Introduction

The development of the Savvy Auntie Advisory Board has been organic from the start (and is still in development). These men and women have offered to help in significant ways, and I am grateful for their support.

Some may wonder why a site for women welcomes men as advisors. My take --  An entrepreneur should rarely discriminate when people authentically reach out to help. Plus, it would be ironic for a woman in a neglected segment to discriminate. Knowledge, talent, passion and generosity have no gender.

MN

Gareb Shamus

Gareb Shamus is Publisher, Toy Wishes Magazine

Gareb Shamus is the recognized leader and authority in the toy, comic book, gaming, action figure and anime/manga industries. He has been featured numerous times on CNN, CNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX, and in many leading newspapers and magazines including The NY Times, The Wall St. Journal, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, and Variety. Mr. Shamus was recently featured on the cover of Inc. Magazine as a world renown pop-culture expert.

Toy Wishes is the $22 billion toy industry's leading consumer voice for what toys to buy throughout the year and especially during the holiday season.

Toy Wishes has the #1 press event devoted to toys with hundreds of the country's top media outlets and toy companies in attendance. The Holiday and Spring edition of Toy Wishes magazine and www.toywishes.com is read and seen by millions of people, with Toys Wishes media impressions in the hundreds of millions.

Wizard has the leading pop-culture website, magazines and conventions seen, read and attended by millions of fans each month. Wizard, the company's flagship title covers everything in the character-based genre from movies, TV shows, comic books, toys, video games and anything that's hot and popular. The magazines are sold in over 40 countries; with 4 successful pop-culture extravaganzas located in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and Los Angeles together drew over 130,000 consumers in 2007, and the www.wizarduniverse.com website reaches millions every month.

 

Toby Bloomberg

Combining over 15-years of traditional strategic marketing and with the lessons learned from her adventures in social media, Toby’s company, Bloomberg Marketing/Diva Marketing, helps (the people in) organizations join the new conversation, from blogs, to social networking to blogger relations .. without getting blown-up. She promises not to take the training wheels off until you can ride without wobbling!

One of her passions is helping marketers “get” the benefits of social media so it’s not a surprise that you can find Toby speaking and consulting on the topic at conferences and for organizations such as 3M, M/A/R/C, GourmetStation, American Marketing Association, PRSA, New Communications Forum, Theraplex, BlogWorld, Cox Communications, Purina and BlogHer.

Toby’s blog Diva Marketing  www.divamarketingblog.com is among the highest ranked solo written female blog on Ad Age Power 150. Launched in 2004, Diva Marketing was one of the first “blog brands” and Toby is frequently referred to as the “social media marketing diva."

Toby is also an adjunct professor at Goizueta School of Business at Emory University where she teaches an innovative course on management consulting.

Her media credits include articles about marketing and social media published in Marketing News, Portland Business Journal, Impact (India publication), L’actualite Alimentaire (Canada publication)
WEMagazine, RevenueToday and Atlanta Business-to-Business. She has been quoted about blogs in various publications including INC magazine, BusinessWeek, Wall Street Journal and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Entrepneur.com, MSNBC and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

She is profiled in the best selling book about how blogs are changing business communications, Naked Conversations and in the book Now Is Gone; her Blogger Stories blog www.bloggerstories.com is included in the book Clear Blogging.

Toby serves on the board of the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association and Divine Caroline and is a teaching artist for the Alliance Theatre. She holds a degree from Emerson College and has performed post-baccalaureate studies in marketing and management at Emory University.  

She is a Yankee from Boston living in the South with her YouTube “rock star” Westie pup Max, who occasionally finds his way into Diva Marketing. Toby’s favorite niece is Jessica Robyn and her favorite nephew is Scott. As they remind her .. it’s easy to have a favorite niece and nephew when you have just one!

John Ovrutsky

As a corporate leader with HBO, and as a successful entrepreneur founding Time Out on Demand, Ovrutsky has always been a prime mover and leader. He has consistently started and run successful and innovative businesses—both on his own and as a part of HBO and SONY in Japan.

With more than 20 years of media management expertise, Ovrutsky started City on Demand and Time Out New York on Demand in 2005. Hundreds of short form videos are produced; many reflecting the editorial point of view of Time Out’s magazine editors.

Time Out on Demand launched on Time Warner Cable of NYC in November 2005 and www.timeoutnewyork.tv  pioneered video based internet guides in Sept, 2006. yahoo.broadway.com chose City on Demand to produce and distribute behind the scenes video features of Broadway shows and personalities. Ovrutsky is currently Executive Producer and Video Consultant for Time Out New York, who acquired the properties from City on Demand on Jan 1, 2008.

