Greetings DC and beyond!
Well, we tried to do something a little different for our April event, but unfortunately the weather fairies and a number of other circumstances didn’t cooperate. A million apologies to the hardy souls that came out. We will make it up to you (see below). Rest assured that we will stick to indoor venues from now on.
If you follow me on Twitter (@DistrictOfAris), you probably know that I love politics. And social media. And happy hour. I am very pleased to announce that our May event will contain all three, along with an all-star panel. Read on for details:
Date/time:
Thursday May 17, 2012
6:00-8:00 pm
Note: we moved from our customary Wednesday in order to get a kick-ass venue
(add to your iCal calendar)
Location:
Policy Restaurant and Lounge
1904 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(view in Google Maps)
Topic:
The 2008 Presidential Elections fundamentally changed the way that political campaigns are run at the grassroots level. Going into this year’s elections, our panel will discuss the impact and importance that social media will play in the election process. We’re talking about methods, best practices and trends rather than partisan ideology. How will social media be leveraged to influence voters and which platforms will rise to the forefront? Join us and find out as we get into politics at Policy!
Moderator:
Omar McCrimmon – @omarjmc Public Affairs, National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute
Omar is a DC native and accomplished communications professional specializing in new media, online communications, and media relations. Prior to joining NIH, he spent two years at The Center for American Progress, one of the country’s leading liberal think tanks.
Panel:
Ethan Klapper – @ethanklapper Politics Social Media Editor, The Huffington Post
Ethan is the politics social media editor at The Huffington Post, where he manages the social media presence of the site’s popular politics section. Previously, Ethan was an online editor at National Journal and a contributor to 10,000 Words, a blog about journalism and technology. He graduated cum laude from American University in 2011. During college, Ethan interned at National Journal, The Washington Post, BNA, The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News and mediabistro.com. He is a native of Rye Brook, N.Y.
Paul Winn – @PaulSMG Political Director, Smart Media Group
As political director, Paul brings extensive media buying expertise to Smart Media Group. During his time at Smart Media, the agency has grown to be the highest billing Republican buying agency and boasts the largest staff of any Republican firm. Known for sophisticated research, fast responsiveness and tenacious negotiation, Smart Media Group delivers Madison Avenue media buying to Republican candidates and conservative causes.
In 2010, Paul oversaw $250 million in media spending for candidates and issues across the U.S. and had the privilege of working with Senator Rubio, Congresswoman Noem and the U.S. Chamber—to name a select few. Prior to joining Smart Media Group, Paul managed political advertising and public relations campaigns for GOP candidates around the nation.
Matthew Gagnon - @MatthewGagnon Director Of Digital Strategy, Republican Governors Association
Matthew Gagnon is a Republican strategist, specializing in leveraging digital tools in the political campaign space. He is currently the Director of Digital Strategy for the Republican Governors Association, where he is responsible for the development and execution of online campaigns in thirteen states and territories, as well as the Wisconsin recall. Prior to his time at the RGA, Gagnon was Deputy Director of Digital Strategy for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the 2010 cycle, which saw the GOP pick up a net of seven seats in the U.S. Senate. He has also spent some time in the private sector, and on Capitol Hill, where he served as Director of New Media Communications for Senator Susan Collins of his native state of Maine. Matt lives in Kingstowne, Virginia with his wife Erin and five year old son, Alec.
Pricing:
Pay $5 ahead of time (RSVP via the Eventbrite invitation), or $10 at the door. Credit cards are accepted (and preferred!!), as we do not have cash on hand.
If you registered for the April event, this one’s on us!! You should have received an email with instructions on how to claim the promo code. If not, please DM @SMCDC or email us at .
Final notes:
We would like to thank Policy Lounge for graciously hosting us and helping promote this event on Twitter. You guys rock!! Thanks!!
As always, if you have ANY questions/comments/concerns, we are just a tweet away at @SMCDC. See you in two weeks!!
