Producers Guild of America New Media Council East with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Presents The 2007 Panel and Salon Series

Panel followed by networking mixer. Refreshments will be served.

Online Social Networking Goes Niche

MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook have spawned a new generation of social networking sites that deliver everything from video to virtual avatars, over any device and network. Leveraging next-generation technologies, including location-based services, and focusing on niche markets, the new breed of social networking players is ever-evolving and rapidly growing. For media companies looking to add their own twist to the social networking movement, it’s not about the size of your network, but the quality of your audience.

Panelists:

Eric D. Alterman, Founder, Chairman and CEO of KickApps Corporation –www.kickapps.com Eric Alterman is the founder of numerous software, telecommunications and semiconductor technology ventures, including MeshNetworks (acquired by Motorola in 2005), Military Commercial Technologies, TeraNex and SkyCross. In 1997 Eric founded and operated MILCOM, a venture accelerator company that formed a number of venture-backed companies based on technologies licensed from military contractors like Lockheed Martin, ITT and Raytheon. Other companies include Quadfore, Centerpoint Broadband Technologies, Triton Network Systems, TelAsic and Theseus Logic.  Eric was also the founder of JED Broadcasting, a Northwest radio broadcasting company, and New Brand Agency Group, a publishing company based in New York City. He began his career as an attorney where he worked in a variety of areas, including licensing and securities, for Akin, Gump, Hauer and Strauss in Washington, DC. Eric graduated from Tufts University and the Washington College of Law as a member of the Law Review.

Kai Bond, VP of Business Development, Rave Wireless – www.ravewireless.com

Kai Bond is vice president, business development at Rave Wireless.  Rave Wireless is the only company to provide a comprehensive set of mobile applications that strengthen college and university communities. Kai has broad experience developing and launching social networking applications across a broad range of products.  While at Microsoft Corp., he worked on MSN Messenger; he developed connected / multiparty game platforms at Oberon Media; helped develop the DigDoo mobile game portal at Kargo, and is currently working on social mobile applications with Rave Wireless.

Nicholas Butterworth, CEO, Diversion Media – www.diversionmedia.com

Nicholas Butterworth is the former President & CEO, The MTVi Group, a joint venture of Viacom (www.viacom.com) and Liberty Media (www.libertymedia.com).  While there he managed www.mtv.com, www.vh1.com, www.country.com, and 60+ international MTV websites. Previously he was President & CEO, of SonicNet, Inc., a founding board member of Environment 2004 (www.environment2004.org), President of the Digital Media Association (www.dima.org and the Executive Director of Rock The Vote (www.rockthevote.com).

Dan Melinger, Co-Founder and CEO, Socialight, Inc. – www.socialight.com

Dan Melinger is a co-founder and the CEO of Socialight (http://socialight.com), a social platform that lets people communicate by creating, sharing, and discovering virtual Sticky Notes tied to locations using their cell phones.  Previously a technology consultant, Melinger has worked with multinational financial institutions, helping them to develop and deploy mobile solutions. He also has experience in radio and television production, both interactive and traditional, working at such media outlets as CNBC and Bloomberg.  Melinger holds a Master's degree from New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and a B.A. in Communications from the Annenberg School at the University of Pennsylvania.  Back in 1999, his undergraduate thesis explored the potential impacts of P2P before Napster became a dirty word. Melinger also contributes to the organization and blog, unmediated.org (http://unmediated.org) and in 2005, Melinger helped found the New York chapter of Helsinki-based global organization, MobileMonday (http://mobilemonday-ny.com/), a group that fosters the local mobile industry.

Eric Wachtmeister, Chairman and Founder, A Small World – www.asmallworld.net

Prior to founding A Small World, Erik was the Founder and former CEO of Viking Internet, a UK listed investment vehicle. Has held senior corporate finance positions with Ladenburg, Thalmann in New York and Los Angeles, Rothschild in New York, and Lehman Brothers in London and New York. He received his MBA from INSEAD in 1983, and his BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1977.

Panel moderated by Shelly Palmer, Chairman, The Emmy® Awards Advanced Media Committee, NATAS, http://www.shellypalmer.com. 

Event hosted by Jeff Dachis and Marc Scarpa, NY Co-Chairs, Producers Guild of America, New Media Council.