Airlines and Travel

SPEAKERS:  Marilee McInnis, Manager of Public Relations and Edie Myers, Brand Management Specialist, Southwest Airlines

The Airline and Travel Industry continues to be an industry that is affected positively or negatively with economic twists and turns, yet these companies provide marketers with a wide variety of consumer touch points that can be great tools to give your creative promotional marketing plans the lift they desire.  Marilee McInnis, Public Relations, Southwest Airlines will give you that 30,000 foot view of this industry that you need.

Marilee is a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines. She began her career with Southwest in 2002. In addition to media relations, reputation management, and branded content, her other duties include overseeing the Company's in-flight magazine, SPIRIT, and managing the airline's environmental efforts. Her specialty, however, is connecting with the media and positioning Southwest as an industry leader.

Edie began her career with Southwest in 2001 and is part of the Marketing Department. In addition to overseeing branded content and product placement, Edie is responsible for licensing and logo guidelines, choosing Southwest collateral material, and ensuring Southwest items meet and exceed licensing criteria. Edie also reviews advertising guidelines for internal and external publications.

Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier in the United States in terms of passengers carried. In 2007, Southwest carried more than 100 million passengers-more than any other airline in the world. Headquartered in Dallas, the airline serves 64 cities in 32 states from coast to coast.

Automotive
Moving forward in the changing world of Automotive

SPEAKER:  Michael McHale, Director, Corporate Communications, Subaru of America

The automotive industry is changing daily, with focus on performance, safety, alternative fuels as well as focusing on niche customers who are passionate about the brand of car they drive because of its fit to their lifestyle and personality. Automotive partners have always been a mainstay of the entertainment and brand promotional quiver, but marketers need to understand the whole automotive landscape to reach the targeted audiences they seek in creative ways. Michael McHale, Director, Corporate Communications of Subaru of America, will talk about the changing world of the automotive industry and how Subaru has focused on a specific set of customers that are fervent fans of their brand of vehicles and how that fan base can help make your next promotional program a success.

Subaru vehicles are known for their durable and rugged engineering, demonstrated in models such as the Forester and Outback. Its rally-winning performance models include the WRX and STI nameplates. All Subaru models come equipped with all-wheel drive as standard. Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics.

Banking and Finance

SPEAKER:  Paula Beadle, Vice President, National Promotions & Partnerships, Experiential Marketing, WaMu

The Banking and Financial Services Industry is constantly in the news these days, but what you might not be hearing about are all of the opportunities awaiting savvy entertainment and consumer promotional marketers who understand the creative, experiential and promotion friendly programs these companies are doing both offline and online to differentiate themselves and to enhance customer experience and loyalty. Paula Beadle, Vice President, National Promotions & Partnerships, Experiential Marketing, at Washington Mutual will share insights on what's going on in the Banking and Financial Services Industry, an understanding of where the promotional sweet spots are, and how your property or brand can partner within this industry to create some great win-win programs. Washington Mutual, through its subsidiaries, is the nation's leading consumer and small business bank. At September 30, 2007, WaMu and its subsidiaries had assets of $330.1 billion. The company has a history dating back to 1889 and its subsidiary banks currently operate approximately 2,700 consumer and small business banking stores throughout the nation. WaMu is a leading provider of online financial services, and its site, www.wamu.com, has received widespread industry and consumer recognition, averaging more than 3,300 online applications submitted per day. Washington Mutual recently announced that it continues its position as #1 in online checking and saving accounts in its footprint markets.

Paula Beadle's vibrant marketing career has included leadership positions in media, sports and brand marketing. She is a proven leader with a track record of building highly effective, results-oriented programs and teams. Before joining WaMu, Paula held positions at Clear Channel Communications and the Minnesota Vikings. She also owned a successful event marketing and production company.

As VP of National Promotions and Partnerships for WaMu, Paula is responsible for developing and executing the company's national sponsorship and promotion strategy. She has managed the portfolio of 50 regional sponsorships, partnership with the Latin Grammy's, and most recently launched the WaMu LIVE entertainment program.

