Channeling the spirit of Leonardo, a diverse and multi-talented group of Digital da Vincis will help guide us through the creative moment at Tabula Rasa DC, our Washington-area program on innovation in the iPad Age. They’ll share experiences, add expert insights, help us shape the conversation.
The invention session is from 1 to 4:30 pm Monday, June 14 at Gannett-USA TODAY headquarters in McClean. Register at http://trdc.eventbrite.com/ Check out the program and watch the video here.
Leonardo would hate Powerpoints and panels almost as much as we do. We’d rather show, share and do. The da Vincis will serve as guides with a unique perspective into opportunities and issues for Washington-area innovators and explorers. Meet them:
Content and marketing strategist TIFFANY SCHAKELFORD. Tiffany is the senior communications strategist at Phase2 Technology in Alexandria, Va. She serves as the Executive Director of Capitolbeat, the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editor and organizes the Washington DC area Online News Association group. She previously worked on the staff of the Democratic Leadership Council and Progressive Policy Institute and served as the Assistant Managing Editor at Stateline.org a nonprofit, nonpartisan online news site affiliated with the Pew Research Center.
Pollster extraordinaire and audience analyst JOHN ZOGBY. Well-known across media platforms, John is the author of The Way We’ll Be. Founder, president and CEO of Zogby International, a worldwide research and marketing firm. He also serves as Senior Advisor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, on the Advisory Council for Bio-Technology for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and is a Commissioner on CSIS’s Commission on Smart Power. He is the first Senior Fellow of the Catholic University Life Cycle Institute in Washington, but IS also proud to have been spoofed on NPR’s All Things Considered and twice interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.
Inventor and tech star DANNY ESPINOZA. The founder and CTO of CardStar, Danny invented the company’s patent-pending SyncScan technology that allows for effective rendering of 1-D barcodes on mobile phone LCD screens. A software architect, designer and developer with 25 years of professional experience, Danny is also a serial entrepreneur that has founded a number of innovative technology companies including Lumifi LLC, Quece LLC and Mesa Dynamics LLC.
Mobile/ventures entrepreneur RICK ROBINSON. Rick has been a leader in the creation of innovative online content, products and community for multiple platforms since the early1990s. He helped aunch AOL’s Digital City and later led operations for the DCI network, pioneering what has come to be known as “geobrowsing,” as well as leading the efforts to deliver content across early handheld and mobile devices. A patent holder, he helped found AOL Wireless in 2000, launching content and community apps on several wireless carriers, and partnering with marketers providing WAP and SMS marketing programs. He left AOL in 2005 for start-up Freewebs.com where he led product and programming, helping to pioneer widget innovation around content and marketing. In 2007 he became VP of Products and Services for XOHM, Sprint’s foray into 4G broadband, where he oversaw a successful launch of the products and content services prior to its acquisition by Clearwire. In 2009 until April of this year he spent time in Malaysia helping YTL Communications prepare for the first ever nationwide launch of 4G mobile services as head of Customer Experience and Innovation Programs. Today Rick advises companies on Web strategy and manages startups at sonicgleek.com.
Social Media Marketing expertROHIT BHARGAVA. Rohit pioneered the concept of Social Media Optimization (SMO). A founding member of the 360 Digital Influence group at Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence, he is the author of Personality Not Included, a guide on how to use personality to reinvent your marketing that has been published globally in 8 languages. He writes the Influential Marketing blog, ranked by AdAge among the top 50 marketing blogs in the world, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, PBS, SkyNews, MarketingChina and Fast Company. Rohit teaches Global Communications at Georgetown University and is a frequent keynote speaker at marketing and business events around the world.
Tall guy and digital high-flyer JOSH HATCH. Josh is Interactives Director at USA TODAY and an adjunct professor at American University. He consults with Webbmedia Group.
Designer, developer and all-around cool guy ROB RHYNE. Rob holds an opinion tragically uncommon for his field: he believes that technology should appear as beautiful to the user as it does to the developer. As a UI designer & developer for SRA International he led design & development projects, including work for the Maryland Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, the American Red Cross, Missile Defense Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency. He also runs his own design company, Digital Arch, which provides end-to-end design & development services for small businesses. He’s an advocate for user-centered design and knows how to sell it to those not often concerned with the everyday user. Rob specializes in User Interface Design and Software Development in the digital mediums. He is proficient in developing on several platforms. During his tenure at the Naval Research Laboratory he became the youngest ever recipient of the Berman Research Award at the age of 21.
Strategy consultant BRIAN REICH. Managing Director of little m media, Brian provides strategic guidance around the use of the internet and technology for communications, engagement, education, and mobilization. Brian is also the author of Media Rules!: Mastering Today’s Technology to Connect With and Keep Your Audience (Wiley 2007). He edits Thinking About Media (www.thinkingaboutmedia.com) and contributes as a Fast Company Expert. Brian was previously a principal at EchoDitto, Director of New Media for Cone Inc, and served asaSenior Strategic Consultant and Director of Boston Operations for Mindshare Interactive Campaigns, an interactive public affairs agency. From 2000 – 2004, he ran Mouse Communications after serving two years as Vice President Gore’s Briefing Director in the White House. Brian has spent much of his life working in and around politics, including helping to direct dozens of campaigns across the country.
Financial manager and entrepreneur RICHARD BRINDISI. CFO/COO at KvJ&Co. and its Oh!magination start-up, Richard brings deep experience in financial management to the innovation age. He’s a partner at 4731 Consulting and has served as a consultant for Plante Moran Financial Advisors and Lotus Capital Advisors. A graduate of of the University of Richmond School of Law, Richard has also served as a director for Credit Suisse First Boston and Sun Life Financial.
