SHERYL DAIJA
FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

A proven leader, Sheryl Daija has developed and executed successful business, media and marketing strategies in the internet, technology and consumer products industries.

Most recently as the SVP/General Manager of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Sheryl was at the forefront of innovation and development across all platforms of the Interactive media industry. Sheryl had organizational and P&L responsibility for all divisions. Under Sheryl's leadership, the IAB developed and implemented strategic programs focused on building the interactive marketplace including research, education, standards and guidelines and operational processes. In this high visibility role, Sheryl was the spokesperson with both trade and business press, is a frequent speaker at events nationwide and has appeared on MSNBC's Squawk Box.

Prior to joining the IAB, Sheryl founded Straight Up, a New York-based strategic marketing and business development company focused on media, marketing and business development. Straight Up helped its clients develop strategic business plans to help secure funding, created product strategies and revenue projections, managed marketing communications activities and identified sales opportunities.

Recruited by the Guggenheim Foundation, Sheryl joined Guggenheim.com, a for-profit division, to lead sales and marketing. She created the business model including advertising, sponsorships, travel and product lines, created the global advertising campaign and was the spokesperson for all Guggenheim.com activities. As part of the site launch, Sheryl orchestrated the first international press conference atop the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Italy during the Venice Biennale

As Director of Marketing for AdForce, a CMGI Company, Sheryl was responsible for the worldwide strategic positioning and implementation of all marketing activities for AdForce. She helped launch AdForce Asia and managed the marketing communications around AdForce's successful IPO resulting in numerous interviews on MSNBC, CNN, CNNfn and others.

Prior to joining CMGI, Sheryl was Director of Product Management for Kensington Technology Group. Responsible for a $30 million portability business unit, Sheryl increased the operating contribution of this division from break-even to 28%. She managed cross-functional teams globally and was responsible for products from conception to launch.  Sheryl spearheaded the rebranding and integration of over 250 products, including product positioning, pricing, naming and merchandising, from a number of company acquisitions.

During 7 years in the cosmetics industry, Sheryl worked with Fred Hayman, Beverly Hills, launching his "With Love" fragrance line, led Cosmetech International in building brand identity around their newly acquired facilities in Asia and Paris and before that was responsible for package development and marketing for Epilady USA.  

Sheryl graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and lives in New York. She is a registered member of GreenPeace, Save Darfur Coalition, ONE Org, NRDC BioGems.

IAN JARVIS
FOUNDER AND CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER

In 1982, while waiting on tables in NYC, Ian received custody of his then 9 year old daughter. Determined to remake his life and create a stable environment for her, Ian bought a suit, created a resume and  three months later, had his first real job: salesperson for Saint Gobain Desjonqueres, a $275 million division of the $8 billion Groupe Saint Gobain. Ian launched SGD's entry into the US as a manufacturer of fragrance and cosmetic glass. Responsible for advertising, marketing and sales, he consistently beat all revenue targets and played the major role in building SGD's business across the US market. In eighteen months, he was Vice President of the company.

Ian joined Cosmetech International in 1987. Taking over as President of the unprofitable LA office, Ian terminated staff, divested an entire division, consolidated functions, and created a clear message to the market with a motivated new team. In 1989, Ian became a partner in CMI and began traveling extensively throughout China, Korea and Indonesia to consolidate the manufacturing base and identify "export potential” suppliers. He created strong strategic alliances to ensure a consistent level of trust, quality and service. The company quickly grew to $40 million in revenues.

While in LA, Ian spent every Wednesday morning at Venice High, a troubled inner city school. Ian taught  "At Risk"  children how to play chess; the first time in their lives these inherently intelligent kids could measure the rewards of strategic planning. Ian brought his enthusiasm, support and inspiration to every class, changing direction for many, and lives of a few.

In 1994, a majority of  CMI’s shares were acquired by the $12 billion French group, Pechiney. In 1999, Ian – who speaks fluent French – transferred from LA to NY and began negotiations with Pechiney for the final takeover. In August 2001, with CMI’s revenue over $60 million, Groupe Pechiney completed its acquisition. 

