Webcam 2011 Speakers
Closing Keynote: Rand Fishkin
CEO & Co-Founder, SEOmoz, Seattle
@randfish
Rand Fishkin is the CEO & Co-Founder of SEOmoz, the web's most popular SEO Software provider. He co-authored the Art of SEO from O'Reilly Media and was named on the 40 Under 40 List and 30 Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs Under 30. Rand has been written about in The Seattle Times, Newsweek and PC World among others and keynoted conferences on search around the world. He's particularly passionate about the SEOmoz blog, read by tens of thousands of search professionals each day.
Rand first became involved with the web in 1993, while still in high school. After playing with MS Frontpage and building websites in the late '90's, he moved into consulting on the usability side of the equation, assisting local Seattle-area banks, law firms, doctors and small businesses with their domains. It wasn't until 2002 that he got involved in the field of search marketing.
In 2004, the Rand began posting reports, data, and tools on a website that eventually became SEOmoz. At the start of 2005, through the generosity of Danny Sullivan, he attended his first industry conference. Later that year, he authored the Beginner's Guide to Search Engine Optimization just before SEOmoz was featured in Newsweek magazine.
For the last four years, Rand has had amazing opportunities to see SEOmoz grow and become one of the most visible companies in the search marketing world. He’s been invited to speak to the search engineers at Google & Microsoft, contributed to the launch of the SMX conference series, and given presentations for the United Nations, Stanford University, Public Media, NPR, Benchmark Capital & Ignition Partners. Recently he co-wrote The Art of SEO book for O'Reilly Publishing. And now, he’s working on scaling SEOmoz and trying to get comfortable with a new, much more demanding role.
In his miniscule spare time, Rand enjoys the company of his amazing wife, whose serendipitous travel blog chronicles their journeys.
John Andrews
Competitive Web Strategist and SEO Consultant, Seattle
@johnandrews
Before he established himself as a full-time independent SEO consultant in 2003, John worked in clinical research as a Biomedical Engineer and research scientist. His technical background and desire to reach health infosumers led him into web development in 1996, early in the life of the world wide web. He's remained hands-on with the tools and processes of SEO and competitive publishing throughout his career, and often consults for other SEOs as well as web development teams, businesss, and entrepreneurs.
John has worked in the trenches of competitive SEO since the late 1990s, and is experienced with a wide variety of topics including but certainly not limited to metal buildings, travel, business, performance-enhancing drugs, therapeutics, brain imaging, bagels, small metal tubes, the Paris Hilton, expensive Japanese incense, pay day loans, rock & roll, lawyers, fishing gear, aberrant behavior, and lucky charms.
John Dempsey
Social Media Community Advocate, American Licorice Company
@johnpdempsey
John serves as one of the primary spokespeople for the American Licorice Company, the CPG house of the Red Vines® and Sour Punch® brands. He provides real-time customer service, producing content and engaging in conversation across the social web to build brand awareness, drive sales, and maintain consumer loyalty. John also works to analyze the massive flow of consumer research data emerging from these new social channels to help understand the consumer segments and deliver relevant products, campaigns and marketing materials.
Constantly inspired, John is working to better understand and influence this new realm of brand transparency and consumer engagement in the digital age.
Jesse Felder
Founder, Felder & Company, LLC/Owner CAT 6, LLC, Bend
@jessefelder
Jesse Felder is an investor and entrepreneur whose dual passions are scouring a variety of markets for attractive investment opportunities and studying and developing successful business strategies and philosophies.
To this end, he has founded or co-founded several companies and projects over the past decade, including Felder & Company, an investment management firm; The Trading Desk television show on COTV; and CAT6 Video Game Lounge, a retail entertainment franchise.
Jesse is also a husband and father of two beautiful children that he home schools with his wife. He’s an avid golfer, musician and yoga practitioner. After living in Bend for over ten years, he can’t think of a better place to pursue such obsessions.
Todd Friesen
SEO strategist and consultant
@oilman
Todd was most recently Vice President of Search Strategies at Visible Technologies, overseeing the TruView and Search departments. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary and is considered to be an SEO pioneer.
