Breakout Session Speakers

Ryan Allis
CEO & Founder, Broadwick Corporation
Green Buildings & Sustainable Businesses: A Survey of the Latest Trends
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - How to Run Your Business Using Web 2.0 Applications and Services (Part 2)

Ryan Allis is Chief Executive Officer and founder of Broadwick Corporation, makers of IntelliContact, the industry-leading web-based emarketing communications software. As CEO he's managed the company from its start in July 2003 to its current size with 45 employees and more than 8500 customers. Ryan is an international speaker on entrepreneurship, multichannel emarketing, and search engine optimization. In 2005 he was named by BusinessWeek as one of the "Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25." He has been featured as the cover story in Fortune Small Business, on ABC News and in Investors' Business Daily, the Daily Times of India, Entrepreneur Magazine, SuccessCoach Magazine, CosmoGirl, and Young Money Magazine.

Michelle Anderson
Founding Executive, DIRTT (Doing It Right This Time)
Green Buildings & Sustainable Businesses: A Survey of the Latest Trends

Michelle Anderson is a founding executive of DIRTT (which stands for Doing It Right This Time), makers of a green office system of elegant, demountable panels, as well as the revolutionary ICE software for layout and designing furniture. Anderson is the creator of the ICEberg software program, an interactive tool that takes an owner's exact floor plan, prices it in conventional and modular construction, then calculates the environmental and financial impacts of alternate choices. Founded in 2004 by Mogen Smed, one of North America's leading environmental champions and business practitioners, DIRTT is committed to transforming the workplace. In 2006, DIRTT was the recipient of the Excellence in Partnership Green Contractor Award by the U.S. Government and General Services Administration.

Mary Lou Andre
Founder and President of Organization By Design Inc, and the editor of dressingwell.com
The Ultimate Business Make-Over - the Best Elevator Pitch, Image and Interview for Business Success

A frequent speaker at women's conferences, Mary Lou has appeared on ABC World News Now, CNN and CBS This Morning as well as in numerous national publications including Real Simple, Marie Claire, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Her firm provides consulting, sales training and professional image seminars for companies such as Estee Lauder, Fidelity, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Nordstrom and many professional services firms and financial institutions across the country. Organization By Design also delivers a variety of seminars for companies looking to increase sales volume and customer loyalty. Private clients of her firm include executives, doctors, lawyers, media personalities, politicians, entrepreneurs as well as stay-at-home moms and young people just starting their careers. She is also the author of "Ready to Wear: An Expert's Guide to Choosing and Using Your Wardrobe."

Barbara Annis
CEO, Barbara Annis & Associates
Same Words, Different Language - The Power of Understanding Differences

Barbara Annis, is the leading expert on Gender Awareness and the founder of Barbara Annis and Associates. Over the last 18 years, she and her 27 associates have conducted over 3000 workshops and strategy sessions to companies, private and governmental organizations and universities across North America and Europe. Her clients have included corporations like IBM, Deloitte and Touche, Goldman Sachs, CitiBank, General Motors, Motorola, and Xerox. She has also worked with many major universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, government agencies such as the Pentagon, Public Service, Prime Minister's office UK & Canada, Justice Department, National Defence, NATO and many more. Barbara is currently serving on the Women's Harvard Leadership Board committed to the advancement and retention of women. Ms. Annis' hands-on experience teaching gender awareness gives her a rare and unique angle for cultural assessments and coaching on gender differences. She has witnessed literally thousands of men and women from dozens of different professional and cultural backgrounds, all struggling to understand how gender difference affects their lives. Gender and Cultural issues has been the focus of Ms. Annis' work since her university studies in Psychology, Linguistics and Business Administration In relaying her observations to clients, Ms. Annis also draws on her own first-hand experience as the first woman Sales Executive at Sony Corporation, where she won 14 Outstanding Sales Achievement awards as well as the prestigious MVP Award. Her extensive studies have included exceptional thinkers such as Dr. Fernando Flores, Ph.D. Program, Linguistics, University of Berkeley, Neuroscientist Ruben Gur, University of Pennsylvania, Psychologist, Virginia Satir, and the late Dr. Willis Harman, Founder of Noetic Sciences Foundation and The World Business Academy. Her recent ground-breaking book "Same Words, Different Language" is certain to become required reading for all men and women striving to achieve excellence in the workplace of the future. Same Words, Different Language is currently published in US, Canada, UK, Japan, China, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

Paige Arnof-Fenn
Founder & CEO, Mavens & Moguls
Marketing Trends for Growing Brands
Entrepreneurial Marketing in a Non-traditional Marketplace

Mavens & Moguls is a global marketing strategy consulting firm. Paige was formerly vice president of marketing at Zipcar heading all marketing and sales activity for the company. She was responsible for all branding, corporate communications and corporate partnerships for the business and was instrumental in the fundraising efforts for this early stage company. Previously, she was vice president of marketing at Inc.com and responsible for promoting the company to the business and media worlds, and also for driving E-commerce sales before the company was sold to a division of Bertelsmann. Prior to that she held the title of senior vice president of marketing and was a key member of the IPO team at Launch Media, an Internet start-up that went public in early 1999 and was later sold to Yahoo. She built the marketing organization from the ground up, overseeing all marketing, advertising, corporate communications, market research and promotion as well as their in-house ad agency/art department. Arnof-Fenn has also worked as a special assistant to the chief marketing officer of global marketing at The Coca-Cola Company and held the position of director of the 1996 Olympic Commemorative Coin Program at the Department of Treasury, U.S. Mint. Prior to running the Olympic joint venture, Arnof-Fenn worked in brand management at Procter & Gamble. Arnof-Fenn is a founding Board member of Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology and she is serving on the Alumni Boards of both Stanford University and Harvard Business School (as Vice President). She is currently on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the Sports Museum at the TD Banknorth Garden, is an advisor to several early stage private companies and non profit organizations and is also the past president of the Stanford Club of New England which serves alumni in a 5 state region. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Paige is quoted regularly in the media and also on the IDC Technology Advisory Council, a Time Magazine Opinion Leader and a monthly columnist for Entrepreneur.

William Arruda
Personal Branding Guru, Reach
WITI Presents: Building Your On-Line Identity for Career and Business Success (Thursday)
WITI Presents: Building Your On-Line Identity for Career and Business Success (Friday)

Dubbed the 'Personal Branding Guru' by the media and clients alike, William Arruda combined his international branding expertise with his passion for people to found Reach, the world's first human branding consultancy. He's also the co-founder of the Reach Branding Club, the only comprehensive, interactive, web-based branding program for professionals and entrepreneurs and the co-author of Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand (Wiley 2007).

Leah P. Bailey
Executive Director, Community Affairs and Boston Globe Foundation
Aligning your Philanthropy with your Business Strategy

Leah P. Bailey is Executive Director of Community Affairs and the Boston Globe Foundation. She joined the Globe in 2002 and is responsible for overseeing the distribution of nearly $2 million annually in Foundation grants and corporate sponsorships in greater Boston. She also directs the company's TeamGlobe Volunteer Program, community sponsorships and events, and coordinates the annual Media Matters Writing Conference for high school teachers and students. Under her leadership, the Foundation completed a reorganization of the Foundation's mission and focus giving areas, including the introduction and continuing publication of the award-winning citywide high school newspaper, Boston T.i.P. Teens in Print, which is written by and for Boston's teens.

Prior to this position, Leah was assistant vice president and manager, Connecticut contributions, for FleetBoston Financial. She joined Fleet in 1997 and managed the distribution of Fleet's $2 million in charitable contributions in Connecticut. She was also responsible for managing Fleet's corporate volunteerism programs in Connecticut and community leadership projects for senior management. From 1995 to 1997, Leah was manager of community involvement for United Technologies Corporation headquarters, responsible for corporate contributions and community relations activities. She also held the position of volunteer coordinator at United Technologies, starting the company's award-winning volunteer program in 1987.

Leah is a graduate of Boston College, and received her MBA from Western New England College in Springfield, Mass. She has received her certificate in Corporate Community Relations from the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College. She has addressed several local and national organizations, including the 2006 Hands On Network National Conference, the 2004 National Conference on Community Volunteering and National Service (Points of Light Foundation), as well as conferences for the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy and Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts.

Her community service includes the Boston College Alumni Association's Second Helping Gala Committee. Leah is a founding member and former director of The Aurora Women and Girls Foundation in Hartford, Conn., and served two elected terms on the Wethersfield, Conn. Town Council. Leah resides in Framingham, Mass.

Joy Baldridge
Speaker, Author, Consultant
Motivating Every Employee to Sell
The Ultimate Business Make-Over - the Best Elevator Pitch, Image and Interview for Business Success
Fast Forward MBA in Selling

Compelling selling, artful negotiating, priority management, self-motivated drive to succeed. To create a dynamically powerful sales force, these business tactics are essential. With a lifelong history in sales management and training, acclaimed author, speaker Joy Baldridge is an innovative sales strategist, gifted with an abundance of brilliant insights and intellectual firepower guaranteed to deliver tangible, lasting results. Using simple solutions to common sales problems, Joy will take the sales force to the next level. A keynote speaker and sales trainer who delivers what audiences want and need to learn, grow and prosper, Joy presents real-world solutions, and probing questions, that not only empower and ignite, but transform the sales team. Joy sees sales as a living laboratory and taps the pulse of everyday selling challenges. Her material is bold and unique (includes time-tested selling formulas, The Baldridge Bounce and the Attitudinal Ojive Curve) and is delivered with explosive energy. Focusing her presentations on a variety of relevant topics including creative strategies, time management, negotiation and leadership coaching, Joy covers a range of rich content. Consistently ranked the #1 revenue producer in every sales position she's ever held, Joy Baldridge offers innovative, results-oriented tactics targeted to increase sales while building personal integrity, confidence, esteem and style. Joy is known for delivering simple truths that cut the learning curve and result in strong skill development.

Susan Baracco
President, Entrepreneurial Source
The Franchising Option - Is It Right For You?

Since August 2003, Susan Baracco has been dedicated to supporting her clients around the world in their efforts to achieve their self employment goals. Her background and experience provide an excellent foundation for the coaching she provides through The Entrepreneur's Source. Susan has 20 years of experience in management, sales, business development, and small business. In 1994, Susan took her first step into the entrepreneurial arena when she purchased a struggling retail store in central Connecticut. After four years of retooling and hard work, she increased the annual gross sales of the business by 80%.

Prior to starting her coaching practice she spent fifteen years in both sales and technical positions in the telecommunications industry. Her expertise won her the President's Circle Award for Sales Excellence and was recognized as a top account manager in Maine. Susan has devoted a significant amount of her expertise to the non-profit sector. She held positions as treasurer and president of a non-profit children's organization from 1999 to 2002. She currently serves as board president for a Portland area non-profit performing arts organization. Susan has a position on the board of directors for the Boston chapter of the National Assoc. of Women Business Owners. She is also a volunteer consultant with The Center for Women & Enterprise in Boston and the SCORE chapter in Portland, ME. In her tenure as a coach, Susan has worked with clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Nigeria, and other countries abroad to support them in achieving their goals of self employment. She lives and runs in Kennebunkport, Maine with her husband and two children.

Carol Baroudi
Co-Author, "SOA for Dummies"
WITI Presents: SOA - What is it and How to Leverage this approach for your business

Carol Baroudi, industry analyst and best-selling author, is part of Aberdeen Group's Enterprise Technology research team, and focuses on Service Oriented Architecture and Security and their impact on the IT department and the business. Carol brings more than 25 years in the computer industry. Her most recent book, Service Oriented Architecture for Dummies, was published by Wiley in November 2006. She is co-author of The Internet for Dummies, currently in its 10th edition with more than 7 million copies in print in more than 30 languages. Carol's other trade titles include Mastering COBOL, Email for Dummies and Internet Secrets. Prior to joining Aberdeen, Carol was the Vice President at Hurwitz Group, where she covered e-commerce and emerging technologies; Manager, Information Architecture at Sun Microsystems; and Manager of Systems Engineering at Arthur D. Little Systems. Carol holds a B.A. from Colgate University where she helped design its first Computer Science course curriculum.

Suzanne Bates
President & CEO, Bates Communications
Speak like a CEO: Secrets to Commanding Attention and Getting Results

Suzanne Bates is an executive coach, author, speaker, entrepreneur and former award-winning television news anchor. As President and CEO of Bates Communications, she leads a firm that shows leaders how to get business results through better communication. Her firm's clients are top leaders in business, from Fortune 500 to small and midsize companies and professional services firms. Suzanne is author of Speak like a CEO: Secrets to Commanding Attention and Getting Results (McGraw Hill 2005), which became a best seller on amazon.com in 2005. The book has also been published in Chinese, Russian and Indonesian. Suzanne has produced a six-CD set, the Speak Like a CEO Toolkit, and the Speak Like a CEO Home Study Course.

For 20 years, Suzanne was an acclaimed on air personality, with major market television stations WBZ-TV Boston, WCAU-TV Philadelphia and WFLA-TV Tampa-St. Petersburg. She won an AP News Award and was nominated for a Columbia DuPont Award, and over her career, interviewed thousands of political leaders, CEOs, experts, authors and celebrities. Suzanne's work has helped thousands of leaders develop strong messages and deliver them in a powerful, effective way. They work with clients on every aspect of communication from the development of vision, strategy, to the preparation and delivery of outstanding speeches, presentations, and media interviews. As a nationally as an expert in business communications and leadership, Suzanne has been quoted in the New York Times, New York Post, Fortune, Investors Business Daily, The Boston Globe, and hundreds of other newspapers, magazines and publications.

Suzanne has been a member of many organizations including the Leadership Council at Harvard University's Center for Business and Government, the CEO Club of Boston College, and The Boston Club. She is past-president of the Mass Women's Political Caucus, a multi-partisan organization. She is also a member of the National Speakers Association. Suzanne is an active member of her community, frequently emceeing events for non-profit organizations. She is a 2002 winner of the Woman of Achievement award from the Boston Business and Professional Women's Association, 2003 winner as a Woman of Distinction from the MS Society of New England and a 2006 winner of The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Champion Award. She was named a top-ten coach by Women's Business Journal.

Debbie Bennett
Head of Sales & Marketing, Lightwedge
Success Secrets of the Inc. 500

Tanya Dobash Berlage
Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
WITI Presents: Successful Women in a Male Dominated Industry

Tanya Dobash Berlage is a Partner in Saul Ewing, LLP's Baltimore office. She is a member of the firm's Business Department and Life Sciences Transactions and Strategic Alliances Practice Group. She focuses her practice on the representation of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medicial device and other healthcare companies on a broad range of issues. Prior to joining Saul Ewing, Ms. Berlage served as Vice President, Chief Counsel, North America of Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., a publicly traded multinational pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of proprietary and generic human pharmaceuticals. In this capacity, Ms. Berlage managed the company's corporate and commercial legal matters in North America and Europe. Prior to joining Taro in 2001, Ms. Berlage worked in private practice in Minnesota and Connecticut, representing private and publicly-held companies primarily in the biotechnology and medical device industries. Ms. Berlage earned her J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law and her A.B. from Smith College.

Linda N. Betz
Director, IT Policy and Information Security, Office of the CIO, IBM Corporation
WITI Presents: Network Security Issues - Is Your Business Safe?

Linda has been with IBM for 23 years. She currently is the director of IT Policy and Information Security in the Office of the CIO. In this capacity, Linda and her team are responsible for setting the company's internal security strategy, leading security initiatives that protect IBM's IT infrastructure and driving the infrastructure to be more autonomic. Additionally, Linda owns IBM's IT Security Corporate Instructions and standards and is responsible for their annual review. Her team works with Business Units to set the security direction of the enterprise and ensures compliance. Linda is responsible for leading the corporate Privacy Center of Expertise, assisting business units with privacy questions and issues, and improving process and tools around privacy. Linda is also the business owner in the CIO for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity, advocating the strategy and changes needed in this area for IBM.

Among Linda's previous assignments, she helped draft the strategy for IBM's security products and was the security initiative manager for IBM's Systems and Technology Group and the product owner for RACF (Resource Access Control Facility). She also has held various management jobs in product development and internal I.S. application development.

Linda is a member of the Board for WEPAN (Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network), whose mission focuses on bringing women into engineering programs in higher education. She also is a mentor for Women Unlimited, an independent organization that grows women's leadership skills.

Linda has a B.S. degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from SUNY Albany and an M.S. in Computer Science from Marist College. She has a Master's Certificate from George Washington University in Project Management and is a certified Project Management Professional.

Judith Bowman
President & Founder, Protocol Consultants International
The Power of Protocol

Judith Bowman is an internationally recognized authority on corporate etiquette and international protocol. She writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column, and appears in local and national media as an expert in protocol. Her book, "Don't Take the Last Donut" (The Career Press, New York) will be released in April, 2007. Ms. Bowman counsels executives of many Fortune 500 companies, delivers keynote speeches at universities, business seminars and corporate meetings and has, since 1993. Judith is a graduate of Boston College and certified in Child, Teen and Adult Etiquette as well as Corporate Etiquette, International Protocol and Dining Savvy.

Keith Broyles
Senior Vice President & Business Development Officer, CIT Commercial Credit
The Next Phase: How to Fund Established and Growing Companies (Part 1)

Anina Butler
Senior Regional Account Manager, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation
The Next Phase: How to Fund Established and Growing Companies (Part 1)
The Franchising Option - Is It Right For You?

Anina Butler serves as Senior Regional Account Manager for CIT Small Business Lending Corp. In this role she is responsible for business development and sales and marketing of CIT's products for small businesses in Massachusetts and Vermont. She has worked with CIT for over nine years. Prior to this work she was a Vice President, Commercial Lending at Eastern Bank and also served in the US Small Business Administration as a Presidential Management Intern. Early in her career she taught kindergarten and Headstart as well as owning a business. She holds an AB, in Philosophy from Clark University, and an MBA in Urban and regional Economics from the University of Massachusetts, as well as certificate in Advanced Commercial Banking from the American Banking Associations Graduate School of Banking at the University of Oklahoma. She has published articles on small business issues such as cash flow, business valuation and management and has taught small company financial management and entrepreneurial studies at Northeastern University and Lasell College. She has spoken at many conferences and seminars. CIT Small Business Lending Corp. is a non-bank SBA Lender. It is a division of CIT (CIT- NYSE) and is headquartered in Livingston, NJ. CIT Small Business Lending Corporation has been the largest SBA lender in the country for the past 5 years specializing in business acquisitions, real estate, medical startups and practices, and business succession.

