance Magazine, Jet Magazine, Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, ABC News Online, Upscale Magazine, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Bankrate.com, L.A.Parent Magazine and The Washington Times. She was recently featured on the cover of the April issue of Black Enterprise. In addition, she served as the finance expert on episodes of BET’s “The Center” and Style Network’s “Modern Girls Guide.” Shannon received her BS in Accounting from the University of Virginia McIntire Schoolof Commerce and her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. You can find her on Twitter @shannonnash.

Kristina Bouweiri, Reston Limousine & Travel Service, Inc.

Kristina Bouweiri is President, CEO, and co-owner of the Washington, DC metropolitan area’s largest limousine/shuttle service, Reston Limousine & Travel Service, Inc., nationally ranked 27th in size. Offering high-quality transportation and a proven record of safety and customer service, Reston Limousine also has a proud legacy of business leadership and philanthropic support.

Kristina is a well-known business leader in the Dulles Corridor area. She is active as a member and board member with numerous organizations, including Loudoun CEO Cabinet, Loudoun and Dulles Regional Chambers of Commerce, Committee for Dulles, eWomenNetwork, and Leadership Loudoun. An ongoing supporter of philanthropic work, especially children’s causes, Kristina assists Make-A-Wish Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes, and the International Children’s Festival. Reston Limousine annually provides over $100,000 through gifts-in-kind to charities.

The Washington Business Journal named Kristina one of the 50 most powerful and influential women in Washington. She has been featured in business publications such as Washington SMARTCEO, Enterprising Women, Limo Digest, and Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation. In demand as a mentor for other women in business, Kristina frequently serves on panels and makes presentations, sharing her insight and business experience.

Denise O’Berry, The Small Business Edge Corp.

Denise O’Berry is the author of “Small Business Cash Flow: Strategies for Making Your Business a Financial Success” a book about how to get, manage and keep your cash flow on an even keel and where it belongs — in your business.

A small business owner since 1996, Denise has worked with hundreds of small business owners over the years and is inspired by their enthusiasm and ability to overcome huge obstacles. She provides small business tools, tips and advice to small business owners around the world via her Just for Small Business column and shares additional small business tips at her website. Find Denise on twitter at @deniseoberry.

Jeremy Brown, Rapid Advance, LLC

Jeremy Brown is President and COO of RapidAdvance LLC, a Bethesda based specialty finance company that provides working capital to small and medium-sized businesses. Since inception in October 2005, RapidAdvance has provided over 13,000 financing transactions to over8,000 unique businesses. A typical customer of RapidAdvance accepts credit cards and generally has a permanent place of business other than their home such as a retail storefront, office or warehouse. Funds are typically used for business expansion, acquisition of another location, purchase of equipment or inventory, stocking for an upcoming busy season, to pay off debt, or for other business purposes. As Jeremy likes to say, “We finance Main Street America!” RapidAdvance provides financing in all 50 states, in Canada with the exception of Quebec Province, and the U.K and Ireland.

Jeremy has 20 years experience as an entrepreneurial C-level executive running start-up and mature businesses in a variety of service industries, including stints as COO of a meetings and conventions services company with 50 locations in North America; President and CEO of a commercial construction contractor with 500 employees; and President of a retail computer company. Jeremy knows what it means to meet a payroll, grow a business, take care of the customer, finance expansion, and when necessary, empty the trash cans.

Jeremy is also President of the North American Merchant Advance Association (NAMAA), the industry association of companies that provide similar types of alternative financing solutions. Jeremy has been quoted and profiled in various industry publications as an expert in the field of alternative small business finance solutions.

In an earlier life Jeremy was a CPA, but don’t hold that against him!

Edward S. Tuvin, Capital Bank, N.A.

Eddie Tuvin holds the position of First Vice President for the direct lending programs of Community South Small Business Lending Group as well as co-manager of sales for CSB’s national wholesale loan securitization program to other lenders.

Tuvin is serving his second consecutive term as a federally appointed District Advisory Council Member to the United States SBA Washington Metropolitan District. He has testified to the The Senate Committee on Small Business on several occasions during the past 2 years and acted as the representative of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL). Mr. Tuvin has been a licensed Maryland Real Estate Broker in good standing for more than twenty years. Tuvin has completed financings for small business such as technology companies, restaurants, hotel/motels, gas stations, automotive repair centers, liquor stores, and various franchise operations.