Cable Communications
Cable and the Emergence of the Triple Play

SPEAKER:  Kevin Hill, VP Marketing and Strategic Relations, Comcast Corporation

Marketers today need to understand the evolution of the Cable Industry over the past few years into an industry whose key players offer one-stop shopping for all of a household’s in-home media and communication needs and how these new “triple play” offerings of Video, Online and Voice services can be utilized to extend reach and a new way to reach consumers in their homes. 

Comcast Corporation is the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, with 24.2 million cable customers, 12.9 million high-speed Internet customers and 4.1 million voice customers.  Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.  Comcast provides a wide variety of consumer products and services including Video, Online, Voice, Comcast Business Services, and Comcast Interactive Media (CIM).  Its Content Networks and Investments include: The Comcast Programming group which includes E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and Comcast SportsNet; and the Comcast-Spectacor holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, The Philadelphia 76ers NBA Basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Lotteries
How your next Promotion can win big with the Lottery

SPEAKER:  Michael Brennan, California Lottery

With their extremely broad distributions and multi-billion dollar programs, the state lottery programs across the United States are booming, with California alone totaling 3.5 billion dollars in lottery sales in fiscal year 2005/2006. With each having a variety of programs and creative executions, lotteries are certainly worthy of a savvy option for promotional marketers. Hot off of a branded Scratcher program with the recent film release of Mad Money, the California State Lottery, Michael Brennan, Deputy Director Sales & Marketing will give an overview of the lottery Industry nationwide and share his insights on how to create a successful lottery promotional program, as well as how best to work with California Lottery on programs that will help your property or brand break through the clutter.

On November 6, 1984, 58% of California's voters approved Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act. The Lottery's mandate in the California State Lottery Act is to provide supplemental funding to California public education on all levels from kindergarten through the University of California plus several specialized schools. The Act provides that at least 34% of the Lottery revenues must go to public education. All segments of the public schools receive the same per pupil funding level from the Lottery based on average daily attendance of students in each school district. This supplemental funding provides schools with additional resources to meet their locally determined needs. A minimum of 50% of lottery ticket sales are returned to the public in the form of lottery prizes. At least 34% of sales are distributed to public education. No more than 16 percent for administrative expenses of operating the lottery, with 6.9 percent for retailer commissions and bonuses, 3.4 percent for operating expenses and 2.9 percent for game costs. Lottery Games & Revenue Lottery ticket sales started out at about $1.8 billion in the first year, growing to a peak of $2.6 billion in 1989, declining until 1992, and have steadily increased since that time. Lottery sales in fiscal year 2005/06 totaled over $3.5 billion. The Lottery's menu of games includes six different types with the majority of these sales coming from two of the most popular games - the SuperLotto and Scratchers tickets.

Mass Market Cosmetics
The New Face of the Mass Market Cosmetic Industry

SPEAKER:  Joey Shamah, CEO, e.l.f. Cosmetics (eyes, lips, face)

No longer slaves to expensive cosmetic brands, today’s hottest young starlets are hip to the latest mass market cosmetic brands due to their new focus on what’s hot and their high-quality, yet affordable price.  Through their popularity with mass retail customers, these new hot brands allow the wise marketer new promotional opportunities to tie in with these new value-priced cosmetic companies that have reach and cache. 

 Mass market cosmetics e.l.f.’s (eyes lips face) philosophy is that beauty comes from within and it’s their goal to enable every woman to look and feel her personal best through the perfect blend of both the inner and outer person.  With that goal in mind, e.l.f. Cosmetics was born – a line of simple, luxurious, problem-solution tools that allow you to showcase and believe in your unique, personal beauty.  Our cosmetics are designed to improve and accentuate the individual, not hide her away.  At e.l.f., it is believed that innovative technology, quality ingredients and superb delivery systems should not be limited to prestige retailers.  Every woman should have the opportunity to participate in innovation, without sacrificing her budget.   e.l.f.’s Cosmetics are not only revolutionary and value-priced -- they are fur and cruelty free.