Jon Carson
Chairman & CEO, cMarket charitable auctions online
WITI Presents: How to Tap the Online Marketplace to Identify New Funding Streams
Too Busy to Save the World? Social justice for Busy Working Women

Jon is a nationally recognized entrepreneur with a passion for mission-based social entrepreneurship. Other than brief stings at Boeing and McKinsey & Company, he has always worked on new ventures. He has founded and profitably sold three companies in which no investor has ever lost money. Cumulatively, Jon has returned in excess of $175 million to investors, cash on cash. Jon's most recent company was FamilyEducation Network (Fen.com), which offered web services to local schools as well as a network of websites for parents, children and teachers using a unique public/private partnership model, ultimately becoming the largest education website on the Internet. He serves on the boards of the Boston Children's Museum, the e-Philanthropy Foundation, and NetImpact - a national organization of college and MBA chapters promoting social entrepreneurship. Jon has founded multiple lectures on social entrepreneurship at Yale and Babson College. He has previously also served on boards of the National PTA, National School Boards Foundation, and the Small Business Association of New England (SBANE). Jon lives in the Boston area with his wife and has recently discovered the wonders of fatherhood.

Wendy Chandor
Arbonne International Independent Consultant
Babson Presents: Successful Entrepreneurs - The Top Three Lessons from Three Top Women

Wendy Chandor is an Independent Consultant, Area Manager with Arbonne International. Arbonne delivers high-end Swiss skin care backed by 26 years of expertise. Our extensive line of herbal and botanically based products includes a proven (patent pending) anti-aging skin care system, baby line, sun care, color line, nutrition and aromatherapy. Since the products truly deliver, Arbonne is experiencing noteworthy growth and recognition: 3 consecutive years of 100% annual growth, the CEO, Bob Henry, was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst and Young in '06, and a long standing member of the DSA. Wendy earned her B.A. from Simmons College and later went on to get her M.B.A. at Babson College. Wendy has an accomplished marketing career with broad experience in direct marketing, online and offline advertising, and product launches with clients such as AT&T Wireless, AOL, and GM to name a few. Most recently, she was a Marketing Director at a very successful dotcom, VistaPrint. This past summer Wendy decided to leave her 15 year corporate marketing career to spend more time with her family and to start her own home-based business with Arbonne. Wendy is married and has 2 boys ages 5 and 2. Wendy now helps others follow their dreams by teaching and training this simple business. Within 6 months Wendy expanded her Arbonne team to include consultants in MO, RI and MA. She now determines when she wants to work (part-time) and can focus more on personal interests and volunteer. Wendy finally gained balance over her work and personal life. It is rewarding to play more of an active role in her children's lives (and have some time for herself), while still building a lucrative business. Being there when the children come home from school and not being the last one to pick up from day care is priceless.

Lisa Chappell
Director, Business Management, Planning and Strategy, Technology Solutions Group, HP
WITI Presents: A Winning Approach to Online Market Development (Part 1)
WITI Presents: Online Resources to Grow Your Business (Part 2)

With her extensive sales experience and deep understanding of sales process excellence, Lisa Chappell is a leader at HP in targeting and implementing significant increases in sales efficiency, sales operations excellence and planning for the future of the sales force.

Chappell currently leads Business Management, Planning and Strategy for U.S. Sales in HP's Technology Solutions Group. She is responsible for supporting field and inside sales teams with strategic analysis, planning, and implementation. Her team ensures the U.S Sales organization achieves its goals with maximum efficiency, while keeping an eye toward future best-in-class practices.

Prior to her current position, Chappell was the Sales Project Lead for HP's Volume Direct re-architecture project, leading a team of IT resources and business stakeholders through transformational redesign of volume direct systems. In this role, she aligned the future state strategy to ensure that best-in-class business value would be delivered throughout the project to sales teams and customers. She is recognized as a senior strategic and visionary change agent within the organization.

Chappell has also been HP's Business Planning and Strategy Manager for Inside Sales, managing the U.S. Call Center Planning and Strategy team that supported a 450-person Inside Sales distributed call center. She managed strategic changes through the merger of Compaq and HP while supporting the Sales teams in growing revenue. She also acted as Call Center Director, responsible for overall sales attainment and customer satisfaction. During that period, she increased revenue, reduced organizational cost, and supported the maintenance of customer satisfaction.

Chappell joined Digital Equipment Corporation in 1998 as an Inside Sales Representative. By consistently over-achieving her quota, she was quickly promoted to Inside Sales Supervisor for the Northeast Region, and then Inside Sales Manager for the Southeast Region. As a manager, she increased regional sales 21% against a $1 billion quota.

Chappell holds a master's degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University, and a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University. She is a member of the National Business Honor Society.

Janet Chien
Principal & Co-Founder, Dyad Systems
Babson Presents: Successful Entrepreneurs - The Top Three Lessons from Three Top Women

Janet Chien is a founder of Dyad Systems (www.dyadsystems.com), a company that provides clinical trial services to assist companies conducting medical research. Dyad provides consulting, data management, and technology advisory services to biopharmaceutical and medical device companies. The company's approach combines experts across disciplines including clinical, project management, regulatory, biostatistics, and technology resulting in targeted yet integrated solutions. The company is self-funded and has been profitable since its inception in 2003. Prior to Dyad Systems, Ms. Chien held key management positions and client service roles within the high-tech industry. Ms. Chien was Vice President of Client Services and CIO for Guardent, Inc, a digital security company formed in 2000 and acquired by Verisign, Inc. in 2003. Prior to 2000, Ms. Chien served in multiple operational capacities as a member of the original team at I-Cube, an IT solutions firm that went public and was selected by The Boston Globe as the #1 Massachusetts IPO of 1998. Ms. Chien received her Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Cornell University in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering. Currently, she is working to complete her MBA at Babson College.

Philip Clawson
Managing Director, Community Matters Group
Aligning your Philanthropy with your Business Strategy

Phillip Clawson is an award winning corporate social responsibility consultant experienced in strategy, implementation and management. Phil is the founder and Managing Director of Community Matters Group, a corporate social responsibility consulting firm. Phil helps organizations ranging from top-tier media companies to leading national retailers to Fortune 500 energy companies develop strategic corporate social responsibility programs by finding the intersections between community needs, employee passions and business fit. He then works with them to create initiatives that maximize community impact and return significant value to the company. Prior to founding Community Matters Group in 2002, Phil directed Andersen's community involvement for the Northeast US. During his two years at Andersen, he was able to quadruple their philanthropy and increase local volunteer hours tenfold. Before joining Andersen, Phil worked for John Hancock Signature Services, where he was the driving force behind the business case and eventual approval of a policy granting paid time-off for volunteerism.

Before crossing over to corporate America, Phil had a rich history in the nonprofit sector. He helped found Young Heroes while working for City Year and worked for the Points Of Light Foundation as the Massachusetts Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Ambassador. Phil did his undergraduate work at Hampshire College, concentrating in experiential education and urban development, and received his Graduate Certificate in Management from Radcliffe and Harvard University.

Phil has received numerous awards, including the Compaq Leadership Award (1997), Who Cares magazine's 20 Young Visionaries (1996) and the NAACP Children of War Human Rights Award (1990). He has spoken at numerous universities, including Yale School of Management; MIT Sloan School of Management; and Boston University School of Management. He has presented at several national and international conferences, including London Business School's Corporate Responsibility Conference; the National Conference on Volunteering and Service; Reshaping Corporations: Adding Value Through Responsible Business Practices; and StartingBloc.

Heidi Cohen
Principal, Riverside Marketing Strategies
WITI Presents: Search Engine Marketing - Getting People to Find You Online and Converting Them to Customers

Heidi Cohen is the principal of Riverside Marketing Strategies, an interactive marketing consultancy. She has over 20 years experience helping clients increase profitability by developing innovative marketing programs to acquire and retain customers based on solid analytics. Riverside Marketing Strategies clients include the New York Times Digital, AccuWeather.com, Cheap Tickets and the UJA. Additionally, Riverside Marketing Strategies has worked with numerous online content/media companies and e-tailers.

Prior to starting Riverside Marketing Strategies, Heidi Cohen held a number of senior level marketing positions at The Economist, the Bookspan/ Doubleday Direct division of Bertelsmann and Citibank.

Since 2002, Heidi has been a member of the faculty of NYU's Master's in Direct and Interactive Marketing program. She teaches graduate courses including Introduction to Direct and Interactive Marketing, Advanced Online Marketing, and Financial Planning and Analysis. In 2006, she received NYU's Outstanding Service award.

Heidi has written ClickZ's Actionable Analysis column covering online marketing since 2004. Heidi is also a popular speaker on current industry topics. Among the organizations to whom she has presented are the DMA, DM Days, the Conference Board and Interactive Week.

Jean Coleman-Jackson
Regional Account Manager, CIT Small Business Lending
How to Fund Start-Up, Pre-Revenue and Early Stage Businesses (Part 1)

Jean Coleman-Jackson is a Regional Account Manager for CIT Small Business Lending, the # 1 SBA 7A lender since 2000. Formed in 1908, CIT has over 70 billion in owned and managed assets with over 7000 employees worldwide and is a Preferred (PLP) lender for the SBA. Jean is responsible for SBA 7A loans in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and brings 25 years of commercial lending experience to her customers and prospects. Jean holds a B.S. Business Administration/Marketing from Quinnipiac University, 1980, and has been a Vice President at several large commercial banks prior to joining CIT. Jean has extensive experience in structuring financing, evaluating rapidly growing companies, and has a proven track record on credit and management issues. Leading teams is a passion of Jean's as she is a Board of Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Sullivan Tire Company, Former President of the South Shore Economic Development Corporation, Past Treasurer for the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, and Past Executive Committee and Board of Director of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Jean is a long time volunteer in her home town of Duxbury, MA where she has served on the Fiscal Advisory Committee, North Hill Golf Course Committee, Town Manager Search Committee, and 20 year member of Rotary.

Martha Collins
VP Advertising, Helium
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - How to Run Your Business Using Web 2.0 Applications and Services (Part 2)

Martha Collins is an innovative marketer known for her success in creating awareness and audience for popular consumer brands such as TripAdvisor, Direct Hit and Switchboard. Martha oversees Helium's advertising. Prior to joining Helium, Ms. Collins led Spark Marketing, a consultancy to emerging consumer technology companies. Recent clients included MIVA Direct, a consumer software and web site provider with more than 5.5 million active English-speaking users, where she built user acquisition to more than 1 million consumers per month and led marketing, product management and business development. Martha holds an MBA and BA in Linguistics and Psychology from the University of Virginia and serves as a board advisor to The Parent Review. She is a former world-class distance runner who twice competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials and once held the American and age-group world record for 10 kilometers on the road.

Sarah Hammond Creighton
Program Director, Tufts University Climate Change Initiative
Green Buildings & Sustainable Businesses: A Survey of the Latest Trends

Sarah Hammond Creighton holds a B.S. in Physics from Bates College and an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tufts. Previously she was Project Manager of Tufts CLEAN!, a program to reduce Tufts University's environmental impacts and Energy Conservation Planner for the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management. Her book, Greening the Ivory Tower: Improving the Environmental Track Record of Universities, Colleges and Other Institutions, is a motivational and how-to guide for staff, faculty, and students that offers detailed "greening" strategies for those who may have little experience with institutional change or environmentally friendly technologies.

Diane K. Danielson
CEO & Founder, Downtown Women's Club
Inside/Outside Mentorship

Diane K. Danielson is the CEO & founder of DowntownWomensClub.com, a career website and social network for businesswomen. In addition, Diane is the co-author of Table Talk: The Savvy Girl's Alternative to Networking (2003) and Clicks & Mix: The Savvy Gal's Guide to Online Networking (Feb. 2007); a blogger for the BostonWorks section of the Boston Globe; the social networking guru for Lifetips.com and is a contributing writer for PINK, a national women's business magazine.

Diane Darling
Founder & CEO, Effective Networking, Inc.
The Art of Networking On and Offline

In addition to leading Effective Networking, Inc., Diane is the author of The Networking Survival Guide and Networking for Career Success, Diane believes everyone -- even the naturally shy -- can learn to network. They just need to find their own style. She is a nationally known speaker and trainer on the subject of networking. Darling helps people address their natural fears demystifies the process of networking by providing techniques that can be immediately implemented. She has appeared on NBC Nightly News, in The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Boston Globe.

Fran Dichner
President & C.E.O., R&L Associates, Inc and The Aries Group, and President, Massachusetts Chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners)
The Art of Networking On and Offline

R&L Associates, Inc. a full service staffing and H.R. Consulting Firm and of The Aries Group, a National Contract Engineering Firm with headquarters located in Beverly, Massachusetts. R&L has been recognized for three consecutive years as one of the top 100 women led businesses and one of the top 10 recruiting firms in Massachusetts. Fran is President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and also serves on the national board of NAWBO. She serves on numerous others Boards including the North Shore Women in Business and Salem State College and is active in the Beverly, North Shore and Boston Chambers of Commerce and the Commonwealth Institute's Million Dollar Circle as well as being an active supporter of Girls' Inc. of Lynn. Amongst the numerous awards she has received are the Lydia Pinkham "Woman of the Year" Nominee Award, The Massachusetts Commission on Status of Women Eleanor Roosevelt Nominee Award, the North Shore Women in Business 2005 "Business Woman of the Year" and 2005 Kiwanian Leadership Awards.

Kirsten Dixson
Founding Partner and Brand Strategist, Brandego
WITI Presents: Building Your On-Line Identity for Career and Business Success (Thursday)
WITI Presents: Building Your On-Line Identity for Career and Business Success (Friday)

Kirsten Dixson is an authority on building credible online identities for career and business success. She is a founding partner of Brandego and the Reach Branding Club (a virtual personal branding program), and co-author of Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand (Wiley 2007). She is a contributor for TheLadders.com and is frequently quoted in articles about career-related technology.

Vicki Donlan
Publisher, Women's Business
The Next Phase: How to Fund Established and Growing Companies & The Importance of an Exit Strategy (Part 1)

Anne Donnellon
Associate Professor of Management, Babson College
Developing Women's Initiatives and Diversity Programs That Work

Dr. Donnellon teaches leadership, negotiation, teamwork, and organizational design in the MBA and executive education programs at Babson. The author of Team Talk: The Power of Language in Team Dynamics, published by Harvard Business School Press, she also developed with them an interactive corporate training product entitled Teams That Work. Professor Donnellon has also published numerous journal articles, book chapters, and teaching cases. She teaches in many executive education programs in both the U.S. and abroad and has consulted to numerous companies including: AT&T, Bell Northern, Chubb & Son, Dow Chemical Co., EMC, John Hancock Funds, Lucent Technologies, McKinsey, Pfizer, and Siemens. She has also worked with several small, entrepreneurial firms and led management development seminars for entrepreneurs through the Small Business Association of New England, the Center for Women and Enterprise, and the International Fund for Ireland. Dr. Donnellon has taught at Harvard Business School and the University of Colorado. Dr. Donnellon earned her B.A. at the University of Cincinnati, her M.A. at Columbia University, and her Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University. Her areas of expertise include teams, negotiation, organizational change, diversity, and women's leadership. She is currently working on research on women's corporate networks.

Ja-Naé Duane
President & Founder, Wild Women Entrepreneurs
The Art of Networking On and Offline

Ja-Naé Duane is an entrepreneur devoted to singing, acting, networking, and guerilla and buzz marketing. She is a professional opera singer who began her career at 13. Since then, she has performed in world-famous attractions including The White House, Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Lincoln Jazz Center, and the Boston Esplande. Ja-Naé founded Wild Women Entrepreneurs in 2005 with $100 from a desire to have an organization that helps success-driven women to share talents, skills, and resources with each other, a community that shows women that they can be themselves and be successful businesswomen as well. Her organization now has 3500 members in 6 countries -- US, Canada, France, England, Germany and Australia!

Marilyn Edelson
President, Ontrack Coaching & Consulting, Inc and Managing Director, E-Women-Network
The Art of Networking On and Offline

Marilyn Edelson is President of Ontrack Coaching & Consulting, Inc, cited in Boston Magazine as one of the top two career coaching firms in Boston, as well as Managing director of eWomenNetwork-- Boston Chapter. EWomenNetwork, which began as an online networking service and now has over 90 chapters in the US and Canada, is a powerful community of women in business dedicated to helping women meet other women who are interested in doing business together. Based on a philosophy of what you give comes back often doubled, TheWomenNetwork Foundation which supports organizations dedicated to the health, welfare and safety of women and the mentoring of young women who show exceptional promise leadership in both entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors, is a core part of the organization.

Susan Esper
Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Babson Presents: Developing Women's Initiatives and Diversity Programs That Work

Susan is a Partner in the Financial Services Industry Practice in the New England Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP and has over 15 years of public accounting experience. She has specialized in the financial services industry throughout most of her career, with primary focus on investment management clients. Susan currently serves as an Audit Partner on a number of Deloitte's largest investment management accounts with responsibility for oversight of client service coordination and delivery. In this role, she is responsible for the planning and execution of the mutual fund audit process, as well as all related internal control engagements and compliance with industry regulation.

In addition to her client service responsibilities, in 2004 Susan assumed the leadership role in the New England Practice for Deloitte's Women's Initiative Network ("WIN"). Established in 1993, this national initiative focuses on the development of its talented women professionals and identifies opportunities for them as future leaders within the Firm. The Initiative supports the Firm in its goal to train, develop and mentor professionals at all levels, regardless of gender, and create an environment where career success can be achieved.

Susan's many professional accreditations and affiliations include: member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, National Investment Company Service Association, Big Sister Association of Greater Boston Board Member, Catholic Schools Foundation, United Way Women's Leadership Committee, Co-Chair United Way 'Today's Girls Tomorrow's Leaders' Women's Breakfast, 2006, Corporate Advisory Board Member of The Commonwealth Institute, and Girl Scouts, Patriots' Trail Council Leading Women Awards Steering Committee.

Susan was a 2005 Award Recipient of the Boston Business Journal "40 Under 40" Award and 2006 Award Recipient of The Boston Junior Chamber of Commerce's, Ten Outstanding Young Leader ("TOYL") Award.

Susan holds a BS in Accounting from Providence College and was a member of the Leading Edge Class of 2006, Simmons School of Management.

Donna Fenn
Author
Alpha Dogs: How your Small Business Can Become Leader of the Pack

Donna Fenn has been writing about entrepreneurship and small business trends for more than 20 years. She is a contributing editor at Inc. magazine, a community leader at Work.com and a member of the Grow Fast, Grow Right Dream Team. In 2001, she was a co-recipient of the Women's Economic Round Table Entrepreneurship Prize, sponsored by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. From 1988 to 1992, she lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she was a correspondent for The Associated Press and covered a variety of issues including business, culture, the economy, and The Gulf War. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Monthly, Working Woman, Working Mother, Family Money, CFO, Corporate Finance, Parents, and New England Monthly. She lives in Pelham, NY with her husband, two children, and three dogs.

