2015 Speakers
MJ Tam & Beth Rosen
Founders & Co-Hosts, The ChicagonistaLIVE Show Keynote Topic: Success is Harnessing The Power of Videos for Your Brand/Blog MJ Tam & Beth Rosen are New Media innovators and professional bloggers who are always finding new ways in bridging gaps between the new and old media dichotomy. Both built a strong voice in the blogging community and launched Chicago's Social Talk Show, #ChicagonistaLIVE and has grown since and now a full pop-up digital media company with a multi-channel network of (about-to-launch) live streams show, including the #ChicagonistaLIVE as the anchor show. #ChicagonistaLIVE has gone live from notable Chicago locations such as the Willis Tower, John Hancock Building, Navy Pier, and more. They also continually produce highly-engaged events such as the annual Women Driving Excellence and Windy City Soiree. MJ Tam & Beth Rosen are experts in brand & blogger relationships and both using their years of experience with MJ running a gamut of collaborative blog for many years along with producing #BBSummit (Brands & Blogggers Summit) and Beth Rosen who was the original “Mom Talk Radio” radio personality on former WCBR 92.7 FM now known as KissFM. @mjtam @bethrosen ChicagonistaLIVE.com WomenDrivingExcellence.com |
Cindy Richards
Editor, TravelingMom.com Closing Keynote Topic: Branding and Staying True to Your Brand Cindy Richards is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist who has been a columnist, reporter and editorial writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, reporter for the Chicago Tribune, editor for two award-winning regional magazines and teacher in the graduate program of the prestigious Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. But her true passion is traveling, travel writing and running TravelingMom.com, an online magazine for moms who travel with and without their kids. She serves at Editor-in-Chief for TravelingMom.com and oversees its partner sites, TravelingDad.com and SheBuysCars.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CindyRichards. |

Iskra Debreva
Verizon Wireless
Iskra Dobreva is a social media strategist with Verizon Wireless. She has over 15 years of marketing experience with two Fortune 100 brands, a global advertising agency and a start-up. Currently, she is focused on growing the Verizon brand through social and digital strategies with an emphasis on local. Prior to social media, she was responsible for youth marketing, consumer segmentation and experiential marketing. Iskra has an MBA in International Marketing from DePaul University.
Verizon Wireless
Iskra Dobreva is a social media strategist with Verizon Wireless. She has over 15 years of marketing experience with two Fortune 100 brands, a global advertising agency and a start-up. Currently, she is focused on growing the Verizon brand through social and digital strategies with an emphasis on local. Prior to social media, she was responsible for youth marketing, consumer segmentation and experiential marketing. Iskra has an MBA in International Marketing from DePaul University.

Nikki Little
Account Director, Social Media at Identity
Nikki drives strategic communications programs for several clients and plays a lead role in the professional development and growth of the social media team. She integrates social media strategy with traditional communications efforts to help companies build brand awareness, create new customer relationships and grow their business – all while collaborating with Identity’s media relations and marketing and creative teams to provide clients with a fully integrated PR experience.
Outside of Identity, Nikki publishes The MichComms Report, a bi-weekly e-newsletter for communications professionals. She’s a member of PRSA Detroit, has organized/promoted several conferences and events and frequently presents on PR and social media topics.
Nikki earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in integrative public relations and Spanish at Central Michigan University. She also studied abroad for a semester at Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia, Chile.
Most importantly, Nikki is a mom to identical twin boys, Nolan and Evan (2.5 years old).
Account Director, Social Media at Identity
Nikki drives strategic communications programs for several clients and plays a lead role in the professional development and growth of the social media team. She integrates social media strategy with traditional communications efforts to help companies build brand awareness, create new customer relationships and grow their business – all while collaborating with Identity’s media relations and marketing and creative teams to provide clients with a fully integrated PR experience.
Outside of Identity, Nikki publishes The MichComms Report, a bi-weekly e-newsletter for communications professionals. She’s a member of PRSA Detroit, has organized/promoted several conferences and events and frequently presents on PR and social media topics.
Nikki earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in integrative public relations and Spanish at Central Michigan University. She also studied abroad for a semester at Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia, Chile.
Most importantly, Nikki is a mom to identical twin boys, Nolan and Evan (2.5 years old).
![]() David Murphy
Blogger at Food N Service, VP of Blogger Relations at Mommerce Topic(s): Connecting with Affiliate Markets, Maintaining Healthy Brand Relationships |
![]() Joni Fixel, Esq
Partner at Fixel and Nyeholt Law, focusing on business and litigation. Topic(s): Protecting Your Blog and Business Legally |
![]() Sara Broers
Blogger, Travel with Sara, Social Connections, LLC, All In An Iowa Mom's Day Topic: Building Local Connections |
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![]() Samantha Schultz
Blogger, The Peanuts Gang Topic: Beyond Blogging - Getting out from Behind the Screen |
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