2011 Speakers

Joe Abraham

Founder & CEO, BOSI and Author, Entrepreneurial DNA

Joe is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in the startup and growth of over 30 companies since he started his first business at age 23. He has served as founder, executive or advisor to companies in industries ranging from SaaS (IT) and wellness to consumer goods and motorsports. He has launched products and companies in the US, UK, Europe, S. Korea, Japan, Australia and India to name a few. To date, companies he was involved in starting up have grossed in excess of $250 million in revenues.

In 2008, Joe made the game-changing discovery of the BOSI Quadrant - a behavioral map that can literally predict which business is best suited for an entrepreneur and which strategy and teams they should employ when building that business. His breakthrough book Entrepreneurial DNA (McGraw Hill 2011) is already one of the most talked-about books in the business community - and it has only been out for a few weeks.

Today, Joe is founder and CEO of BOSI Inc - a venture-backed "dot-connection portal" for entrepreneurs that just released its free beta at http://www.bosidna.com. While other online communities and social networks feed one-size-fits-all mumbo jumbo, BOSI is the only place entrepreneurs can get connected with people, content and solutions best suited for their unique DNA.

Mark R. Allio

Regional Director, MA Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network at UMass Boston

Mark R. Allio is the Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network’s Boston Regional Office & Minority Business Center at UMass Boston, an SBA-sponsored business assistance program representing a three-way partnership between the federal government, state economic development authority, and academia providing entrepreneurs with free business advisory services, educational programs, and financing assistance, as well as specialized services supporting government contracting and international trade. As a former entrepreneur, Mark co-founded two business ventures, TracRac, a Fall River-based manufacturer of automotive accessories, and Virtuous.com, an e-ticketing service provider serving the arts and entertainment industry.

Previously, he held a number of senior posts in greater Boston’s non-profit sector, and served as Managing Principal for a strategy consulting firm. He holds an MBA from Babson College of Wellesley, MA, a BA from York University in Toronto, Canada, and a NASBITE certification as a Global Business Professional.

Jane Applegate

Author, Columnist & Consultant

Jane Applegate is America’s most respected small business management expert. A popular keynote speaker and commentator, she’s author of four books on small business success, including 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business and The Entrepreneur’s Desk Reference. On April 16, 2011, John Wiley & Sons published the third edition of 201 Great Ideas as a trade paperback and in all eBook formats for Kindle, Nook, Adobe Digital Editions and iPad.

Applegate is a popular keynote speaker who spoke at more than 20 events in 2010 sponsored by business associations, chambers of commerce and companies serving business owners. In 2011, she is scheduled to speak at more than a dozen events sponsored by the National Association of Women Business Owners, Virtual CFO (vcfo.com, Elance.com, HubSpot.com.

In 2011, Applegate launched The Great Ideas Network, a small business video network devoted to sharing great business, marketing and management ideas via www.201greatideas.com.

A former syndicated small business columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Applegate writes a bi-monthly small business blog for Amex’s Open Forum.com and exclusive monthly columns for Cox Communications, Pitney Bowes and Montecito Bank.

When she left the Times, she created, produced and co-anchored Bloomberg Small Business for the USA Network. She also wrote and produced a daily radio show. Succeeding in Small Business radio report aired on hundreds of CBS stations in the 1990s.

The Applegate Group, founded in 1991, provides strategic marketing and video production services to big and small companies. (www.theapplegategroup.com).

Jane Applegate creates custom presentations or can deliver one of the popular topics below:

• Revive & Thrive: Strategies for Growth in 2011
• Clear the Way to Unlimited Success: Six Steps for a Successful Life and Business
• Seamless Marketing: Integrating Online and Offline Strategies

For information please contact: Jane@theapplegategroup.com

802.763.7098 (office)

914.830.5115 (mobile)

Suzanne Bates

CSP and President, Bates Communications

Suzanne Bates is an executive coach, author, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), former award-winning television news anchor, and CEO of Bates Communications, Inc. She launched the firm in 2000 after a successful career in major market television. Today, Bates Communications has a team of seasoned consultants who improve their clients' businesses by transforming leaders into powerful communicators who get business results. The firm offers strategic communications consulting, executive coaching, workshops, and keynote speeches. Clients include Dow Chemical, Merck, Fidelity, Mellon/Bank of NY, Habitat for Humanity, John Hancock, VF Outdoor, Raytheon, EMC, Deloitte, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, The North Face, and Stop and Shop.

Suzanne is author of Speak Like a CEO: Secrets for Commanding Attention and Getting Results (McGraw Hill), which became a bestseller on amazon.com in 2005. The book has also been published in Chinese, Russian and Indonesian.

Her second book, Motivate Like a CEO: Communicate Your Strategic Vision and Inspire People to Act!, was published in January 2009, also with McGraw Hill. Within weeks of its release, the book became a #1 bestseller in books on communication skills, and a business bestseller on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. The book has received accolades from highly regarded business authors such as Ken Blanchard (The One Minute Manager), Marshall Goldsmith (What Got You Here Won't Get You There), and Charles H. Green (The Trusted Advisor). Her other products include the Speak Like a CEO Toolkit, the Speak Like a CEO Home Study Course, and a course on How to Make a Name in Business.

