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University of Richmond

Affinity table topics and host biographies



  • Return on investment? Convincing decision-makers and doing it without adding staff: Panelist Cynthia Price.
  • Integrated strategies:  Dave Neudeck is Director of Electronic Marketing for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. He manages the interactive marketing strategies including new media marketing fo rthe Commonwealth's vast advertising and public relations campaigns. He previously worked with numerous state agencies while employed as a programmer and strategist for the Virginia Information Providers Network.
  • What matters: Your purpose in using social media: Dean Browell, Director of New Media for  ND&P | Neathawk Dubuque & Packett, is one of the few practioniers who also has firm academic credentials in this field of study. He holds a doctorate in education with a dissertation on how generational segments engage in media online. Knowledgeable about demographics and building communities online, he has a diverse communications background, including a stint at Ferrum College. His clients have included VCU Medical Center, The Richmond Diocese and Virginia State Police.
  • Law and ethics: Christopher E. Gatewood practices with Hirschler Fleischer in the areas of intellectual property and information technology. He advises clients on matters including copyright, trademark, content and software licensing, internet business matters, media, advertising, and entertainment. He has been a featured speaker at bloggers' conferences, meetings of media and web development professionals, and has written about social media topics in outlets including ZDnet.com and SitePoint.com.
  • Getting started and choosing the right platform: Jeff Smack is the art director at Madison+Main, Advertising & New Media. He is also the social media architect for Madison+Main's client accounts. Jeff earned his BFA in graphic design from Appalachian State University and has honed his marketing and design talents across many platforms from magazine publishing and fashion styling to traditional and new media advertising.
  • Building relationships: Friend and fundraising on social media. Keynoter Gradon Tripp.
  • Twitter: Jonah Holland is public relations & marketing coordinator for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. She came to the Garden in the ramp-up to its 25th anniversary and she introduced emerging and social media to help draw record attendance. Jonah manages the Garden's online community through a diverse and comprehensive social media strategy. She is also founding editor andpublisher of the NearWestEndNews blog and owner of Mox-eMedia LLC, a business dedicated to helping nonprofits with their social media needs. Her clients include the Richmond Metro Convention & Visitor's Bureau and RichmondInsideOut.com. She holds a B.A. in English from Virginia Commonwealth University.
  • Facebook, Podcasts and YouTube:  Scott Dickens. Dickens  is president and executive producer of Rocket Pop Media. Before starting his own company, he worked in print media with Richmond Parent and Style Weekly and then went on to Ziff-Davis in San Francisco where he launched a technology magazine and a technology channel for Direct TV (ZDNet). His media production company and agency serves national and local clients. Among them are Carytown Merchants Association, Retail Merchants Association, Youth Leadership Forum and Keep Virginia Beautiful campaign.  
  • Blogging: Many organizations start blogs to share ideas, inspire action or further their missions. How to do it right and what do you need to worry about: John Sarvay has 20 years background in communications, strategic planning and leadership development. Well known as publisher and writer for some of the region's best-read blogs--including Buttermilk & Molasses, which looks at global and local events through Savay's particular lens, he was named one of Style's "Top 40 Under 40" and Richmond Magazine's "Best of Richmond" for his blogging. He holds a degree in nontraditional studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. He worked at Luck Stone Corp. for 12 years in various capacities and is now owner of Floricane, a strategic and creative facilitation firm. He has served on the boards of the Carver Promise and the Creative Change Center. 
  • When things go bad online: Reputation management and crisis management: Steve Mullen is president of EndGame Public Relations. He worked seven years in broadcasting before beginning his public relations career at The Martin Agency and later in corporate communications for Circuit City. In 2006, he created End Game, which specializes in media relations, crisis communications, social media strategy, and creation of social media content. In May of 2007, he launched Richmond¿s only podcast production service  He holds a degree in mass communications from VCU and is a member of the Richmond chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the Independent Practitioners Alliance (IPA) and the Social Media Club Richmond.

Posted June 20, 2009