Sandra Finley
President & CEO, League of Black Women
Opportunities and Issues Confronting Non-Profit Leadership

The League Of Black Women, founded in the 1970's, works today as a national organization to provide successful, strategic and sustaining leadership research to communicate the collective voices of Black Women impacting societal issues: and to promote joyful living as a sustaining lifestyle for Black Women, our families, communities and our workplaces. As President of the League of Black Women, Sandra focuses the organization on advocacy for self determination for Black women wherever they stand. As the premiere leadership research organization for Black women, the League has carved out a much needed niche. Sandra is committed to the conduct of innovative leadership research that accesses the authentic voices of Black women as its main focus. The League has been commended for doing more than seeking merely to describe the unique challenges and dilemmas facing Black women leaders, but to understand and to equip Black women with the strategic resources to solve them. Holistic in its approach, the League also seeks to empower women and offer them strategies and approaches to ensure that they engage in sustained leadership experiences and joyful living. A graduate of Loyola University, Sandra Finley is active in her community. She is a past Board member of the Illinois Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty Association and, she is a former Board Public Policy and Public programs committee member of the Field Museum of Natural History. She is also an entrepreneur as president of the Sandra Finley Company, a diversity consulting firm she founded in 1989. She has emerged as an acclaimed communicator and has presented in institutions nationwide including Fortune 1000 companies across many industries. The company specializes in strategic diversity consulting. Its motto is, All Of The People, All Of The Time.

Jennifer Floren
Founder & CEO, Experience, Inc.
Marketing Trends for Growing Brands

Jennifer founded Experience in 1996 with the mission to educate, assist and inspire college graduates as they forge new paths into the world of work. Experience has grown its network to include more than 3,800 universities, 100,000 employers and 3 million students and alumni - all of whom are focused on launching the careers of the world's most important talent. Jennifer has been recognized as one of the nation's youngest business leaders and achievers by numerous organizations including Forbes, Business Week, New York Times, Working Woman, Boston Business Journal, Women's Business, and Entrepreneur, and is a frequent speaker at nationwide universities and major business events such as the Kennedy eRecruiting Conference, EMA, the MIT Enterprise Forum, Springboard Venture Capital Forum, and the Association of Colleges & Employers. With a career path as a psychology-major-turned-entrepreneur, a relatively young CEO, a woman in business, an Internet pre and post-bubble survivor, a venture capital fundraising veteran, an advisor to top universities and Fortune 500 employers, and as someone who helps millions of people find their true calling every day, she has many perspectives to share with her audiences. Jennifer earned a BA in psychology from Dartmouth College in 1993, and was a management consultant with Bain & Company in Boston prior to starting Experience. She is currently a board member and active participant in the MIT Enterprise Forum, Junior Achievement, and the Caring Canines organization which certifies and manages therapy service dogs.

Gretchen Fox
President & Founder, Fox Relocation Management
Entrepreneurial Marketing in a Non-traditional Marketplace

Gretchen founded Fox Relocation Management Corp. in 1988 upon being engaged to manage the relocation of the 1,000-employee law firm of Ropes & Gray. As a result of her experience, Gretchen identified an opportunity to provide specialized project management services for companies who wanted employees to focus on day-to-day operations rather than assigning them to coordinate moves, renovations, and reorganizations. In addition, she saw many corporations starting to outsource facilities management and other functions that were not considered core to business goals.

After nearly 20 years of continued success, Gretchen has built her one-person firm into a 70+person practice offering a full range of services, from design and master-planning through construction and move management. Fox has offices in Boston, Washington DC, Buffalo, Providence, and New York City. Clients have included Sovereign Bank; Liberty Mutual; Partners Healthcare; Posternak, Blankstein & Lund; Palmer & Dodge; International Monetary Fund; Public Broadcasting Systems; U.S. Capitol Police; Boeing; Fidelity Investments; Philips Medical Systems, and Harvard University, among others.

In 1999, Gretchen was named "Business Woman of the Year" by the New England Women Business Owners (NEWBO), having been selected from among 55 qualified candidates throughout the region. In 2002, 2003 and 2004, Fox Relocation Management was named one of Massachusetts' Top 100 Woman-Led companies. In 2003, Gretchen was named as a Women's Business Enterprise National Council "Business Star" in Washington, D.C. In 2005, Gretchen was named as one of the "NFTE 50" by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Brian J. Friedman
Spectrum Group, Managing Partner
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - A Beginner's Guide to The New (and Improved) Internet (Part 1)
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - How to Run Your Business Using Web 2.0 Applications and Services (Part 2)
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - It's Impacting Your Life More Than You Think! (Part 3)

Brian Friedman has been developing and implementing mobile and Internet strategies for over fifteen years.

A true entrepreneur and visionary, Brian served as President/CEO of several innovative and revolutionary companies in the web and wireless space including: one of the first mobile distribution companies; a finance company funded with a $200,000,000 securitized bond fund to provide construction and operational funding for new wireless carriers; and one of the first mobile e-commerce transactional sites that included a mobile data application initiative.

Brian has taken his entrepreneurial experience to provide consulting services to numerous companies. He consistently brings about organizational growth by transforming corporate infrastructure, obtaining funding, assisting in management, and restructuring distribution and operations.

Brian developed and implemented rejuvenation programs to turn-around financially and operationally distressed companies for success. In addition, Brian has worked with companies in all areas of the wireless space to develop and implement unique mobile and mobile media strategies and successful strategic carrier, manufacturer and content alliances. Internationally, Brian has mobile and Internet experience in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico and South Korea.

In addition to his hands-on business experience, Brian is a licensed attorney and has practiced in the areas of corporate transactional law and business litigation. Brian is co-host of MoMeMo-San Diego, a private membership group consisting of key decision makers and thinkers from the convergent wireless and media industries. Brian is a frequent speaker on issues of mobile-content convergence, mobile marketing and trends in new media and Web 2.0.

Kathleen Gilroy
CEO, The Otter Group
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - How to Run Your Business Using Web 2.0 Applications and Services (Part 2)

Kathleen Gilroy is the CEO of The Otter Group, a company that uses web 2.0 services to build networks to help people create, share, and learn. Kathleen has developed successful peer-to-peer communities and learning networks for enterprises, universities, associations, and non-profits. Her past and present clients include Merrill Lynch, Fidelity Investments, CDM, The Sloan School at MIT, Harvard Business School, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, The American Library Association, The Peter F. Drucker Association for Non-Profit Management, Coopers & Lybrand, Digital Equipment Corporation, The Philanthropic Initiative, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Polaroid Corporation, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Ms Gilroy has written many papers and is a popular speaker. Her publications include: Web 2.0 for Business Advantage, Preparing for Intranet 2.0, Podcasting for Learning, and Winning the Race for Knowledge Worker Productivity. Kathleen writes about learning communities and web 2.0 on her corporate weblog for the Otter Group. She writes about her personal interests on KathleenGilroy.com. She does a podcast series on learning and collaboration, Learning 2.0 Tip of the Week, that can be found on iTunes. Ms. Gilroy received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University (1979). She has served on the boards of the Boston Film and Video Foundation and the Stanford Club of Boston (former officer), and the Feathered Pipe Foundation. Charitable services include volunteering for the AIDS Interfaith Ministry and Cambridge Cares about AIDS. Ms. Gilroy has been a Big Sister and has led a Girl Scout Troop in Somerville, Massachusetts. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband, Harry Fix, a professional jazz pianist.

Brenda Ginsberg
Founder, Invision Consulting
Corporate Philanthropy: How Non-Profits and Companies can Achieve Amazing Things Together

Brenda Ginsberg has a passion and proven talent for making significant contributions to corporate, entrepreneurial and non-profit organizations. She is the founder of Invision Consulting, a practice committed to 'Helping Organizations Achieve!'™. Invision focuses on providing significant benefit to enterprise and entrepreneurial organizations in the areas of business and marketing strategy, corporate social investment, and strategic giving/employee engagement initiatives. Simultaneously, her emphasis in support of non-profits is on marketing, fund development, corporate partnerships, volunteer mobilization/fundraising workshops and Board development. The result is new revenue and development sources for clients. She is a committed leader, dedicated to empowering her clients to achieve success not only now but for years to come.

Prior to transitioning to dedicated involvement with Invision Consulting, Brenda held numerous leadership and internal consulting positions with AT&T's Chief Marketing and Product Management Organization. She led company programs charged with strategic plan development and implementation for over 40 major initiatives for AT&T's flagship business-to-business solutions. Her leadership, customer-centric focus and strategic approaches directly contributed to results such as transforming what was originally a $100K business to a $1.2 billion dollar revenue generating platform, and also achieving multi-million dollar cost reductions across platforms. Additional leadership positions have been within the market research and retail brand industries.

Brenda's commitment to giving back to society, and 'Helping Organizations Achieve'™ amazing things, is very important and is reflective in her own life. Brenda serves on the Board of Directors for multiple organizations, and remains dedicated to volunteerism for national non-profits with increasing levels of leadership. She is always passionate about connecting with new organizations and exploring ideas to deliver significant benefit in ways that are meaningful for today's companies, entrepreneurial organizations and non-profits.

Aileen Gorman
Executive Director, The Commonwealth Institute
Doing Good Means Doing Good Business: Marketing, Metrics, and Other Best Practices for Nonprofits

Aileen Gorman has more than 30 years experience in business. Since 1999, she has been Executive Director of The Commonwealth Institute - a not for profit organization whose mission is to help women entrepreneurs, CEOs, and senior corporate executives build successful businesses.

Previously she was a senior executive for The Stop & Shop Companies and Bradlees, where she specialized in crisis communication and public affairs. She managed investor, customer and media reactions for such explosive issues as product tampering, contagious diseases, downsizing, the sale and closure of operating divisions, a hostile takeover attempt and a leveraged buyout. She also designed financial communications strategies, investor presentations and collateral materials for such events as Initial Public Offerings and rating agency presentations and has traveled domestically and internationally to orchestrate analyst/ investor/ management forums. Earlier in her career, Ms. Gorman was the national spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch Inc., a founding Director of the Food Safety Council, a public/private partnership in Washington D.C. , and Executive Director of the National Consumers Congress, a nationwide lobbying organization. She is a past Trustee of Boston University Medical Center Hospital, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, and the South Boston Neighborhood House. She is currently on the Board of the St. Francis House - the largest day shelter in Boston.

Gail Goodman
CEO, Constant Contact
Success Secrets of the Inc. 500

Gail Goodman is CEO of Constant Contact, the leading email marketing service for small businesses, associations, and nonprofits. Under GailÕs leadership, Constant Contact has grown to serve more than 90,000 customers worldwide, was recently ranked 166th on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, and named the 6th fastest growing company in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for New England (with five-year growth of 3,552 percent).

Gail is an Entrepreneur.com Business Coach, where she writes about how small businesses can market their business and drive growth by building long-term, profitable customer relationships. She has been featured in numerous publications and outlets including Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur, Small Business Technology Magazine, Inc Magazine, Mass High Tech, Boston Business Journal, CNN, eBay Radio, Small Business Advocate and PM Magazine.

Gail previously held positions in marketing and management consulting with Open Market, Progress Software, Dun & Bradstreet Software and Bain & Co. She is also active in the business community as a Board Member of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, a member of the Leadership Council of the Massachusetts Chapter of the NFIB, and a Board member of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge.

Gail holds a BA from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth.

Joanne Grady
Founder and President, Abbott Personnel Services, Inc.
Too Busy to Save the World? Social justice for Busy Working Women

Joanne Grady founded Abbott Personnel Services, Inc. in 1985 after having spent nearly 17 years in several administrative and human resource positions in the Boston area. Providing leadership and support to her team of experienced workforce placement professionals and leveraging her own years spent as an administrative assistant, Grady has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to shape Abbott Personnel into one of the most revered and distinguished members of the workforce placement community in Boston.Prior to founding Abbott Personnel, Grady spent five years in a top administrative post with John Hancock Insurance and four years as office manager and sales director of a small placement agency in Boston. In addition to leading Abbott Personnel, Grady is a member of the board of trustees at Duxbury Art Association, chair of the human resources committee for Outward Bound and development chair for Bay Farm Montessori School in Duxbury, Mass. Furthermore, Grady has been top fundraiser money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, New England Home for Little Wanderers and Crossroads for Kids. She holds a bachelor's of science in organizational behavior from Lesley College, Cambridge, Mass. She resides in Duxbury, Mass. with her husband Gerard and their two children.

Stacey Graiko
Partner & Co-Founder, Insight 303
Personal Branding: The Power and Permission to be Yourself

After graduating college with a BA in Psychology, Stacy started her career in market research with the MarComm Group. There, she was a regional account manager working with retail, financial services, and food and beverage clients to ensure customer satisfaction with their brands. From MarComm she went on to manage marketing and advertising for a variety of non-profit companies in education and entertainment. In the mid-90s, she hopped on the technology train and began using web-based technologies like email list serves and chat rooms as marketing tools. She started her ad agency career at Mullen where she helped to build the Interactive practice, and went on to hold various "firsts" for IPG including Operations Manager and Brand Integration Supervisor. She was instrumental in retaining and growing the agency's largest account, The GM Card, and managed a cross-functional team located in Detroit and Boston. Stacy was recruited to Carmichael Lynch where she led a team to win the agency's first integrated account led by non-traditional advertising (Rosetta Stone), and also worked on strategy for AG Edwards, Fetzer, and Northwest Airlines. After leaving CL, Stacy joined Fallon's brand consulting unit where she honed her skills in qualitative research, earning certification as a focus group moderator and personal brand strategist. At Fallon she worked on global brand strategy projects for Maytag, Gucci, Briggs & Stratton, Boyd Gaming, Best Buy / Geek Squad, RealGem, and Texas A&M University. In January 2006, Stacy acknowledged her desire to create a company that would reflect her personal brand of idealism, inquisitiveness, and human truths, and founded Insight 303 with partner Faith James. An active volunteer for causes she's passionate about, Stacy has dedicated company resources to the White House Project's Vote, Run, Lead program, a bi-partisan initiative to increase women's political leadership. She also founded the Boston / New England chapter of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA), and is a member of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA). Stacy speaks, writes and teaches topics ranging from personal branding to qualitative research to account planning. She lives in Boston, MA.

Paula Grieco
Principal, Co-Founder, and Co-Owner, Etimes3
Too Busy to Save the World? Social justice for Busy Working Women

As an entrepreneur and business executive, Paula Grieco has a significant track record in company building disciplines including strategy, business planning and development, sales and marketing. Currently Paula is Principal, Co-founder, and Co-owner of Etimes3, Inc., a web product and services firm focused on helping corporate clients in the media, non-profit and other industries build next generation business strategies and community-focused web sites. Paula leads the business strategy practice of Etimes3 and has particular expertise in helping corporate clients launch new ventures within existing organizations and all phases of start-up development.

Previously, Paula served as vice president of sales and marketing and leadership board member for Edgewater Technology, a leading technology consulting firm. During her tenure with Edgewater, the company was ranked in the New England Fast 50 and Technology 500 and achieved more than a ten-fold increase in revenue growth.

Paula leverages her business expertise as an active member of her local and international community with particular passion for advocacy and social justice for women and girls. Paula serves on the board of The Emancipation Network (TEN), a social enterprise focused on helping end modern-day slavery through education and economic empowerment. In addition to providing on-going business advisory input to TEN, Paula is currently working on a joint initiative between TEN and Empower Dalit Women of Nepal (EDWON), a human rights organization for Nepalese women in the "untouchable" caste. Paula lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.

Francine Friedman Griesing, Esq.
Vice-Chair Hospitality Practice Group, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Top Legal Challenges Facing Entrepreneur Women

Francine Friedman Griesing is vice-Chair of the Firm's Hospitality Practice Group and a member of the Firm's Government Affairs and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. Ms. Griesing represents clients in the tourism, hospitality, restaurant/foodservice, gaming, car rental, and entertainment industries. She has 25 years of experience handling complex business and litigation matters. Representative engagements include counseling clients on risk management and premises liability issues, advising on food and liquor service liability; negotiating concessionaire, licensing and management contracts; advising clients on regulatory compliance, zoning, employment issues, and insurance coverage disputes; and litigating high stake cases, including class actions.

Prior to joining Eckert Seamans, Ms. Griesing served the City of Philadelphia as Chair of the Litigation Group and on the Executive Committee of the City's Law Department, selected by former Philadelphia Mayor Edward G. Rendell, current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As the City's top trial lawyer she handled legal matters involving the City's most popular tourist venues, including Veterans Stadium, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Penn's Landing/Delaware Avenue, Fairmount Park, historic Olde City and Main Street Manayunk. She advised the Mayor, ranking administration officials and members of City Council on cutting-edge legal issues, while managing over 2,000 matters, supervising 75 lawyers, attendant support staff and overseeing outside counsel. As the City's lead attorney on several high-profile matters, she is accustomed to working with a diverse constituency and performing under public scrutiny.

Ms. Griesing has been recognized for her professional and community leadership, having served on numerous bar association and civil projects. She has been selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer 2004 2005 and 2006 and received the Greater Philadelphia Women of Distinction, Governor's Best 50 Women in Business, Pennsylvania Honor Roll for Women and Women to Watch awards. Ms. Griesing served on the Board of Directors of the Forum of Executive Women and Federation Day Care Services. Ms. Griesing is listed on the American Arbitration Association Roster of Neutrals for Commercial Disputes. She is founder of the Women Hospitality Executives Network, and an allied member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association. Ms. Griesing is a member of the Hotels, Resorts and Tourism Committee and Hospitality Industry Liaison Subcommittee and the Sports, Entertainment and Gaming Committee of the Real Property and Probate Section of the American Bar Association.

In 1998, Ms. Griesing received the Philadelphia Bar Education Center's inaugural award for Excellence in Legal Education. She has taught at Temple University's Beasley School of Law and Fox School of Business Management; additionally, she has been a guest lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She writes and lectures on business and legal topics, including crisis readiness, security and continuity of business operations, e-commerce and information technology, negotiation and presentations skills, and professional ethics. Ms. Griesing received her law degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. She earned her undergraduate degree in political science, magna cum laude, from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Ms. Griesing is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New York.