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 over her career, interviewed thousands of political leaders, CEOs, authors and celebrities. As a nationally recognized expert in business communications and leadership, Suzanne has appeared in hundreds of publications including the New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Business Week, Investors' Business Daily, the New York Post, and CNNMoney.com. Suzanne has also appeared as a guest expert on Fox Business Morning, New England Cable News, CBS Radio, and dozens of other television and radio programs. She routinely publishes articles on leadership and communication in her organization's monthly newsletter, The Voice of Leadership, and on her blog: ThePowerSpeakerBlog.com

Suzanne pioneered an executive coaching program model focused on leadership and communication. The program includes proprietary tools including the 40-Point Leadership Communications Assessment and 360 Feedback Questionnaire, which guides the professional development of leaders. This coaching model has been used with high potential leaders who must master the ability to communicate effectively in order to move their organizations forward.

Suzanne also developed the Quick Prep Method, the Audience Agenda System, and other tools that are taught in the firm’s boot camps and workshops. She has developed more than a dozen workshops including The 7 Elements of Executive Presence, Powerful Presentation Skills, Leading Great Meetings, Your Communication Style, and How to Give Great Media Interviews.

Suzanne is an active member of many organizations. She is currently President-Elect of the New England Chapter of the National Speakers Association, a member of the CEO Club of Boston College, and a member of the Women's Presidents Organization. She is past president of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus. Suzanne earned a B.S. in Radio-TV Journalism from the University of Illinois. She lives in Wellesley, Mass. with her husband and daughter.

Joseph B. Bator

Senior Vice President and Director – Business Banking, Eastern Bank

Joseph Bator is the senior vice president and director of Business Banking at Eastern Bank, where he oversees the bank’s portfolio of business clients with revenue up to $10 million and or lending needs up to $3 million. He served as a commercial real estate team leader at Eastern Bank prior to stepping into his current roll in 2006.

Prior to joining Eastern Bank in 2002, Joseph served as Managing Director; New England Region at O’Neill Properties L.P. Previously Joseph spent seven years at Keybank National Association, primarily within the Commercial Real Estate Division financing in excess of $1 Billion in commercial loans.

Joseph is a Boston District Council executive board member and Treasurer for the Urban Land Institute. Additionally, he serves on the Board of the Women’s Lunch Place and chairs its Events committee. He also is Treasurer of the Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County and serves on the executive committee, as well as the Flutie Foundation Board of Directors.

In addition, Joseph belongs to several triathlon and running related organizations and has completed numerous marathons and an Ironman Triathlon as well as raises money annually for the Perini Cancer Institute in a Boston Harbor relay swim for Swim Across America, where he also serves on the organizing committee.

Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, where he majored in Finance and Law and Public Policy, and his Masters in Business Administration (Finance and Marketing) from LeMoyne College. Joseph also completed a 1 year University of Massachusetts Boston Emerging Leader Fellowship in 2008 and currently serves as Chair of its Alumni Board.

Shelly Berman-Rubera

Founder and President, SBR

Shelly Berman-Rubera is the Founder/ President of SBR- Small Business Results, a business development company located in Newton, MA. Shelly is a serial entrepreneur, business consultant and speaker. She was named one of the top ten executive coaches by Boston Women’s Business. She was nominated for the 2010 Celebration of Excellence Award for Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Enterprise Bank. In addition to running SBR, Shelly is the Founder of The Alliance for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, an initiative to connect the strengths of Gen X & Y with the experience of Baby Boomers for the purposes of educating small business owners and growing small business in America. Her books 100 Tips for Small Business Results and The Small Business Results eBook will be published in Spring 2011.

Duane Cashin

President, Cashin & Company

When it comes to helping sales professionals and their organizations differentiation themselves in a crowded market place Duane Cashin is recognized as one of the best.

After 13 years of business success in companies ranging in size from medium to Fortune 500 and positions from straight commission salesman to Vice President of Sales Duane decided to start his own company.

Within 4 years Duane’s grand format graphics company grew to be a multi million dollar organization with its work displayed at the Super Bowl, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and MTV’s studios at Times Square.

His speaking skills were honed when he joined Tony Parinello, author of Selling to VITO. Duane sold and delivered these famous seminars throughout the U.S. while establishing a sales record still unbroken.

Mike Cooch

CEO, Kutenda

Michael Cooch is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Everon Technology Services LLC, bringing nearly a decade of experience as a successful entrepreneur in technology and business services. Michael founded Everon in 2003 with the objective to deliver a dramatically higher level of service to the small and medium sized business marketplace. In his current role as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael manages the strategic vision, development and growth of the business, and is a recognized expert in business technology needs and solutions. He has provided the vision and leadership from the Company’s inception, to its current recognized status as a leading provider of IT services to small and medium sized businesses nationwide and a two-time member of the Inc Magazine List of the 5000 Fastest Growing Businesses in America.

Michael is also the founder of Kutenda, LLC, a suite of online market tools designed to make it easy for small businesses to take advantage of the power of online marketing. Kutenda provides training, tools, and services small businesses, enabling them to use the Kutenda platform to grow their business and increase revenue via Internet marketing.

