Contact us at 312-421-4213 or by clicking here to schedule a no-cost, private consultation where we will custom design your event with an integrated theme and the highest quality speakers.

Melissa Giovagnoli, Founder and President, Networlding

Previous Consummate Speaker of the Year Award

I have been professionally speaking for 15 years. My keynote and panel talks focus on the new world of publishing, thought leaders marketing, social networking in the enterprise and optimizing the use of online social networking tools like blogs and sites like LinkedIn where I have provided training for more than 4000 professionals over the past nine years. I address the overarching question of what is the 20% online that can yield the 80% return. I have extensive experience and unlimited creativity to help organizations harness web 2.0.

Featured Speech of the Month – FutureNet: How to Use Social Media for Innovation

SPEECH OVERVIEW

In this presentation you will learn:

• Noteworthy social networking strategies companies have used to innovate new products and services.
• The realities and myths involved in using social networks to innovate.
• The key components required to make social networking innovation successful.
• How to keep the “social” in social networking. The top strategies for social networking that are also easy to implement and cost effective.
• What the future holds in social media.

Jack Trytten, Insight Directions

With over 25 years of front-line marketing experience helping a wide variety of companies such as Kraft, Amoco and the Amoco Chemical subsidiary, Ingersoll-Rand, Schlage Door Hardware, Arthur Andersen and a host of companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, Jack Trytten has touched most of the product categories and markets. He brings this wealth of knowledge to lunch and dinner occasions and has expanded these talks to workshops and seminars.

Keynote Speech/Principle Points

• What is a Growth Machine – how they differ from most companies?
• How you must look differently at your market.
• The one marketing goal for every company
• How to get your customers to drive your sales.
• How to think about change and use it to drive your markets.
• Case studies of the companies who have “cracked the code” and become Growth Machines

Click here to download JackTryttenOnePage

Mary Winingham, CEO, Mirror Consulting

Mary Winingham brings the same energy to the speakers podium as she does to her corporate consulting. Her passion is her unique ability to dial in on universal challenges and identify simple, yet effective ways to manage through them. Her new book, Cracking the Value Vault does just that.

Mary has more than 20 years of highly successful leadership experience in marketing, sales and business development in the banking and electronic transaction industries. Mary has held top tier positions with First Data and Fifth Third Bank prior to starting her own consulting business. A respected speaker at industry and client conferences; panel participant and moderator, Mary speaks on a variety of topics emphasizing value creation, establishing long term relationships and strategy initiatives.

Mirror Consulting, initially founded in 2004, is built upon the personal involvement and a customized approach to drive long term value to each client.

Speaking Topics

Cracking Your Value Vault: Keys to Unlocking Your Personal Value Statement

Based on Mary’s book “Cracking the Value Vault” in this presentation you will discover the power of your life stories and their impact on your personal narrative. A practical and simple process to uncover your unique characteristics; Creation of your personal value statement; a guide to incorporating your personal value statement into your daily life. If you are looking to identify that element that brings resonating focus to your life, this is your opportunity to begin your journey. A personal exploration focusing on what makes each individual unique.

The Value of Value: Understanding and Creating Your Corporate Value Proposition

• History, background and definition of the Value Proposition
• Types of Value Propositions
• The Value Cliché
• Process to Develop your corporate Value Proposition

In this presentation you will understand what it takes to separate yourself from the crown and the true meaning of Value.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines: Strategies to Keep Moving Forward During Difficult Times

In this presentation you will learn four specific, simple strategies to help you through difficult times. We will explore concepts from various thought leaders ranging from the ancient Chinese to contemporary motivational icons; offer practical recommendations and results oriented techniques that you can incorporate in your daily life. Click here for Mary’s full speaking page.

Peter Balbus, Managing Director of Pragmaxis, LLC

Peter joined our Networlding ThinkTank faculty almost a year ago and since then has been busy working with me. Drawing from his more than 25 years as an innovation consultant, strategist and interim executive, Peter will address a broad range of compelling topics concerned with the successful creation, management and commercialization of market-disrupting innovations. Prior to launching his independent executive consulting and advisory practice in 2000, Peter held senior practitioner and national practice management roles with top-tier consulting firms including Anderson Consulting, KPMG Strategic Services and CSC Index, culminating in his position as a vice president with Booz Allen & Hamilton. Peter is also an active speaker and panel moderator at industry conferences, serves on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations, and is the founder and executive director of the international Business Innovators Group, Netwon.

