Peter Balbus to Moderate Expert Panel Discussion at MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest 2009 Technology Forecast Program

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) January 6, 2009

The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest announced today the details of its upcoming 2009 season premiere event, "MITEF Technology Forecast: The Future of Advertising in 2009 and Beyond" to be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. The program, which runs from 5:00-8:00 pm, includes dinner and a moderated panel discussion preceded by a one-hour cocktail reception and networking session.

The event is open to the public, and the organizer's intent is to provide attendees with provocative insights and actionable perspective on emerging and future advertising and marketing technologies - and how they will change the face of marketing and branding.

The panelists for this dynamic event will be:

•     Stephen Meade, CEO, Cenoplex
•     Wil Merritt, CEO, Zooppa.com
•     Blake Park, Vice President, Group Director of Strategy & Insights, Wunderman
•     Lynn Parker, Partner, Parker lePla

The panel discussion will be moderated by innovation strategist Peter Balbus, Managing Director at Pragmaxis, LLC, and an MIT graduate who led the MIT Enterprise Forum of Chicago from 2004-2007.

Balbus noted, "This is a particularly exciting and timely topic given current global economic factors and the increasing difficulty companies of all types have today in reaching their target audiences with effective information and advertising campaigns." He continued, "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a great set of panelists under the auspices of a globally recognized organization such as the MIT Enterprise Forum."

During the course of the program, panelists will focus on key issues framed by audience input, as we delve into questions of keen interest to anyone involved with advertising, marketing and branding including:

•     How are emerging mobile technologies - including location-based services, changing the world of customer outreach?
•     What are micro-ads, and how are they changing the face (or sound) of advertising?
•     How can emerging advertising technologies be harnessed to build brand awareness and brand equity in markets increasingly becoming microsegmented and commoditized?
•     Where are media buyers - and venture capitalists - putting their money today?
•     In the midst of an economic slump, which advertising technologies and techniques will best help you gain traction in 2009 and beyond?

Fortunes will be won and lost through the advertising and marketing decisions individuals and companies make in the coming year. An explosion of content, advertising platforms, and display mediums along with rapidly evolving trends like social networking and interactive multimedia consumer experiences have made the process of managing advertising, marketing and branding more complex than ever before.

This event is an absolute must see for media buyers, agency creatives, marketing and brand managers, business strategists, corporate executives, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and the services providers who support them. For more information or to register, please visit us at http://www.mitwa.org.

About MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest:
MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc. is widely recognized as a unique, innovative worldwide organization supporting high tech entrepreneurial growth. As one of 24 worldwide chapters affiliated with the Alumni Association of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Northwest Enterprise Forum promotes the establishment and growth of innovative technology companies through creative programs that educate and entertain entrepreneurs. Our events are informative and inspiring and provide a high quality arena in which industry executives can learn and expand their network.

About Pragmaxis LLC:
Pragmaxis LLC is an independent management consulting group that assists corporations in defining and operationalizing technology commercialization and new market initiatives. The firm helps clients understand how their industries are likely to be shaped by technology, competitive and economic forces over the next 5-10 years and how these dynamics will create both opportunities and risks.

Pragmaxis offers particular expertise in assisting clients to identify especially compelling opportunities and define alternative approaches for for capturing the full value of these opportunities through pragmatic commercialization and market entry strategies. Industries served include aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, plastics and process synthesis, specialty chemicals, biotech, oil & gas, alternative energy, lighting, financial services, consumer goods, high-tech, electronics and telecommunications. Many recent engagements have incorporated green technology and sustainability initiatives.

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