Robin Gronlund
Managing Director, Intrinsic Marketing, and Board of Directors, Women Business Owners Network
Finding Your Dream Business: Mid-Life Women and Entrepreneurship

Robin has been the Managing Director of her own marketing services company for two years. With over 20 years of experience in both technology and product marketing, Robin started her career in consumer product sales with Procter & Gamble. She has held technology marketing positions with IBM and Hill Associates, a boutique telecommunications training firm. Her work experience spans retail and wholesale in women's apparel, home decor, and quick-service restaurants as Director of Marketing for April Cornell/Cornell Trading and Director of Marketing for Bruegger's Corporation. Her most extensive experience is in developing growth strategies for start-up and mid-size entrepreneurial companies. She has been responsible for all aspects of corporate marketing including strategy, branding, product development, communications, strategic partnerships, market research, sales forecasting and budgeting. Robin is also the Executive Director of the Women Business Owners Network a membership organization located in Vermont. She holds a BA from St. Lawrence University and an MBA from the University of Vermont.

Janice P. Guy
President, P3i Incorporated
A Case Study of Start Up / Early Stage Companies - Debt and Equity Funding (Part 2)

Mary Halpin
V.P. of Development, Arthritis Foundation-MA
WITI Presents: How to Tap the Online Marketplace to Identify New Funding Streams

Mary Halpin has fifteen years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and management. She is currently the Vice President of Development for the Massachusetts Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, recently recognized by the National office with several awards for outstanding fundraising achievement. Before joining the Arthritis Foundation, she was the Development Director for Satellife, an International Development organization focusing on incorporating information technology into health programs for developing countries. During her time at Satellife, Mary presented the organization's flagship project "The Uganda Health Information Network", at both the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and to the World Health Organization (WHO), both in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to this, Mary worked at the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, where she managed successful local, national and international disaster fundraising campaigns including the Kosovo crisis, the Massachusetts Floods and the September 11th disaster. She also developed new special events and oversaw the Major Gifts and Planned Giving programs. Earlier experience includes working as a Social Worker in London, England and Glasgow, Scotland. Mary has been an active Board Member for Rotary International and Kiwanis International and an active volunteer for the Boston Public Schools. Mary holds a BS from UMass Amherst and an MSW from Boston University.

Jean Hammond
Founder & Principal, JPH Associates
How to Fund Start-Up, Pre-Revenue and Early Stage Businesses (Part 1)
A Case Study of Start Up / Early Stage Companies - Debt and Equity Funding (Part 2)

Jean Hammond is an angel investor usually focusing on early stage high tech start-ups. An active investor, she adds marketing staffing when needed to fully assess or exploit the opportunity. Jean is a co-leader of Golden Seeds - Boston (focused on investing in women-managed businesses) and a member of Launchpad and Hub Angles. Jean also serves on the boards of The Technology Capital Network and Thompson Island Outward Bound.

Jean is serial entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in the high-tech industry. Her entrepreneurial activities include managing, JAM Technologies, as interim CEO. She founded Quarry Technologies with a core team from the BBN Technologies/GTE Internetworking SuperRouter project, serving as Quarry's start-up CEO. Jean also co-founded AXON Networks, a developer of network management applications. Following 3Com's acquisition of AXON, Jean was responsible for 3Com's WAN strategy. She earned an M.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, and a B.S. from Boston University.

Jean plays or played an active board level role with a number of her Boston area investments including: Network Subscriptions, International Strategies, JAM Technologies, Home Portfolio, Mobile Secure, iTeam, and EdTech Networks, Ohia Networks, Intouch Systems, ZipCar.

Stephanie Hanbury-Brown
Managing Director, Golden Seeds
How to Fund Start-Up, Pre-Revenue and Early Stage Businesses (Part 1)
The Next Phase: How to Fund Established and Growing Companies & The Importance of an Exit Strategy (Part 1)

Stephanie Hanbury-Brown's 20 year career prior to becoming a venture investor was in financial services. She has worked in all three times zones - in Sydney, London and New York. The majority of her career was with J.P. Morgan where she headed several global businesses including positions as Global Head of Futures and Options, Head of International Private Banking, COO of Global Equities and Head of eCommerce. She grew and managed revenue and expense budgets up to $500m.

In 2004 she determined to change careers so as to support women entrepreneurs, focusing on their ability to obtaining capital to grow their businesses. She founded Golden Seeds which makes early stage equity investments. Simultaneously she joined the board of Count Me In which makes micro-loans to small businesses, and, through its Make Mine a Million Dollar Business Program, provides larger loans for growing businesses. Both organisations are focused on women-owned women-led companies, and both provide much more besides capital - they are also committed to mentoring, advising and helping women entrepreneurs network with people who can support them in their business goals.

In parallel, Stephanie is also committed to encouraging experienced business women to become venture and angel investors, providing regular training sessions in order to facilitate that transition. She is a member of New York Angels, an investor with Boldcap Ventures, and currently retains board positions with Foster Wheeler Limited, Design2Launch, Artemis Woman and Count-Me-In where she is the board chair.

Dawn Curtis Hanley
Executive Director of Marketing for Boston Magazine
Inside/Outside Mentorship

Dawn Curtis Hanley is the Executive Director of Marketing for Boston Magazine. Her 6 person marketing team manages the marketing and branding efforts for the magazine, as well as executes all of the client related events, sponsorships and added value programs for Boston magazine as well as its niche titles including Home & Garden, New England Travel & Life, Elegant Wedding and bostonmagazine.com.

Prior to joining Boston magazine 3 years ago, Dawn was the communications director for the Seaport Companies where she managed the public relations, special events and community relations for the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center. She has also held positions including the Director of Public Relations for the Hotel Meridien (now the Langham), and Marketing Director for Jillian's Entertainment. Dawn began her career at Conventures, New England's largest special event firm, where her most notable role was Director for Marine Operations for Sail Boston 1992.

Dawn currently serves as an overseer for the Boston Children's Museum as well as a board member for Jose Mateo's Ballet Theatre. She is a member of the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and was named one of Boston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 in 2000. Dawn is a graduate of Boston College with a degree in communications. She lives in Duxbury, Massachusettes with her husband Tim, and 2 daughters, Carlin (6) and Devyn (3).

Margaret Heffernan
Author, Entrepreneur
Big, Meaningful and Significant

Margaret was born in Texas, raised in Holland and educated at Cambridge University. She worked in BBC Radio for five years where she wrote, directed, produced and commissioned dozens of documentaries and dramas. As a television producer, she made documentary films for Timewatch, Arena, and Newsnight. She was one of the producers of Out of the Doll's House, the prize-winning documentary series about the history of women in the twentieth century. She designed and executive produced a thirteen part series on The French Revolution for the BBC and A&E. The series featured, among others, Alan Rickman, Alfred Molina, Janet Suzman, Simon Callow and Jim Broadbent and introduced both historian Simon Schama and playwright Peter Barnes to British television. She also produced music videos with Virgin Records and the London Chamber Orchestra to raise attention and funds for Unicef's Lebanese fund. Leaving the BBC, she ran the trade association IPPA, which represented the interests of independent film and television producers and was once described by the Financial Times as "the most formidable lobbying organization in England." In 1994, she returned to the United States where she worked on public affair campaigns in Massachusetts and with software companies trying to break into multimedia. She developed interactive multimedia products with Peter Lynch, Tom Peters, Standard & Poors and The Learning Company. She then joined CMGI where she ran, bought and sold leading Internet businesses, serving as Chief Executive Officer for InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and iCAST Corporation. She was named one of the Internet's Top 100 by Silicon Alley Reporter in 1999, one of the Top 25 by Streaming Media magazine and one of the Top 100 Media Executives by The Hollywood Reporter. Her "Tear Down the Wall" campaign against AOL won the 2001 Silver SABRE award for public relations. In 2004, Margaret published THE NAKED TRUTH: A Working Woman's Manifesto about Business and What Really Matters (Jossey-Bass) and in 2007 she brought out HOW SHE DOES IT: How Female Entrepreneurs are Changing the Rules for Business Success. She is Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at Simmons College in Boston, she sits on the Council of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and she continues to work with businesses, write for magazines, in both the United States and United Kingdom. She is married with two children.

Betsy Silva Hernandez
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Opportunities and Issues Confronting Non-Profit Leadership

Betsy Silva Hernandez is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. In that capacity, Betsy works to develop, advance, and guide the company's diversity strategy and initiatives to build business performance. She will work to create a more inclusive environment for associates and collaborate with the company's external partners to address the diverse needs of BCBSMA members and the broader community. In this role, Betsy partners with key business units such as BCBSMA's marketing, provider, member service, workforce planning, human resources and community relations departments.

Betsy came to BCBSMA with more than 20 years of senior-level diversity and operations leadership experience. Immediately prior to joining BCBSMA, she served as Chief Diversity Strategist at Freddie Mac where she developed and implementedÊa corporate diversity strategy that aligned with the company's corporate mission. Prior to joining Freddie Mac, Betsy founded and served as President of Silva Hernandez Consultants, a minority-owned international consulting firm. The firm specialized in topics including diversity strategy and organizational development and her clients included such companies as Unilever, the United States Postal Service and Colgate Palmolive. Betsy's past experience also includes her work as Vice President of Diversity and Work Life at the American Express Company where she partnered with line of business professionals throughout the world to develop a comprehensive global strategy to support the company's efforts in these critical areas. Under Betsy's direction and leadership, Working Mother Magazine named American Express to its 2002 list of "Ten Best Companies for Working Mothers."

Betsy earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Inter-American University in Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and was a 2005 National Hispana Leadership Fellow. Betsy is a resident of Concord, MA.

Diane Hessan
President & CEO, Communispace
Success Secrets of the Inc. 500
Entrepreneurial Marketing in a Non-traditional Marketplace

Diane Hessan is responsible for overseeing Communispace's daily operations and long-term success as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors. A seasoned business executive, Hessan has 25 years of experience in managing fast-growing organizations.

She joined Communispace in its infancy after a serving as CEO of Real World Consulting. Prior to that, she held various management positions at The Forum Corporation, a corporate training firm that specializes in helping companies become customer-focused. She is also the co-author of the best-selling book, Customer-Centered Growth: 5 Strategies for Building Competitive Advantage. The book has received numerous citations and has been translated into nine languages. Diane is often called on to share her expertise at industry conferences, and on national news programs including CNN, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, and CNNfn.

Diane has received various awards and citations most recently as one of 10 "Women to Watch" in Boston, and as one of 20 Visionaries in the Human Resource arena. She is on the Board of Trustees of The Horizons Initiative, which is dedicated to homeless children in Boston. She also serves on the Boards of The Boston Philharmonic, The National Council on Women and Aging, the Tufts Alumni Council, and on numerous other advisory boards. She is the co-founder of The Sound Bytes, an a cappella group that writes lyrics about business and performs at major conferences. A summa cum laude graduate of Tufts University, Diane received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She lives west of Boston with her husband, two teenaged daughters, and a golden retriever.

Kip Hollister
CEO, Hollister Inc.
Aligning your Philanthropy with your Business Strategy

As CEO of Hollister, Kip Hollister continues to set the long-term strategic course and steer the daily operations with the passion and commitment she did some 18 years ago when she founded the firm. Over nearly two decades since transforming her business plan into a company founded on the principles of honesty, integrity and strategic client relationships, Kip has evolved Hollister, which she still owns today, into a full-service recruiting firm for many of New England's leading companies. Her focus on expanding the firm's capabilities to meet the changing needs of its clients highlights her fearless embrace of innovation to ensure an enduring competitive advantage in the staffing industry. Kip is a steadfast supporter of business-community partnerships, recognizing that over the long run Hollister can only be as strong as the community it serves. She herself serves on the boards of YMCA Training Inc. and North Cambridge Catholic High School. Kip is also actively involved with City Year, Year Up and Everybody Wins.

Maryann Hondo
Senior Technical Staff, SOA Appliances for Data Power, IBM, AIM Organization
WITI Presents: SOA - What is it and How to Leverage this approach for your business

Maryann Hondo is a Senior Technical Staff Member currently developing SOA Appliances for DataPower in the IBM AIM organization. Previously she led work in SOA architectures & security in IBM's Enterprise Integration Solutions. Maryann is one of the co-authors of the WS-Security, Policy, Trust and Secure Conversation specifications and has 20 years experience in various areas of security.

Mike Hudack
Co-Founder & CEO, blip.tv
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - It's Impacting Your Life More Than You Think! (Part 3)

Mike Hudack is the co-founder and CEO of blip.tv. He is responsible for overseeing all business, site and software development, integration with private labels and community relations with the videoblogger community.

Before blip.tv, Mike was a senior programmer and systems administrator for the National Hockey League. He managed the team responsible for one of the biggest IT projects in the history of the League: consolidating and re-developing the NHL's internal applications, which serve hundreds of employees using dozens of technologies ranging from the IBM AS/400 to Sun's J2EE to Lotus Notes to Perl. In addition, Mike created and developed the content management system for NHL.com, administered dozens of NHL.com servers spread across two data centers in New York City and coordinated the redesign and development of NHL.com's real time statistics client.

In 2001 Mike worked for AOL/Time Warner's Parenting Group, where he helped to manage the Parenting.com Web site. He oversaw tens of thousands of individual Web pages across several re-branding and redesign cycles and designed and authored an Internet subscription system for TPG's Parenting and BabyTalk properties.

At 16, Mike was hired as the Chief Scientist for Knowledge Propulsion Laboratories, a computer security start-up in Norwalk, Connecticut. While at KPL, Mike designed the innovative LinearC privacy product and the Data Haven secure Internet storage service.

Mike has spoken at SXSW, NYU and other forums as an expert on blogging and digital journalism. He has created and maintained more than a half dozen blogs, including warstories:cc and warblog:cc, which were covered by the Washington Post, USA Today, PBS Newshour, NPR and Forbes.

Ann Rice Hunt
Lead Lender Relations Specialist, SBA
A Case Study of Start Up / Early Stage Companies - Debt and Equity Funding (Part 2)

Anne Rice Hunt has been employed by the U.S Small Business Administration since 1981. Ms. Hunt currently manages the Agency's financing programs for the state of Massachusetts. Over the past five years, the Massachusetts office provided more than $1.5 billion dollars in loan guarantees to over 13,500 small businesses in participation with over 110 lending institutions. Ms. Hunt had worked as a loan officer for 12 years before assuming the position of Finance Chief in 1995. Ms. Hunt received an MBA degree from Salem State College as well as a BA degree in Sociology from the Massachusetts School of Liberal Arts.

Joanne Hyland
President & Founding Partner, Radical Innovation Group
Entrepreneurial Thinking Within Organizations

Joanne Hyland (NPDP) is a Founding Partner of the RI Group and former Vice President, New Venture Development at Nortel Networks where Joanne, with her new venture development team, founded its internal venturing program, a multi-million dollar investment fund that led to 12 business startups. The Corporate Strategy Board, RPI, Fast Company magazine, and others have acknowledged and/or benchmarked this program. Joanne is now working with major corporations to link innovation with strategy and to develop systems, leadership and culture capabilities that drive growth and corporate renewal. The Radical Innovation Group's client list includes Air Products, Danfoss, Eaton, HP, Kodak, Motorola, NOVA Chemicals, Novozymes and Shell among others. As a thought leader, Joanne speaks regularly on topics related to innovation and corporate venturing and has been a member of the faculty or guest speaker in executive education programs at Babson College, Danish Technical University (DTU), Industrial Research Institute (IRI), MIT, Motorola University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Joanne is a featured executive in the book Radical Innovation: How Mature Companies Can Outsmart Upstarts and has written about "Using VC Experience to Create Business Value", a chapter in From the Trenches-Strategies from Industry Leaders on the New e-Conomy (Wiley & Sons, June 2001). She is co-author of the chapter "Bringing Radical Innovation and Other Major Innovations Successfully to Market - Bridging the Transition from R&D to Operations" in the Product Development Management Association's (PDMA's) 2004 ToolBook. Joanne has held a variety of corporate and startup board roles. She is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada and a certified New Product Development Professional (NPDP).

Faith James
Partner & Co-Founder, Insight 303
Personal Branding: The Power and Permission to be Yourself

With a Bachelors Degree in Communications, Faith started her career in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather advertising agency in New York City in 1991. For the next 7 years she honed her strategic skills on one of the largest advertising brands, the IBM Global business. She developed brand strategies for the majority of their business units ranging from Software to Small & Medium Businesses. During her tenure, Faith traveled extensively through Europe and Latin America helping to develop a consistent voice for the IBM Brand. Faith was so instrumental to the IBM business, she was nominated to attend the prestigious SATP Management Training Course in South Africa, where she developed the winning case study for one of the agency's South African clients. Faith then joined the team at McCann Erickson IN 1999, to lead the strategic direction on the Lucent Technology Global Service Provider and Micro Electronics Divisions. While at McCann, Faith developed integrated campaigns to introduce new products like the Wireless 3G technology. In 2000, Faith was recruited to join Kirshenbaum bond and partners. As the Account Director, she led the team on one of the agency's largest clients, Liberty Mutual Insurance business. She also took on responsibilities on Hennessey Cognac, Verizon SuperPages. She also took on the added task of developing the strategy for the non-profit AdCouncil's Adopt-US-Kids campaign. The campaign won numerous advertising awards for creative excellence, it won the prestigious J. Chiat Award for brand planning and has recently been nominated for the Oscars of the Advertising Industry - The Effie - which awards advertising campaigns that drive business results. After making her mark at Kirshenbaum bond and partners, Faith was recruited to Carmichael Lynch in 2004. As Group Account Director, she was responsible for two of the agencies largest revenue generating clients, A.G. Edwards Brokerage Firm and Northwest Airlines. Faith lead an integrated team to develop the award-winning "Nest Egg" campaign for A.G. Edwards which increased awareness for the brand and increased number of assets under management. Faith finally succumbed to the fire in her belly to helm her own company, which she did in 2006 with business partner Stacy Graiko. The two formed Insight303, a brand planning and strategy company. Being able to direct her own future, Faith is now able to focus on projects that are meaningful and have the ultimate mission of achieving greater good for society. Faith is an active member of NAFE (National Association of Female Executives) and volunteers her time for The White House Project. She lives in Blaine, MN.

Angela Johnson
Product Manager, Microsoft Business Certification
Microsoft® Business Certification Demo

Angela Johnson has been with the Microsoft Corporation since 1997. She has held positions in product localization, operations, and IT product management. Prior to coming to Microsoft Angela spent 3 years at Marshall & Sullivan, Registered Investment Advisors as a marketing specialist.

Currently, Angela is the Product Manager for the Microsoft Office Specialist Program at the Redmond, Washington campus. The program certifies users' proficiency with individual Microsoft Office software programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint®. Since the program's inception in 1997, more than three million Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams have been administered to students, teachers, and information workers in 18 languages and 122 countries. Under Johnson's leadership and direction, Microsoft's goal is to raise awareness of the program and ensure the availability of certification world wide.

Over the past year she has been focused on the next generation of the Office certification for Microsoft. The program is based on the 2007 Microsoft Office system and features two new products for office workers and students world wide.