He entered the SEO world in 1998 and has since worked with top-name clients like Sharper Image, Nike, Neiman Marcus, and Accor Hotels North America on natural search optimization. Prior to joining Visible Technologies, Todd was the Director of SEO for Range Online Media where he managed SEO campaigns for large B2C online retailers such as Macys.com and CompUSA. He is an expert in search engine marketing, a former administrator at Webmasterworld.com, and a former moderator for Search Engine Watch Forums. He also co-hosted the popular SEO Rockstars show on WebmasterRadio.FM, in addition to being a regular speaker at Search Marketing Expo and other conferences.
James Gentes
Founder & CEO of The Social Business, Bend
@jgentes
Through the Social Business, James helps companies use social media to engage with their customers and measure the results.
James previously spent 10 years at Symantec, where he managed a multi-million dollar product line and earned multiple awards for excellence in Product Management and Innovation. He later was Vice President at Source-N where he managed the production of mobile applications for brands like MTV and TIME, Inc. He holds a degree in Business & e-Business, several technology certifications, and also manages TechSpaceBend, a co-working facility for startups and entrepreneurs in the Old Cigar Building downtown.
Scott Hendison
CEO, Search Commander, Inc./Founder & Creator, SEO Automatic
@shendison
As a computer and software retailer in Portland from 1997–2002, Scott first learned about search by selling used software titles online, and building an on-site computer service business through Pay Per Click and organic search engine optimization.
In 2002, he began working with clients for internet marketing, and in 2004 obtained “certification” from one of the few education courses available at the time, from Search Engine Workshops.
After years of studying, reading, and actively performing search engine optimization, in 2006 Scott began speaking at some of the larger internet marketing conferences, and helped found SEMpdx, a local non-profit educational organization for the search industry.
Scott remains on the forefront of the industry to this day, working with clients, and attending and speaking at search marketing events nationwide.
Andre Jensen
Owner, FreelanceSEM, Bend
@SearchGiant
Also known as “Andre the Search Giant”, Andre Jensen is a seasoned veteran in the Online Marketing industry. Andre has spent 13 years in Online Marketing with the last 9 years entrenched in the realm of Search Engine Marketing.
He has experience with globally recognized companies including Outrider, MarketLeap, Acxiom Digital, and Global Strategies which has given him multiple opportunities to work with Fortune 500 companies and guide a large part of in-house training and teaching. His experience and passion for teaching has brought him more into the spotlight as he regularly conducts Search Engine Strategies classes at CO Community College.
As Owner of FreelanceSEM.com, he provides Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing Services as an outsource solution for overbooked SEO/SEM agencies.
Melissa Jensen
Search Strategist, Global Strategies
Mellissa Jensen is a search strategist for Global Strategies, a search engine marketing consultancy specializing in search engine optimization, brand preservation and training for global enterprise companies. Mellissa’s understanding of the ever changing search landscape and how it impacts websites allows her to develop strategic marketing programs with the goal of increasing her clients' natural search presence. With over twelve years of online marketing experience, Mellissa has worked with a multitude of clients including Cisco, DuPont, Nature Made, Capital One, Tyco Electronics, Intuit, and Shopzilla in order to maximize their traffic and search engine exposure.
Sarah Kotlova
Digital Marketing Strategist, San Diego
@sarahkotlova
Sarah Kotlova is a strategic marketing consultant with 15 years experience in digital marketing. Her experience includes roles as Vice President of Strategy at Geary Interactive and Account Director at Whittmanhart (now Band Digital).
Sarah looks to create user-centric ideation for her agency and clients, bringing the voice of the customer in impactful ways into each marketing and advertising decision. She’s built brands and business online for clients such as Anheuser-Busch, WD-40 Company, Bumblebee Foods, Kellogg’s Special K® and Kashi, Johnson & Johnson, Hill’s Pet, Intel Classmate PC, OAG (Official Airline Guide), Covad Communications (now Megapath), Kyocera Communications and Webster Bank.
When she can drag herself away from the computer, she enjoys traveling. Despite the x-rays, lame snacks and baggage fees.
Adam Audette
Adam is the President of RKG, a data-driven digital marketing agency with leading services and technology solutions in paid search, SEO, display, attribution, social media, and comparison shopping.
