Social Media Club Chicago is thrilled to show off our hometown talent in a panel discussion that everyone wants to know more about: women, blogging and social media. 

Program

5:30 - 6:15 Networking

6:15 - 7:00 Panel

7:00 - 7:30 Networking

7:30 - ??? After party

Location: RightPoint Consulting 200 West Madison Chicago

Registration $10

Enjoy pizza by @DPZRAMON [Domino's] and beverages.

Moderator - Blagcia Bottigilero @blagica

Blagica Bottigliero is a 12 year veteran of the digital media space, having done everything from web project management to media buying to starting her own online communities.

After interning at both interactive and traditional agencies in Michigan, Blagica started her post collegiate career with Leo Burnett's interactive arm, Giant Step (now ARC Worldwide). She assisted clients like Maytag and Purina with their initial Internet strategies.  After Giant Step, Blagica became an original member of the Orbitz eMarketing team, where she negotiated and managed multi-million dollar marketing campaigns, in addition to launching the Orbitz Affiliate Program. After a 'dot com' break in Lyon and sailing home across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, Blagica returned to Chicago and managed Q Interactive's search and affiliate marketing efforts.

After her corporate stint, Blagica founded our own consulting practice, Bsolutions, where she assisted small and large sized business with their digital media strategies. She also launched Gals’ Guide, a resource for women entering the Big City after college.  Blagica’s blogging efforts won her an Emmy, as a member of the NBC Chicago Street team.

Blagica seized a wonderful opportunity this past January and joined Edelman's Consumer Brands Group, serving as an internal social media specialist, advising teams on proper protocol and contributing to overall strategy. Blagica lives in the South Loop with her husband Michael and eagerly anticipates the birth of their first child!

Women, Blogging and Social Media Panelists

Amy Guth @amyguth

Amy Guth writes the local literary blog, Chicago Subtext, for the Tribune's Chicago Now site. She is the founder of Pilcrow Lit Fest, managing editor at So New, a regular crew member at Reading Under The Influence and author of Three Fallen Women (2006). Previously, she has written for various national and regional publications and in addition to her personal blog, Bigmouth Indeed Strikes Again, she also writes a running, adventure and fitness blog, Bonkless, is a closet filmmaker and a disaster and mass care volunteer for the American Red Cross. Previously, she collaborated in several sketch comedy productions at Second City's training center and other improv comedy venues, served as assistant fiction editor at 42 Opus, and hosted/curated Chicago's Fixx Reading Series.

Leah Jones @leahjones

Leah is the founder of Natiiv Arts & Media where she is a social media coach for artists, writers and musicians. Leah focuses on teaching individuals and groups the skills they need to be successful at online marketing and personal branding. She believes it is up to the artist, and not the label, to build relationships and manage their online persona.

Prior to launching Natiiv Arts & Media in January of 2009, Leah worked at Edelman PR as the Digital-Culture Evangelist. She served on the Strategic Services team and guided research on behalf of brands to understand what is being said online and developed digital strategy based on the findings. Previously, she was the Conversation Analyst in the me2revolution—focusing on research and global internal communications and trying to help each Edelman employee become more digitally savvy.

With a degree in Chemistry from Millikin University and a career that has included study abroad administration, non-profit volunteer management and scooping ice cream, Leah shows that you don’t have to study communications to learn how to use social media.

Kelly Olexa @kellyolexa

Kelly’s extensive professional experience is a mixed blend of Sales, Marketing, and Business Development. She has worked for tech startups, several small to medium-sized businesses, as well as Fortune 500 organizations. Her skilled tenacity has produced strategic partnerships with companies such as: ConAgra, Orbitz, Travelocity, Marriott Hotels, Doubletree Hotels, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Microsoft, N.A.R., 7-ELEVEN, Valero Energy, SBC, Exxon/Mobil, Safety-Kleen, Sally Beauty, Halliburton, H&R Block, Sprint/Nextel, Brinker International, Carlson Restaurants, A.C.S, Lennox International, Dean Foods among others. Kelly currently works independently with business organizations in developing sales and marketing strategies utilizing Social Media.

Kelly holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from The Ohio State University. Most recently, Kelly has enhanced her sales and marketing experience by immersing herself in all things Social Media. Her personal blog, primarily focused on her passion for fitness and health, has garnered a captive audience and rather serendipitously, has produced myriad opportunities to provide vlogging (video blogging/interviewing) services for other brands. Kelly’s natural on-camera presence and charisma landed her a spot as one of 100 Ford Fiesta Agents for the “Ford Fiesta Movement” beginning April 2009. In addition, in less than 6 months, Kelly’s engagement on Twitter has resulted in over 13,000 followers, regular placement among the “Twitter Elite” Top 100 (via Hubspot, TwitterGrader) nationally and in the Top 10 for Chicago.

Her involvement in social media spaces, growing sphere of influence, extensive professional skillset and latest mastery of the vlogging medium have generated significant interest from large organizations, startups and individuals. She is now regularly requested as a speaker, panel expert, guest vlogger, social media strategist, and trainer/facilitator and event vlogger for conferences, “Tweetups” and parties. Kelly was also featured as one of the “Top Young Female Entrepreneurs in Technology by Business Week”, 2009.

In the lingering moments when Kelly finds “free time”, she is expanding the content for her fitness blog to a more comprehensive website, offering daily updates/vlogs on all things Health, Wellness, Fitness and Peace of Mind. She is finalizing a book about Social Media best practices for business. This book will address how big brands and individuals can effectively utilize social media platforms to generate buzz and more importantly, produce measurable ROI. Contributors to the book include: Gary Vaynerchuk, David Armano, Olivier Blanchard, Mack Collier, Aronado Placencia, Scott Monty (Ford), Kris Colvin, Liz Strauss, Doubletree Hotels, Dominoes Pizza, The Roger Smith Hotel, and others. Passionate about social media- but more passionate about creating authentic RELATIONSHIPS, Kelly is a Social Butterfly- both online and off.

MJ Tam @mjtam

MJ is the editor of Chicagonista and the Creator of City Connect Media, Inc. that owns and operates Chicagonista.com and the soon to be launching NYMetropolista.com and San Franista.com

When in between scouring for great local finds and attending local events, MJ tries to still find some time to write in her personal blog; SugarMyBowl.com. She first started blogging when her first child was born in 2000 and now her life with husband and 3 very active children. She can also be found writing at MomViews.net , ChicagoMomsBlog.com, and Centrd.com

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Interested in sponsoring this event? Contact @smcchicago or email smcchicagonews@gmail.com.