Michael holds an MBA from F.W. Olin School of Management at Babson College and a BS in Business and Finance from Colorado State University.

Jeff Cutler

Content Creator & Social Media Journalist

Jeff Cutler is a social media journalist with 21 years experience in traditional and new media. He is also the Social Media Trainer for the Society of Professional Journalists nationwide. Jeff harnesses the power of social media in his job as a journalist and content creator. He also advises clients on the best way to reach their audiences through the use of various media and content.

His video program - NomX3.com - connects restaurants and related consumer goods companies with an online audience; and the show is proof of concept that social media marketing can bring buzz and exposure to organizations, brands and products.

Jeff is a published author; has written for WBUR (NPR Boston), the Boston Globe, AutomotiveRhythms.com, New York Post, Gatehouse Media, MobileMag.com, Technology Review, and other publications. You can find Jeff at jeffcutler.com.

Stephen Davis

Managing Director, The CXO Advisory Group

Stephen Davis is Principal and Founder of The CXO Advisory Group, a management consulting firm providing interim COO and VP Sales and Marketing services. His company works with businesses who want to drive their revenue growth to the next level no matter what stage the economy is in. For almost three decades, Steve has focused on improving the performance, revenues and profitability of start-up to Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of industries. Steve has worked with companies in North America, Europe and Asia to assist them in establishing US market operations, strategic alliances, joint ventures, business development and sales management.

With over 30 years experience as a senior executive, including COO and CMO with P&L responsibility in the computer, software, consumer electronics and Internet industries, Steve has successfully built, managed, and restructured numerous sales and marketing organizations. He has successfully developed new markets and has introduced over 300 new products into various industries. Steve has assisted clients with due diligence and preparation for venture financing.

Steve is an industry pioneer whose visionary marketing and sales strategies were instrumental in two of the PC industry milestone products: ATARI’s home computer and Corvus OMNINET, the PC industry’s first true local area network.

William J. Davis II

Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Export Assistance Center

Bill Davis is the senior trade specialist with, The Commercial Service, the worldwide field organization of the U.S. Department of Commerce. He assists members of the business community develop market strategies in order to expand their businesses overseas. Through hands on one on one counselling, he along with other professional staff from the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Boston foster the expansion of exports throughout the New England Business Community.

A native of the Chicago area, Bill graduated with an undergraduate degree from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois and a graduate degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His career includes 10 years of private sector experience working in both the telecommunications and welding industries in international marketing & sales. Bill has worked for the Commerce Department for the last 29 years, moving to New England in ‘92 after tours of Duty in both North Carolina and Tennessee. He has also been an Acting Principal Commercial Officer at the American Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Acting Commercial Counselor at the American Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela and Acting Commercial Counselor in Athens, Greece. He was the National Team Leader for the Commerce Department’s Trade Americas (Western Hemisphere) Team in 2004 and is still active with the Team.

Marcia Deegler

Director, Environmental Purchasing, Commonwealth of MA

Marcia Deegler is the Director of Environmental Purchasing for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The primary goal of the Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) Procurement Program – which is based in the state’s Operational Services Division - is to use the Commonwealth's purchasing power to reduce the environmental and public health impact of state government and foster markets for EPPs. Marcia has been with the EPP Program since its inception in 1995 and has been instrumental in growing the success of this interagency effort on many levels, including the issuance of over three dozen statewide contracts that contain EPPs and tracking over $250 million in EPP procurements during Fiscal Year 2010. The program is the recipient of five national awards, and Marcia was a 2009 recipient of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ highest honor for Executive Department employees, the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service.

Ellen DePasquale

Regional Development Director, NY Metro, Constant Contact

Ellen is a well-known software expert and marketing advisor to small businesses, nonprofits, and associations in the New York Metro area. She is a passionate entrepreneur with 20 years of experience helping companies of all sizes, from solo practitioners to big corporations, implement customer relationship management programs and email marketing campaigns that deliver winning results. Her technology best practices and business efficiency advice has helped small organizations better understand how automation can assist them in building customer relationships that grow their businesses. A sought-after international speaker/moderator on marketing and software topics related to small business success, Ellen has been invited to present to audiences by the Financial Women's Association, Symantec Corporation, National Association of Professional Organizers, Inc. Magazine, and Microsoft Corp., and has been a speaker and moderator at Sage software’s Insights conference and the Toy Industry Association’s American International Toy Fair. Author of It’s About Time: Time Management Tips From The Software Revitalist™, Ellen’s practical small business advice has appeared in numerous publications, including Crain’s New York Small Business, The New York Enterprise Report, Small Business Computing & Communications, Success, Worth, Accounting Technology, Working Woman, Inc. Technology, and PC Magazine

Mike Dreese

Chief Executive Officer, Newbury Comics, Inc.

Mike Dreese is Chief Executive Officer of Newbury Comics, Inc. He co-founded the company in 1978 with his M.I.T. roommate, John Brusger. Start-up capital was $2,000 and a comic book collection.

