Campaign Technology 2.0: Today's Tools, Tomorrow's Opportunities

Campaign Technology 2.0: Today's Tools, Tomorrow's Opportunities

Politics, pundits and passion all join together as campaigns are using technologies - old and new - to get their message and the vote out.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

Join the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest for a spirited (and passionate) discussion as our panel explores how technology is being used in the campaign process, the opportunities that this provides for entrepreneurs, and at the end of the day, who's making the money.

With a plethora of applications from email to blogs, podcasts to streaming video, millions of people are using technology to become more engaged with political campaigns in 2008.  Whether making contributions online or learning about candidates' trials and tribulations in near real-time, the impact of technology on campaign politics is inescapable.

Learn how the pundits, the pollsters and the politicians are using technology for politics and what this can mean for the entrepreneurial community.

On Wednesday, April 16, join the MIT Enterprise Forum and David Postman, Chief Political Reporter of the Seattle Times, as he moderates a star-studded panel to discuss these and other issues:

• How is political campaigning and lobbying changing in the face of new media?
• How do new and old media coexist to reach a broadening range of interested citizens?
• What specific techniques are most effective for increasing donations, voter turnout, and reaching different demographics?
• Where are the opportunities for entrepreneurs? 

Please join us for a lively dinner event Wednesday, April 16.

Moderator:

David Postman, The Seattle Times

Panelists:

Cathy Allen, Campaign Consultant, Connections Group

Trace Anderson, Founder, BlueUtopia

Mike Davidson, CEO, Newsvine

Christian Sinderman, Campaign Consultant, NW Passage Consulting

Share your feedback and help shape this event!

Tell us how you are using different media in this election cycle and provide us with questions prior to the program for possible inclusion by our moderator.  Just click on the link below, or copy the URL into your browser:

http://5circles.TechPol.sgizmo.com

Biographies

Moderator:

David Postman, Chief  Political Reporter, The Seattle Times

David Postman is the chief political reporter for The Seattle Times, where he has worked since September 1994. Based in the paper's capitol bureau in Olympia, he writes about all levels of politics, from the Seattle mayor's race to the presidential election.

Since May 2006 he has been blogging full-time for the paper at "Postman On Politics."  He began his journalism career in public radio, at KLCC-FM in Eugene, and later the Alaska Public Radio Network. His formative newspaper years were spent at the Anchorage Daily News.

Postman is a frequent guest on TV and radio and hosts "Olympia On Call" on TVW, Washington's non-profit public affairs cable channel.

Panelists:

Cathy Allen, Campaign Consultant; President, The Connections Group, Inc.

Cathy Allen, President/Owner of The Connections Group, Inc., has spent the past twenty years working to elect women and young people to public office. Her innovative approach to developing campaign strategies, targeting, message development and media relations has culminated in an exceptional winning record for her and The Connections Group team.  

The Connections Group clients include over 500 successful political campaigns. This year's challenges include several gubernatorial races, issue campaigns, several legislative races, and numerous political action committees. Her non-political clients include public utilities, school districts, natural resource agencies, native tribes and professional women's organizations. In the private sector, Allen has represented upstart technology companies, major corporations, environmentally conscious developers, and dozens of small businesses that seek special targets in marketing their businesses and communicating with the public. 

Allen has authored two books on campaigning and winning. A board member of the American Association of Political Consultants, Allen is the former Vice-President of the National Women's Political Caucus. She is a frequent political commentator on national TV and radio affiliates, appearing weekly on KING 5's (NBC Seattle-affiliate) Up Front with Robert Mak. 

Allen's varied experience also includes stints as a reporter for several newspapers: the New York Times, the Anchorage Times and the Bridgeport Telegram. She worked for three years as the top executive for the mayor of Anchorage. Allen has an undergraduate degree in journalism, and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.  

Trace Anderson, Founder, Blue Utopia

Trace is the visionary behind Blue Utopia, which aims to bring enterprise-level technology to Democratic political campaigns and non-profits of every size.  Trace founded Blue Utopia in 2004 which has rapidly grown to serve several hundred campaigns and has a presence in 13 states.     
Prior to founding Blue Utopia, Trace was part of a small entrepreneurial team that started Oracle's fledgling Mid-Market Internet Applications division in 1997 and grew it to a $300 million annual business. He led the product marketing team at privately held startup 2Roam, which became a recognized leader in the emerging wireless web and was acquired in 2002.  He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from Oklahoma State University and a Masters in Business from the University of Washington. 

Mike Davidson, CEO, Newsvine

Mike Davidson is founder and CEO of Seattle-based Newsvine, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of msnbc.com. Mike is responsible for both the day-to-day operations of Newsvine.com as well as community integration efforts between Newsvine and MSNBC.  Before co-founding Newsvine, Mike worked as Art Director and Manager of Media Product Development at both ESPN and the Walt Disney Internet Group and studied business at the University of Washington and Oxford University in England. 

Christian Sinderman, Campaign Consultant, NW Passage Consulting
 

Northwest Passage was founded by Christian Sinderman, Communications Director for Senator Maria Cantwell's upset victory in 2000 and experienced campaign manager at all levels of government. In addition to consulting on dozens of political campaigns, Christian has assisted business, environmental organizations, unions, and tribes with communications, public relations, and grassroots strategies. He is a frequent media source with over 15 years of communications experience.

A native of Michigan, Christian now lives in Seattle. A once avid hiker, bird watcher and ultimate frisbee player, he now spends time chasing his kids and trying to keep up with home repairs. Christian has a degree in Sociology, and an M.S. in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan.