Pinterest. Springboard. Foodspotting. Untapped. These are just a few of the many platforms that have revealed the immense business building power of social media in bringing communities of like-minded people together. They have also captured headlines due to their unequaled growth.

But what business power do these connected communities provide? Where is the opportunity for a brand to participate?  How can organizations leverage these communities to drive revenue growth and profits? Does every consumer app really have the potential to be a new kind of media channel?

Our C-level panel of experts will discuss the influence of online communities, the opportunities they open to drive growth, creating richer experiences with corporate brands, and the new business models that we should consider to drive innovation from the outside in.

From a C-Level Perspective, you will learn:

• How and why a new wave of apps has fostered a deeper level of sharing between like-minded individuals
• The power that private online communities present for B2B and B2C companies in driving corporate exposure and innovation, both inside and outside its office walls
• How companies can begin to take advantage of and learn from its private online communities without ‘turning off’ its participants
• How a company can build itself around these communities to drive growth and market presence

Our C-Level Panel includes: 

Greg Daines, CEO, Knowligent, Inc.

Greg is an MIT grad, a serial entrepreneur and expert in the management of innovation, technology, and intellectual property. He has spent the past 15 years helping many of the world's most innovative organizations rethink how they integrate innovation and IP strategy.  Greg is the creator of IP Portfolio, a widely used management system that integrates IP management into an organization's core business process.  His software currently helps manage over 40,000 patent filings and over $400M a year in patent licensing for a wide range of clients.  His current focus is on how leaders can connect their approach to innovation and IP with their organization's core purpose to drive and leverage disruptive forces.  In addition to his work at Knowligent, Greg has founded two other companies, and also consults, writes, and speaks on innovation topics at MIT and elsewhere. 

Jen Reddy, SVP, Global Marketing, Communispace

As the SVP of Global Marketing at Communispace, Jen’s primary role is to expand our global reach while continuing to build upon our existing US presence. Some of her responsibilities include brand building, lead generation, thought leadership and product marketing. 

Since joining Communispace in 2006, Jen has played many roles throughout the organization. Most recently, she has overseen the launch of the Communispace website, spearheaded the evolution of our new brand identity and helped drive the creation of key thought leadership pieces. Her passion for social media, branding and cultural trends informs every aspect of her role.

Prior to joining Communispace, Jen worked as a Brand Planning Director and for over 12 years, she helped guide some of the world’s largest brands at Mullen, The Martin Agency, and Arnold Worldwide. Throughout her career in advertising, Jen had the pleasure to work with clients such as Timberland, Citizens Bank, FootJoy/Titleist, ESPN.com, Tyson Foods, TJ Maxx, SAAB, Hanes, Royal Caribbean and UPS.

In her free time, Jen can be found on the beach (usually Nantucket) with her friends and family.  She also enjoys going to Indie movies, wine tastings, and adding to her shoe collection!

Mike Schneider, SVP, Director Digital Incubator, allen & gerritsen

@SchneiderMike is a well-known and sought after leader in the world of mobile, content, and media thinking/strategy. He runs the Digital Incubator for allen & gerritsen, AdAge's best place to work in media and marketing for 2 years running, here in Boston. He is a regular speaker at conferences like SXSW, WHERE20, adtech, EDGE, Social Fresh and more; he is a contributor to Harvard Business review, the host of technology show Techinterruption, a regular TV contributor for all things media and tech, and the co-author of Location-Based Marketing For Dummies.