Before founding City on Demand in April 2004, John served as Senior Vice President of HBO, responsible for the Direct-to-Home satellite affiliate business including sales, marketing, promotion, finance, public relations, day-to-day operations and business administration with HBO's national satellite distributors.  Ovrutsky also served on the Boards of HBO’s international ventures and was Vice Chairman of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications national trade organization.

An innovative and conceptual marketer, Ovrutsky’s business development initiatives built a new $800MM revenue line for HBO in less than nine years.  Ovrutsky developed HBO’s business and marketing plans to maximize launches and subscriber acquisition.  He created and implemented unique creative and tactical strategies for each client while building DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) brand identity for HBO/CINEMAX channels and multiplex brands.  Ovrutsky also designed innovative consumer promotions utilizing tie-ins with internationally recognized brands such as Fuji, Kodak, Blockbuster, RCA, Circuit City and Best Buy. 

Prior to his time at HBO, Ovrutsky served as General Manager for American business personnel at SONY Corporation in Tokyo, Japan where he developed and taught language and business training courses for SONY employees throughout the country.

John has appeared on multiple panels at the Consumer Electronics show and other media events, and has lectured at the University of South Carolina, University of Denver and UC San Diego.

Ovrutsky has a B.A from Franklin and Marshall College and an M.F.A. from the University of California, San Diego.

Jules Polonetsky

Jules Polonetsky serves as Co-chair and Director of the Future of Privacy Forum.

As AOL’s former Chief Privacy Officer and SVP for Consumer Advocacy, Jules was responsible for ensuring that AOL’s users could trust the company with their information and for educating employees about best practices for advertising, content, and product development.

Jules previously served for four years as Vice President, Integrity Assurance, at America Online Inc. The Integrity Assurance team was responsible for a wide range of consumer protection and risk management issues for AOL’s brands (America Online, AIM, Netscape, Compuserve, Mapquest, MoviePhone, Spinner, WinAmp, ICQ, Advertising.com) including privacy, advertising policy, content and community standards, product standards, parental controls, safety and accessibility for users with disabilities.

From March 2000 through April 2002, Jules was Chief Privacy Officer and Special Counsel at DoubleClick, the advertising and marketing technology company that at the time was the largest internet company in New York City. In that role, he worked with DoubleClick clients to institute and police their privacy policies and managed compliance with data protection requirements for DoubleClick subsidiaries world-wide. In his Special Counsel role, Jules oversaw DoubleClick’s government affairs activities and consumer related advertising practices.

From January 1, 1998 until he joined DoubleClick in March 2000, Jules served as the NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. As New York City’s chief consumer law enforcement official, Jules was responsible for ensuring that all consumer advertising and sales complied with City, State and Federal consumer protection laws.

Jules served as an elected member of the New York State Assembly from 1994 to 1997. From November 1992 through 1993, Jules was a legislative aide to Congressman Charles Schumer and was a District Representative for Congressman Steve Solarz from 1990 to 1992.

Jules practiced law in the New York office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan from 1989 to 1990. He is a graduate of New York University School of Law and Yeshiva University, and is admitted to the Bars of New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Jules is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

Jules has served on the boards of a number of privacy and consumer protection organizations including TRUSTe, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the Privacy Committee of the Direct Marketing Association, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit of the Council of BBB’s, the Better Business Bureau (NY Region), and the Network Advertising Initiative. From 2000-2002, Jules chaired the CPO Council of the Internet Advertising Bureau.

In 2001, Crain’s NY Business magazine named Jules one of the top technology leaders in New York City.

Jules is a regular speaker at privacy and marketing industry events and has testified or presented as an industry expert before Congressional committees and the Federal Trade Commission.

Bobby Zuckman

Bobby Zuckman is a Sales leader, Business Strategist, Creative Marketer and Motivator with a proven track record of success at blue chip firms and as an entrepreneur.  Bobby was the founder and visionary behind Zenergy Interactive, a technology company in the coaching and consulting industry and has consulted with sales and marketing organizations in the technology and publishing industries.  In addition to his entrepreneurial experience he has held positions of leadership with companies such as LexisNexis, GTE and The Hunter Group.  Bobby lives in Atlanta and is currently the Vice President of Sales for Australian based, Billback Systems.

Scott Monty

www.scottmonty.com

The best way to describe Scott is “Renaissance Man.” Friends and colleagues that know Scott from one facet of his life are very frequently surprised to learn of his interests and talents in other areas.