Angela moved to Seattle from California in 1984 and is a graduate of Seattle University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and enjoys travel, cooking, gardening and spending time with her family. Angela is also a proud member of the Redmond chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ann Johnson
SMB Marketing Program Manager, Cisco
Cisco Presents: Creating a Smart Business Technology Roadmap

With over ten years of experience at Cisco Systems in Information Systems and Marketing roles, Johnson is currently the Small to Medium Business (SMB) Marketing Program Manager for Cisco Routing, Switching, Security and Wireless product lines, servicing the networking needs of customers with 20-250 employees. Johnson is also the diversity lead for the SMB marketing team, supporting Cisco's commitment to women owned business and diverse cultures. Prior to Cisco, Johnson held Information Systems positions with Intel, BayNetworks, Siemens Corporation, and ROLM Systems. Johnson has a bachelor's degree in Business from St.Mary's College of Moraga and lives in San Jose, California.

Lisa Kable
Managing Partner, Artemis Woman, LLC
A Case Study of Start Up / Early Stage Companies - Debt and Equity Funding (Part 2)

Lisa Porter Kable is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Artemis Woman LLC, a company that markets home spa beauty products to women through mass market retailers, such as the Sharper Image, Wal-Mart, Target, and QVC. Her career path has included brand management and senior management positions at Quaker Oats (Gatorade), James River (Dixie), and most recently Remington Products. She and her business partner Ann T. Buivid started Artemis Woman in 2002. Ms. Kable is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College where she completed a major in Chinese language and culture. She lives in Norwich, VT with her husband and two children.

Michelle Katz
MSN, Healthcare Consultant and Medical Reporter
Navigating the Health Care System to Provide the Best Coverage Cost Effectively

A healthcare consultant and international medical reporter, Michelle Katz, MSN, from ABC 7 in Washington, DC, has been interviewed on several news markets including WUSA in Washington, DC, the New England Cable Network in Boston and Oprah & Friends Radio. She is the host of cable television show, Today's Health and a "Celebrity Guru" for LifeTips as well as the healthcare contributor for EONS. Katz has been a senior healthcare consultant at Author Andersen and consulted in the development of congressional healthcare legislation. Her advice has been heard on countless radio stations across the country. She is a sincere, engaging guest and we are sure your audience will welcome an interview or feature. She received her master's degree in nursing from Georgetown University and lives in Washington, DC.

Marcia Kaufman
Partner, Hurwitz & Associates, Co-Author, "SOA for Dummies"
WITI Presents: SOA - What is it and How to Leverage this approach for your business

Marcia Kaufman is a founding partner of Hurwitz & Associates, a consulting, research and analyst firm that focuses on the customer benefit and best practices of service oriented architectures and related technologies. With 20 years of experience in business strategy, industry research, and analytics, her primary research focus is on the business and technology benefit of emerging software technologies. She has a special interest in information management, information as a service, and data quality. Previously, Marcia was a senior analyst with Strategy Analytics where she focused on e-business practices and IT infrastructure. She has worked extensively on industry modeling and forecasting in various research environments including Data Resources Inc. (DRI).

Marcia is a coauthor of "Service Oriented Architecture For Dummies", published by Wiley in 2006. She received an MBA from Boston University School of Management and a BA in mathematics and economics from Connecticut College.

Gail Kelly
Small Business Consultant in the Boston area
Beyond Your Inner Circle - Strategies for Small Business Expansion

Gail has incorporated her experience with Organizational Development into her current role is working with the leading Professional Employer Organization, Administaff. Gail helps businesses understand the dynamics and impact of expansion on a company's culture. With 23 years of business experience, she has worked in small and large companies and in non-profits and corporations. She holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Emory University and is a former certified Ropes Course Instructor.

Laurie Kirby
Reporter & Anchor, WBZ
The Ultimate Business Make-Over - the Best Elevator Pitch, Image and Interview for Business Success

Laurie Kirby joined WBZ just before the summer of 1998 as anchor for the WBZ Weekend News. She is now a full-time reporter and anchor, filling in on various shifts, including the WBZMorningNews. She serves on the faculty of Emerson College where she teaches graduate students the art of writing and producing good radio. She is the recipient of the R.T.N.D.A award for "BEST WRITER" in a Large Market. Before coming to WBZ, Laurie worked as News Director for WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA where she received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award in two categories nationwide: "Overall Excellence" and "Best Writing." She began her career in Television at WCVX-TV 58 in Hyannis, Cape Cod, where she wore many hats from assignment editor to line-producer to fill-in reporter and anchor. She worked as news director at WFAL-FM in Falmouth and anchored at WXTK-FM in Yarmouth. The bright lights of the big city lured Laurie to Boston and WHDH-TV7 where she worked as a writer and producer for several years. Her career went national in 1996 when she was hired for NBC's "Real Life", a morning news and entertainment program. Her job as a segment producer took her to cities and towns across the country. Laurie graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Speech Communications with a concentration in musical theatre and fine arts from the London program abroad. She grew up in Westwood with her two sisters. Her family now lives on the Cape.

Gina Kish
Principal, Healthcare Design & Market Leader, New England Region, Cannon Design
Building a Business Development and Marketing Culture in Your Firm

In 26 years of architectural practice, Gina Kish's experience has ranged from owning a small design/build business to working in large international architecture and engineering firms. Presently, she is a Principal and Market Leader in Cannon Design's New England Region. As an architect, her major focus is client leadership at academic medical centers, community hospitals, and research facilities. Her portfolio of work includes the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Greenwich Hospital Watson Pavilion, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Robert Wood Johnson Children's Hospital. Gina has long been an advocate for sustainable solutions, both in design and in business. She is tirelessly committed to mentoring the next generation of architects and rainmakers. A member of the American Institute of Architects, the Boston Society of Architects, and New England Women in Real Estate, Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico.

Deborah Kolb
Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Professor for Women and Leadership, Simmons School of Management; Faculty Affiliate, Center for Gender in Organizations; Ph.D.
Yes, And...: Negotiating the Conditions for Leadership Success

Professor Kolb is an authority on gender issues in negotiation, and leadership, especially how women can negotiate the conditions for their own success while at the same time contributing to the effectiveness of their organization. Kolb has co-authored several books on this subject. Everyday Negotiation: Navigating the Hidden Agendas of Bargaining shows women (and men) how they can become more effective in their everyday negotiations by attending to the dual requirements of the shadow negotiation - advocacy for oneself and connection with others. Originally titled, The Shadow Negotiation, Harvard Business Review named it one of the ten best business books of 2000 and it received the best book award from the International Association of Conflict Management in 2001. Her new book Her Place at the Table: A Women's Guide to Negotiating the Five Challenges of Leadership Success describes how successful women negotiate for what they need to be effective in leadership roles at all levels of an organization. Kolb publishes extensively on these topics and regularly presents her work to national and international audiences. Kolb has recently done work with: Campbell Soup, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutschebank; Deloitte and Touche; Eli Lilly; EMC, W.L. Gore, IBM, JP Morgan-Chase, Phillips Medical, Pricewaterhouse/Coopers; Time, Inc., and Verizon. Non profit organizations have included The Ford Foundation, The Consultative Group in International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Girl Scouts, USA, The Society for Human Resource Management, Financial Executives International, Financial Women's Association, the Mayo Clinic, Network of Executive Women, Women in Technology International, among many others. Dr. Kolb is a principal in Negotiating Women, LLC., a company that provides negotiation training and consultation especially designed for women. Kolb joined the Simmons faculty in 1977. From 1991-1994, she was Executive Director of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. She is currently a Senior Fellow at the Program where she co-directs The Negotiations in the Workplace Project.

Gina LaRoche
Managing Director, Inspiritas
Marketing Trends for Growing Brands

Founded in 2001, INSPIRITAS' executive programs have challenged leaders and teams to accelerate results using vision, strategy and accountability for execution. Working with a broad range of industries, her clients include; Credit Suisse, EMC, Miller Brewing, Harvard University, American Student Assistance, Stamford Hospital, and Simmons School of Management where she is a visiting faculty member for their executive education programs.

Prior to INSPIRITAS, Ms. LaRoche acquired 15 years of experience in sales, marketing and training at high-tech and emerging growth companies. She founded Ingia Solutions to provide strategic marketing expertise to emerging growth companies. Prior to Ingia, she served as director of marketing for Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) and she managed product marketing for the e-Business group. She was also a product-marketing manager at Vicorp Interactive Systems. Ms. LaRoche started her career as a sales professional at IBM where she received numerous excellence awards. Ms. LaRoche is the President of the Board for Cambridge Family and Children Services and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSBA from Georgetown University.

Pam Lassiter
Principal, Lassiter Consulting
Career Re-invention: Re-Entry or New Identities

Pam Lassiter, author of The New Job Security, a Wall Street Journal award winning book, is principal of Lassiter Consulting, an international boutique career management firm that provides consulting to companies and senior level professionals in transition. As a recognized consultant in the career management field for 30 years, Lassiter designs programs, seminars, and training sessions for companies that need to "liberate" (outplace) or retain (internal career development) their employees. Her re-entry work is focused on mid-career women who have been out of the workforce for a period of time who are considering the implications and the process for finding work that allows flexibility and meaning. She works with Harvard Business School alumnae as external faculty in Charting Your Course, is the New England Director of ExecuNet (www.execunet.com), and is the deliverer of the Act II Program at Babson College's Center for Women's Leadership.

Margaret Launzel-Pennes
Vice President, Events & Distributor Communications, Herbalife International
WITI Presents: Successful Women in a Male Dominated Industry

Margaret has been producing events for the past 25 years with a focus on developing event and communication strategies for companies to complement their overall marketing strategy. At Herbalife, she heads up the company's largest distributor/customer communications initiatives, leading a team that produces 13 events annually which collectively attract 125,000 attendees and an Internet broadband channel with 24/7 programming geared toward training, motivating, and celebrating Herbalife's more than 1,000,000 distributors worldwide. Prior to joining Herbalife, Margaret was vice president of PGI‘s (now TBA Global Events) technology events and held that position for three years after serving as the company’s general manager of their San Francisco office. She was senior vice president of Red Herring Communications event division, having relocated from Connecticut where she served as group event director for Advanstar Communications' International Beauty Shows, and marketing director for the company's technology events. She also held positions including vice president and group event director for Internet World, group event director for a series of communications events for Cowles Business Media (now Intertec), marketing director for National Shoe Fair, and president of Northeast Advertising Group, a boutique marketing agency in New York City.

Margaret Lawrence
Partner, Pilot House Ventures Group, LLC
Case Studies: Debt & Equity Funding for the Established and Growing Business (Part 2)

Margaret is a Partner at Pilot House Ventures and has been investing in information technology companies since 1998. She brings a combination of investment and information technology expertise to the firm. Prior to joining Pilot House, Margaret was with Chestnut Partners, a Boston-based merchant banking/venture capital firm that invests in and provides financial advisory work to early-stage software companies. At Chestnut, Margaret worked in partnership with management teams though all stages of their business, to increase speed to market and enhance opportunities for financing. Previously, she was a product manager at Verizon Wireless. Margaret began her career at Lehman Brothers where she focused on mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. She has a BA from Williams College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Margaret currently serves on the Board of Directors of Pilot House Ventures' portfolio companies nTAG, SupplyScape and works closely with Camiant.

Chantal Le Claire
Creative Marketing Solutions, Managing Director
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - A Beginner's Guide to The New (and Improved) Internet (Part 1)
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - How to Run Your Business Using Web 2.0 Applications and Services (Part 2)
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - It's Impacting Your Life More Than You Think! (Part 3)

Chantal Le Claire has been developing and directing wireless, Internet and media initiatives for over 15 years.

Currently, Managing Director of Creative Marketing Solutions, Ms. Le Claire assists mobile Internet start-ups and early stage companies in developing strategic business models and new media channels. As Director and co-creator of 3Screens, a Mobile Marketing initiative, Ms Le Claire develops strategic relationships and partnerships between content providers, aggregators, media companies and brand name entities to facilitate distribution of independently generated content.

Previously, Ms. Le Claire was President and Founder of GoShopWireless.com Inc, a B2C wireless comparative e-commerce portal where she secured $1MM in A Round funding. Ms Le Claire spearheaded brand concept, product development and market entry while aligning the company with carriers, distributors and ASP's. She led the product development for the mobile branded text alerts "WebOnTheGO".

Ms Le Claire was Assistant Vice President of Marketing and PR for Starstream Communications, a multi-market cable and broadband provider. Ms Le Claire directed all aspects of marketing; competitive positioning, brand development, concepts, creative campaigns, and website design for multi-market implementation. Previously, Ms. Le Claire served as VP of Business Development for a wireless start-up that obtained a PCS license for the USVI market. She participated in strategy, investor presentations and development of critical wireless industry partnerships. Ms. Le Claire also served as Director, New Media Ventures for a lifestyle and action sports multi-media content provider.

Ms. Le Claire is San Diego Network Director for WITI, co-Host of MoMeMo San Diego Chapter and was on the Board of Advisors for OnVentures.

Peggy Lee
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Goodcircle, Inc.
WITI Presents: Successful Women in a Male Dominated Industry
Case Studies: Debt & Equity Funding for the Established and Growing Business (Part 2)

She is responsible for sales, marketing, strategic alliances, account management and product distribution. Peggy has provided vision and strategy within multiple industries to global Fortune 500 organizations and to numerous start-ups. Her entrepreneurial and innovative style has led to repeated successes in e-Commerce, travel, technology, and CPG. Peggy was the Founder/Chairman & CEO of b-there, Inc., where she developed and designed patented software and solutions for the group travel, meetings/convention and trade show industries, and raised more that $38 million in private equity funding.

Lee also founded and built a leading group/meeting, business transient, and leisure travel organization. Most recently, Peggy served as Vice President Sales & Business Development for Portaga, Inc., a solutions and marketing provider for the unmanaged travel market. She has served as Director of Business Development for North America for the Travel & Leisure vertical for British Telecom's Consulting & System Integration group, focused on the hospitality, travel and live entertainment markets. She also founded Vayya, Inc., an e-Commerce consulting organization in the financial services and travel industries.

Peggy's career in business began with corporate business development and sales management positions at Duracell and PepsiCo. Peggy manages her daughter's U-14 Travel Soccer Team and is an active fundraiser for numerous organizations.

Pamela Lenehan
President, Ridge Hill Consulting, LLC
Taking Charge of Your Career

Since June 2002, Ms. Lenehan has served as President of Ridge Hill Consulting, LLC, a strategy and financial consulting firm. From September 2001 until June 2002, Ms. Lenehan was self-employed as a private investor. From March 2000 until September 2001, Ms. Lenehan was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Convergent Networks, Inc., a manufacturer of switching equipment. From February 1995 until January 2000, she was Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer of Oak Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of telecommunications components. Previously, Ms. Lenehan was a Managing Director of Investment Banking at Credit Suisse First Boston and a Vice President of Corporate Banking at Chase Manhattan Bank. Ms. Lenehan is a member of the board of directors of Spartech Corporation, a processor of engineered thermoplastics.

Maria Lindsley
Vice President of Marketing, Allianz Life Insurance
Women, Money & Power Study: Insight into Women's Relationships with Money & Investing

Maria Lindsley has 18 years of industry experience and is responsible for the management and business development of the Allianz distribution support area. In addition, she has the responsibility for the marketing and developing value added programs to support advisor's business growth. Previously, she was a Variable Products Director at Hartford Life Insurance Company. She was responsible for the management and business development of all Variable Life Insurance products, including marketing and training. Prior to her Insurance Company home office experience, she spent several years as a Reliastar, now an ING wholesaler. developing a territory to rank in the top three for consecutive years. Maria has earned her CLU, FLMI, and CFS designations, along with her Series 7 and 24 registrations.

Michael Lurie
Founder & CEO, Blue Mine Group
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - A Beginner's Guide to The New (and Improved) Internet (Part 1)

Michael Lurie has twenty years experience as an entrepreneur, Chairman and CEO. He has founded and built three companies, helped grow dozens of early-stage businesses, and successfully led strategic business initiatives for multiple Fortune 500 corporations throughout North America and Europe.

Michael began his career in London, England, as a strategy consultant with international management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, Inc.

Thereafter, as co-founder and CEO of Goodman Lurie Ltd., he built the United Kingdom's leading strategy consulting and executive search firm specializing in European market entry for technology companies. After selling Goodman Lurie, Michael moved to San Diego, California in 1995. He was co-founder and CEO of Conneq, Inc., a technology services company that became San Diego's Best Software Start-Up of the Year in 2001, before launching Blue Mine Group in 2002. Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Jan Margolis
Founder, Applied Research Corporation
Staying on Top of the Succession Game

Jan Margolis is a recognized authority in helping successful leaders get even better by achieving positive change in behavior - for themselves, for their people and for their teams. Eighteen years ago, she left corporate America to start the Applied Research Corporation, a management consultancy, now headquartered in Metuchen with offices in London as well. Applied Research clients include many of the Fortune 50 companies, such as Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Merrill Lynch and others. Prior to founding Applied Research, Jan was senior vice president for executive resources at Bristol Myers Squibb where she had global responsibilities to assure the selection, retention and development of senior executives in general management, professional and scientific positions. She also held a similar position at Bankers Trust Company, now Deutsche Bank and worked for many years in Washington DC as a director for National Training Laboratories (NTL) and later as the vice president for human resources for the Greater Southeast Community Medical Center. In addition, Jan has held adjunct teaching positions at several major universities teaching executive education including Georgetown and the University of Maryland. She holds a B.A. degree and a Masters of Science from Boston University. In the 1970's Jan had a career in television broadcasting. She was for several years the co-producer and on air host of the Emmy Award winning PBS series - Women: Choices and Challenges - a weekly prime time feature news show. As a leading authority in leadership, Jan has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other leading publications. Her work has received national recognition from many professional organizations in her field, including the Academy of Management, the Human Resource Planning Society, the Society for Human Resource Professionals and the American Society for Training and Development where she served as their National President. Jan donates s significant portion of her time to non-profit organizations, including serving on the Trinitas Hospital Health Foundation Board, the Financial Women's Association, and the Arts and Education Council of NJ. She is a founding member of the National Association of Corporate Boards of Directors, NJ and is a member of the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce Board.

Julie Marshall
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, USAble Life, CLU, CHC
WITI Presents: Successful Women in a Male Dominated Industry

Julie Marshall is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating officer at USAble Life. In this capacity, she oversees Sales and Marketing, Product Management, Product Development, Brand Management, Distribution Management, Commission Programs, Incentive Trip Administration, Advertising, Communications and Underwriting and Group and Worksite Issue. At Blue Cross and Blue Shield she served as National Accounts Representative, Sales Representative, Account Executive and Regional Sales Manager. Julie began her career with Armstrong as Sales Executive in the commercial ceilings division. Julie is very involved with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra where she currently serves as Chair.