The original Newbury Comics store, a converted studio apartment, was located in Boston's Back Bay area. As an early specialist in the burgeoning "new wave/punk" music scene in the 80’s, the chain grew rapidly during that time. He also founded Boston Rock magazine and co-founded Modern Method Records, an imprint to Boston’s emerging punk scene in the early 80’s. Newbury Comics now operates 29 stores throughout New England, including the Hootenanny clothing concept, along with three web based e-commerce platforms. Newbury Comics recently launched PUNK.COM, a street fashion website.

The company is privately held, and employs over 450 people.

In 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers named Newbury Comics "Retailer of the Year/Mid-Size Category".

Dreese serves on the Boards of The Berklee College of Music, The American Repertory Theatre, New France Corporation (L’Espalier and Sel De La Terre Restaurants), and The Waltham Boys & Girls Club.

He also runs a start-up investment fund "Wicked Good Angels" and is a frequent speaker on the topics of social media and entrepreneurship.

Mike is an avid sailor, recently competing in the single-handed race to Bermuda. He also crewed an 11 person sailboat from Ushuaia past Cape Horn on a 21 day expedition to the Antarctic peninsula in February, 2009.

Ja-Naé Duane

Strategist, Social Entrepreneur & Author

One-woman revolution Ja-Naé Duane stormed into the limelight at age 13 as an award-winning public speaker. Since then, the intrepid speaker, strategist, social scientist, artist, creative economist, and author of How to Start Your Business with $100 has captured the media’s attention, appearing in The Associated Press, NPR, Classical Singer Magazine, The Boston Globe, and Business Week. Her impressive skill set and unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for the global community garnered Ja-Naé a nomination as one of New England’s Most Innovative Leaders of 2007. Ja-Naé spearheads a plethora of ventures as CEO of Wild Women Entrepreneurs, CEO of Ja-Naé Duane Ventures, Co-Founder of the Massachusetts Artist Leaders Coalition, and Founder of The Leaders. Additionally, Ja-Naé is a professional opera singer, a social media strategist, and a faculty member at Northeastern University. Her upcoming book, "How to Create a Revolution: A Step-by-Step Guide to History’s Social Influencers" is due out in the fall.

Alyssa Dver

Author, No Time Marketing
CEO, Mint Green Marketing

BusinessWeek and American Express OPEN recognized her as a female entrepreneur to watch. She is the chief executive for Mint Green Marketing providing affordable expert marketing help to companies ranging from large multinationals such as Nokia, Pitney Bowes, IBM and Choice Hotels to up-and-coming smaller companies all over the world. Dver is the author of the well-endorsed books, "No Time Marketing" and "Software Product Management Essentials". She has been published in numerous media including Forbes, BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur, Chief Marketer, Software Magazine and others. A frequent keynote and workshop presenter, she entertains and educates audiences multiple times each month at events such as the New England, New York and CT XPOs for Business, The World Diversity Leadership Summit at the UN, The Women’s Congress, MA Conference for Women, American Marketing Association, Supermompreneur, Int’l Association of Image Consultants, etc.

Contact her at www.notimemarketing.com, @NoTimeMarketing or 508.881.5664.

Jack Falvey

Founder & Chief Creative Officer, MakingTheNumbers.com

Jack Falvey is one of the most widely published freelance business writers in the world. In addition to his Dow Jones Features, his work has appeared in Newsweek, The Reader’s Digest, Inc. Magazine, Sales and Marketing Magazine and even Vogue!

He has appeared on NBC’s The TODAY Show, ABC’s GOOD MORNING AMERICA, FOX-TV NEWS and FOX Business Channel. He has written for The Boston Globe and The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News.

A 1960 graduate of Boston College he has been a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Massachusetts in Boston since 1981.

In 2000 he founded MakingTheNumbers.Com, an internet e-learning company providing daily sales and sales management professional development via e-mail to readers across five continents.

He has published 46 features in The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s.

Debbie Fay

Founder, bespeak presentation solutions

Debbie Fay is the founder of bespeak presentation solutions, llc, providing public speaking coaching, training and presentation development to clients such as BNY Mellon Bank, Hay Group and US Fund for UNICEF as well as published authors, business owners and entrepreneurs. An award winning trainer and teacher with a life long involvement in theater, Debbie helps clients present themselves with confidence, conviction and clarity, delivering presentations that get heard and get results. To learn more, point your browser to; www.bespeakpresentations.com, or contact Debbie directly at; dfay@bespeakpresentations.com.

Nancy Gibeau

Loan and Investment Officer, BDC Capital

Nancy M. Gibeau, Loan and Investment Officer, covers the state of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Nancy has over fourteen years of experience in banking and lending. She most recently served as the Senior Manager of Lending Services for the New Bedford Economic Development Council. Prior to that, she was a Small Business Lender for Compass Bank for Savings. Nancy graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth with a B.S. in Management.