Mr. Tuvin is licensed by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and is the investment manager for several private accounts. He co-developed a sophisticated hedging strategy for Operating Partnership Units of REIT shares (article in Real Estate Finance Journal, Spring 2000 edition). He is the Managing General Partner of the Tuvin Family Partnership, a real estate and investment partnership. He was a co-founder of Chesapeake Interlink, Ltd., a company that utilized cutting edge 4th generation programming languages to provide customized applications on Digital Equipment platforms.

Afternoon Panel: Getting Ahead in the Economy

Anita Campbell, Small Business Trends, LLC

Anita Campbell is CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Small Business Trends an online community touching over 250,000 small business owners each month. It is an award-winning site, named to the Forbes Best of the Web (twice in 2005 and 2008), and receiving recognition from the Wall Street Journal and MSNBC television. Integral to the success of the community is the Small Business Trends network of experts – a group of small business owners who share their expertise to other small business owners, managers and entrepreneurs.

Anita provides short updates and commentary, and answers questions on Twitter @smallbiztrends.

Anita also hosts a weekly Internet radio podcast show featuring interviews with hundreds of small business owners, entrepreneurs and stakeholders important to the small business market. She also is the new proud owner of a small business social media site, called bizSugar.

Jody Keenan, Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Jody Keenan was named Director of Virginia Small Business Development Centers Network hosted by George Mason University in 2003. She began her SBDC career as a graduate student while earning her MBA and later joined George Mason University as Director of the Northern Virginia SBDC overseeing four local offices. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of Economic Development in Chester County, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Ms. Keenan has served the national SBDC network as Chair of the ASBDC Board of Directors and on the Operations and Accreditation committees. She also serves on several statewide committees including the Virginia Department of Business Assistance Entrepreneur Advisory Board and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee.

Ms. Keenan earned her MBA at LaSalle University in Philadelphia and a B.S. degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Charles Colby, Rockbridge Associates

Charles Colby is President of Rockbridge Associates®, a market research firm that specializes in the services and technology industries. Charles has over 25 years experience advising clients ranging from Fortune 500s to mid-sized businesses to non-profits. He is an expert in survey research to support marketing strategy, product development, service quality, branding and pricing. Charles has authored scores of articles and presentations on technology adoption, marketing strategy and research techniques. He is a co-author of Techno-Ready Marketing: How and Why Your Customers Adopt Technology. Prior to founding Rockbridge in 1992, he held senior research positions in a leading financial services firm and at leading market research companies.

Charles is one of the lead researchers for the Small Business Success Index that Rockbridge conducts on behalf of Network Solutions® and theCenter for Excellence in Service at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Christine Banning, SCORE Association

Christine Banning is VP of Marketing and Communications at SCORE Association and is a marketing expert. She leads strategic brand management, marketing, marketing alliances and PR & communications for SCORE nationally. She has successfully led SCORE’s digital marketing strategy, reaching nearly 3 million people each year. Christine reaches an audience of 500 million annually through SCORE’s PR efforts. Christine speaks nationally on branding, entrepreneurship, small business identity and marketing. Christine serves on the Board of Directors of Dress for Success, Washington, DC. She received her graduate degree from The American University in Washington, DC. She was recently named an Honorary Member of SCORE New York City.

Michael Reed, Paychex, Inc.

Michael Reed leads the Marketing Strategy Group at Paychex, Inc., a FORTUNE 1000 provider of payroll, HR and benefits outsourcing to over a half-million small- to medium-sized businesses nationwide. As a 14 year veteran of Paychex, he has a unique perspective on the economic struggles and opportunities brought about by the country’s current economic situation.

Prior to Paychex, Mr. Reed worked for a regional financial institution and served on the Business School Advisory Board for SUNY Brockport. He earned his MBA in Marketing from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Jake Weatherly, Palo Alto Software

Jake Weatherly is Vice President of Customer Experience for Palo Alto Software, the worldwide leader in business plan and marketing plan software. Jake has more than ten years experience helping small business owners start, run, and grow their business.

Mr. Weatherly is an expert on financial forecasting, web collaboration, e-learning, and establishing competitive advantage through consultative sales, customer service and evangelism. He co-authored the province of Alberta, Canada’s Tourism Marketing education program, developed Prentice Hall’s Business Feasibility Analysis software and Integrated Marketing Communications program – both used in MBA programs throughout the country, and he has worked with companies including Intel, AutoDesk, and SAP to achieve explosive growth in their reseller and partner sales channels.

