Sheiila Bacon

Sheila Bacon is founder, Principal and CEO of BaconGlobal Group, an innovative digital strategy and social media agency (http://www.BaconGlobal.com) based in Dallas, Texas. With over 25 years in interactive communications, advertising, marketing and public relations she has a unique blend of new media experience derived from working within leading public relations and interactive agencies and at top Fortune 50 companies. Ms. Bacon is the former US Southwest Digital Strategy leader for Burson-Marsteller Global Public Relations where she served as the strategic engagement lead for brand and reputation management, labor and crisis communications, blogging, social networking, integrated advertising, digital customer experience, and emerging mobile and Web multi-media technologies.

Before joining Burson-Marsteller, she directed VML Texas, part of a $25 million dollar interactive marketing agency. Ms. Bacon rose to executive level positions for two industry leaders --Sprint and GTE/Verizon. At Sprint she ran the Global e-Business Solutions group and was also in charge of IP Application Solutions - working directly with developers from Silicon Valley to create innovative applications. At GTE/Verizon, she helped create SuperPages.com the online yellow pages connecting buyers and sellers. She also spent 14 years in financial retail services marketing at Bank of America and predecessors banks in various roles including becoming Chief Marketing Officer at Guaranty Federal Bank.

Ms. Bacon has provided interactive insight and expertise in problem solving for a variety digital challenges at the crossroads of communications and technology. A frequent speaker, Ms. Bacon has given the opening address and served on expert panels for several of the industry leading events including Internet World in LA, Chicago, Miami and NYC. She has served on European panel of International Communications Innovators in London as well as written numerous articles and white papers on digital strategy issues. Ms. Bacon has won numerous communications and creative web animation and design awards including PRISM, Mercury, Hermes, iNOVA, MarCom, and the Interactive Marketing Association's Most Effective Email Campaign.

Clients have included CEO's and senior leaders at AMC Theatres, Bank of America, Cisco, Guaranty Bank, HP, JC Penney, La Quinta, Master Card, Nokia, PacifiCare, Republic Bank, Simon Malls, Southwest Airlines, Sprint, TCEQ, Texas Health & Human Services, TXU Energy, United Health Insurance, Verizon and Yellow Transportation. Sheila holds a Masters from Southern Methodist University, and undergraduate degree from University of Hawaii and Sophia International University in Tokyo, Japan. She lives with her family in Dallas, Texas.

Brian Harshaw

Brian Harshaw is Principal and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of BaconGlobal Group, an innovative digital strategy and social media agency (http://www.BaconGlobal.com) based in Dallas, Texas. With over 18 years in technology, applying web development tools for communications advertising, marketing and applications integration, Mr. Harshaw views the role of a CTO a bit differently than some do. By seeing a CTO as being first and foremost a business person, and secondly a technologist, rather than the other way around. In this dual role, Mr. Harshaw excels in his ability to help make the translation of business needs into technology requirements, and translation of technological capabilities into business opportunities. As CTO, Mr. Harshaw leads BGG in researching, developing and designing next-generation hardware and software technologies for all BGG architecture platforms to optimize social networking effectiveness for our clients. SMU.

Previously, Mr. Harshaw held leadership positions with leading interactive agencies, including Slingshot an independent mid-size Texas interactive agency and with VML --a WPP company that is currently ranked as the worlds largest digital advertising agency. In the roles of technical Account Director, Project Lead, and primary Digital Strategist Mr. Harshaw has been credited with developing key innovations in social media engagement, analytics and ROI measurement. Prior to working in the agency world, Mr. Harshaw spent a number of years in the Telecommunications industry, most recently with Sprint's Global Business Unit as Group Manager, for e-Business Solutions managing the Division's Global Web sites and overall technical direction. Mr. Harshaw has worked with leading brands including United HealthCare, Waste Management, Nokia Online, D.R. Horton, American Leather, and Microsoft. Mr. Harshaw received a B.A. in Communications/Advertising from Southern Methodist University (SMU). Mr. Harshaw and his family live in Dallas, Texas.