Paul Giragos

Senior Negotiation Trainer, MWI

Paul Giragos is a facilitator and trainer with MWI who specializes in negotiation, leadership development, and workplace conduct. Paul’s expertise is in helping businesses create value through collaborative negotiation strategies and in coaching leaders to be more influential and inspiring in their presentations, negotiations, and interactions. He a former practicing attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Fish & Richardson P.C. with a particular focus is on teaching managers to develop their employees through more effective coaching and to avoid litigation through a better understanding of the law. Admitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Paul also has experience with patent and trademark disputes and is facile with technical subjects. Paul has trained clients internationally, including IBM, American Express, Bose, Deloitte, Boston Scientific, Royal Bank of Scotland, and HSBC. Paul’s coaching work is informed by his work as an actor; he is a regular performer at New Repertory Theatre and other professional Boston theatres. Paul is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, where he studied history and chemistry. He earned his J.D. cum laude and served on the Law Review at New York University School of Law.

Adam Hansen

Rackspace Small Business Advocate

Adam Hansen is Rackspace’s Small Business Advocate. He has helped small to medium sized businesses move to cloud for the last 4 years. Recently Adam moved to the Rackspace Cloud Marketing team to help drive awareness around the benefits of cloud computing for small and medium businesses. Having owned, run and sold several companies that he has helped to build, Adam still holds on to a few that are near to his heart. An entrepreneur at heart, Adam is passionate about helping small to medium sized businesses thrive through the smart use of technology.

Anne Rice Hunt

Assistant District Director, U.S Small Business Administration

Anne Rice Hunt, Assistant District Director, 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 close to 10,000 Massachusetts small businesses in participation with over 144 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.

John Joyce

Regional Manager, SBA Export Finance Program, U.S. Export Assistance Center

John Joyce is responsible for directing SBA's international trade assistance program in the six New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. As a member of the U.S. Export Assistance Center, John adds export finance assistance to the extensive export marketing programs offered by the Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce. He has more than 25 years experience in international business. Previous to joining SBA, he served as an International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce and has worked in international sales and marketing for several corporations including three years working in Europe. John earned a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a M.B.A. from the Boston University Graduate School of Management.

Marta Kagan

Director of Brand & Buzz, HubSpot

Marta Kagan is a strategic, versatile marketing executive with 10+ years experience using digital, mobile, and social technology to build brands and drive customer acquisition, loyalty, and revenue, for both early-stage startups and global consumer brands.

In 2008, Marta published the first installment of the internationally-renowned What the F**k is Social Media? series, proclaimed "a social media hit for its wit and its very convincing case for the raw power of social media" by Mashable and earning it the title of 4th most favorite presentation of all-time. The original deck and its two sequels have since earned millions of views, been translated into a dozen languages, and spawned hundreds of copycats.

Marta has held leadership positions both agency-side and client-side, working with notable consumer brands such as eBay, Estee Lauder, and Fidelity Investments. Her expertise spans strategic account planning, social media, viral marketing, branded content, promotions, mobile marketing, brand strategy, and public relations. She finds it very odd to write about herself in the third person.

LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/martakagan

Email: mzkagan99 [at] gmail [dot] com

Liz Lynch

Founder, Center for Networking Excellence
Author, Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online

As founder of the Center for Networking Excellence, and a top networking strategist and speaker, Liz Lynch has taught tens of thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs worldwide how to get 24/7 networking results WITHOUT the 24/7 effort. She's the author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online (McGraw-Hill, 2008) and has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC News, Fox Business News, CNBC.com, Forbes.com and Businessweek.com. Liz holds an engineering degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford University.

To download your free Smart Networking toolkit, visit http://www.SmartNetworking.com

Ben R. Manzano

Procurement Center Representative, U.S. Small Business Administration

Ben R. Manzano is the Procurement Center Representative for the Office of Government Contracting, Area I of the U.S. Small Business Administration. As Procurement Center Representative Ben’s main responsibility is to assist small businesses to increase their market share of government contracts and participation in subcontracting opportunities through counseling and advocacy.

A retired Coast Guard officer with 23 years of military service, LT Manzano retired in April 1994 and started his second career as a Contract Specialist at Hanscom AFB. Ben then worked for a number of federal agencies in an effort to fully understand and master the global and federal landscape. His previous departments include; Department of Transportation, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Contract Management Administration, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense (Air Force). Ben believed that by constantly challenging himself and refusing to homestead, that he would be able to better appreciate the full scope of the contracting arena.

Mr. Manzano has been in the contracting and acquisition field for more than 15 years; he is a Certified Level II Program Manager and DAWIA Certified Level III Contracting Officer. He graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts with a dual concentration in Business Management and Management Information System, has completed a Masters degree in Government Contracting at George Washington University out of Washington DC, and has a Masters degree in Acquisition Management from American Graduate University in Covina, California.

Ben currently resides in Randolph Massachusetts with his wife, Teresita and their three children, Venessa, Ben, and Abenee.

Paula Murphy

Director, Massachusetts Export Center

Paula Murphy is founder and director of the Massachusetts Export Center, part of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. She has over twenty years of international business experience in both the public and private sectors. Paula helps exporters through counseling, technical assistance, training, market research, and publication development. In addition, she has organized several overseas marketing activities, such as trade shows and trade missions. In 2008, clients reported over $190 Million in export sales as a direct result of the Massachusetts Export Center’s assistance.