Prior to joining RKG, Adam was President and founder of the respected boutique SEO agency AudetteMedia, which served premier brands including Zappos, Amazon, Gannett, Kroger, HSN, Charming Shoppes, University of Phoenix, Michelin, Wolters-Kluwer, and many others.
Adam has been active in the search marketing industry since the late '90s and is a highly rated speaker at premier industry events including SMX and SMX Advanced, Searchfest, SES, BlueGlass, MozCon, and Pubcon. He contributes regular columns for Search Engine Land and Search Engine Watch, and has served as technical editor for Wiley/Sybex publications such as, “SEO: An Hour A Day”.
Todd Malicoat
SEO faculty chair, MarketMotive.com
@stuntdubl
Todd (aka stuntdubl) has over 10 years of experience in internet marketing and 5 years experience consulting on search marketing management at an executive level. At MarketMotive.com, Todd leads a comprehensive online marketing curriculum with other experts in all facets of internet marketing. Todd has been an active international conference speaker at Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster World Pubcon, Search Marketing Expo, Affiliate Summit, Dreamforce, and other industry conferences for over five years on various aspects of online media including search marketing and social media.
Armed with the funding of a generous angel investor, Todd developed a process to find, negotiate, and purchase undervalued websites like CollegeDegree.com. These sites were redeveloped and further monetized using proven strategies for creating sustainable web properties with substantial appreciation in relatively short periods of time. This proprietary process for identifying and redeveloping web properties is the foundation for Todd's current and future ventures, and has provided returns of over 500% in a year on the above respective sites.
As a thought leader in the online business world he has been named among the top 50 Most Influential Marketers of 2008 and 2009 by Invesp.com, and Top 40 Most Influential in Search Marketing by GSInc.co.uk in 2007. He has been cited by Inc. Magazine, The Sydney Herald, Website Magazine, The New York Post, Infoworld, and many other media outlets on search, reputation management, social media, and other web related issues. Todd also runs a blog that covers all areas of web traffic acquisition called Stuntdubl.com - that echoes his mantra of "Getting hit by traffic...not cars."
Opening Keynote: Tim Ash
President & CEO, SiteTuners, San Diego
@tim_ash
Tim Ash is the President and CEO of SiteTuners and its parent company Epic Sky. He is the author of Amazon.com e-commerce bestseller Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide To Testing and Tuning for Conversions (LandingPageOptimizationBook.com - John Wiley Press 2008).
During his 20 year involvement with the Internet, Tim has worked with American Express, Sony Music, Verizon Wireless, American Honda, COMP USA, Harcourt Brace & Co., Universal Studios, Eaton, American Red Cross, Texas Instruments, 1-800-Flowers.com, Red Envelope, SAIC, Pyxis, and B.F. Goodrich Aerospace to develop successful Internet initiatives.
Before joining Epic Sky, he co-founded Future Focus, an Internet business accelerator. Prior to that he worked in a variety of management and technical roles at SAIC, HNC Software (now a division of Fair Isaac), NCR and the U.S. Navy. He has chaired Internet conferences and spoken internationally at numerous industry events including Search Engine Strategies, eMetrics, Affiliate Summit, PPC Summit, eComXpo, PC Expo and Internet World.
Tim is the "By The Numbers" expert columnist for Search Engine Watch and has written many articles on harnessing the power of the Internet for business. He is a contributing columnist for several industry publications, including Website Magazine, Electronic Retailer Online Strategies, and Visibility Magazine. He attended UC San Diego on a full U.C. Regents Scholarship (the highest academic scholarship awarded by the University of California), and received his dual-major B.S. in Computer Engineering and Cognitive Science "with highest distinction."
Tim also completed his M.S. and C.Phil. degrees during his PhD. studies in computer science (specializing in neural networks and artificial intelligence) at UC San Diego. He is the past president of the iMarketers Association. He has completed the FastTrac entrepreneurship program through the Kauffman Foundation, and was also a member of the San Diego chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO).
David Mihm
President & CEO, Get Listed.org, Portland
@davidmihm
David is an online marketing consultant who creates and promotes search-friendly websites for clients throughout the U.S. and is the co-founder for GetListed.org. A recognized local search optimization expert, David serves as Advisory Board member of SEMpdx. His Local Search Ranking Factors is considered among the most important studies of Local SEO. David has presented at many conferences in the Local Search Industry, including multiple SMX Local/Mobile and the Local Search Summit. David speaks his mind at his blog, Mihmorandum, and at Search Engine Land.