Christine Martinello
Founder & CEO, Training Solutions International
Living and Leading with VICTORY

Christine has helped thousands of people world wide to live their unique legacy. She is the best-selling author of The Momager ® Guide: Empowering Moms to Leave A Loving Legacy. Christine also publishes the monthly Empowering Leaders Newsletter and gives advice in the 'Dear Momager' column. As President of Training Solutions International since 1993, she is a recognized expert in leadership, life balancing, and Momager (Mom & Manager) topics. As an international speaker she lived in London, England for four years and has traveled to 24 countries (Italy is her favorite.) She has appeared on over 25 radio shows in America and Canada and was featured on the European Business News, newspapers and magazines. Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul writes "The Momager© Guide is full of wisdom and powerful principles to inspire women. Get ready to open your mind and heart to what's truly important for personal and professional success." Christine's enlightening seminars have been highly acclaimed by both Fortune 500 corporations, and non-profit groups. Clients include: The Greenbrier Resort, Merrill Lynch, Iams Corporation, Girl Scouts of America, Duke Of Edinburgh's Youth Group in London, England and many others. On a personal note, Christine has been married to Bob since 1992 and is a Momager® (Mom and Manager) of three school-aged children. David is 12 years old, Tina Rose is 10 and Steven is 9. (Yes, that's 3 kids in 3 ½ years!) She is a community leader, served on the board of Caring Families and Ministry of Mothers Sharing, and is the founder of Cheltenham Women's Group. She resides in Centerville, Ohio, just 2 miles away from the home of Erma Bombeck. Christine's life goal is to educate and empower others so they can live authentically and reach their highest potential. More information is available at www.momager.com.

Vela McClam-Mitchell
CEO, Market Designs LLC
WITI Presents: Successful Women in a Male Dominated Industry

Vela McClam-Mitchell lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where she consults for airlines. Vela's marketing career includes a role as Director of Industry Sales Programs at Northwest Airlines. Prior to forming Market Designs, Vela was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Worldspan's Worldwide Travel Supplier Solutions Group, including marketing and sales to airlines. She has an MBA from Pepperdine University, an MS from Howard University, and a BS from Claflin University. Vela is a co-producer of Res-Expo.

Kristen McCormack
Faculty Director, Public & Non-Profit Management Program, Boston University School of Management
Doing Good Means Doing Good Business: Marketing, Metrics, and Other Best Practices for Nonprofits

Erin Moran McCormick
Co-Founder & CEO, Henry's Hearts
Inside/Outside Mentorship

Erin McCormick is the Co-Founder and CEO of Henry's Hearts (www.HenrysHearts.org), a non-profit gift & marketing solutions company that uses gifts to improve lives - and your business. The proceeds from gift sales raise awareness and money for health-related charities. Through Henry's Hearts, companies make emotional connections with current and potential customers, see a better return on their charitable donations, strengthen customer relationships and enhance viral marketing programs.

Erin became interested in health issues while EVP/CIO at ThirdAge, an online company focused on issues for people in midlife and from her experience on the board of the National Center of Women and Aging at Brandeis University. At ThirdAge, she drew upon her 20 years of technology and entrepreneurial experience to develop resources for the mid-life audience. Erin has directed more than 50 successful consumer-focused product launches; including creating the first-ever, co-branded site for this demographic with Yahoo!, the leading web site in the world.

Prior to ThirdAge, Erin was the Executive Producer for TimeTo.com, a $40 million venture funded by Zurich/Scudder Investments and developed in association with AARP. She lead the web development for the consumer web site which motivated baby boomers to act on financial, health and family issues.

A master juggler and change agent, Erin noticed a hole in the development process after joining iXL, a $218 million Internet Consulting firm, and took the initiative to develop Knowledge Management Practices for 500 engineers across 23 offices, all while managing 10 senior engineers, allocating development resources for concurrent, multi-million dollar projects for the entire Boston office and generating billable hours.

Before iXL, Erin was CIO/VP of Technology for Lawyers Weekly where she created the Technology Division for the $20 million legal publishing company and oversaw technology and development for eight newspapers in five states. Erin and her team became unsuspecting pioneers in Internet history and thrust into the world's spotlight when the decision on the Louise Woodward - "Nanny" case was earmarked to be posted on the Lawyers Weekly website as the ONLY news outlet to receive the decision. This set off huge ripple effects of how to disseminate information on the Internet and international attention for Erin and interviews with the NY Times, CNN, BBC, NBC, CBS, ABC and more - all because she had set up an easy way for courts to get their opinions posted on the web.

A Smith College graduate with a double major in Art and Psychology, Erin co-founded DAPAH Software, an educational software company and designed an online Drug Prevention curriculum for all of Los Angeles County schools, reaching 120,000 students in 54 districts.

Before that, her stint as Creative Director for Blue Lion Software reaped numerous awards for the Cambridge start-up. She developed the "Ticket to" series - software that simulates trips to foreign countries and won the Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Award.

Erin is devoted to the arts and the community. An accomplished pianist and a board member of the Boston Philharmonic, Erin has played the piano for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute functions for 15 years. She has done the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk 10 times, starting a team that has raised $200,000 for children with cancer. Erin recently completed a 30 ft. x 15 ft. original mural in the Medfield Public Library, which she donated to the town.

In the fall of 2004, Erin was selected as one of only 20 women in the country for TARA (Today's Already Rising Achievers), in association with the Belizean Grove, a select group of the world's top businesswomen whose guiding principles are integrity, giving back to others and a sense of heart, humor and adventure. Erin and her husband Matt, live outside of Boston with their two young children.

Erin Motameni
Vice President, Human Resources, EMC Corporation
Babson Presents: Developing Women's Initiatives and Diversity Programs That Work

Erin Motameni is Vice President of Human Resources for EMC Corporation in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. EMC is the world leader in products, services and solutions that help organizations store, protect, manage and optimize their information. Erin leads the HR team for EMC's Engineering and Global Services organizations with over 15,000 employees.

Erin joined EMC in 1999 as Vice President of Worldwide Staffing. Prior to EMC, Erin was the Vice President of Worldwide Human Resources for Data General Corporation. Erin began her career with Shawmut Bank of Boston where she held a series of Human Resources positions. She has spent twenty years working in Human Resources in technology organizations.

Erin is a graduate of Boston College and continued with graduate studies in the MBA program at Boston University. She is a volunteer with Big Brother/ Big Sister, is active in many professional Human Resources organizations and is a board member of the Ibis Institute for Women's Leadership.

Kathleen McCormick
Project Lead, NOVA Chemicals Corp.
Babson Presents: Entrepreneurial Thinking Within Organizations

Kathleen is part of a small, dedicated group of people and resources within NOVA Chemicals tasked with venturing into New Business Development in support of their Advanced SCLAIRTECH® Polyethylene business. While still relatively new to the role, she has been able to explore and grow her entrepreneurial spirit and voice within her employer's organization. Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in southern Ontario. She has been with NOVA Chemicals for seven years.

Pam McElvane
President & CEO, P&L Group, Ltd.
Governance & Compliance for Non-Profit Executives
Strategic Partnerships - Aligning Your Business to Work with Fortune 1000 Partners

P & L Group, Ltd is a Chicago based business of specialty companies offering an innovative approach to diversity business solutions, serving Fortune 1000 companies. Although a visionary and strategic critical thinker, with proven ability to link concepts, organizations and people to achieve goals, Pam believes people is your most valued asset. Her vision transcends through her personal and professional life, having spent the last decade building a business and serving the community while simultaneously meeting the demands of family life.

P&L Publishing was founded in 1996, whose products include Black MBA Magazine, the official publication of the National Black MBA Association and Black IT Professional Magazine. Pam received the 2005 Media Ambassador Award from Boardroom Bound, 2005 Woman of the Year Award from Who's Who, 2005 MBOC/CMBDC Media Cornerstone award all for her work in diversity communications.

To compliment the diversity advertising services, DRI Staffing, Inc. (DRi) was founded in 2002, to provide perm to temp staffing of business professionals and IT and Engineering professionals. DRi Consulting was the final company formed in 2002 that provides strategic management, leadership development and recruitment strategies. Together these companies offer a full suite of diversity business solutions. While she has spent the past ten years in publishing, Pam has more than 15 years of executive leadership experience within the insurance property and casualty industry. She was known for her business acumen to turn around unprofitable divisions. Pam's distinctive commitment to service and development extends beyond the business sector into the non-profit community. She has used her corporate expertise to provide strategic development and organizational consulting for non-profit organizations. Pam was named 2006 Most Influential in Chicago's Black Who's Who; recipient of the Rosalee Stern Award (highest Alumna award given by UC Berkeley for exceptional community service); Among many others for her service. It is through this work that Pam demonstrates her spiritual commitment to God, as he uses her for the empowerment of his people. Pamela has a B.A. in Social Welfare, and Sociology. She also received her M.B.A. in Finance and International Marketing from University of California Berkley, School of Haas; and a M.A. in Public Policy. Pamela is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Pamela is a mother of two boys, who are bilingual, Joshua is 7 years old, and Cameron is 4 years old.

Joanna Meiseles
Founder & President, The Snip-its Corporation
The Franchising Option - Is It Right For You?

Joanna Meiseles is the creative mind, founder and president of Snip-its, the fastest-growing franchise ofÊ children's hair salons in North America. Under Joanna's direction, Snip-its has revolutionized the children's hair salon industry by creating a branded entertainment concept designed to ease the fears and challenges experienced by parents, children and hair stylists.

The company was born in 1993 after Joanna experienced a heartbreaking hair salon experience with her then 3-year-old son, Ben. A young mother, she arrived at a local salon with baby gear in tow to videotape her son's first cut. It soon became clear to her that the salon wasn't interested in cutting her son's hair nor was it trained to deal with little customers. With no business experience and motivated by her entrepreneur instincts, Joanna set out to create a magical and comfortable children's grooming brand and salon specifically designed for young customers. After raising funding, she open her first salon in Framingham, Massachusetts in 1995.

Today, Snip-its is a thriving franchise with 52+ salons nationwide and cuts the hair of more than 5 million children annually. Each salon is a magical and positive adventure with vibrant colors, wholesome larger-than-life animated characters such as Snips and Flyer Joe Dryer, plus games and parties.

Away from Snip-its, Joanna is active with The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and is a frequent public speaker in the Boston area. Joanna holds a B.A. from Duke University and resides in Wayland, Massachusetts with her husband and four children.

Jim Melloan
Project Manager for the Inc. 500
Success Secrets of the Inc. 500

Jim is project manager for the Inc. 500, Inc. magazine's annual list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Prior to assuming this position in 2005, Jim wrote a number of articles for Inc., including a package on how entrepreneurs can value their companies (August 2004), an entrepreneur's guide to angel investors (July 2005), and an article on the concept of a space elevator (June 2004). From 1992 through 2003 Jim held various positions, culminating in Senior Writer, at Worth magazine, an investing and lifestyle magazine targeted to affluent readers. Prior to Worth, Jim was a Research Assistant and Research Editor at Lotus magazine, which was published by spreadsheet software pioneer Lotus Development Corp. Jim is also an actor and musician who performs occasionally at various downtown New York venues.

Nell Merlino
Co-founder and CEO of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence
Make Mine A $Million Dollar Business® -- Finalist Presentations
Reaching a $million and beyond -- Panel Discussion

Nell Merlino is Co-founder and CEO of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence. She is also the founder and President of Strategy Communication Action, Ltd. in New York City, a firm specializing in the creation of public education campaigns that motivate people to act.

Nell created and produced the immensely successful Take Our Daughters To Work Day for the Ms. Foundation for Women in 1993. Stories about girls and their self-esteem appeared on the front page of major and minor newspapers across the country and every television news program. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is now an annual event in the United States and occurs in dozens of countries worldwide.

Merlino has extensive experience in the development and production of dynamic and highly effective national and international efforts including Take Our Daughters to Work Day, NGO Forum on Women in Beijing '95, Earth Day's 20th Anniversary, Picture What Women Do for Lifetime Television, and the YWCA Week Without Violence. Prior to founding SCA, Nell Merlino worked in two state governments, was an advance woman in presidential politics, a union organizer and a Fulbright Scholar.

After graduating from Antioch College in 1973, Nell went to work in the labor movement. She organized health care workers for District 1199, National Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees and textile workers for the Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union. In 1977, Nell received a Fulbright Scholarship to study labor relations in the National Health Service in England.

Nell Merlino spent the next ten years working in two state governments and in presidential politics. As a member of the five-person management team that ran the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Nell helped direct an organization with a $2 billion budget, 22,000 employees and service delivery to over 1 million state residents.

Nell played an active role in the strategic planning and management of State University Medical School & Hospital in Brooklyn as chief of staff to the institution's president. Nell worked in the Scheduling and Advance offices of two presidential campaigns. Creating and producing hundreds of campaign events with advance teams around the country.

In 1989, Nell Merlino started her own business working with clients to develop and implement strategic communication plans. For her work on behalf of women, girls and families, she is recognized in the book, Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century 100 Portraits of Achievement and was named one of "50 New Yorkers to Watch in 1999" by the New York Daily News. Nell was named Woman of the Year by New Woman magazine in 1993 and awarded the l994 Fulbright Award for Outstanding Achievement.

In April 2004, Nell received the Matrix Award for Achievement from New York Women in Communications. She has also received the Forbes magazine Trailblazer Award in 2000.

Ms. Merlino lives in Manhattan with her husband, Gary Conger.

Dr. Keith Merron
Founder & Managing Partner, Avista Consulting Group
In Search of Remarkable Leadership

Keith Merron is the founder and Managing Partner of Avista Consulting Group, an organizational consulting and leadership development firm dedicated to helping organizations with bold visions achieve sustainable high performance and industry leadership. As an organization effectiveness and executive development consultant, he has more than 25 years of experience assisting executives and managers in business, government, and education. In partnership with his clients, he has successfully conducted over twenty-five large-system strategic, cultural, and technical change efforts resulting in a measurable increase in organizational productivity, employee performance, and employee satisfaction. His work has positively impacted Hewlett-Packard, Freddie Mac, AmeriGroup Corporation, MedCath, Wang Laboratories, General Public Utilities, WorldCorp, California State Automobile Association, Endocare, The Healthcare Financial Management Association, as well as over 200 other companies and organizations.

Keith has designed and led over 100 seminars and workshops for leaders. He has helped create some of the most innovative leadership training programs in the country. His style is direct, honest, and supportive and he is noted for his ability to create memorable leadership learning experiences that have a lasting effect.

Keith Merron received his Doctorate from Harvard University in 1985, where his studies spanned the fields of human and organization development. He has conducted research on the relationships between human development, managerial effectiveness and high performance, and has published numerous professional journal articles. He is the author of two books on organizational change. The first is a critically acclaimed book on the subject of Whole Systems Change entitled, Riding the Wave: Designing Your Organization for Enduring Success, published by Van Nostrand Reinhold in 1995. His second book, entitled Consulting Mastery: How the Best Make the Biggest Difference, is about the qualities that differentiate great consultants from the rest of the pack, published by Berrett-Koehler, Inc. in 2005. He is currently doing research for his next book on the subject of frame breaking leadership. It is tentatively titled: In Search of Remarkable Leaders.

Keith has taught several university courses in the field of organization behavior and development. Keith lives in San Geronimo, California with his wife, son, and daughter and enjoys tennis, golf, and pottery in his spare time.

Lara Metcalf
Managing Director, Investment Grade Credit Sales, Fixed Income Division, Credit Suisse First Boston
Inside/Outside Mentorship

Lara Metcalf is a Managing Director in Investment Grade Credit Sales, in the Fixed Income Division at Credit Suisse First Boston where she covers larges institutional money managers, insurance companies and hedge funds for a variety of fixed income products. Lara currently heads the Harvard Business School MBA Recruiting Team, and is an active member of the Americas Women's Network. Lara joined CSFB in 2004 after spending 9 years at Goldman Sachs in various Sales roles in New York and Boston. While at GS, Lara founded the Boston chapter of the GS Women's Network, served on the Steering Committee for the FICC Women's Network, and acted as the Diversity Coordinator for Boston College recruiting. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Lara worked at Morgan Stanley in New York and Chicago in the Municipal Bond Group.

Maggie Mistal
Certified Career Coach, Speaker & Radio Host on Career Development
Surviving Change in the Workplace

Maggie hosts "Career Talk with Maggie" on Martha Stewart Living Radio SIRIUS 112 every Thursday from 7-9pm eastern. Maggie's professional career coaching practice enables her to help people manage and develop their careers both individually and within companies. She assists clients through one-on-one and group coaching sessions coupled with proven job strategies, to obtain their ideal careers. Prior to being her own boss, Maggie was Director of Learning & Development for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She was the career coach for the company, training employees in managing their careers. Maggie also coached and trained individuals in managing conflict and managing their departments. Before Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Maggie spent several years as a management consultant with Arthur Andersen Business Consulting where she worked with global organizations to establish and implement "people development" strategies. Maggie presents at corporate conferences, colleges, universities and networking groups on the subjects of finding your passion, setting goals and taking action with your career. She has been featured in articles for the New York Post, New York Newsday and the Boston Globe. Maggie is a volunteer for Streetwise Partners using her career coaching services to help the unemployed and under-employed. With her spare time, she continues to paint in impressionist style and explore the place she calls home, Manhattan. To find out more, go to www.maggiemistal.com.

Bridgid Moynahan
Founder & President, The Next Level
Gaining Career Traction: Building Alliances That Ensure your Success
Genderflex: Empowering Your Executive Presence

As head of The Next Level, Inc, Brigid Moynahan provides counsel, training, executive coaching and team consultation to a broad range of Fortune 500 and non-profit organizations. Clients describe Brigid as a vital source of insight and encouragement - enabling them to grow, make choices, and achieve powerful personal, professional, and organizational goals. Brigid has designed and led more than 800 programs on mentoring, coaching, team building, diversity and leadership. A pioneer in promoting women's leadership and diversity, Brigid's work has been profiled in Working Woman Magazine, Chief Learning Officer, The Wall Street Journal and at the Catalyst Awards (2002). In the area of executive coaching, Brigid helps leaders achieve powerful results by managing the complexities of changing organizations, changing roles, and a diverse workforce. This has included supporting both managers and work teams through two of the largest corporate restructurings in recent history and helping several major technical organizations shift to team and process-based systems.