Natural and Organic Foods

SPEAKER:  Jim Blumberg, Director of Consumer Promotions, WhiteWave Foods (Silk®, Horizon Organic®)

You almost can’t turn on the news these days without hearing a story about the benefits of natural and organic foods and it’s no wonder that their popularity in households across the country is booming. 

Jim Blumberg, Director of Consumer Promotions, WhiteWave Foods will discuss this burgeoning industry and discuss the benefits to brands when they consider promotional programs with natural and organic foods that consumers feel very passionate about.  A dynamic subsidiary of Dean Foods Company, WhiteWave Foods specializes in dairy and dairy alternatives in the grocery and natural foods channels.    They market innovative, delicious products through several of the national’s most popular brands including Silk® and Horizon Organic®.  Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, WhiteWave Foods is a leader in corporate citizenship – manufacturing innovative, authentic and nutritious branded food products through socially and environmentally responsible practices.  Silk® Soymilk, loaded with healthy soy protein, antioxidants, 11 essential vitamins and minerals and great taste has been taking over refrigerators and breakfast tables since 1996.  Horizon Organic® is the nation’s leading brand of certified organic milk, offering a full line of more than 80 certified organic dairy products without the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones or dangerous pesticides. 

Online Communities
The Evolution of Online Communities

SPEAKER:   Matt Jacobson, Head of Market Development, Facebook

Every marketer is trying to figure out their social networking and online community strategy.  They know there are massive groups of people on the variety of social sites, but the waters are choppy and hard to navigate.  Facebook will discuss this important industry, talk about who is doing the communicating, and where and how, so that as marketers, you can successfully be a part of this continually evolving world. 

Founded in February 2004, Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers. The company develops technologies that facilitate the sharing of information through the social graph, the digital mapping of people's real-world social connections. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment. Facebook is a part of millions of people's lives and half of the users return daily. Facebook is a privately-held company and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Online Retail
Online Retail and the New World of Social Commerce

SPEAKER:  Kimiko Kokko, Director of Marketing Partnerships, eBay

Founded in 1995, eBay Inc. connects hundreds of millions of people around the world every day, empowering them to explore new opportunities and innovate together.  eBay Inc. does this by providing the Internet platforms of choice for global commerce, payments and communications.  eBay’s original vision was to create the world’s first global economic democracy.  They saw a “people’s market” in which anyone in the world could sell or buy just about anything for a fair price.  And today on the eBay Marketplace, trust, honesty and efficiency are rewarded more than size or status.  But over the past 10 years, the Internet has expanded, and so has humankind’s relationship with it.  More and more of our day-to-day activities are conducted online.  The Internet continually enhances our ability to connect with the world around us.  And eBay now plays an even larger role in our lives, as well.  It’s no longer just about fairness. It’s about fostering that human connection through “Social Commerce,” which they define as “a powerful combination of commerce, communication and community that enhances traditional buying and selling.”

Video Sharing

SPEAKER:  Chris Di Cesare, Chief Marketing Officer, YouTube

You’ve all spent time at your desks watching the latest video someone emailed you.  And you probably sent it to someone else if you found it the least bit compelling.  Admit it.  But do you really know how and why that happens?  Chris Di Cesare, Chief Marketing Officer, YouTube, will discuss the online video sharing industry and finally let you explain to your boss that your not just watching a video, you're doing research!

Founded in 2005, YouTube is the leader in online video, and the premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web experience.  YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs and email.  Everyone can watch videos on YouTube.  People can see first-hand accounts of current events, find videos about their hobbies and interests, and discover the quirky and unusual.  As more people capture special moments on video, YouTube is empowering them to become the broadcasters of tomorrow.  In November 2006, within a year of its launch, YouTube was purchased by Google Inc. in one of the most talked-about acquisitions to date.  YouTube has struck numerous partnerships with content providers such as CBS, BBC, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, NBA, The Sundance Channel and many more.