Scott’s main talent is as a marketing and communications professional focused on the digital industry – specifically on social media. His career spans a number of industries such as healthcare, pharma, biotech, travel, automotive, tech, and communications, and includes a wide range of clients, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Some of Scott’s clients include American Airlines, Audi, Starwood Hotels, IBM Healthcare & Life Sciences, Boston Scientific, The Coca-Cola Company, Millipore, Motorola and Kraft Foods, as well as numerous small-cap and start-up ventures.

Scott currently holds the title of Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager at Ford Motor Company, where he heads up the social media practice. Already internationally recognized for its Digital Snippets news releases, under Scott's leadership Ford will enter a new phase of digital communications strategy.

As Consigliere for crayon, LLC, Scott served as the primary point of contact for clients, representing their interests to the rest of the team. But as his title connotes, his role elevated his connection with the client beyond a typical account service role. He took his responsibility as trusted advisor very seriously, counseling clients with a firm understanding of their industry, a breadth of knowledge of the landscape of new marketing, coupled with a personal approach that deepens the relationship.

Scott joined crayon after three years with PJA Advertising + Marketing, a BtoB shop that specializes in the high tech and health sciences industries, where he helped clients with integrated brand campaigns and led an e-newsletter practice for a major client. Previously involved in the managed care and biotech/pharma/medical device consulting space, he has served in a variety of sales, marketing and communications roles. In addition to his marketing background, Scott is an active blogger and podcaster. He writes about issues relevant to the intersection of advertising, marketing and PR at The Social Media Marketing Blog and also writes The Baker Street Blog, a literary undertaking. Scott has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, has guest-hosted the podcast Marketing Over Coffee, has been interviewed on numerous marketing podcasts, and is a recognized thought leader in the marketing industry.

Scott received his Master’s in Medical Science from Boston University’s School of Medicine concurrently with his MBA from BU’s Graduate School of Management. He lives in the greater Dearborn area with his wife and two young sons, golfs all too infrequently, and has a hidden talent for voice over work.

Alan Laifer

Alan Laifer is a successful entrepreneur and angel investor with over 15 years experience in online advertising and marketing. During his career he has helped promote and grow the online and direct to consumer properties for many global properties including NASCAR and the National Hockey League.

Most recently, he co-founded and was the CEO (2001-2008) for Datran Media one of the largest privately held digital marketing technology companies. While at Datran Media he took the company from a start up to a category leader in less than 3 years. Along the way, he forged client and partner relationships with many Fortune 500 companies, online industry leaders and advertising agencies including Microsoft, IAC, Turner Broadcasting System and OgilvyOne Worldwide.

Frank Morgano

Frank Morgano is a digital advertising professional with more than 15 years experience working with global brands and top interactive companies. Currently the Vice President Sales, East Coast for EyeWonder, he leads the sales efforts with a team of ten, working with digital creative and media agencies along the east coast.

Prior to joining EyeWonder Frank founded and lead Endemic Media, a boutique online advertising sales firm. Endemic Media was the online ad sales solution for American Express Publishing and their Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure brands, and a number of other online publishers.

Before Endemic Media Frank worked in various sales capacities with Time Inc./Pathfinder, The New York Times Digital, and DoubleClick, where he co-managed the company's advertising sales relationships with Ogilvy, Ameritrade, and IBM.

Aaron Strout

Aaron Strout has recently joined Austin, TX based, Powered as the VP of marketing. As the head of marketing at Powered, Aaron focuses not only on day to day marketing activities but also provides a social voice for the company. In this role, Aaron continues with his speaking, blogging, podcasting and social networking activities with an eye toward creating awareness and lead generation for the company.

Prior to joining Powered, Aaron was the Vice President of Social Media at Mzinga, a Burlington, Massachusetts-based provider of online communities and social networks for businesses. In his role, Aaron focused on tapping into the power of social media for business. In addition to his knowledge of the interactive and new media landscape, Aaron has more than 15 years of online marketing and advertising experience, with a strong background in integrated and online marketing.

Before joining Mzinga, Aaron worked at Fidelity Investments in their retail division, with a focus on online and acquisition marketing. Aaron's work at Fidelity revolved around Web strategy & marketing, as well as the development of interactive and print campaigns, including direct mail, e-mail, banner & print ads, and event marketing.

Aaron is also a founding member and former president of (BIMA) and a member and former board member of the Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX). Aaron was also recently elected an interim board member for the prestigious Social Media Club. He is part of a team responsible for creating standards around social media and community.