Software Council of Southern California Hosts Executive Guide to Blogging L.A. Chapter Event

To give software and technology executives a primer on how blogs are impacting corporate communications, marketing and sales, the Software Council of Southern California is hosting 'The Executives Guide to Blogging Your Way to the Top' seminar on Thurs., Sept. 15 in Santa Monica, Calif. to showcase real-world examples of how blogging can help organizations communicate more effectively with their audiences.

Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) August 26, 2005 -- Five years ago, nobody knew what web logging was. Today there are an estimated ten million blog sites and counting. They have influenced our presidential election, may have cost Dan Rather his job, and are now beginning to totally redefine the relationship between companies and their clients.

To give software and technology executives a primer on how blogs are impacting corporate communications, marketing and sales, the Software Council of Southern California is hosting The Executive's Guide to Blogging Your Way to the Top" seminar to showcase real-world examples of how blogging can help organizations communicate more effectively with their audiences.

The panel, which will be moderated by Phil Becker, managing partner of The Venture Group, will be held on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Monica at 1707 Fourth Street.

Expert panelists are Chris Barnes, business development manager for ExactTarget , Jay Cieslak, executive director, Interactive Media for Siegel & Gale and Eric Schwartzman, who serves as managing director of Los Angeles-based PR firm Schwartzman & Associates, Inc., as well as founder and president of iPressroom Corporation, which helps organizations extend the impact of their public relations, corporate communications and marketing programs through easy-to-use, dynamic communications software tools and services. Networking starts at 6 p.m.

Cieslak responsibilities include the oversight of Siegel & Gale's Interactive Media practice, which includes Interactive Strategy & Concept Development, Information Architecture & Process Simplification, User Experience Design & Development, Usability Testing, Content Strategy & Development, and Online Brand Training initiatives company-wide.

Barnes has 15 years experience in helping corporations grow sales, retain clients, and improve profitability. Currently, Mr. Barnes serves as a director of business development for ExacTarget Email Solutions. Based in Indianapolis, ExactTarget was voted by Forrester as the number one technology solution for email marketing. Currently they have over 3,000 clients and 300 agencies under annual contract.

Schwartzman's PR campaigns [http://www.publicrelationsinc.com/ have generated media coverage for clients with leading national media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Newsweek, Wired, Reuters and the Associated Press as well as hundreds of other national and local print and electronic outlets. He is also editor of the Spinfluencer blog [http://www.spinfluencer.com/ on how public relations, the news media and emerging technologies influence perception and shape popular opinion and host of the On the Record...Online podcast [http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/corporate/info/Podcast-Center.asp featuring discussions with leading journalists about how they use technology to cover the news.

Becker has worked in high-tech marketing for more than twenty years, including executive positions at Xerox, Computer Sciences, Quotron and Vanguard Integrity Professionals. Six years ago he started The Venture Group, which specializes in helping small to medium sized technical companies develop and implement tightly focused, yet cost-controlled marketing plans and programs in order to grow revenues at a rapid and profitable rate.

To attend The Executive's Guide to Blogging," call 310-325-4000 or sign-up online at http://www.scsc.org/events/impact/september1505.html Admission is $35 for members and $60 for non-members.

About The Software Council of Southern California:

Software Council of Southern California is a non-profit association that serves as a community for the region's software industry. By providing a forum for the building of essential alliances, the exchange of information and access to resources and funding, the Software Council of Southern California helps executives at the region's software, software services and IT organizations successfully reach the next stage in their companies' growth. It also serves as a repository of information and a clearinghouse on software industry issues and policies for media and others outside the software community. For more information, visit www.scsc.org.

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