Since selling CMI, Ian has continued consulting to the cosmetics and fragrance industry. He ’s learned to play piano, tennis and snowboard as well. Ian is also an Executive Coach, a graduate of the IPEC institute, and enjoys a wide ranging practice. He is writing a book, Emotional Courage.

RICH LEFURGY
GENERAL PARTNER, ARCHER ADVISORS

Rich LeFurgy is General Partner at Archer Martin, advising and investing in early stage digital media companies. He is a Director at X+1 (Chairman), Blue Lithium, Fathom Online and Associated Content, is an advisor with Fraudwall Technologies, Glam Media and Viewpoints Networks, and has consulted with AOL.com and Google.

LeFurgy was a Venture Capitalist in digital media at WaldenVC (1998-2005), Founding Chairman of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (1996-2001), and Head of Sales for Starwave Corporation and later the Walt Disney Internet Group (1995-1998). Prior to that, he was on Madison Avenue at NW Ayer for 17 years from 1978-1995.

LeFurgy has long been recognized as one of interactive industry's leaders. He was awarded the IAB’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. In 2000, he was one of the first inductees to Advertising Age's Interactive Hall of Fame, along with Jeff Bezos, Jerry Yang and Steve Case.

LOUIS JONES
DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SERVICES, MEDIA CONTACTS

Louis Jones is responsible for Media Contacts’ product development - deploying the digital, direct and data products. He is in charge of standardizing methods and practices across the Media Contacts network worldwide.

Prior to this, Louis led three years of successful growth for Media Contacts’ US operations as EVP, Managing Director US. Louis has been a part of the Havas Media family since May 2001, when he was hired to run MPG’s San Francisco office. In September 2002, he relocated to Washington DC to run MPG’s McLean, VA office, concurrently maintaining oversight of the San Francisco office.

Prior to joining MPG in 2001, Louis was Executive Director of Organic Online in San Francisco. Here he led all marketing activities for Organic’s West Coast clients and helped draw accounts like The Gap, Inc., Washington Mutual and Sprint PCS to the company. He also served as Managing Director at Young & Rubicam in San Francisco, where he was dedicated to the Clorox media unit.

He spent his first ten years in advertising at J. Walter Thompson in New York, rising to Deputy Media Director. He worked with clients such as Warner-Lambert (now Pfizer), Nestle, Kellogg´s, The Wall Street Journal, Weight Watchers, Boston Market, Reynolds Metals, Prodigy, and The American Red Cross.

Louis is a member of the AAAA Video Innovation Committee and serves on the Advisory Boards of Google and Advertising.com.

SUSAN MARTIN
DIRECTOR, THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE THERAPY, PSYCHOTHERAPIST, SPIRITUAL HEALER AND TEACHER

Traditionally educated in Psychology, Susan has both Masters and Specialist degrees. She has completed extensive post graduate training and certification in the treatment of Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition Susan has received training in Spiritual Healing through the Human Energy Field. Both clairvoyant and clairsentient, Susan has uniquely combined these gifts with her traditional and progressive training into a unique healing discipline.

As a Psychotherapist, Spiritual Healer and Teacher in private practice, Susan uses a progressive framework that synthesizes Eastern Healing wisdom with Western Psychology that facilitates transformative personal growth and wellness in her clients and students.

LINDA BIEHL
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE AMY BIEHL FOUNDATION, US AND THE AMY BIEHL FOUNDATION TRUST, SOUTH AFRICA

Linda Biehl is the co-founder and director of the Amy Biehl Foundation in the U.S. and the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust in South Africa. Linda's relationship to South Africa and the genesis of these Foundations is grounded in the life and death of her daughter Amy.