In addition to her role at the Export Center, Paula teaches graduate-level international marketing and export/import operations at Boston University. Previously, she served as international trade counselor for the Commonwealth, and was an international marketing consultant with Hagan & Company, where she served as the New England agent for a number of foreign government agencies, including the Irish Trade Board (now Enterprise Ireland), the Australian Trade Commission and others.

Paula has published numerous articles and publications on international trade. She has led the Massachusetts Export Center to receive numerous awards – in 2008, the Export Center was named the national winner of the SBA’s Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award. In 2008, the Export Center also received the Presidential E Award – the highest honor the federal government can give to American people, firms or organizations that have made significant contributions to the increase of American exports. Paula was also named the 2005 and 2008 Massachusetts State Star by the Association of Small Business Development Centers. She has served on the boards of several non-profit international trade organizations, including the British American Business Council of New England. She is currently President of the Greater China Business Council of New England and serves on District Export Council of Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Suffolk University, received an advanced certificate in international trade from the American Graduate School of International Management – Thunderbird, and is a Certified Global Business Professional.

Dmitriy Nikolayev

President, Massachusetts Recycling Coalition (MassRecycle) and Procurement Manager for Facilities & Environmental Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Dmitriy is the President of the Massachusetts Recycling Coalition (MassRecycle) & a Procurement Manager at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Operational Services Division. As President of MassRecycle Dmitriy oversees a statewide coalition of individuals, governments, businesses, institutions and non-profits dedicated to promoting & to realizing the vital environmental, social & economic benefits of recycling. As a Procurement Manager for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dmitriy was instrumental in the development of the Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program and creating over three dozen statewide contracts that contain environmentally preferable products.

Robert Nelson

District Director, Massachusetts Small Business Administration District Office

Robert H. Nelson was appointed district director of SBA’s Massachusetts District Office on November 26, 2007. The district office is located in Boston with a branch office in Springfield, Massachusetts. Prior to his appointment as district director, Mr. Nelson served as branch manager of the Springfield, Mass. office.

Mr. Nelson began his SBA career in 1998 as a loan specialist for the Connecticut District Office in Hartford, Conn. He joined the Massachusetts District Office in 2000; first in the capacity of lead loan specialist/chief of portfolio management and later as branch manager.

As district director, Mr. Nelson is responsible for the effective delivery of SBA’s financial and business development programs with a mission to counsel, assist and protect the interest of small business statewide in order to maintain and strengthen the economy.

Mr. Nelson, together with a staff of 15 permanent SBA employees, will work to help entrepreneurs to start, grow and build their businesses. On the financial side, Mr. Nelson is responsible for increasing delivery of the popular 7(a) and 504 loan programs which help small businesses obtain access to capital. He is also responsible for SBA oversight of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s (MSBDC) statewide network, the seven Massachusetts chapters of SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business and the Massachusetts Women’s Business Center – the Center for Women & Enterprise.

Before joining the SBA, Bob spent a number of years with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as section chief of the medium/other assets division in the Franklin, Mass. consolidated field office. He also has a number of years of banking experience having been a commercial lender for several New England area banks. He was a Vice President at Shawmut Bank, R.I.

Mr. Nelson holds a BA degree in Economics from Hobart College in Geneva, New York. He and his wife, Debbi, have three sons, Brad, Mark and Christopher.

Patrick O'Malley

Professional Speaker

Patrick O'Malley loves and lives Social Media, and can show you how to utilize them to improve your business. You can see a sample video of his bizarre excitement about it at http://www.617-patrick.com/

He is a nationally recognized expert on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Google SEO, and is a regular contributor to Fox TV news in Boston.

Previously, he was the VP of Operations for the search engine that was tied with Google for "best search engine" in the year 2000 (Northern Light).

His phone number is actually 617-PATRICK, which he thinks is cool.

Scott Orbach

Co-Founder & President, EZGSA

Scott Orbach is the author of five books about government contracting, including his latest, "Getting a GSA Schedule: A Step by Step Guide," Mr. Orbach is also the occasional host of "Gateway to Government Sales" on WFED radio in Washington DC, former municipal council member and co-founder and President of EZGSA.

Mr. Orbach is often a featured speaker at the New York Business Xpo, New England Business Xpo, NeoCon Chicago, Midwest Security & Police Expo and Greater Washington Procurement Conference.

He also leads over 30 informational seminars annually throughout the US, on topics including GSA Schedules, federal procurement and government contracting and sales.

A graduate of American University’s Kogod College of Business, Mr. Orbach has more than 20 years of experience in the business consulting federal sales and contract management arenas. He has made his home in the Washington, DC area since 1980.

David Polatin

Assistant District Director for Business Development, Massachusetts Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration

Responsible for marketing SBA’s programs and services, government contracting, and the 8(a) Business Development Program, Mr. Polatin is in his 17th year working for the SBA. Prior to joining the SBA, he spent five years in government contracting with the US Army. Mr. Polatin holds a BA and an MBA degree from Boston University and a Masters in Education degree from the Boston State College (predecessor to UMass Boston).