Evelyn F. Murphy
President, The WAGE Project, Inc.
Getting Even: Why Women Don't Get Paid Like Men and What to Do About It

Evelyn Murphy is President of The WAGE Project, Inc., a national organization to end wage discrimination against working women, and Resident Scholar in the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, where she researched and authored a book on women's wages entitled Getting Even: Why Women Don't Get Paid Like Men and What To Do About It, published by Simon & Schuster in October 2005. The paperback edition was published in October 2006. In the last year, her book and The WAGE Project have been recognized in more than two hundred local and nationally syndicated radio and television shows and newspapers. As a consequence, women in dozens of communities and major metropolitan areas have started their own initiatives to gain equitable treatment at work through grassroots action.

Dr. Murphy is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company and a Director of Citizens Energy Corporation. In her civic role, she serves as a founding Director of The Commonwealth Institute, a Trustee of Regis College, Honorary Chair of the Lost Coin Women's Fund, Inc., a Director of The Polaris Project, a Visitor of Boston University's School of Public Health, and on the Advisory Board of Rosie's Place, a shelter for homeless women in Boston.

Evelyn Murphy earned a BA from Duke University in mathematics; a MA in economics from Columbia University; and a PhD in economics from Duke University.

In the late 1970's, she served as Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs with responsibility for the state's environmental policy. Her leadership in opposing offshore oil and gas exploration in the fishing grounds of the Georges Bank and initiating state heritage parks earned her national recognition. After an unsuccessful campaign for Lt Governor in 1982, she was appointed the state's Secretary of Economic Affairs from 1983-1985, with responsibility for the state's economic policies and programs advancing biotechnology, computer technology, marine sciences, polymers, and photovoltaics along with supervising unemployment compensation and workplace retraining programs. In 1986, Evelyn Murphy was elected Lt. Governor and became the first woman in the state's 210 year history to hold constitutional office. Prior to that, despite the state's progressive image, no woman had ever been elected Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, or US Senator in Massachusetts.

After campaigning for Governor in 1990, Evelyn Murphy became Managing Director of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer, a New England law firm. While managing the law firm, she became a corporate director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts; and Shawmut National Banks of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, Fleet National Bank, Fleet Mortgage Company, and Fleet Credit Card Corporation. Blue Cross recruited her to the position of Executive Vice President to manage all federal and state, media and civic relations. While Executive Vice President, she founded and became President of the health insurer's HealthCare Policy Institute.

In her community and civic roles, in addition to the previously mentioned groups, Dr. Murphy is a member of the International Women's Forum and the Boston Club; for the last eight years, she has co-chaired the annual fundraiser for Rosie's Place. She is the recipient of 10 honorary degrees and over one hundred national, state, and local awards.

In her spare time, she has run the Boston Marathon many times and can be seen in the bleachers of Fenway Park cheering for the Boston Red Sox.

Judy Norsigian
Co-Author of Our Bodies, Ourselves
Speaking on Exhibition Stage, Thursday, March 29 at 10:30am

Judy speaks and writes frequently on a wide range of women's health concerns. She has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs, including OPRAH, DONAHUE, the TODAY SHOW, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, and NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. She served on the Board of the National Women's Health Network for 14 years and continues to remain active in this national membership organization. Her interests include reproductive health concerns, the media and women's health, genetics, tobacco and women, women and health care reform, and midwifery advocacy.

Ms. Norsigian's numerous board and advisory board commitments include:

Board member, Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research

Board member, Community Works, Boston's alternative fund for social change organizations

Member of editorial/advisory boards of: The Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health; Reproductive Health Matters, and Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care.

Member, Technical Advisory Committee of the Contraceptive Research and Development Program (CONRAD) and member, Strategic Advisory Board of the Consortium for Industrial Collaboration in Contraceptive Research (CICCR)

Member, Steering Committee, Committee on Women, Population and the Environment

Awards received include: Public Service Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association (1989); Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, from Worcester State College (1994); Radcliffe College Alumnae Association Annual Recognition Award (1995); induction into the Boston YWCA's Academy of Women Achievers (1996); the 2002 Massachusetts Health Council Award; and selection in 2003 as one of the "21 Leaders for the 21st Century" by Womensenews. Ms. Norsigian's recreational interests include music (she is a cellist).

Shannon O'Brien
CEO, Girl Scouts, Patriot's Trail Council
Doing Good Means Doing Good Business: Marketing, Metrics, and Other Best Practices for Nonprofits

Shannon was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts, Patriots' Trail Council in January 2005 bringing to Girls Scouts her characteristic enthusiasm and desire to make organizations she touches stronger and better. At Patriots' Trail, Shannon is leading an organization that serves nearly 23,000 girls in the Greater Boston area. Girl Scouts develops courage, confidence and character, blends tradition with innovation and is continually evolving to meet the needs of contemporary girls. Shannon is quick to say "Today's Girl Scout isn't just baking cookies or making crafts. She is experiencing a myriad of unique opportunities in such areas as computers, engineering, law, government and media." As State Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts-the first woman to hold this statewide constitutional office, Shannon created the Money Conference for Women, which provided financial education seminars to over 8,000 women; improved efficiency at the State Lottery and returned an additional hundred million dollars to the cities and towns of Massachusetts. She overhauled the operations of the State Treasury after helping to uncover the theft of millions from the Cash Management Department under the prior administration. Shannon began her political career at age 26 as state representative, and six years later was elected to the state senate. As a legislator she advocated for more accessible and affordable health care, greater economic opportunity, and was nationally recognized for her strong record to protect children from child abuse. A graduate of Yale University and Boston University School of Law, she worked as a litigation associate at the Boston Law firm of Morrison Mahoney and Miller. She has worked as a health care executive, taught at Boston University School of Communications and immediately before joining the Girl Scouts was an investigative and consumer reporter for WB56 Ten O'Clock News.

Andrew Palmer
Franchise Attorney, Andrew P. Palmer & Associates
The Franchising Option - Is It Right For You?

Aurie Pennick
Executive Director, Field Foundation of Illinois
Opportunities and Issues Confronting Non-Profit Leadership

Linda Plazonja
CEO, National Kidney Foundation New England, of MA, RI, NH & VT
WITI Presents: How to Tap the Online Marketplace to Identify New Funding Streams

Linda Plazonja, MSW, joined the National Kidney Foundation of MA, RI, NH & VT in June, 2005 as Chief Executive Officer. Following a fifteen year corporate career in marketing communications and strategic consulting, Linda refocused her skills in executive leadership and consulting roles in the not-for-profit sector. Linda lives in Brookline with her husband, Jonathan and two sons.

Leslie C. Reiser
Program Director, WW Interactive Marketing, IBM, Small and Medium Business
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - A Beginner's Guide to The New (and Improved) Internet (Part 1)

Ms. Reiser has worked in the information technology industry for over 20 years. Her experience includes progressive business-to-business marketing experience with an emphasis on program development, marketing/business strategy, market identification, project implementation, seminar and event planning, and field sales. She has an extensive background and competency in interactive marketing, integrated marketing communications and direct marketing. She is skilled in strategic development and in the management and tactical execution of complex projects that cross regional and international boundaries.

In her current position with IBM's Small and Medium Business (SMB) marketing organization, she is a Senior Program Director, responsible for leveraging the Internet and electronic channel to drive relationships and demonstrate IBM's relevancy to the SMB marketplace. Her focus is on delivering thought leadership, relevant solutions and offering information to customers and prospects based on channel preference, within a systematic marketing and sales cadence.

Ms. Reiser holds a bachelors degree in Economics from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. She also has attended Northwestern University (Medill School of Journalism) and New York University, for specialized course work in Integrated Marketing Communications.

As a result of the creative use of rich media and new technologies, the IBM SMB Interactive Marketing team has been the recipient of numerous industry awards including the 2003 AD:Tech Awards for Best Business to Business Website, the 2004 Horizon Interactive Awards Gold Business to Business Website, and the 2005 Media Magazine's B2B Site of the Year.

Experienced with a wide range of market segments and industries along with developing effective e-marketing techniques, Ms. Reiser has applied her professional interactive marketing background to design and deploy an effective online communications and offerings delivery strategy that positively impacts the small and midsized business community and consistently drives strong results for IBM.

Lynn Robinson
M.Ed., President, Intuitive Consulting, Inc.
Want Success in Sales? Hire Your Intuition!

Lynn A. Robinson is President of Intuitive Consulting, Inc., and one of the nation's leading experts on intuition in business. She is the best-selling author of four books on the topic of intuition including her most recent, Trust Your Gut: How the Power of Intuition Can Grow Your Business (Kaplan Publishing). She teaches intuition development skills to entrepreneurs, sales professionals, corporate leaders and managers. Robinson is also a sought-after consultant who uses her own intuitive skills to provide businesses with high-value, on-the-spot insights into goals, decisions and strategies.

Nancy Rosenzweig
President & CEO, The Natural Dentist
Marketing Trends for Growing Brands

As President and CEO of The Natural Dentist, Nancy Rosenzweig brings over twenty years of executive experience and creativity to the company, the first oral care company founded to address oral health with whole body health in mind. A focused, results-driven leader, Rosenzweig has devoted her career to working for businesses with social and environmental missions. She has a proven background in marketing, business development and business management, with particular expertise in positioning, branding and image building; business and social change management; long-range strategic planning and problem solving. Since joining The Natural Dentist in 2005, Rosenzweig's leadership and knowledge of the natural products industry, and expertise in the oral care sector, have enabled the company to more than double its sales and gain a higher profile nationally. She has instituted a full re-branding and a complete re-formation of the product line to more closely align the company with its mission to be the recognized authority on oral care and its connection to overall health by providing safe, natural solutions scientifically proven to work. Rosenzweig's strategic management experience is shaping the future direction of The Natural Dentist. In addition to raising significant venture capital for the company, she has created a professional advisory board comprised of influential leaders in dentistry. As vice president of brand development and communications at Tom's of Maine, Rosenzweig directed the natural personal care company's marketing and positioning efforts. Over a three year period, she helped drive revenue growth over 60 percent and propelled the company from a predominately health channel brand to a nationally recognized mass-market brand. In raising the profile of the company, Rosenzweig directed high-impact advertising and publicity campaigns, partnerships, and promotions. She was instrumental in obtaining the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance and she launched Tom's dental professional programs. Rosenzweig served as vice president of marketing at Zipcar, now the country's largest car sharing company. During her tenure, she strategically and creatively expanded membership, increasing revenue for the early stage company by 140 percent annually. At Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the world's leading provider of employer-sponsored child care and early education, Rosenzweig served as the vice president of marketing and communications, helping to grow the company more than 300 percent in just three years. She also serves on the board of EcoLogic Finance, a nonprofit organization that offers affordable financial services to community-based businesses operating in environmentally sensitive areas of Latin America and select countries of Africa and Asia.

Linda Sabot
Principal Consultant, Swingtide
WITI Presents: An Introduction to Business Process Management (BPM)

Linda Sabot, Principal Consultant, has worked with large customers across various industries including The Gillette Company, Pepsi, Bay State Healthcare, and the Boston Company. She held a management position at The Gillette Company where she led a team to create a global, integrated, distributed Material Management business process, collaborating with key business contacts across five continents, five divisions, and various functions. Previously, she developed a process modeling and training methodology. Ms. Sabot began her career at CSC Consulting where she gathered system requirements, chose technology solutions and composed design standards for newly-emerging Windows-based tools.

Ms. Sabot is a highly motivated, methodical, and passionate IS professional with strong management consulting and leadership experience. With over 18 year's experience, she is a seasoned team leader with strong, effective writing and presentation skills to drive key initiatives. Ms. Sabot has versatile personal skills proven useful at all levels: operational roles through executive management. A loyal, collaborative team player focused on delivering high quality, practical results.

Ms. Sabot is a dedicated, persistent and highly energetic leader with strong analytical and organizational skills combined with an intuitive nature that leads to thorough decisions. She has specific, significant experience designing, evaluating, documenting, and advancing business processes and organizing, assessing, and improving data. She is an experienced, dynamic facilitator who synergizes participants' ideas, anticipates needs and assesses information to formulate compelling options.

Deborah A. Santy
CT SBIR Program Director, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology
How to Fund Start-Up, Pre-Revenue and Early Stage Businesses (Part 1)

Julie Schieni
Insurance Practice Managing Director, Swingtide
WITI Presents: An Introduction to Business Process Management (BPM)

Julie Schieni, Insurance Practice Managing Director, has over 20 years experience in insurance and technology, she has held leadership positions in several companies and has worked with over 40 carriers on technology and business process challenges. Julie excels at executing technology initiatives from strategic assessment and planning to delivery - producing superior results for internal and external customers, and contributing to greater corporate profitability. Julie has hands-on knowledge of several insurance processing systems and has worked with many different technologies that support the Insurance Industry. Julie has led several engagements and has worked with many large customers including The Hartford Insurance Company, St. Paul/Travelers, Willis, Allstate, Andover Insurance, HSB, American Family, American Express, USAA, Microsoft, brokers and insurance focused technology companies. Julie has held senior level positions where she has led development efforts as well as successfully managed complex system implementations. She has worked with customers to create and implement formalized project management methodologies, software engineering methods and large scale business process management efforts as well as led requirement definition and systems selection initiatives.

Jesse Schlueter
Corporate Social Responsibility, Dunkin' Brands, Inc.
WITI Presents: How to Tap the Online Marketplace to Identify New Funding Streams

Growing up in Janesville, Wisconsin, Jesse never could have imagined her career path would take her one thousand miles East to lead the vision behind the Corporate Social Responsibility program for one of America's most beloved brands. And yet looking back on her formative years and the course of her career, it's easy to see how she became one of the creators behind the CSR program at Dunkin' Brands.

As early as high school, Schlueter's passion for public service and talent for leadership was evident. In her first stint as Student Council President at Parker High School, she created an action plan to persuade fellow students to use biodegradable toilet paper on a mischievous night.

Schlueter's focus on public service continued at the University of Wisconsin, where she became the Director for Community Service for the Wisconsin Union, a considerable undertaking for a school with a population of 40,000 undergrads. Schlueter was also one of the students that worked to establish the creation of the Morgridge Center for Public Service, a nationally recognized program devoted to promoting citizenship and learning through community service. This program has since served as a model for other universities.

Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1999, Schlueter pursued her interest in studying human behavior and applied her interest to a Research Analyst position working with the Wisconsin Lottery. After two years in this post, Schlueter embarked on a new career path at Dunkin' Brands where she brought her skills as a Senior Analyst to the Consumer Brand Insight Group. In 2003, motivated by the desire to work with people on an organizational and one on one basis, Schlueter decided to move within the company to the Organizational Learning and Development team.

After two years with the Organizational Learning and Development team, Schlueter was asked by senior leaders to take a newly created position leading the corporate social responsibility program at Dunkin' Brands, as well as establish the framework for the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation. This work would bring together her considerable abilities as a researcher, as well as her love for people and community.

In March 2006, the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation was launched with the mission to support emergency response organizations so they have the capacity and leadership to respond when our communities need them most. In its first year, the foundation made significant donations to America's Second Harvest and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, among others.

Schlueter was recently chosen by the leadership of Dunkin' Brands to receive the Council Award, a very high honor that recognizes employees from all levels of the organization for their outstanding performance and commitment to all of company's core values. Shlueter happily resides in Red Sox nation with her husband Eric and her dogs Randal and Casey - although she will always be a Packers fan at heart.

Patricia Shafer
President, Compel Organizational Excellence Alliance, Ltd.
WHOLE Work: How Women Can Enlighten and Transform Tomorrow's Organizations
WITI Presents: Powerful and Connected: Leveraging Technology to Develop Women Leaders and Transform Organizations (Part 1)
WITI Presents: Powerful and Connected: Leveraging Technology to Develop Women Leaders and Transform Organizations (Part 2)

Patricia Shafer is contributing author to Enlightened Power: How Women are Transforming the Practice of Leadership (Wiley/Jossey-Bass, 2005) and president of Compel Organizational Excellence Alliance, Ltd., an international management consulting firm dedicated to Evoking Courageous Leadership(SM). She has consulted with and coached executives, managers and public officials in 15 countries; held leadership positions in two global Fortune 100 companies; and led numerous strategic change, culture and communications initiatives. One of the initiatives was cited by TIME magazine as a public relations success of the year. Patricia's keynotes and workshops receive high marks for combining leadership development expertise with practical action steps. Her global research "The Whole World at Work," co-authored with Dr. Barbara Trautlein, has been introduced to audiences in the U.S., Europe, India and Africa, and industries spanning consumer products, financial services, manufacturing and technology. Her most recent co-authored research on the experiences of women in technology is being recognized for new insights into today's best approaches to women's networking. Patricia holds an MSc in Consulting and Coaching for Change - a joint-venture of Oxford University, UK, and HEC, France; an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management; and an M.A. in Journalism, the Ohio State University.

Levi Shapiro
Director of Audience Metrics, Telephia, Inc.
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - It's Impacting Your Life More Than You Think! (Part 3)

Levi Shapiro is the Director of Audience Metrics for Telephia, the world's largest provider of mobile-related market research and the only source for POINT OF SALES measurement in mobile. In this role, Mr. Shapiro has created partnerships and products for leading movie studios, television networks, game publishers, record labels and advertising agencies. He has also developed innovative new products, including the industry's first-ever Mobile Video Report.

Previously, Mr. Shapiro was Founder and CEO of two mobile video companies, Two Minute Television and Snack Mobile. Two Minute Television created short-form TV series with episodes averaging 4 million TV viewers, carriage on 110 major websites and distribution on wireless carriers in North America, Asia and Europe. Snack Mobile developed software enabling a completely new category of mobile media - combining mobile gaming and live-action video.

Prior to that, Mr. Shapiro helped re-launch a multi-million euro line of online digital services for IBM across Europe, growing revenue significantly in a previously flat segment. Mr. Shapiro is completely fluent in Japanese and Italian and spent the early part of his career in Tokyo and Beijing, with Toyota Motor Corporation. He is a frequent speaker at conferences including CTIA, IIR, Informa, IQPC, Digital Hollywood, iHollywood, Terrapin and other. Levi Shapiro oversees Los Angeles operations for Telephia, the world's largest provider of market research in mobile. In this role, he has created partnerships and products for leading movie studios, television networks, game publishers and record labels. He has also developed innovative new products, including the industry's first-ever Mobile Television Diary.

Mr. Shapiro is also an Editor of Video Age, where he covers emerging business models and platforms. His education includes Tulane (BA), Cornell (MA) and MIT (MBA). Mr. Shapiro is also an Editor of Video Age International, where he covers the business of film and television.

