Rick Murray, President of Edleman Chicago, will chair a panel of experts to discuss how Social Media is changing the future of politics, finance, innovation and lifestyles.
Speaker Biography
Rick Murray, President of Edleman Chicago
Since joining Edelman in 2001, Rick has served as General Manager of the agency’s Diversified Services unit; President of me2revolution (a pioneering social media lab); and global President of Edelman Digital.
Mr. Murray is a frequent speaker and media spokesman on social media, social networks, word of mouth marketing and the future of communications.
His career has included positions as executive vice president of GolinHarris International; president of Motivation Media and The Promotion Network. Rick started his career in sales and marketing at Ocean Spray then Pepsi-Cola Canada.
Mr. Murray sits on Advisory Boards at Auburn and Georgetown Universities, and has been a guest lecturer to undergrad and graduate-level students at leading academic institutions in the US, Canada and Europe.
He holds a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of Vermont. An endurance cyclist, amateur chef and garage-band musician, he lives in Northfield, IL with his wife Lea and their three daughters. You can find him on Facebook and Skype as rickatedelman, and on Twitter @rickmurray.
Michael Krempasky, Cofounder of Redstate.com and Online Coalition
Mike Krempasky joined Edelman in August 2005 as Vice President, focusing on internet strategy and communications, marketing, and advocacy for Edelman clients. He was responsible for the development and launch of the first blog for the largest corporation in the United States.
Mike combines an expertise in blog communications and direct marketing with a background in grassroots political organizing. Before coming to Edelman, Mike was the Political Director of American Target Advertising, a full-service creative direct response marketing agency where he helped companies and organizations develop and use technology to enhance traditional fundraising and advocacy programs.
Mike is the co-founder of RedState.com, a Republican community blog. Mike is also a Director of the RedState.org PAC, a political committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. He has been a blogger since 2001, and in that capacity testified before the FEC in 2005 on the regulation of political speech on the internet and became one of the first bloggers called to offer expert testimony before a Committee in the House of Representatives.
He is the co-founder of The Online Coalition, a bipartisan association of bloggers and online professionals formed early last year to support freedom of speech and political participation online. Mike is a frequent lecturer at technology and internet seminars.
Michael A. Bassik, Senior Vice President, Global Strategy Group
Michael A. Bassik manages Global Strategy Group’s digital practice, delivering winning interactive marketing strategies to GSG’s political, non-profit and corporate clients.
A frequent lecturer on emerging political trends, Michael is the recipient of the first-ever joint award for Excellence in Digital Media from Yahoo! And the American Association of Political Consultants and has won ove 90 industry awards on behalf of clients including Obama for America, the Democratic National Committee, Defenders of Wildlife, Media Matters for America and the United Nations Foundation.
Michael graduated cum laude from both the University of Pennsylvania and American University’s Washington College of Law.