Taylor Pratt
VP of Product Marketing, Raven Internet Marketing Tools
@RavenPratt
Prior to joining Raven, Pratt was a senior search specialist at nFusion and LunaMetrics. He promotes the use of conversion-focused, analytics-based SEO for clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
Pratt contributes to Search Engine Journal covering the latest tools and techniques in social media marketing, and to Search Engine People on search engine optimization. Pratt is a frequent speaker at small business and search marketing conferences, including PubCon, SMX Advanced, SMX: East and West and PubCon South.
Jaime Robinson
Creative Director, Pereira & O’Dell, San Francisco
With over 12 years in the industry, Jaime Robinson has written everything from matchbook copy to multi-million dollar, effects-driven television spots. Her focus for the past few years has been on digital, and she has truly enjoyed making immersive and engaging interactive experiences to let consumers explore the brands she works on. Online highlights include the debut of Hollywood’s first social film dubbed “Inside” for Intel and Toshiba, the creativity-inspired LEGO CL!CK campaign, deep website development for adidas basketball, St. Ives Skincare and TresSemme, content creation for 2KSports and adidas soccer, and viral pushes for Levi’s, Ray-Ban and Yes To Carrots. Her favorite thing about digital is the ability to have a 2-way conversation with people, one in which the consumer gets to choose his or her own (online) adventure.
Conrad Saam
Director of Marketing, Urbanspoon
@conradsaam
Conrad is the Director of Marketing for Urbanspoon, the widely popular restaurant review and reservation site and top 25 downloaded iPhone application. Prior to Urbanspoon, Conrad was a Director at Avvo, a legal directory that grew from concept to market leader in three years without spending a dollar on advertising.
His columns have appeared in Search Engine Land, Law.com, ClickZ, Technorati, and Search Engine Strategies Magazine. He has spoken at numerous SMX events, SEOmoz Pro Training and SearchFest conferences.
He is an ardent advocate of in-sourcing technical marketing and avoiding black hat tactics.
Cassondra Schindler
Community Strategist, Bend
@cassondra
Cassondra Schindler is a freelance Communications Strategist, focused on creating meaningful connections online and in the natural word. Cassondra centers her approach with an emphasis on behavior, cultural context and brand strategies to plan at the intersection of values and purpose.
In her role as a Social Media consultant, Cassondra believes that true opportunity exists in listening, understanding and elevating community insights that will influence the brand’s direction, guiding it toward ever more relevance and resonance.
Client experience includes Adobe, IBM, Intel, Odell Brewery, Old Mill District, and Visit Bend. A lengthy list of passion projects include Cross Culture: Bike + Art Love, Ignite Bend, Likemind Bend, and past participation on the Commute Options Board of Directors.
Will Scott
Founder and President, Search Influence
@w2scott
Will has been helping small businesses get online since 1994 - that's right, 1994 - before most people even knew there was an Internet. At YPsolutions, now Local Matters Inc., Will was responsible for creating systems which enabled the production of thousands of online phone directories. Now at Search Influence, Will leads a team of 20+ dedicated professionals who believe that the Internet, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization and Social Media need to become accessible to small business for their success.
Andy Smith
Principal, Vonavona Ventures, San Francisco
@kabbenbock
An experienced tech marketer, Andy Smith is a Principal of Vonavona Ventures where he advises and bootstraps technical and social ventures with guidance in marketing, customer strategy and operations. Over the past 20 years, he has served as an executive in the high tech industry leading teams at Dolby Labs, BIGWORDS, LiquidWit, Intel, Analysis Group, Polaroid, Integral Inc. and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
As a guest lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Andy speaks on social technology, engineering virality, and brand building, with a focus on applying technology to address real problems. He is a contributor to GOOD Magazine, where he writes on businesses that embrace and integrate a social mission. He has also spoken at World 50, Marketing Week, Intel, TechCore and Interbrand, and is on the boards of 140 Proof, ProFounder, LIF Brands, EveryWun, and One Family One Meal.