“I have known Peter Balbus for more than seven years after first meeting him at an MIT Enterprise Forum meeting where he was entertaining the audience as a featured speaker with his wit and style. Peter has always been one of the best keynote speakers at MITEF meetings and events over the years that I have attended. This year I invited him to speak at the Second International Business Innovation Conference and the Global PANIIT 2009 in October. At both conferences Peter’s presentations were very well received by the audience. Peter presents his conviction in the topic of innovation with a great knowledge of the subject, a disarming sense of humor, and an engaging and compelling delivery style.”

Praveen Gupta, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Innovation Science, and published author of 9 books on business peformance improvement and Six-Sigma methodologies

Sarah Miller Caldicott, Best-Selling Innovation Author

Sarah is an innovation champion who works with companies to ignite the innovation process, bringing a world class innovator’s toolkit to individuals, teams, and leaders. She is also a great grandniece of Thomas Edison, an innovation author, and an MBA with 25-years of domestic and international marketing expertise.

Her best-selling book (Dutton Penguin) on Thomas Edison’s innovation methods was endorsed by the New York Times, Fortune Small Business, USA Today, 800-CEO-READ, and Investor’s Business Daily. The book, entitled Innovate Like Edison: The FIve-Step System for Breakthrough Business Success reveals Edison’s systematic yet timeless approach to innovation in a format that allows any employee, in any industry, with any level of experience to begin implementing what I call Edison’s Five Competencies of Innovation(tm). The book was researched over a 3-year period, and endorsed by the world’s leading expert on Edison today, Dr. Paul Israel at Rutgers University. Edison’s Five Competencies bring innovation best practices within reach of any organization. The competencies offer a roadmap for how to generate an innovation mindset within every employee – not just teams in R&D, Engineering, or Marketing. All leaders and employees today need to “think like innovators,” helping to move their companies to the leading edge in their industry. For more information on Sarah, visit her website.

Adam Hartung, Author, Managing Partner of Spark Partners

Adam helps companies innovate to achieve real growth. He began his career as an entrepreneur, selling the first general-purpose computing platform to use the 8080 microprocessor when he was an undergraduate. Today, he has 20 years of practical experience in developing and implementing strategies to take advantage of emerging technologies and new business models. He writes, consults and speaks worldwide.

His recently published book, Create Marketplace Disruption: How to Stay Ahead of the Competition (Financial Times Press, 2008), helps leaders and managers create evergreen organizations that produce above-average returns.

Jill Konrath, Best-Selling Author on Selling

Jill delivers fresh strategies that actually work in today’s business environment. SNAP Selling, her new book on selling to frazzled customers, has already achieved #1 sales book on Amazon. To read two chapters and download four FREE sales tools, visit www.SnapSelling.com. Jill is also the author of Selling to Big Companies, a Fortune magazine “must read” and Amazon Top 25 Sales book since 2005. She’s a frequent speaker at sales meetings and professional conferences where she helps sellers crack into new accounts, speed up their sales cycle and win more business.

SPEECH OVERVIEW

Selling to Crazy-Busy Buyers Working with overwhelmed, stressed out prospects requires fresh thinking.They make quick decisions based on relevance and urgency. They see minimal difference between competitors and seem to only be concerned about pricing.

What does it take to capture their attention and get their business? In this session based on Jill Konrath’s new book, SNAP Selling, your salespeople will discover numerous strategies they can use throughout the buying process to:

• Simplify the complexity that drives them to a screeching halt.
• Become an invaluable resource that customers willingly pay more for. Align with key organizational objectives and priorities.
• Maintain momentum despite a prospect’s tendency to default to the status quo.

By following SNAP Rules, your salespeople will find themselves at the top of their game. They’ll be irresistible and irreplaceable, winning more sales at higher margins and with less competition.

Growing Your Brand Through Your Book and Other Book Products

Here are just a few line extensions that could come from your book:

• A Tips Booklet: An example would be our Networlding 101 Ways to Better Networlding tips booklet which is offered free on this blog. This helps your prospects “try before they buy.”
• An E-Book: We are big fans of e-books because they can be the precursor to your book or follow-on books. An example here would be a product created by the organization Z-Mags. Take a look and see what you think. This organization enables your prospects and clients to really dive deep into the value your organization can bring to the table.
• A Guidebook: If you have a book that is a how-to book then a guidebook will really help with training from you and also, licensing your training to others. Here also consider a facilitator’s guide for train-the-trainer programs. We are just getting our guidebook published with a facilitator’s guide.
• Games: Everyone loves games. They engage. They create connection. They accelerate learning. Consider starting with something simple like card decks that help educate like The Creative Whack Pack by Roger Van Oech or Think Pak: A Brainstorming Card Deck by Michael Michalko.

