Jessika Phillips speaking on “Welcome to Social Media Week Lima 2017 : The Year of Experience”

Selected as One of the Top 12 Global Rising Stars on Social Media to Watch in 2016: Jessika is on a mission to make relationships the forefront of business marketing. She’s known for this outspoken dedication to Relationship Marketing. Jessika lives by her statement that “Relationships will always be more powerful than marketing,” and she believes in being a magnet vs a Bullhorn to truly connect with your tribe.

As a social media strategist, Jessika founded NOW Marketing Group in 2010 with only a laptop and a vision. The company is now a Forbes recognized Agency Partner and a certified inbound partner with Hubspot. NOW Marketing Group works with more than 100 clients across United States and beyond, choosing to serve – not sell.

As a relationship marketing evangelist, Jessika also founded Magnet Marketers and The Relationship Marketing System, membership sites that provide curriculum to help businesses grow. Jessika also teaches comprehensive Relationship Marketing, presents in a weekly videocast “Magnet Marketers” and hosts one of the largest social media Midwest conferences, Social Media Week Lima.

Mike Gingerich, a member of our panel on the “Future of Social Media”

Mike is President of Digital Hill Multimedia, a national web development, web software & marketing agency; Co-founder of TabSite.com, a leading Facebook Page app service for contests, and multiple other software as a service platforms including Waftio, a website lead capture tool. He is a noted Facebook Marketing speaker, as well as author of multiple books, including: Game Plan for Social Media Lead Generation.

Mike’s passion is to “add value”, including seeing businesses and people grow into their highest potential. One way he does this globally is through the non-profit he founded, iGive Global.

Mike hosts a regular podcast for small business digital resourcing at HalftimeMike.com. He hails from the basketball heartland of Indiana originally, currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and escapes to the beach whenever possible! You can find Mike on the web at www.MikeGingerich.com and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MikeGdigital.

Jason Falls, speaking on “There is No Fresh Broccoli – The Six-Point Blueprint to Digital Marketing Success”

Falls is one of the most widely read and respected voices in the digital marketing and social media industries. A social listening and analytics innovator, he spends much of his time analyzing online conversations for consumer insights for clients of the Conversation Research Institute and Elasticity, a full-service digital firm where he serves as a strategy advisor. Falls shares his no-nonsense ideas regularly at ConversationResearchInstitute.com, GoElastic.com, and JasonFalls.com. He loves Louisville, sports, and bourbon.

Chris Dessi, speaking on “Remarkable you – build a personal brand and take charge of your career”

An award-winning digital thinker, author, television and radio commentator, public speaker, and educator, Chris Dessi is the CEO and Founder of Silverback Social, an award-winning digital marketing agency.

Throughout his career in London and New York, Chris has worked with a wide array of businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, as well as notable personalities, products, and brands. Chris travels the country, coaching executives and college students how to leverage social media to benefit their personal brand message and their career.

Chris’s savvy marketing acumen has propelled his personality into the national media landscape. Chris regularly appears on CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, Good Day New York, and Fox Business’s Varney & Co. He has lectured to the United States Marines aboard the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum. Chris is a contributor on INC.com.

Martin Jones, speaking on “Employee Advocacy: Creating a Culture of Influence”

Martin Jones is a Sr. Marketing Manager with the Cox Communications corporate marketing team, where he leads the social media, content, influencer marketing and employee advocacy strategy for Cox Business.

He is also the editor of the Cox Business content hub, CoxBLUE.com, and his writing has appeared in Forbes Inc., Yahoo Small Business Advisor, The New York Times and other leading business and marketing publications and websites.

He is a recognized speaker and emcee at conferences and events including SXSW, Social Media Marketing World, Think Content, Digital Marketing World Forum and more.

His recent awards and recognition include: Top 100 Content Marketing Influencers – Onalytica, Top 42 Social Business Thought Leaders – IBM, Top 150 Marketers to Follow – Likeable, Top 100 Small Business Influencers – Small Business Influencer Awards, and Top 100 Digital Marketers – AdSpringer.

Cami Baker, our networking host

Cami Baker is an International Speaker, Fiercely Entrepreneurial, HGTV House Hunters veteran and Networking Strategy Expert who has given over 1,000 presentations to audiences as large as 30,000.

Her keynote, “Mingle to Millions, The Art and Science of building business relationships and mastering referrals” is also the name of her book. Cami has worked with companies like Berkshire Hathaway, Ronald McDonald House, Keller Williams and hundreds of other groups assisting their people in the art and science of building resources, relationships, and revenue that ROCK! She has been featured in Success from Home Magazine, on HGTV twice and as a judge on NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice.

Ida Abdalkhani, speaking on “How to Connect with Your Audience”

Ida is the Founder & Chief Catalyzer of Ability to Engage, Inc. Ability to Engage helps brands develop marketing communications, product ideas, brand strategies (brand personality, equity, and architecture), and consumer segmentations. The A2E team also develops and facilitates innovation sessions, strategic meetings, and team effectiveness workshops. Clients include start-up companies, international government groups, and some of the world’s largest and most respected companies in brand and marketing such as Clorox, ConAgra Foods, McGraw Hill, Ogilvy, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, and Red Bull.

In addition to running a boutique consultancy, Ida is a professor at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, where she teaches a graduate course, Creativity & Design Thinking- Strategies for Innovation. She also serves as a Board Member and Trustee for Ohio Business Week, an entrepreneurial summer camp for high school students and is a member of Forbes Agency Council, an invitation-only organization for senior-level executives in successful PR, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Ida holds six patents with the USPTO and has been published in Prentice Hall, YOUNG MONEY® magazine, and several blogs. As a certified Laughter Yoga instructor, she also enjoys getting people find their “inner child” through laughter.

You can learn more and share in laughs by watching her TEDx at https://youtu.be/-HJG63EXCmw.

Cheval John, a member of our panel on the “Future of Social Media”

Cheval John is the Founder and CEO of Vallano Media, LLC, a marketing agency that helps businesses to use social media correctly to build a loyal following. Cheval is also the host of an online radio show/podcast called, “What’s The Word?” He is the author of two books including the Amazon Best-Seller, “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn.” Cheval has been featured in media outlets like Ebony Magazine and was named a Houston Top 25 Social Media Power Influencer in 2016.

Phil Pallen, speaking on “ShutUp and Tweet”

Phil makes a living by ensuring the best of beautiful branding and effective digital strategy for clients. His sweet spot is making brands look incredible for the public eye. Phil build brands for TV personalities, experts and businesses. His roster includes Sharks and entrepreneurs on ABC’s Shark Tank, and personalities on Dancing with The Stars, The X Factor, American Idol, MasterChef Junior, Project Runway, The Doctors, and many others. Los Angeles is his home, but he speaks at conferences around the world. Phil often weighs in as a celebrity brand expert on Access Hollywood, and launched his book Shut Up and Tweet at the 2014 California Women’s Conference. With game-changing strategies that will turn anyone into a Twitter rockstar, it wound up being the event’s #2 best-selling book after Arianna Huffington’s autobiography. Whether it’s in entertainment, lifestyle or the world of startups, Phil helps clients enhance their competitive advantage through a strategic online presence.

Keri Jaehnig, a member of our panel on the “Future of Social Media”

Keri is the Founder and CMO of Idea Girl Media, a Social Media Marketing Agency that works with business brands, public figures & non-profits to achieve social media success. She has received a Small Business Influencer Honorable Mention Award and a commendation for Outstanding Attainment in Social Media from the Senate of the State of Ohio.

Keri has been featured at Social Media Today, SteamFeed, Search Engine People, and AOL Small Business, as well as Forbes, She Owns It, and other marketing blogs. Her past work includes international education, and serving as Social Media Marketing Faculty Chair at Simplilearn is her latest honor. Non-fat lattes, travel and quick wit make her smile, and she’s always enthused to meet new people!

Craig Carpenter, speaking on “Creating Influence”

Craig Carpenter hangs out at the intersection of creativity, technology, and determination where he creates tools and resources for uncommon brands.

As a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur, he’s spent a lifetime learning how to launch and grow successful projects with a juggernaut passion and a fanatical attention to detail. From a designer/animator for the most successful brands, to touring music producer, to an award-winning photographer and podcaster, each venture has eclipsed the former in scope and impact.

Today, he’s the mastermind behind Relay, a revolutionary design automation tool for non-designers, digital agencies, companies, and organizations to effortlessly deliver unified visual messages to every online channel. Check out this completely innovative approach to a challenge that we’re all faced with at relaythat.com.

When he’s not immersed in ones and zeroes he enjoys playing and designing board games, building epic Halloween costumes out of cardboard, watching documentaries, and has never been known to turn down a slice of pizza.

You’ve never met anyone quite like Craig. But he hopes you do.

Dorien Morin-van Dam, speaking on “Twitter for Business”

Dorien Morin-van Dam is the owner and social media consultant with More In Media, located in sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She helps small businesses with their social media strategy, planning and execution. Dorien is a coach and trainer, concentrating on video marketing and social media management. Her most favorite things to do are blog, teach and speak about social media.

Dorien also manages a household with four teens and three dogs, runs marathons and loves to cook and eat vegan.

April Heavens-Woodcock, presenting a workshop on “How to set up an Email Drip Campaign”

April Woodcock is a seasoned professional, creative marketer with over 18 years in the field working with medium size business owners. She is passionate about helping business’s succeed and navigate through the digital marketing world.

At Touching Clients, April helps her clients develop a robust online digital footprint utilizing the latest technology available.

April is also consistently engaged by leading experts to assist them with their own digital marketing efforts. April is a strong proponent of Marketing Automation, getting all your online entities to work together and tracking results. This philosophy allows her to help clients increase their online presence and eliminate noise, increasing a positive return on investment for best utilization of there marketing dollars.

April speaks regularly on Digital Marketing throughout the US.

When April is not on formal assignments. She regularly volunteers her time within her local community supporting start up businesses with mentoring and education on the vast digital marketing world. At Touching Clients she works with her partner Kevin, not only in business but in life. They together have 3 children, 2 pups and live in Norwich, CT.

Christian Karasiewicz, presenting a workshop on “Live Video”

Christian is the CEO and Founder of Social Chefs, a leading social media training and education site, where his goal is to make creating a winning social campaign as easy as following a recipe! He is also a frequent contributor on major media sites like Huffington Post and frequent speaker on Facebook marketing topics.