Glenn Gilbert

Executive Editor The Oakland Press

Practical Tips on Newspaper Exposure for Your Business

Glenn Gilbert, executive editor of The Oakland Press, grew up in the Downriver Detroit area.  He is a veteran of 40 years in the news business.  He worked 11 years at the Ann Arbor News but then left the state for 23 years, editing papers in Illinois and Ohio.  As a University of Michigan graduate, he likes to say he spent 14 years trying to bring civilization to the Buckeye State.  He says that when he concluded he had failed in his mission, he came back to Michigan.  He has been at The Oakland Press for three years.  His presentation will focus on how the Oakland Press is trying to better connect with its communities.  In particular, he will talk about business coverage and offer practical tips on how businesses can tell their story in the newspaper and on the paper's web site.

Cliff Suttle

president of ExciteYourAudience.com

The Art of Making Your Company Memorable

Stand out in the group. Be the company people call first. This fun and interactive mini-session with have you thinking different about how you present your business to the world.

Becky Winkler

ZingTrain Merchandising Expert

Market Differentiation and Messaging

As a teenager living in Ann Arbor, Becky was awed by the visual splendor of Zingerman's Delicatessen and imagined herself creating bold signage and dynamic displays for the business. After years of experience in the arts (theater production and design, as well as fine arts) and upon receipt of her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of Michigan, Becky realized her dream and joined the Zingerman's team.

Becky began her career at Zingerman's Practical Produce, where she was involved with the store's merchandising, purchasing and non-perishable product line development. She found the transition from working in the theater to working in a retail store to be quite natural. According to Becky, ìYou've got to look at a retail space as though it were a stage set. People are coming in for an entertainment experience. All five senses must be stimulated in order to involve the customer in a complete [Zingerman's] experience.î

From September of 1997 to October of 2002, Becky held the position of Merchandising Manager of Zingerman's Delicatessen. In this capacity, she was responsible for coordinating, designing and producing the monthly promotions for the Deli as well as countless daily merchandising materials, from flyers to menus to environmental signage. She truly enjoyed designing and creating what she believes was a continually exciting and surprising shopping environment.

In the latest incarnation of her professional life, Becky is pursuing free lance opportunities as well as continuing to work for Zingerman's as the ZingTrain Merchandising Specialist. In this capacity, she is able to focus on more strategic, long-range projects such as environmental design and merchandising of new ZCoB businesses, as well as consulting on projects which involve unique materials.

ìWhat I find is so incredible about the creative process is the ways in which ideas evolve along the way. Getting inspiration from other people here at the Deli, from customers, from objects, from the products themselves, from the space... they all come into play. Fluidity and willingness to discover new possibilities along the way is probably the single most important element in successful merchandising. Also, you just have to do it!î

Charlie Wollborg

Curve Detroit

Marketing Your Business in Today's Economy

Charlie has been kicked out of some of the best advertising agencies in town.

With over fifteen years experience as a strategist, designer and writer, he has worked with brand name clients from General Motors to Blue Cross to Boyne Resorts. Most notably, he spearheaded the "My Saturn" owner loyalty efforts, Ford's first internet car sales and the relaunch of the Sanders Candy brand.

Charlie is your idea guy. No one does a better job with big picture concepts designed to launch brands, make a splash and demand attention. He's a sought after speaker on branding, marketing and social networking. He continually investigates what's now, what's new and what's next in marketing, as well as how it can benefit your brand. His campaigns have been recognized by the Detroit Creative Directors Council for creativity and the Direct Marketing Association for effectiveness.

In a past life, Charlie was the lead singer of Brave New World and a terrible stand-up comic. A graduate of Oakland University, Charlie resides in Oakland County with his wife Elena, their son Lanagan and an insane cat named Stitch. He loves downhill skiing, softball, hiking, tennis and despite his better judgment, the Detroit Lions.

He dreams of transforming Detroit from the city that drives the world into the city that powers the world -- building on our innovative spirit to create the alternative energy capital of the globe. He looks forward to the day when America doesn't import a drop of oil.