Since landing at Palo Alto Software, Jake has worked with John Jantsch to launch a software version of his Duct Tape Marketing System, established new retail sales channels including Costco, Sam’s Club, and Target, and he has achieved greater than 100% year over year sales growth for the company in the face of significant macro economic challenges.Jake travels the world to teach business and marketing planning to small businesses, consultants, large enterprises, universities, and government organizations.

Afternoon Panel: Integrating Social Media

Terri Holley, Creative Blog Solutions

Terri Holley, MS CPCC, is the owner and founder of Creative Blog Solutions. As one of the premier social media strategists on the Internet, Ms.Holley helps small businesses harness the power of social media so they can generate more leads, retain existing customers, and create additional streams of revenue. Her clients include profit and non-profit organizations throughout the United States. To maximize results and ensure a return on investment, Terri aligns business objectives with social media solutions while taking into consideration the needs and resources of the small business owner.

Terri brings a broad range of knowledge and experience to social media and online marketing. A proud graduate from the world-renowned Coaches Training Institute, Terri views social media marketing through the prism of strengthening customer relationships. By emphasizing the relationship factor that drives social media, Terri helps small businesses develop online marketing tools that attract a community of enthusiasts around their brand, products and services.

In addition to running Creative Blog Solutions, Terri currently authors two blogs, both of which have excellent search engine rankings and substantial traffic. Her blogs have received extensive press coverage and have several inbound links from prominent sites on the Internet.

Danilo Bogdanovic, Loudoun Scene

Danilo Bogdanovic is a full time Real Estate Consultant/REALTOR® with Market Advantage Real Estate, LLC in Northern Virginia and owner/author of LoudounScene.com and LoudounForeclosures.com. He has been successfully utilizing social media and technology in his business model since October 2006. Approximately 75 percent of his business is generated from his online and social media efforts, which include blogs, Facebook, and Twitter, among others.

Danilo’s local real estate blogs are followed by editors of, and have led to features in, media and publications such as the Loudoun Easterner, Leesburg Today, WJLA ABC7 News, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post, Reuters, USA Today and The Economist. This credibility and exposure has helped increase his presence in the market place, which has led to increased business.

Brent Leary, Co-author of Barack 2.0 , Partner of CRM Essentials

Brent Leary is a CRM industry analyst, advisor, author, speaker and award winning blogger. He is co-founder and Partner of CRM Essentials LLC, an Atlanta-based CRM advisory firm covering tools and strategies for improving business relationships. Recognized by InsideCRM as one of 2007′s 25 most influential industry leaders, Brent also is a past recipient of CRM Magazine’s Most Influential Leader Award. He’s been quoted in several national business publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and Entrepreneur magazine.

In 2009 Brent co-authored Barack 2.0: Social Media Lessons for Small Business. He has written regular online columns for Inc. and Black Enterprise magazines, as well as for popular business sites including American Express OPEN Forum. Brent also hosts and produces the popular “Technology For Business $ake” Internet radio program. His popular blog can be found at BrentLeary.com. You can find him on Twitter at @brentleary.

Joanna Pineda, Matrix International Group, Inc.

Joanna Pineda is CEO and Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group International, Inc., an interactive agency that helps companies, associations and non-profits develop and implement their online strategies. Matrix Group offers clients a mix of Web strategy, branding, design, multimedia, custom application development, content management, association management software, and mission-critical hosting solutions.

Joanna has worked with hundreds of organizations that appreciate her out of the box thinking aboutways to promote their businesses online, grow their membership, and streamline internal business processes. Joanna is a well-known tech leader in the DC area. She was named one of the most influential business women in the DC area by the Washington Business Journal, one of the top 100 techies by Washingtonian magazine, and one of the top CEOs by SmartCEO. She also serves on the Executive Board of DC Web Women.

In addition, Joanna is a well-known blogger. Through TheMatrixFiles.net, Joanna blogs about social media, leadership and marketing. She is also a contributor to WomenGrowBusiness.com.

Jill Foster, DC Media Makers

Jill Foster, co-founder of DCMedia Makers, teaches social media and serves as editor for WomenGrowBusiness.com, a Network Solutions community blog that brings together resources and success stories (humor too!) for women in small business. Fulfilling a ‘bucket list dream’ last year, she covered events at the Democratic National Convention ’08 using mobile media. And in May 2009, her mobile media project report which she co-produced won the Apps for Democracy Social Citizen Award in Washington, DC. Conversations regarding her work have appeared in the Washingtonian, Washington Post, GuardianUK, Indy Star, and other media outlets; she enjoys participating in tech and entrepreneurship communities including DC Web Women and WomenWhoTech. She can be reached via twitter @jillfoster.