Judges Include:

Neil Chase consults for publishers, marketers and technology companies, with expertise in journalism, content strategy and social media. He has worked as an editor at The New York Times, CBS MarketWatch, The Arizona Republic, and The San Francisco Examiner, was a journalism professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and most recently was svp for editorial and publishing at Federated Media.

Gemma leads the Social@Ogilvy team in New York, where she is responsible for Ogilvy’s team of social media and word-of-mouth marketing experts. She also runs a wider social working council at Ogilvy NY, focusing on Ogilvy’s seven social business solutions.
She leads client relationships with UPS and LG, focusing on thought leadership, strategic direction and ensuring creativity and effectiveness across all work. Prior to Ogilvy, she was global digital communications lead for IBM’s US joint venture with Ricoh, InfoPrint and Broadcom. Gemma moved to the U.S. in 2007. Roles held in the UK included a stint as head of technology and digital media at Midnight, a UK-based digital boutique where she developed integrated programs for AOL’s Advertising.com, Fujifilm, wireless network provider iBahn, Greenlight SEO and pioneering social network LunarStorm.

Jarrod Dicker leads the charge on creative multi-platform social and content driven ad products. Working across a portfolio of 21 Time Inc. brands as diverse as Fortune and InStyle, Jarrod leverages his unique vision to create scalable products and to evangelize innovation. Prior to Time Inc., Jarrod pioneered native advertising at The Huffington Post, where he led the social marketing team to huge wins including IBM’s Smarter Ideas, TNT’s Armchair Detective and individual programs with Sony, Dell, Disney, Coke, Unilever, Chase, Pepsi, Levi’s, P&G, Kraft and GE. Currently, he is involved with a Carnegie Mellon University program on the value of social advertising in publishing. Before taking the advertising world by storm, Jarrod began his career on the editorial side as a writer for Stay Thirsty Media, Inc. and contributed to several digital-based music publications including Relix Magazine and Jambase.com.

Tom joined Saatchi & Saatchi LA (SSLA) as social engagement director in the summer of 2010, relocating from New York where he had launched London-based brand entertainment agency Cake’s (Havas Group) first US office. Prior to working with SSLA, Tom worked with top UK PR, events and creative agencies including Red Consultancy, Freud Communications and Cake. While with those agencies he worked at the forefront of the evolution of social media, instilling the medium as the primary route for brands to build lasting relationships with consumers. As a liaison between idea management and the rest of the agency, Tom helps guide and manage traditional and interactive social campaigns to successful completion. He and his team are responsible for developing social media and content strategies that drive growth of Toyota’s social and digital media programs. Previous to Saatchi LA, Tom created digital and real world creative communications / social campaigns for Motorola, Sky Broadcasting (News Corp Int), Vodafone, Sony and Jack Daniels amongst others.

Tammy Gordon develops and leads social communications strategy for AARP. She currently manages a team of social communications strategists, providing day-to-day counsel, executing strategy and engaging in social and blogger outreach. She serves as a digital, social and new media spokesperson with traditional, online media outlets and bloggers to enhance AARP’s reputation at the national and local level. Previously she was senior advisor to the office of the chief communications officer at AARP. Prior to AARP, she worked as managing associate at Chlopak Leonard Schechter & Assoc., as deputy communications director for Share Our Strength, as a senior associate for The Harbour Group and as an account supervisor at Ogilvy. She has also worked on the Obama for America and Dean for America campaigns.

Uwe Gutschow has led digital thinking for agencies across two continents. Originally from South Africa, he started the digital division of Saatchi & Saatchi where he was Creative and Managing Director. Having worked as part of a global Saatchi & Saatchi think tank, he fell in love with Los Angeles and called it home. During his time at Saatchi LA he planned and implemented their social media and digital practices for Toyota.

Currently at INNOCEAN USA, he leads the innovation and digital strategic thinking for the agency in a way that connects brands like Hyundai with people through relevant experiences and conversations.

Uwe has worked on diverse clients such as Guinness (Africa), Sony Ericsson (Global), Toyota (USA), Peugeot (South Africa) and P&G (Europe). Additionally, he is an established international conference speaker and guest lecturer. His work has earned numerous Effies and international creative awards.

Adam is a nationally-known authority on consumer marketing, business strategy and social trends. As founder and CEO of Hanft Projects, his guidance and insights are available to the firm’s prestigious clients, a list that includes AT&T Wireless, Scotts, Reuters, Viacom, AOL Time Warner and Hertz. They are seeking successful, often unexpected solutions for the strategic marketing and communication challenges they face, ranging from innovative advertising campaigns to brand consulting and corporate strategy, to branded content. In writing of his recent book Dictionary of the Future (co-written with Faith Popcorn), USA Today called Adam a “marketing guru.” Earlier in his career, Adam created the “Flick Your Bic” campaign, which was named one of the 50 best campaigns of all time by Entertainment Weekly. He started his career as a comedy writer, working for Garry Marshall.

For 15 years, Adam Kmiec has worked for some of the most forward thinking organizations in the world, while helping some of the most dynamic brands find success in the interactive and social space. Currently he is director of digital marketing and social media at The Campbell Soup Company. In his role he is responsible for developing a global digital marketing and social media strategy that encompasses both consumer-facing communications and corporate initiatives to make Campbell one of the most digitally fit organizations in the world. His career spans both the client and agency sides of the marketing and advertising industry, covering stops at renowned organizations that include Fallon, Leo Burnett, and ConAgra Foods. His focus has always been on solving business problems by leveraging consumer driven insights to fuel creative ideation.

Marleta Ross is director of interactive marketing and acquisitions for the Global Prepaid division of American Express. In this position, she is responsible for driving profitable growth of gift cards and new pre-paid product sales online. In addition, she drives strategy for growth and penetration of B2B direct sales channels. Prior to this position, she was director, advertising optimization within the Global Advertising and Brand Management group, where she was responsible for quantifying and improving return on investment of advertising investments globally through use of econometrics. In addition, she managed an advertising budget of over $500 million to ensure achievement of financial targets. Marleta began her career with Exxon Chemical Company, where she was a technical account manager responsible for oil company clients with annual sales over $20MM.

John Shankman became the publisher of The Awl in August 2011. Previous stints include account director at The Huffington Post, regional sales manager at Federated Media and account executive for infoUSA.