A permanent transplant to the Bay Area from New Jersey, Andy has studied in The Parthenon, lived in a converted South African prison, and counts a regiment of Windsor Castle’s Scots Guards among his friends. Andy’s a gardener, gadgeteer and a serious tech geek and also the creator of “The No Cookie Diet” which he’s still on two years later. Once bumped from a flight that tragically crashed, he has since learned to accept travel mishaps, and most everything else, with equanimity.
Andy earned his MBA at UCLA’s Anderson School and holds an Economics degree from Pomona College.
Brenda Speirs
President & CEO, Buzztag, Bend
@BrendaSpeirs
Born in in the Midwest, raised in New England, New Media and Social Marketing specialist Brenda Speirs has found her home and happiness in Bend as the Queen Bee at Buzztag.
Brenda literally grew up in the hospitality industry, stuffing escargot at her parents’ restaurant when she was 8 years old, successfully managing a restaurant while she was still in high school, and ultimately working corporately in management and training.
Today, her years of hospitality experience, as well as her exceptional organizational skills have been instrumental in navigating the ever-changing waters of social media marketing. For the past 10 years, Brenda has worked closely with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike to create digital marketing strategies that not only connect to customers, but welcome them into successful long-term relationships.
Hans Sprecher
Web Strategist, G5, Bend
@bend_boy
After receiving an honors degree in Philosophy from the Ivy League (go Brown!), Hans chose the natural career path of product manager. He develops, designs, and critiques. Over a hundred websites later, he critically discusses the web: creating engaging websites, converting more users, and discovering usable design patterns.
Michael Strassburger
Co-Founder, Modern Dog, Seattle
Michael Strassburger, co-founder of Modern Dog, grew up in Richland, Washington where he and his friends would ride their bikes in the clouds behind mosquito-killing DDT trucks, which might help explain his off kilter sense of humor (maybe not?). But it’s exactly this “8th grade sense of humor” that is responsible for our 15 year relationship with Blue Q head honcho, Mitch Nash. Mike and Mr. Nash have collaborated on such products as the best selling Cat Butt and Mullet brand series (magnets, gums, car air fresheners, and bath products), Go Intercourse Yourself Lip Balm, Handz-off Anti Masturbatory Cream and “Does this gum make my ass look big?” gum packaging, among many others.
If Mike has a free moment you can find him trying to record himself or one of his daughters in his home recording studio, fixing things around the house, or man wrestling (he has a brown belt in Brazillian Jiiu-Jitsu and black belt in Aikido). He enjoys reading the Huffington Post and watching live martial arts on television. Most recently, The Buckets, – a 90′s band Mike played guitar in – have decided to reunite.
Mike has received hundreds of awards and recognition from every major U.S. design publication/organization, including Graphis, AIGA, Type Directors Club, American Center for Design 100 Show, and Communication Arts. His work is represented in the permanent archives of the Louve (Rohan Marsan wing), Warsaw National Museum, Smithsonian Institute’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the Library of Congress, Denver Art Museum, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Experience Music Project and the Museum Fur Kunst und Gewerbe, among others. Michael currently teaches design courses at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.
Lynette Xanders
CEO and Chief Strategist, Wild Alchemy, Mt. Hood
Lynette Xanders is a global qualitative researcher using traditional and non-traditional research to capture consumer insights, Lynette is adept at crafting information into brand positioning, marketing and innovation strategies. Her experience comes from being a 20-year veteran of advertising agencies such as Cole&Weber, DDB Seattle, BFS/Chiat Day, BBDO Vancouver and The Richards Group as well as a external partner for some of the best agencies in North America.
Clients include Nestle, E&J Gallo, Nike, HEAD, Miller Beer, Cadillac, Microsoft, Washington Mutual, LucasArts, Wyndham, Virgin, Amtrak, Umpqua Bank, Nordstrom, Doc Martens, Rejuvenation, Deschutes Brewery and Outward Bound. A full list is available at wildalchemy.com.
In addition to being an experienced moderator and brand strategist, Lynette conducts creativity, brief writing, cultural enhancement and branding workshops for companies such as Patagonia and Adidas’ Global Innovation Team. She also teaches Insights & Strategy at the Art Institute of Portland. She and her family live on Mt. Hood (OR) to appease her skiing problem.