Ruben Quinones

Director of New Media, Path Interactive

Ruben Quinones (@rubenq) Director of New Media at @PathInteractive, and an adjunct instructor at NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies Marketing and Public Relations Studies Program. Teaching "Examining Social Media Networks for Brand Value" and "Search Engine Optimization", core courses in the Digital Media Marketing Certificate Program. At Path, Ruben provides strategic direction over client’s paid search management, SEO, and Social marketing campaigns, and is also a speaker at venues such as Web 2.0 Expo, Search Engine Strategies, and a keynote at a Cisco event. Social Media Magazine voted in Ruben as one of the top marketing professors.

A seasoned online marketing professional, prior to joining Path Interactive, Ruben’s related experience includes founding and marketing a one of the Internet’s first vertical search directories, directed at property managers, and was an advertising internet consultant for Verizon Information Services for national brands and small businesses. Ruben Quinones is a graduate of Nyack College in NY.

Jon Paul Rondeau

President & CEO, New Wave Industries

As president & CEO of New Wave Industries, Jon Rondeau is one of the most in-demand technology consultants in New England. With over 14 years of experience in the industry, Jon helps businesses assess their changing technology needs and plan a future path to ensure they stay ahead of the times.

If you ask those he works with daily, they will tell you that Jon is one of the few people they know that constantly comes up with new ideas and somehow always finds the time and energy to turn them into successful product or service additions. It seems as though Jon has been an entrepreneur and work-aholic since birth. In fact, his first major venture began when he was only in high school and established a successful international car part import company. Jon always had a passion for technology and was one of the first people responsible for bringing broadband Internet to the east coast. Soon after, yet still just a teenager, Jon started Virtual Design & Storage - a business that developed and installed custom computers. By the Summer of 1999, the company had evolved, with many more technology offerings, and was renamed New Wave Industries.

New Wave Industries consists of several divisions and has grown over the years. In 2000 Jon started Walk on the Web, a website hosting and Internet service provider and in 2001 he started PIT Industries (Public Interactive Terminals). In that same year Jon signed a multi-year agreement with one of the largest casinos in the world to design and build their interactive kiosks. He had developed the software before he was even old enough to step foot in the building (shh... don’t tell them – they never asked for ID)!

Since then, New Wave Industries has continued to expand into other related areas and the company has become a one-stop shop for business technology needs. Jon has continued to launch new products and services year after year. New Launches included: Night Manager Content Management Software in 2002, CTPhonebook.com in 2003, NWI Studios (audio & video studio with green screen) in 2004 and Email Relations email marketing software in 2005. In 2006, Jon’s clients website hosting needs surpassed his current data center’s capacity and he built a brand new state of the art data center to accommodate the growth. On the heels of the new data center launch Jon also launched a brand new product titled youVault in 2008 to help customers back up and protect their computer, laptop and server data.

Recently, Jon became one of the first people on the east coast to achieve certification in iPhone Application Development, and he is focused on the future by recognizing the importance of mobile marketing. Over the next few months he has a large number of iPhone and Android applications that will be hitting the market, along with a new product line that will revolutionize and centralize business communications.

Jon truly loves his work and devotes the majority of his time to it. In what little spare time he has left over, he stays involved in the local business community, serves on the Board of Directors for a local hospital, and enjoys traveling.

Dan Schawbel

Managing Partner, Millennial Branding, LLC
Author, Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future

Dan Schawbel, recognized as a "personal branding guru" by The New York Times, is the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, LLC, and the author of the #1 international bestselling book, Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future (Kaplan, October 2010). Dan is the founder of the Personal Branding Blog®, which was the #1 job blog by CareerBuilder in 2008 & 2009, is an AdAge top 50 marketing blog, and has been visited by 2 million people since 2007. He is also the publisher of Personal Branding Magazine®, a syndicated columnist for Metro US, and the youngest columnist at BusinessWeek. In 2010, he was named to the Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 list, and BusinessWeek cites him as one of twenty entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter, with over 100,000 followers. He has been featured in over 350 media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Details Magazine, and ELLE Magazine. He is a keynote speaker at colleges and universities, such as Harvard Business School and MIT and at major companies such as Time Warner, IBM, and CitiGroup.

Jennifer Shaheen

eMarketing & Technology Therapist, Technology Therapy Group

Jennifer Shaheen, The Technology Therapist®, is an expert at helping business owners harness today’s technology to effectively grow their businesses in the digital marketplace. As a monthly columnist for Entreprenuer.com, and with over 14 years of top-level experience, she has empowered businesses of all shapes and sizes to integrate effective digital strategies that boost sales, enhance staff productivity, expand customer base and increase market share. Jennifer is a dynamic and seasoned speaker, presenting monthly for Social Media Magic University on the ongoing ways to leverage Facebook for business. She has also partnered with organizations like SCORE, the National Organization for Women and Small Business Technology to give audiences across the country relevant, usable and simple business solutions that work.

Jerry D. Smith

Sr. Director, GSA New England Region, Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU)

Jerry D. Smith Sr. assumed the position of Director, GSA New England Region, Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU), in December of 2007.