Finally, I also mentioned Chris Brogan’s new book, Trust Agents, which is all about building trust effectively online. The emphasis here is not that you can build the kind of trust you might build with a best friend or even a group of good friends but a way to be more “trustworthy.” With the growth of networks online this becomes a challenge and Chris and his co-author, Julien Smith, help provide a path to make that challenge easier. The result is that those who understand this difference can become more trustworthy which then adds value and credibility to their brand which can also lead to better sales.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s new book on success– Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (Hardcover – Nov 18, 2008) he talks about the 10,000 hour rule. Experts are defined as those who have at least 10,000 hours of research and development in a chosen field.  Note that the experts listed below exemplify the type of expert level you would choose if you are very serious about successful networking.

Donna Fisher
www.donnafisher.com
An introvert who learned how to network. Over 12 years ago she established Donna Fisher Presents in order to fulfill her lifelong desire to teach and inspire people to be all they can be. With her two businesses she combines her love of music and motivation.

Jill Lublin
www.jilllublin.com
Praised as a modern-day Dale Carnegie and co-author of the bestselling books Networking Magic, Guerrilla Publicity. Guerrilla Publicity contains hundreds of proven techniques and sure-fire tactics for any business, large or small, to launch an effective and creative publicity campaign.

Michael Hughes
http://www.speakersgroup.com/michael_hughes_bio.html
Michael has done extensive research on, and is a specialist in, utilizing networking as a business strategy. He is author of the 110-page special report entitled “Networking for Results: How to Leverage Relationships into More Sales and Profits”.

Michael Goldberg
http://www.buildingblocksconsulting.com
Michael Goldberg is a networking expert focused on helping sales producers and managers grow their practice. Michael speaks at conferences, runs sales meetings, and delivers dynamic programs on Networking, Referral Marketing, Sales Presentations, and Leadership.

Raeus Cannon
http://www.raeuscannon.com
Raeus Jae Cannon, CNPT, specializes in speaking to Chamber of Commerce groups. Raeus has first-hand experience of moving from shy and introverted to realizing success as an entrepreneur, trainer, author, and keynote speaker. Audiences can easily relate to Raeus’ personal stories and laugh at her experiences.

Susan RoAne
http://www.susanroane.com
Susan RoAne is the leading authority and original expert on how to work a room. She help companies and organizations successfully develop, build and manage client relationships that increase business growth.

Will Kintish
http://www.kintish.co.uk
The UK’s leading authority in Business Networking Skills training. Kintish have helped thousands of people become confident and effective networkers by offering business networking tips, techniques and training.

Bill Cates
http://www.referralcoach.com
Bill Cates, CSP, has revolutionized the way financial professionals generate an abundance of high-quality referrals. Bill has trained over 50,000 financial professionals in his proven referral system. And they are using his ideas to build their practices with quality referrals.

Heshie Segal
http://www.jetnettingconnection.com
Heshie Segal teaches her clients how to turn a business card, a presentation, and even a chance meeting into lasting business. JetNetting is an innovative and highly specific system of preparatory networking resulting in the eradication of cold calling, awkwardness and relationship tensions.

Renee Rosenberg
http://www.fiveoclockclub.com/speakers/Rosenberg.html
Renee Rosenberg has over 24 years experience in career management, counseling, coaching, and workshop training and facilitation. An accomplished and entertaining speaker, Renee regularly presents on a variety of topics including: effective intergenerational communication, and using positive thinking, laughter and optimism as career and life tools.

Robyn Henderson
http://www.networkingtowin.com.au/index.html
Robyn Henderson is a Global Networking Specialist. She has authored and contributed to 19 books (including 10 on networking and business building and 3 on self esteem and confidence building).

David Nour
http://www.relationshipeconomics.net
David Nour is a social networking strategist and one of the foremost thought leaders on the quantifiable value of business relationships. David is solving global client challenges with intracompany, as well as externally focused, Strategic Relationship Planning™.

Diane Darling
http://www.dianedarling.com
As a speaker and author, Diane Darling humorously shares her insights and techniques that can be immediately implemented helping people succeed.She is also a monthly columnist for the Boston Business Journal.

Bob Burg
http://www.burg.com
Bob Burg is a highly sought-after speaker at corporate, financial services and direct sales conventions. Combining humor and entertainment with easily applied, proven systems for personal marketing, audiences come away ready to immediately profit from Bob’s instruction and coaching.