Angela Shen-Hsieh
President & CEO, Visual-io
Case Studies: Debt & Equity Funding for the Established and Growing Business (Part 2)

Liz Short
Special Projects Manager, Natural Resources, Stonyfield Farm
Green Buildings & Sustainable Businesses: A Survey of the Latest Trends

Liz Short is Project Manager in the Natural Resources department at Stonyfield Farm, the leading manufacturer of all-natural and organic yogurt in the U.S. Her work focuses on helping Stonyfield Farm live its mission to minimize its environmental impacts and be a model sustainable business. She is currently managing the design of a new manufacturing office building that will embody the company's mission through its sustainable features. Prior to joining Stonyfield Farm, Liz received a MBA from the Ross School of Business and MS from the School of Natural Resources & Environment at the University of Michigan. Before graduate school, Liz worked in research and communications roles with The Nature Conservancy and a health and environmental consulting firm. She has a BA in Biology from Cornell University.

Chia-Lin Simmons
Co-Host of On Digital Media
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - A Beginner's Guide to The New (and Improved) Internet (Part 1)

Chia-Lin Simmons is a marketing geek with a technological bent and passion for Digital Media. She (and her marketing geek co-hosts) produce a weekly podcast about the technology, creation, distribution, consumption and monetization of digital media and its effects on traditional media and marketing call On Digital Media (www.odmcast.com). If it's part of the digital media ecosystem, Web 2.0 or anything fascinating in techno marketing geek, you'll likely to hear about it on the On Digital Media podcast.

In her "day job", Chia-Lin is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Audible Inc., a well-known NASDEQ-listed digital media company. She is in charge of marketing, business development and product development efforts for the company's Devices, Wireless, Physical & Online Retail, Podcasting, Emerging Technology and Enterprise businesses. She was responsible for the successful global launch of Audible's Wireless business and the development and launch of the company's well received wireless software product and services, AudibleAir.

Prior to Audible, Chia-Lin was a marketing executive living in the San Francisco Bay area. She has held key positions in companies such as Wired, CNET: The Computer Network, Beyond.com, and other Digital Media brands. From 1998 - 2000, Chia-Lin was was an active member of the digital media and technology community in the Bay Area and was a former Executive Director and steering committee member for San Francisco Women on the Web (SFWoW).

Chia-Lin graduated Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from U.C.San Diego in 1995 and received her MBA in 2002 from Cornell University, where she was a Park Leadership Fellow. She also has a JD from George Mason University and is a member of the New York State Bar.

For more on Chia-Lin Simmons, please to go to www.linkedin.com/in/csimmons

Helene Solomon
President & CEO, Solomon McCown & Company
Doing Good Means Doing Good Business: Marketing, Metrics, and Other Best Practices for Nonprofits

Helene Solomon is the founder of Solomon McCown & Company and is widely recognized for bringing an entrepreneurial spirit and keen sense of strategic thinking to the recognition, definition and protection of mission-focused organizations and businesses. Helene melds a track record of work for some of the most recognized brands in their fields with an understanding of and passion for issues that stem from her background in politics and experience in the public sector and serving on boards. Working closely with CEOs, she has a unique ability to envision the communication approaches that achieve strategic objectives. A well-respected expert in the fields of public affairs and crisis management, Helene has attracted attention for her handling of the Planned Parenthood shooting incident of 1994, and for helping the Pearl family establish The Daniel Pearl Foundation in the aftermath of The Wall Street Journal reporter's murder. Helene has participated in a wide variety of panel discussions and forums that examine corporate response to and preparation for dealing with litigation and crises that impact brands and leaders. She has provided commentary nationally on CNN, NBC Nightly News, NBC's Today Show, MSNBC, and FOX TV News, and in local print and broadcast media. Helene is active in Greater Boston community affairs, serving on the board of directors of the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston, Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, and B'nai B'rith Housing. She also serves on the Dean's Advisory Committee at Boston University's College of Communications, The Commonwealth Institute's Executive Women's Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board of Boston Women Communicators. She recently was appointed to Combined Jewish Philanthropy's Elder Services Committee responsible for overseeing and allocating CJP's grants to service providers who meet the needs of Greater Boston seniors. She is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Helene received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Boston University College of Communications. She is a recipient of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus Abigail Adams Award which recognizes her longstanding support of women and the community. She is a lifetime member of The Publicity Club of New England and has twice served as its president, and has been selected as a Crystal Bell Winner, which recognized her significant contributions to the field of public relations. She is also a member of the editorial board of PR News. Helene has a master's degree in communications/public affairs journalism from The American University and a bachelor's degree in public communication from Boston University.

Rita Strombeck
Co-Principal, Strategies for Creative Aging
Finding Your Dream Business: Mid-Life Women and Entrepreneurship

Rita started her own business, HealthCare Education Associates in 1982. She has received 10 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop education programs for health care professionals and the public on a variety of health-related subjects that are used throughout the United States. Based on her extensive experience in running a small business for over 25 years, she has written two books for mid-life women entrepreneurs - TIP$ (Turning Ideas Into Profits) - A Business Start-Up Guide for Mid-Life Women and TIP$ Essentials of Marketing Planning. She conducts workshops for mid-life women on how to start a small business and is a frequent speaker to professional and community groups. In 2006, she launched the TIP$ Mid-Life Women's Business Community, a website designed to help women in their late 40s and older who want to start or are currently running a small business (http://www.tipscommunity.com).

Bill Stuart
Product Specialist, Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan
Navigating the Health Care System to Provide the Best Coverage Cost Effectively

Addie Swartz
CEO, B*tween Productions, Inc.
Pursuing A Passion

Addie Swartz is CEO of B*tween Productions, Inc., home of the Beacon Street Girls award-winning book series and website for preteen girls Addie created the Beacon Street Girls in 2002 to provide positive role models and healthy messages for tween girls, whatever their challenges. Today, there are ten Beacon Street Girls books with more than 400,000 copies in print and the books are available through leading book stores and online. There are "super-fans" in 75 countries and related BSG products are sold at more than 750 independent gift shops and through the COPPA-compliant Beacon Street Girl website (www.beaconstreetgirls.com) A longtime entrepreneur with a commitment to developing quality products for children, Addie founded BrightIdeas in 1992. The company sold educational software to parents and teachers and was acquired by Addison Wesley in 1996. Addie has also held senior positions at The Walt Disney Company, Lotus Development, and Reebok.ÊAddie has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Working Woman Magazine, Child Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, Good Morning America and MSNBC. She was the 2006 co-keynote with Carly Fiorina, formerly CEO of HP, at the Annual Women's Leadership Conference at Babson College. Addie currently lives in Boston with her husband and two daughters, ages 11 and 15. She is a graduate of Stanford University, and received her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Sarah Symons
Founder and Director, The Emancipation Network (TEN)
Too Busy to Save the World? Social justice for Busy Working Women

Sarah Symons is the founder and Director of The Emancipation Network, a social benefit business fighting human trafficking through the import and sale of handicraft products made by survivors and girls at high risk for being sold into slavery for sexual exploitation. The Emancipation Network, and sister organization TEN Charities, are national organizations based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. TEN sells the handicrafts online, and at home and community based Awareness Parties across the US, raising awareness about human trafficking at the same time as offering economic empowerment, and the hope of a future to survivors. Along with her husband John Berger, the CEO of TEN, Symons started the organization with her own money and the contributions of a few concerned friends. Since beginning operations in May, 2005, TEN been able to send $100,000 back to survivors and to 12 anti-trafficking partner organizations in Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand and India. Prior to starting TEN, Symons worked both in the nonprofit and business worlds. From 1990-1994, she served as Program Director and Artist in Residence for Creative Arts Workshops, a program serving homeless kids in New York City. In this capacity, Symons provided direct services to youth, managed volunteers, planned and implemented large-scale art projects, and launched a teen program. From 1994 to the present, she has worked as a composer of TV music, and as a recording artist. She was also the founder and President of Endurance Music, a source music company and recording studio. Symons' music is frequently heard on national network TV, and in regional radio advertising. Prior to founding TEN, Symons became involved in fighting human trafficking as the Program Director for Friends of Maiti Nepal. In this capacity, she traveled to Nepal and saw the need for an empowerment program for survivors. Symons graduated in 1990 from the University of Pennsylvania, with a magna cum laude degree in Communications. Symons is the mother of two happy, healthy children, Maya, 7 and Luke, 6.

Barbara Trautlein
PhD, Vice President of research, Compel Ltd.
WHOLE Work: How Women Can Enlighten and Transform Tomorrow's Organizations
WITI Presents: Powerful and Connected: Leveraging Technology to Develop Women Leaders and Transform Organizations (Part 1)
WITI Presents: Powerful and Connected: Leveraging Technology to Develop Women Leaders and Transform Organizations (Part 2)

Dr. Trautlein is unique among women consultants in that she combines 20 years of client service, a track record of social research, and advanced training and skills in personal development and mastery. Barbara has facilitated hundreds of groups through an innovative coaching and mentoring program called "Manufacturing Change," which involves the engagement of executives, managers and supervisors in a leadership style that combines head and heart in process-driven environments. With Compel Ltd. president Patricia Shafer, Barbara has co-authored "The Whole World at Work" global research and a large-scale study of women in technology. She is an energetic presenter/facilitator who empowers people to look beyond self-interest and achieve meaningful and improvements. She has provided holistic development experiences for managers in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and technology. Barbara holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Michigan; is certified in a range of Change Management, Organizational Development and Human Resource principles, approaches and assessments; and teaches interview, focus group and survey techniques at the graduate level.

Marshall Van Alstyne
PhD, Professor Information Economics, Boston University & MIT
WITI Presents: Web 2.0 Digital Business & Digital Media Economy - It's Impacting Your Life More Than You Think! (Part 3)

Professor Van Alstyne holds joint appointments at Boston University and MIT, and works in the area of Information Economics. His research interests include the economics of networks, valuing information, equity and growth effects of information sharing, and integration effects of technology. The underlying theme is information: how to value it; how does it affect productivity, product design and competitive advantage; how does it alter property rights; what happens when it is shared, and why access alone may not lead to everyone having it independent of preferences. He graduated from Yale (BA) and MIT (MS & Ph.D). His work has received an NSF Career award, multiple best paper awards, and been featured in the popular press.

Bill Vernon
NFIB/Massachusetts State Director
Navigating the Health Care System to Provide the Best Coverage Cost Effectively

Bill Vernon was appointed NFIB/Massachusetts State Director in May 1999. He previously served in several senior management positions at the Massachusetts State Lottery. A graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut and the Boston University Law School, Vernon was elected to represent the First Bristol District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1982. After serving in the legislature for nine years, he became the director for intergovernmental relations at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. He subsequently became executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 1994 to 1997. He lives in Mansfield, Mass., and has two children.

Lauren Ventura
Senior Director, Commercial Market Management, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Presents: Creating a Smart Business Technology Roadmap

With over ten years of experience at Cisco Systems in a variety of roles and more than twenty-seven years of global marketing and sales experience, Lauren Ventura has been responsible for leading cross-functional global teams in cultivating new opportunities in both new and existing market segments. Ventura is currently Senior Director, Commercial Market Management for Cisco Systems responsible for developing and executing Commercial marketing and growth initiatives. Serving customers with 5 - 1000 employees, the commercial customer segment is Cisco's fastest growing customer segment at 22% per year globally with annual revenues exceeding $7B. Focused on encouraging the growth of women-owned businesses, Ventura is leading Cisco's engagement as technology sponsor in the "Count Me In, Make Mine a $Million Business" program. This program's objective is to grow more than 1,000,000 women-owned small and medium businesses to over $1M in revenue annually by 2010. Ventura fosters a culture of respect, trust and teamwork across Cisco's technology groups and global marketing and sales teams to support and grow Commercial's voice, security and wireless technology sales and 60% of sales outside North America. Ventura is the gender diversity council lead for Cisco's corporate marketing function. Ventura is the corporate sponsor for accelerating China's commercial market for Cisco. Previously at Cisco, Ventura was Director of Commercial Vertical Marketing responsible for developing marketing strategies and programs for vertical industries such as Government, Education, Healthcare, Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Retail. Other positions at Cisco included services marketing responsibilities for Cisco's enterprise, service provider and commercial market segments where she has led global teams with both customer and channel partner program implementations.

Laurie Walsh
Micro Loan Officer, Business Assistance Manager, SEED Corp.
How to Fund Start-Up, Pre-Revenue and Early Stage Businesses (Part 1)

Laurie Walsh is the Micro Loan Officer and Business Assistance Manager for SEED (South Eastern Economic Development) Corporation located in Taunton, Massachusetts. SEED is a non-profit agency that provides financing and technical assistance to small start-up and existing businesses in Massachusetts and most of Rhode Island. SEED's loan programs range from a $5,000 micro loan to a $4 million loan for real estate under the SBA 504 program.

Laurie started with SEED in 2002. She underwrites loans $100,000 and under and also teaches business plan preparation classes. Laurie completed the Business Advisor Training Program through the Urban Business Alliance at the Pioneer Institute in Boston, in addition to the School of Commercial Lending trainings at Babson College in Wellesley. She came to SEED following an eleven year career in the healthcare industry, where she worked in psychiatric education and residency training. Laurie serves as Clerk on the Board of Directors for Corline Cronan's Family, a Taunton-based charity, is a YMCA Strong Kids Campaign team member and a coordinator for the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days.

Peggy Wallace
Partner, Black Dome Capital
A Case Study of Start Up / Early Stage Companies - Debt and Equity Funding (Part 2)

Peggy Wallace is a partner with Black Dome Capital, an early stage investment firm she co-founded in 2003. Peggy has analyzed large, mid & small cap companies during more than 20 years experience on Wall Street. Peggy is Co-Leader of the NY forum of the Golden Seeds Angel Group. Peggy has screened hundreds of early stage transactions, and invested - both debt and equity - in numerous situations. Her bulge bracket experience includes senior positions with JP Morgan, Salomon Brothers & XL Capital, with particular focus on complex financial structures, credit, Êderivatives, mergers and acquisitions and risk management. Peggy is a graduate of the George Washington University. She also serves on the corporate board of Chromis Fiberoptics and the non-profit Count Me In, a micro-finance lender.

Amanda G. Watlington
Author, Owner of Searching for Profit
WITI Presents: Search Engine Marketing - Getting People to Find You Online and Converting Them to Customers

Amanda G. Watlington is Owner of Searching for Profit (http:www.searchingforprofit.com) a marketing consultancy focusing on the interaction of the consumer with businesses using search engines, RSS, blogs, podcasting or other new media to deliver their message. An industry thought leader and an internationally recognized speaker, Amanda has led sessions on search marketing, web strategy and social media at Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster World, AdTech, and DMA. She shares her views of where marketing is headed as blogs and RSS/XML feeds continue to evolve at Blogs and Feeds (http://amandawatlington.typepad.com).

Ellen Watts
Principal, Architerra
Green Buildings & Sustainable Businesses: A Survey of the Latest Trends

Ellen Watts is the co-founder of Architerra, a professional architecture, planning and real estate advisory firm dedicated to sustainable design and smart growth. A LEED accredited architect and frequent speaker on green buildings, Ellen and her partners Dan Arons and Daniel Bernstein, head one of the fastest-growing design practices in the Boston area. In three years since its founding, Architerra has won commissions for over $100 million worth of construction, including new green buildings and interiors for corporate offices and many other types of projects. In addition to designing buildings, Architerra conducts funded research on sustainable design trends and green building performance.

Dr. Charmon Parker Williams
Principal Consultant, Parker Williams Consulting
Opportunities and Issues Confronting Non-Profit Leadership

Charmon Parker Williams, Ph.D. is an experienced talent management professional, consultant, and change advocate. She has a notable track record in Leadership Assessment and Development, Organizational Effectiveness, Talent Retention, Diversity and Inclusion, Psychometrics, Communications, and Publishing. Her accomplishments transcend a variety of industries including financial services, professional services, healthcare, consumer goods, utility, manufacturing, education, law enforcement and the public sector. Charmon is currently Principal Consultant for Parker Williams Consulting where she focuses on career and talent management consulting and coaching for both individuals and organizations. During her career she has achieved results in a variety of roles including Talent Program Manager for Hewitt Associates (a global HR Outsourcing and Consulting Company). In this role she was responsible for managing programs and processes that supported HR Strategy and Executive Talent Management for Hewitt's HR Outsourcing Business Segment. During her tenure at Hewitt, Charmon led strategy and design efforts for a number of company-wide and business segment-specific efforts including talent reviews, key talent retention efforts, mentoring programs, executive coaching, workplace flexibility programs, virtual workforce strategies, talent transition and movement processes, and workforce diversity and inclusion efforts.

Ginny Wilmerding
Author, Small Business Consultant, Former Small Business Owner
Babson Presents: Successful Entrepreneurs - The Top Three Lessons from Three Top Women

Ginny Wilmerding is the author of Smart Women and Small Business: How to Make the Leap from Corporate Careers to the Right Small Enterprise (John Wiley & Sons, October 2006), the ultimate guide for women who want to be their own boss. Written for mid-career women who are looking for entrepreneurial alternatives to the world of big business but aren't sure where to start, the book offers insight and inspiration from women who have started new ventures, bought small companies, acquired franchises, consulted for or partnered with small business owners, and taken over family businesses.

A small business consultant and former small business owner herself, Ginny specializes in strategic business planning for women-owned companies seeking to grow beyond $1 million in sales while maintaining healthy income and cash flow.

Ginny has negotiated the purchase of small businesses and has professionally authored business plans, private equity placement memorandums, valuation analyses, and business cases. She held senior executive roles at small private enterprises and Internet startups in the Boston area as well as leadership roles at large corporations in the United States and China (Lucent Technologies Inc., AT&T Corp. and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.). Ginny is a former research associate at Harvard Business School. She graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in East Asian Studies in 1991.

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, she now lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with her husband and two children.

Ann Zuccardy
Founder & Owner, Vermont Shortbread Company
Babson Presents: Successful Entrepreneurs - The Top Three Lessons from Three Top Women

Ann Zuccardy started Vermont Shortbread Company a decade ago out of her home kitchen. Ann worked as a technical writer for nearly 20 years with companies such as IBM, Hill Associates, Country Home Products, Ascension Technology, and Adecco. Despite her decades of experience, Ann never felt at home in corporate America. In 1996, Ann created Vermont Shortbread Company. She balanced a full time job as a technical writer with single parenthood and her part time dream of entrepreneurship - always with the goal of full time self employment.

In 2005, Ann built a commercial bakery and hired Vermont Shortbread Company's first baker. In early 2007, Ann left the corporate world for good. Today, Ann's directing her passion for writing and teaching to small business owners in the specialty food industry. Ann is passionate about teaching entrepreneurs to use blogs, search engine friendly copywriting, ezines, and article marketing as inexpensive and creative ways to promote themselves on the web.

Ann serves on boards of directors for Vermont non-profits, Child Care Resource and the Burlington Currency Project. She received a B.A. in English in 1984 from Southern Connecticut State University and is currently a student at Atlantic University in Virginia Beach working on an M.A. in Transpersonal Studies with a concentration in creativity.

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