Director Smith joined the GSA team in May 2005, as an IT Project Manager. In Dec 2005 he was re-assigned as the Manager of GSA’s Regional Network Services Operations, Director Boston Defense Metropolitan Area Telecommunications System (DMATS), and Regional Coordinator for Emergency Communications. He is a Veteran with 24 years of active Air Force service as a Communications Systems Manager and Engineer. He also served as a NATO Emergency Management Trainer, and a United Nations Emergency Communications Planner. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked in the wireless communications industry as an Advance Wireless Technology Trainer for SPRINT Mobile Communications. He later spent time in the IT Start-Up Industry as a Project Manager, Training Consultant, Value Added Reseller (VAR) Relations Manager, Business Line Developer, and a Special Events Coordinator.

In his current capacity as Director, He manages GSA’s small business outreach and educational programs throughout the region. He acts as an advocate for small socio-economic disadvantaged businesses presently doing business, or interested in doing business, with GSA and other Federal agencies. He acts as a liaison to the Small Business Administration (SBA), the New England States’ Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), and Congressional Representatives’ Economic Development staffs located throughout the New England states.

Director Smith holds an AAA in Electronic Systems Technology; a BAAS in Electronic Engineering Technology; and a MS in Human Relations. From 2005 to 2009, he served as the GSA New England Regional EEO Officer. He holds advance training certificates in Process Improvement, Quality Assurance Management, Federal Contract Administration, Program Management, Federal Workplace Mediation, IT & Telecommunications Operations Management, Network Design Engineering, Academic Instructor, and National Security Agency (NSA) Cryptographic Systems Installation-Maintenance Team Chief.

Director Smith is a Life member of Blacks In Government (BIG) and currently serves as a member of the BIG’s National Board of Directors. He holds memberships in several organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc and currently serves as a college alumni recruiting point of contact for Texas State University and Oklahoma University.

Kendra Turner

Director of Industry Relations, GSA Public Buildings Service

Kendra has 19 years of federal service, including 16 years within PBS. Her real estate background includes portfolio and asset management, capital planning, financial analysis, property management, leasing, strategic planning and performance measurement.

PBS is the landlord for the civilian federal government, acquiring space through new construction and leasing, and acting as a caretaker for federal properties across the country. PBS owns or leases 8,600 properties, maintains an inventory of more than 354 million square feet of workspace for 1.1 million federal employees, and preserves more than 480 historic properties.

The PBS Industry Relations Division seeks to strengthen PBS relationships with potential and existing vendors, promote participation and outreach through professional organizations and associations, and support the achievement of Federal small business goals.

Bill Zadrozny

SCORE Advisor & Consultant on Strategic/Financial Issues

Until retirement in October, 2005 was President and Chief Executive officer of Siemens Financial Services, inc., responsible for the North American operations of Siemens Financial Services, Gmbh. Served in that capacity for ten years, growing the organization from a monoline equipment financing company with less than $100 million earning assets, to a diversified commercial lender with over $4 billion earning assets, $375 million revenues, and a pre tax return on invested capital that exceeded 15%.

Prior to this was a founding senior officer of AT&T Capital Corporation, a diversified lender that grew from -0- earning assets to in excess of $15 billion earning assets during his tenure, generating in excess of $1.5 billion revenues. Served in various capacities including Group Vice President Operations, responsible for all credit and processing functions, Group Vice President Corporate Development, responsible for the company’s merger and acquisition activity and strategic planning, and President and Chief Operating officer of two divisions, the last being the Business Finance division which was engaged in SBA lending, structured financing, and insurance of products leased by the entire organization.

Prior to AT&T Capital Corporation served as Vice President, General Manager of the Vendor Finance division of First Chicago Credit Corporation, Vice President, Operations for John Hancock Financial Services, and Vice President, Regional Manager, Chase Manhattan Leasing Corporation.

Member of the board of advisors of a start up asset management company. Former member of the board of directors of several small business finance companies, former member of the Global advisory committee of the graduate school of business of Colorado State University, served on the board of directors of the Equipment Leasing and Financing Association, and a prior lecturer in finance for Northeastern University.

Entire career associated with providing and obtaining capital for commercial businesses, with an emphasis on small and medium size companies.

Received a B.A. Economics from Queens College, City University of New York, and a MBA from Babson College. Completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Richelle Waterman

Training Coordinator, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Richelle Waterman is the Training Coordinator for the Operational Services Division. She has an extensive background working with Public Purchasers from Executive agencies/departments, Schools, Cities and Towns and Municipalities in regards to Statewide Contracts and Comm-PASS. Additionally, she travels across the Commonwealth to inform and to educate businesses on "How to Do Business with the Commonwealth." Richelle is responsible for developing and coordinating training opportunities that promote the Governor's mission of Access and Opportunity for Small Businesses and Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprises and any vendor interested in doing business with the state. Richelle holds a Master's degree in Management from Cambridge University and an Undergraduate Degree in Human Services: Counseling Specialization from Lesley University.

Joe Zarrett

President & Founding Partner, Verndale

A respected web technology strategist, Joe sets the overall direction of the company. As an advocate for the development and maintenance of a healthy SMB environment, Joe has served on the board of The Smaller Business Association of New England (SBANE) and on the Mayor of Boston's New Leadership Committee. Within the broader business community, he is frequently tapped to speak about the importance of web technology adoption in a competitive marketplace.