Ivan Misner
http://www.bni.com
Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder & Chairman of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization. BNI was founded in 1985. The organization now has thousands of chapters throughout every populated continent of the world. Each year, BNI generates millions of referrals resulting in billions of dollars worth of business for its members.

Julia Hubbel
http://www.principlednetworking.com/index_alt.htm
Julia Hubbel is a professional speaker, seminar leader and prize-winning journalist who specializes in creating lasting, collaborative relationships. Her approach allows anyone to meet and mingle easily and with confidence, forming long-term business and personal alliances.

Andrea Nierenberg
http://www.nierenberggroup.com/index.php
Andrea R. Nierenberg, bestselling author and world-renowned business authority, is the force behind The Nierenberg Group. Called a “networking success story” by The Wall Street Journal, Andrea Nierenberg is founder and president of The Nierenberg Group.

Liz Lynch
http://www.networkingexcellence.com
Liz Lynch is author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online (McGraw-Hill, 2009) and a sought-after speaker who brings a practical and insightful perspective to networking that has connected with a global audience.

Melissa Giovagnoli
http://www.networlding.com
Melissa is one of the world’s leading experts on the development of individual and community leadership networks as a means of growing and accelerating brand loyalty and performance improvement inside and outside organizations.

Andy Lopata

www.lopata.co.uk
A Vice President of the Professional Speakers Association of the UK and a Director of the online network Word of Mouse, Andy is the co-author of two books on networking. His second book ‘…and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public’ received worldwide acclaim and reached number 2 on Amazon.co.uk on its launch.

Donna Messer
http://www.connectuscanada.com
Donna Messer has been networking for the past 20 years. Donna Messer is President of ConnectUs Communications Canada, one of North America’s largest and most effective business matching companies.

Scott Allen
http://thevirtualhandshake.com/home.html
A 20-year veteran technology entrepreneur, executive and consultant, Scott Allen is the Entrepreneurs Guide for About.com. Scott has offered training programs in conjunction with business networking sites LinkedIn, Ryze, and others, plus courses on creating a powerful personal presence and growing your personal network on the internet.

Don Gabor
http://www.dongabor.com
Don helps professionals from all disciplines grow their revenues by starting profitable conversations with people in business and social situations.  e is the author of the bestseller, How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends, (Fireside/Simon & Schuster) and ten other books and tapes on interpersonal communication skills.

Mike O’Neil
http://www.integratedalliances.com
Founded in 2003, Integrated Alliances (IA) is a world leader in LinkedIn-related training with classroom workshop education (offline), web-based educational webinars (online) with both public and private sessions plus a rapidly expanding coaching and consulting practice.

Neen James
http://www.neenjames.com
Neen specializes in helping people within organizations to achieve amazing results by improving productivity in every aspect of their operations. Author of several books including Strategic Networking, Network or Perish, How to Run a Home Based Business, as well as many articles, e-zines and audio programs.

Daphne Medik
http://www.dmmcommunication.nl
Marketing communication and sales strategy, training and coaching. Inspiring ideas, practical solutions.

Thomas Power
http://www.ecademy.com
Thomas Power is the founder of ecademy.com. Helping business people thrive is what Ecademy facilitates.

Gerard De Gier
http://www.biocareerevent.nl/page/122
He conducts yearly a large number of training sessions in the fields of networking, creative business thinking (under the heading of “New Ideas on Your Command”), senior management and marketing. He also wrote several books on creative thinking (in collaboration with Professor Roger de Bruijn) and on networking.

Patrick Carney
http://referrals.ducttapemarketing.com/
Patrick Carney is a professional artist, networker, speaker and referral training consultant. He owns the Referral Institute – San Diego. In each of these roles, his focus is showing business professionals how to harness the power of referral marketing.

Jochem Klijn
http://www.netwerken.nl
Jochem Klijn has his own Business Network (www.netwerken.nl), travels throughout The Netherlands giving Network -training, -seminars and -courses and sells his English version eBook and AudioBook all over the world through his website: www.thelawofnetworking.com.

Sabine Tobback
http://www.culturaldetective.com
Sabine founded a training and coaching institute devoted to intercultural management, personal skills, human resources management, and leadership. She has developed programmes on virtual team effectiveness.

Jan Vermeiren
www.networking-coach.com
Originally Jan labeled his way of working “Marketing and Networking Coaching”. Due to the spectacular success of the networking activities, the marketing aspect has disappeared, though it is still Jan’s second passion. Now the company is primarily known under the brand name Networking Coach.