Social Media Week Chicago Announces Preliminary Event Schedule; Welcomes the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) as Official Marketing Sponsor

CHICAGO, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As Social Media Week Chicago kicks-off next month, event organizers Zocalo Group and the Chicago Tribune are proud to announce the preliminary session line-up – posted at http://socialmediaweek.org/chicago/. Chicago Social Media Week is being held September 19 – 23 at locations across the city.

"Sessions included on this initial schedule are diverse and offer attendees tremendous choice when seeking out the social media, mobile and word of mouth marketing topics that matter most to them," said Paul M. Rand, CEO of Zocalo Group. "There will truly be something for everyone. And, unlike other conferences, nearly every session is being offered free of charge."

Events and speakers will be added weekly and high-impact, high-profile keynote speakers will be announced soon, helping attendees plan their own Social Media Week Chicago agenda. Secured event locations include: Tribune Tower; CDW; Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, and the Illini Center.

Join industry leaders as they share best practices, upcoming trends and success stories in a variety of presentations, panels and networking events. A sampling of the week's agenda includes:

• Developing an Enterprise Wide Social Media Solution, featuring representatives from Nissan, Unilever, Aon.
• How Chicago Restaurants and Chefs Are Using Social Media, with chefs from the Elysian Hotel's Ria, Lockwood, Whistler, the Peninsula's Avenues Restaurant, and the founder of Hoosier Mama Pie company.
• The Power of Social Media for Social Activism: How it Can Create or Advance Social Movements, with Rolling Out Urban Style Weekly, Write Design Company, MG Media, CDW, and more.
• Marrying Online and Offline Efforts, featuring executives from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, and Museum of Science and Industry.
• WOMMA Talkable Brands Exchange, "Getting to the Bottom Line: Is WOM Worth it? And What Exactly is it Worth?", featuring executives from Keller Fay, Converseon, Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence and Brains on Fire.
• Social Media Week Opening Night at Rockit, hosted by BillyDec, CEO of Rockit Ranch.

Social Media Week Chicago also announces that the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) has joined the effort as its Marketing Partner, lending its expertise in helping to promote and energize Chicagoans to get involved and spread the word. Stated Sarah Beardsley, Chicago Tribune Editorial Events Director, "We're proud to partner with a distinguished leader such as the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, whose participation confirms the potential this event can have on the social media community."  

"One of the truly unique aspects of Social Media Week is the open invitation to the community to get involved. Social media is constantly evolving how we communicate and connect to others, so it's exciting to be part of an event that will help put Chicago on the map," says Kristen Smith, Executive Director at WOMMA.

Interested in sharing your perspective on social media? Do you have a great suggestion for an event topic? Organizations or individuals interested in serving as a hub host or event sponsor – and promoted throughout Social Media Week as a key participant - should visit http://www.socialmediaweek.org/chicago and choose the SUBMIT EVENT tab.

If mixing and mingling with some of the best minds in Chicago's social media community is more your scene OR you have a cool product, or service that can help make events more fun, functional or productive, please visit http://www.socialmediaweek.org/chicago and choose the GET INVOLVED tab to volunteer or become an in-kind sponsor.

Along with Social Media Week activities in Chicago, simultaneous events will take place in Beirut, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Glasgow, Los Angeles, Milan, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Vancouver. Please follow @SMWChicago on Twitter and connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn for real-time updates and to help promote the event across your own social networks. Registration for events opens at the beginning of September.

About Zocalo Group

Zocalo Group is a full-service word-of-mouth and social media marketing agency, helping leading consumer and business to business brands become the most talked about and recommended in their category. Based in Chicago, Zocalo Group has received numerous industry awards for brand programs and measurement initiatives. Zocalo Group is a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) and Ketchum. For more information, please visit www.zocalogroup.com.

About the Chicago Tribune

For 164 years, the Chicago Tribune has been a market-leading publication of the Tribune Company.  Reaching five million readers each week in print, online and through radio, television and live events, the Tribune is known for its public service journalism and watchdog reporting. In 2010, the Tribune launched Trib Nation, a community outreach and audience engagement program that includes a broad menu of live events such as Chicago Forward: Conversations About the Future, a series of public policy discussions; programs by columnists and other journalists; literary events including Author Talks, Lit Fest, and Literary Awards; and classes and seminars under the banner TribU: Lessons for Life.

About Social Media Week

Social Media Week is owned and operated by Crowdcentric Media LLC and is a global platform connecting people, content, and conversation around emerging trends in social and mobile media. Delivered primarily through a network of internationally hosted conferences and online through social media, Social Media Week literally connects hundreds of thousands of people every year through learning experiences that aim to advance our understanding of social media's role in society. To learn more, visit http://socialmediaweek.org/.

CONTACT:
Leah Bassett
312.596.6304

SOURCE Zocalo Group