Speakers

Evan is the 26 year-old co-owner of a conglomerate of successful websites including Cartoon Doll Emporium, ranked by Comscore as the 594th most popular website online; Penn Group, the nation's leading ghostwriting firm; Sculptor.org, the largest online sculpture gallery; and COLLEGE-ADMISSION-ESSAY.com, a leading private college admissions assistance service. On his own time, Evan maintains a blog about the importance of remaining childlike. He is an avid reader, writer, and dog lover.

Edith manages the online strategic direction, creative planning and technical development for the popular KIDZ BOP brand. She also oversees digital marketing, direct-to-consumer online sales and mobile initiatives for Razor & Tie artists, compilations, and catalog. In 1998, Edith assumed the newly created position of Director of New Media, building the department from scratch where she was an early champion of the digital download. She is also responsible for building Razor & Tie's ecommerce business and its flagship website MusicSpace.com. Edith is a graduate of Fordham University with a BA in Communication, and currently serves on the department's Edward A. Walsh Scholarship committee, dedicated to furthering careers in media. A native of New York City, she happily resides with her husband in Forest Hills.

Jim founded Numedon, the producer of the tween learning site, Whyville.net. Launched in 1999, and now with more than 2.5 million registered users, Whyville continues to pioneer new mechanisms for engaging its users in a wide range of educational and promotional activities. Jim is also a Professor of Computational Neuroscience at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and at the University of Texas, San Antonio, where he uses computational techniques to understand mammalian cortical networks. He has published more than 100 scientific articles and has authored several books.

Jamie is the founder of Kiki Magazine and founder and CEO of B-books, Ltd., a textbook development and production house. Frustrated with the pervasive sexualization of girls' apparel, media and toys, Jamie leveraged her 10 years in academic publishing and her three years in teaching to create Kiki, an age appropriate fashion and creativity magazine for tween girls. Jamie attended Northwestern University and holds master's degrees from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Pennsylvania.

Bryon is the editor of READ magazine, a Weekly Reader publication for middle school students. Joining forces with Writing magazine in 2005, Bryon launched Weekly Reader's literary blog, WORD. In 2006, READ produced two electronic issues. This year, it's planning three. About the future of publishing, Bryon says, "Books will never be obsolete. Nothing beats the satisfaction that comes from sitting on a porch swing at sunset and reading a great novel. However, if we ignore technology, technology will surely rise up and destroy us all."

David analyzes the media and music industries, focusing on cross-media programming, online revenue streams, and audience segmentation. Previously, he directed media and marketing research, and, as Jupiter's Research Development VP, he helped guide coverage architecture, research methodologies, and overall quality. David also helped launch the MindShare program for senior executives, initiated Jupiter's digital & interactive TV research, and was senior analyst in the Web Technology service. Prior to joining Jupiter in February 1998, David spent nine years at International Data Corp., holding a variety of positions including directing its consumer Internet and PC software services. He earned a bachelor's degree in English and classics from Brandeis University.

Molly's experience in the entertainment and new media industry includes ownership of two start-up companies and nine years at TBS, Inc. As Executive Producer of Cartoon Network New Media, she oversees the creation of interactive and emerging media entertainment offerings based on Cartoon Network characters and properties, including online gaming, broadband video and popular Internet sites such as CartoonNetwork.com. In this role Molly oversaw an extensive online gaming event in support of Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door that earned a 2005 Emmy nomination. Molly graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia, where she served as a teaching assistant at the New Media Institute.

Anastasia is an award-winning blogger and often-quoted expert on American tweens, teens and early twentysomethings. Her blog, Ypulse.com, reaches a highly influential audience of agency, brand and media executives as well as social marketers trying to reach youth. The blog has been featured in several leading publications including USA Today, BusinessWeek, Forbes and Fast Company. Anastasia was one of the first graduates of the Medill School of Journalism's new media program at Northwestern University, where she earned an MSJ in 1999. She just completed a book about teens and technology called "Totally Wired," published by St. Martin's Press.

Mark Hansen has been with LEGO Group for more than 8 years, where he has created new business strategies and play concepts focused on consumer-generated products and content. Hansen was the original architect of LEGO Factory, an experience that bridges virtual design with real world construction by allowing anyone to design custom LEGO models online which can then be ordered as a set for assembly "offline." He currently serves as the project lead in the development of LEGO Universe, a Massively Multiplayer Online Game. Previously, Hansen spent 3 years researching Mass Customization and Agile Systems at Aalborg University and served twelve years in the United States Navy. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Masters of Engineering from Aalborg University.

Renee is one of the nation's leading authorities on media literacy education.Besides teaching, she directs the Media Education Lab, a center for research and community service in media literacy. She has created numerous award-winning multimedia curriculum materials for K-12 English language arts educators and students. Her new book, Teaching the Media: Media Literacy in High School English (2007, Teachers College Press) provides the first large-scale empirical evidence of the impact of media literacy education on adolescents' reading comprehension and critical analysis skills.

Mattias has been an entrepreneur in the online space since 1998. Prior to Stardoll.com, he was the CEO & Founder of online DVD rental company Boxman.com from 2002 to 2005, when he merged it with U.K-based Lovefilm to form Europe's largest DVD rental and movie download company. Prior to Boxman.com, Mattias was one of the original European founders of E*TRADE Financial, leaving in 2002 as the CEO of E*TRADE Germany. Before E*TRADE, he held several executive positions with media and broadcasting companies at the Kinnevik/Modern Times Group. Mattias holds an Master's degree in Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics and attended The Anderson School of Management at UCLA.

Although it was 1996 when I began thinking about how cell phones, kids and families best mix, it was my entry into fatherhood two years later that set me on the path to founding kajeet. Before kajeet, I served as CEO, vice chairman and director of VCampus Corporation, a provider of e-learning applications and services; at USinternetworking, Inc., where we pioneered the delivery of software as a service; as director of national partnering for Global One Communications; and as a senior staff member with the office of the Vice President of the United States. Perhaps the greatest education in my life, though, is what I am learning every day from my daughter, Eleanor, who is 8, and my son, Alexander, who is 11.

Izzy is a published author, a cookie connoisseur, pop culture aficionado (especially in children's entertainment), and a zealot in the pro-kid movement. She has earned a degree in Elementary Education, a masters in the Teaching and Practice of Creative Writing and worked with children for 15+ years. Izzy has the fantastic positions of Online Community Manager and Online Content Editor at Star Farm Productions, a children's entertainment company. Recently, she also stepped into the positions of Web Strategist and User Engagement Manager for several new properties debuting in 2008. Izzy also helped co-develop and write a nine-book preschool series that will debut in 2008.

Lawrence has over 15 years experience writing in the electronic entertainment industry. With 10 years as editor at GamePro Magazine, one of the most popular video game magazines in the country, and more than five years with Pokemon, he understands and identifies with kid-friendly markets. In addition to being the Editorial Director for the Pokemon.com website, he is also the author of several video game related books, including The Official Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl Strategy Guide and the Official Pokemon Battle Revolution Strategy Guide. In addition, Lawrence is a producer for the Pokemon animated TV series and movies, and is the creator and editor-in-chief of the popular Pokemon Fan magazine.

Ludorum is dedicated to developing, acquiring and marketing intellectual entertainment properties, in both the new interactive distribution channels as well as classic linear TV. Joi has worked the past decade building and managing safe, online communities for kids, as well as developing and implementing strategies in the realms of digital production, integrated marketing, and youth interactive research with such companies as Nicktoons, YTV/Corus, ABC (Australia), Kraft/Post Cereals, Neopets, Sparktop, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. At Ludorum, Joi leads the integration of interactive/online strategies into Ludorum's television, publishing and toy properties

Erin is the founder of Platform Shoes Forum (PSF), a non-profit organization that researches and develops online educational programs and e-learning environments for youth. She is co-creator of PSF's model program Zoey's Room, a national online community for 10-14 year-old girls, encouraging their creativity through science, technology, engineering and math. In 2007, Erin received a national educational Leaders in Learning Award from Cable in the Classroom for her innovative approach to learning through Zoey's Room. A recognized expert in the design and development of thought-provoking and engaging educational content powered by virtual learning and new media applications, Erin has been a featured speaker, panelist and keynoter at industry events.

Kyra leads and manages all day-to-day operations, creative direction and business strategy for Neopets. With more than 40 million global memberships registered, Neopets is the largest global youth-focused virtual world. Prior to Neopets, Kyra was Vice President and General Manager of Nickjr.com, where she oversaw strategy, creative and editorial. Kyra repositioned Nickjr.com from a television promotional site to the number one parenting website for parents of young children. In addition, Kyra created and launched Nick Jr. ParentsTV, made-for-the-web broadband video for parents; produced the first-ever 3D online games for preschoolers and led the networks' preschool introduction to wireless, interactive TV and innovative online gaming experiences.

Denise left corporate America, including nine years as VP Sales at USA TODAY, to give tween and young teen girls a new way to see the world: through the eyes of other girls. Denise launched AllyKatzz.com, the SAFE social networking site for girls ages 10-15, in March 2007. AllyKatzz is where girls blog about all the important things in their lives. These girls are a massive focus group, laboratory and tween girl reporting authority. AllyKatzz partners - leaders in entertainment, music, publishing, retail and beauty - are a part of this community, every day. Denise is MoreMagazine.com's Tween Expert, writing the column "What's Your Daughter Thinking?"

As the Interactive Marketing Manager for Procter & Gamble's Health and Well-Being business, Tina leads the interactive program for beinggirl.com, Always, and Tampax in North America. Tina is responsible for the overall strategic direction of beinggirl.com, the award-winning teen program created for girls, by girls. She is from Sugar Land, TX and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Business Administration degree and a major in Management Information Systems.

B*tween Productions is the home of the Beacon Street Girls award-winning book series and Web site for preteen girls. Addie created the Beacon Street Girls in 2002 to provide positive role models and healthy messages for tween girls, whatever their challenges. Today, there are 10 Beacon Street Girls books with more than 500,000 copies in print. There are "super-fans" in 95 countries and BSG related products are sold at more than 850 independent gift shops and through the COPPA-compliant Beacon Street Girl website. Addie founded BrightIdeas in 1992. The company sold educational software to parents and teachers and was acquired by Addison Wesley in 1996.

Denise co-founded Privacy Vaults Online, known as Privo. Privo created the PrivoLock system to fill the niche of online registration of kids and families in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and strives to make the Internet a safer place for children by empowering them with the ability to safely interact with each other and the brands they love. Denise is a recognized leader and authority in permission and identity management and has been involved with transatlantic dialogues regarding children’s privacy issues. She conducts private workshops to help companies understand the intricacies of COPPA and how to maintain customer relationships within legal boundaries.