Amy Biehl was a dynamic, 26 year-old Stanford graduate who in 1993 was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study the role of women and gender rights during South Africa's transition from the racist and brutal apartheid regime to a free multiracial democracy. Amy was an esteemed human rights activist who worked tirelessly towards ensuring all South Africans regardless of race or gender assumed their rightful place in the emerging democratic nation. Just days before she was due home, Amy was killed in an act of political violence by a group of young black South Africans who were fighting to end apartheid and saw all whites as their oppressors.

Four young men were convicted for Amy's death and in 1994; they were sentenced to 18 years in prison. In 1997, the four men applied for amnesty to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Linda and her late husband Peter were strongly motivated by Amy's belief in the TRC to achieve restorative justice for those who confessed to politically motivated crimes thus did not oppose their application for amnesty. In 1997, under the watchful eye of the world, Linda and Peter testified at the amnesty hearing of their daughters killers. Instead of opposing amnesty they offered their support and challenged the young men to link arms with them and together continue Amy's work.

Justice is central to Linda Biehl's message of peace and reconciliation. Following in the footsteps of Desmond Tutu, Linda Biehl and the Amy Biehl Foundation embrace restorative, rather than retributive justice. At a personal level Linda Biehl embraced restorative justice by building a relationship with two of the youth convicted for the death of her daughter. Today, those two young men have been tremendous social activists in their community working for the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust. At a professional level Linda works in communities in South Africa as she continues to spread "Amy's magic".

Linda Biehl and the Amy Biehl Foundation have worked to fulfill three important rights in the South African Constitution: the right to education, the right to equal employment, and the right to health.

For Linda Biehl justice is more than rights written into an official document; justice is converting those rights into reality.

From her death in 1993, to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission Hearings in 1997 and the current work of her Foundations, Amy's story has been afforded significant media attention. Coverage includes: ABC's "Turning Point" (4/94), CBS's "60 Minutes" and "60 Minutes II" (1/99, 2/00), ABC's Oprah Winfrey (5/99), IRIS Film's Sundance Award winning "Long Night's Journey Into Day" (1/00) and NBC'S "Today Show" (3/04) CNN's Paula Zahn Show (2004), CNN's Anderson Cooper (2005), NBC Nightly News (6/2007) and CNN's Morning News (6/2007). In the upcoming future a major film will begin production.

Numerous invitations from primary schools to universities, churches, and other organizations have been extended to the Biehl family to share on a personal level about, Amy, her Foundations, and other related experiences.

ANTHONY RISICATO
GENERAL MANAGER AND VICE PRESIDENT, SEMDirector

Anthony Risicato serves as General Manager and Vice President at SEMDirector, a cutting-edge startup that provides marketing automation and tools to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies. The company is leveraging Anthony's expertise in the international marketplace and agency ecosystem as it expands into Europe and Asia.

Previously, Anthony was Senior Vice President and General Manager at Innovation Interactive - responsible for product development, business development and overall P&L management for the company's portfolio of Search and Contextual marketing solutions. Early on, Anthony was Vice President of Operations, responsible for building the company's product and operational infrastructures. Anthony also participated in the successful sale of Innovation Interactive to LiveDoor International.

Before joining Innovation Interactive, Anthony was based in London as DoubleClick's Director of Business Development for Europe, Middle East and Africa with a focus on expanding the reach of the DoubleClick Suite of products.

Initially, Anthony transferred overseas to introduce the DART for Advertiser products to the European markets as the Director of Operations for DFA EMEA. This position entailed the recruitment and management of a large multi-lingual, multi-cultural staff based in London, France, Germany, Sweden and Ireland - while creating the operational processes to support a hypergrowth business.

Before moving overseas, Anthony managed the National Sales Engineering teams for DoubleClick's Dart for Publisher's division, and was the Director of Online Services for Physicians' Online - a pioneering online service dedicated to the medical practitioner community.

As a 10+ year industry veteran, Anthony has held speaking engagements at the IAB Europe Annual Meeting in Brussels, several Pan-European Advertising Seminars, and has served as an advisor/board member for several startupcompanies.

