Nick Barron is CEO of Swapel, a website connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses around products and services. Nick is also a digital strategist for AARP, focusing on website optimization and user experience improvements. He has several years' experience in social media, content and email marketing. He writes about DC startups and entrepreneurs for Borderstan.com.
Jesse Bickford is the chief technical consultant for the start-up Personalized Solutions, a concierge service provider in the Washington metro area. During his career he has worked as an information technology and analytical consultant in the digital and energy industries. His main focus is bringing people and technology together to make life easier and more enjoyable for consumers. He studied global business at American University and is an alumnus of Bucknell University holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Shannan Bowen is a digital media and content strategist with Atlantic Media Strategy, a division of Atlantic Media Company that helps clients create their own media brands and content-driven projects. Shannan also is a journalist and worked for five years as a political reporter for the StarNews in Wilmington, N.C., before moving in 2012 to Washington, D.C. In addition to content and digital strategies, Shannan is interested in news startups, investigative journalism and innovative revenue models for media companies. She holds a Bachelor's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and expects to graduate with her Master's in Media Entrepreneurship degree in May 2014.
A native of Jakarta, Indonesia, Vena is currently Senior International Broadcaster and Segment Programs Producer for the Voice of America, Indonesian Service in Washington, D.C. With over 15 years of communications and broadcast industry experience, she started in high school as an announcer for Indonesia’s highest-rated commercial radio station in Jakarta. She worked her way up to host of the prime-time morning show. She next hosted a number of popular television programs for some of Indonesia’s prominent TV networks. Prior to moving to the U.S. in 2003, she co-founded two production companies which produced widely popular programs, one award winning. She later produced two major Indonesian movies. At Voice of America she covered important events, including Academy Awards and interviewed various artists such as Grammy Award-winning musician Usher and the band Incubus.
Travis Dougherty holds a B.A. in Communication Arts from Gallaudet University where he served as the executive producer for the campus’s television channel, Bison Television. Travis produced several television programs for Bison Television. He served as the Director of Public Relations for Gallaudet’s student body government and as Vice President of Delta Sigma Phi. Following his work at Bison TV, Travis completed an internship for the Late Show with David Letterman. Travis is president and CEO of DeafTV.com and Capital D Media. He leads DeafTV with his incredible passion for sign-centric digital video and his vision for how it can transform the lives of deaf people like him.
Mindy Fetterman is Managing Editor/Content Strategist for USA TODAY, where she is in charge of fostering new ideas for print, web, mobile and products that will grow audience, address advertiser needs and increase profits. She manages General Managers who work with editors in the News, Life, Money and Personal Tech. Fetterman has been with USA TODAY since 1987, first as a Money reporter, before moving on to Deputy Managing Editor/Money and then Deputy Managing Editor/News section. Most recently, she was General Manager of the Personal Finance vertical, and before that, Manager of Enterprise & Innovation for the Money section, working on new products like the iPad app and e-edition of USA TODAY.
Anthony V. Hayes is an award-winning media professional with more than two decades of industry accomplishments. His career in media began in New York commercial radio, and he has been associated with public broadcasting since 1999. In August 2003, Anthony accepted the role of Director of Corporate Marketing at WAMU 88.5. Under his leadership, annual revenue for the corporate marketing department has grown at a steady pace and is approaching $10 million. Anthony finds great joy and satisfaction in being able to use his position to influence positive change, promote WAMU 88.5's corporate sponsors, serve as a guide for corporate marketing team members, and help the station to advance its core mission to serve the local, national and global community through civil discourse, in-depth news, and compelling entertainment.
Christopher Lewis is the Director of Digital Media for Washington, DC’s leading NPR affiliate, WAMU 88.5. He has over 15 years of experience in digital marketing and technology with a focus on providing digital strategy for organizations in disrupted markets. Throughout his career, he has led digital realignment efforts for close to a dozen consumer magazines. In 2007 he helped launch a niche content marketing firm and has designed and executed campaigns for companies such as JVC electronics, Sony Music, Barnes & Noble. He currently serves on National Public Radio’s Technical Advisory Group.
Dena Levitz is the manager of digital strategies for the Newspaper Association of America where she tracks innovation by newspapers in generating revenue and growing audience. During her career so far she has freelanced for publications like the Washington Post and The Atlantic's Cities website, been a news writer for the Washington Examiner and the Augusta Chronicle, and worked as a weekend White House stringer for Bloomberg News. She is also a proud University of Georgia journalism school alumni with a bachelor's degree in newspapers.