Anthony is a summa cum laude graduate of Pace University in New York, and active in the support and organization of charitable organizations.

DAVID VERKLIN
CEO, AEGIS MEDIA AMERICAS

David Verklin serves as CEO of Aegis Media Americas, overseeing the operations of all of the Aegis Media operating units in the US, Latin America and Canada. He also sits on the Board of Directors for Aegis Group, plc (AGS.L - Carat's holding company).

David is a recognized leader in the marketing communications industry and has been at the forefront of revolutionary changes including the unbundling of the media services agency and creating a 360 degree service offering for media agency clients. In mid-2007 in the first move of its kind, David reinvented the agency model by integrating on and offline marketing services, with the merger of digital marketing powerhouse Carat Fusion and best-in-class media agency Carat USA into one operating company-creating the largest fully integrated on/offline agency in the world.

Under David's leadership, Aegis Media Americas has grown into one of the sector's leading media and marketing services companies. Aegis Media Americas companies offer clients a suite of integrated marketing solutions including media planning and buying and market research; communications planning; search engine marketing, web site design and build; multicultural communications; corporate trade; branded entertainment; direct and digital marketing; experiential and sponsorship services and marketing analytics and consulting.

Aegis Media Americas has become one of the fastest growing companies in the industry, with capitalized media billings approaching $8 billion annually. The group has over 300 clients including Pfizer, P&G, Revlon, Marriott, adidas, Philips, Fed Ex, Radio Shack, Pernod Ricard and the GAP, just to name a few.

David currently sits on the Board of the American Advertising Federation, the Ad Council, the Audit Bureau of Circulations as well as the New York Multiple Sclerosis Society. Writing about David, Ad Age asks the question, "...is there a single other human being who has been as much of a leader, visionary, a force for change and a voice of optimism in the media and marketing industries over the last 15 years?"

David is one of the most frequently quoted experts on the media business in the United States. You'll see his name often in Advertising Age, The New York Times, Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, as well as hear him as an analyst on radio and television networks, including ESPN, Fox Business, CNBC and WNBC-NY.

David began his career at Young & Rubicam, New York and helped create Hal Riney & Partners in San Francisco, first serving as its Media Director and later as its Managing Director. Under his leadership, Hal Riney grew into one of the largest privately-held advertising agencies in the United States. David is a graduate of the University of Virginia. He lives with his wife and their three children in Connecticut. David's book, "Watch This, Listen Up, Click Here" was published by John Wiley and Sons in 2007. To learn more about the book and read David's blog, visit www.watchlistenclick.com.

ADRIAN D'SOUZA
VICE PRESIDENT, AD OPERATIONS, CNET NETWORKS, INC.

Adrian D'Souza, Vice President of Advertising Operations at CNET Networks, is responsible for evaluating, defining and implementing new ad opportunities and technologies across CNET Network properties and defining Rich Media strategy from an advertising perspective. He leads a team of product managers and engineers who deploy new ad opportunities across the multiple properties of CNET Networks. D'Souza is also responsible for certifying new rich media technologies and establishing a formal business relationship with newly certified partners, as well as managing CNET Network's existing strategic partnerships with rich media vendors including Eyeblaster, DART Motif, Atlas RichMedia, and Unicast. D'Souza represents CNET Networks on a few IAB Task Forces including the Rich Media and Broadband task forces. He is also Co-Chair of the IAB's Ad Operations Council, a group that is focused on streamlining the supply chain for online media thereby making it easier for traditional advertisers to do business online.

Prior to joining CNET Networks, D'Souza served as the Director of Product Management at Engage Media. He oversaw the product strategy for B2B and B2C products and was responsible for implementing new and exploring emerging technologies in Internet, wireless and streaming media applications. Prior to that, he managed a worldwide product line of enterprise management hardware and software products for American Power Conversion Corp.

D'Souza received a MBA from the R.B. Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech and a degree in Engineering from the University of Poona in India.