TechBiz Connection Presents Creating, Managing and Building Personal and Business Social Influence

IRVINE, Calif. - Feb. 13, 2014 - PRLog -- TechBiz Connection will present a panel of experts in creating, managing and building personal and business social influence who will address an audience of local business executives on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 6:00-9:00 PM at the law offices of Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear in Irvine.

According to Jack Bicer, TechBiz Connection president and event moderator, whether you are on a first date, a job interview, or getting a client, the first thing someone does it look you up online. What they see is an online reputation. “If you are a professional intrigued by today’s evolving world of social media, personal online identities, and online business branding, you need to learn what it means to have an online presence and what this says about you (or your business, brand),” Bicer noted. “After all, your online reputation IS your reputation.”

The panel members will explain how to build on tactics for online reputation management by analysis, social media, content creation and search engine optimization. They will also cover issues on what not to do online and examples of those that do it well and engage with people the right way.

Moderator Bicer is founder and CEO of SEKUR.me, a mobile security and mobile payments company. He is also the CEO of Septium, a custom Web and Mobile App Development company. Prior to Septium, he held several CTO roles since 1996. A 30+ year software industry veteran, he is an industry expert on mobile applications, authentication, SaaS/web software, and payment processing. Inventor of “Uninstall” and “Automatic Software Updates,” Mr. Bicer’s inventions run on every computer and every smartphone today. Previously at Verisign, Symantec and Xerox, he holds a BSc in Communications Engineering from University of Kent, an MSc in Computer Science from George Washington University and attended the Pepperdine MBA program.

Panelist Thumbnail Bios

·         Michael Bonfils is the international managing director of SEM International, a division of International Media Management Corp. Since 1996, he was one of the early pioneers in the search engine industry, working in-house for a multinational firm prior to being in charge of Search Engine Strategy at Business.com in 2000-01.In 2001, his International passion led him to opening up his own firm and an office in Asia after recognizing the need for U.S.-based online marketing agencies requiring an outsourced solution to provide services to their clients outside of the United States. As the demand for his company's services expanded into other countries, he spread out further into Asia, Europe and eventually Latin America. Today, SEM International is a global network of in-country search engine marketing agencies providing a one stop, centralized solution for Intl search engine marketing management, social media, reputation management and content marketing.

·         Pierre Zarokian is a veteran SEO expert who founded Submit Express in 1998, a leading search engine marketing firm. In 2008, he launched iClimber, a social media marketing company and in 2013 he launched Reputation Fighters, a reputation management company. Submit Express has won Inc 5000 award three times and Deloitte Fast 500 twice. He is a writer for Search Engine Watch and Search Engine Journal. He written many articles on the subject of SEO, social media, reputation management, and has spoken in numerous industry trade shows.

·         Al Ramirez, Twitter Political Personality, TBC Board Member believes that just about every politician would want over 200k twitter followers overnight but it’s not always a good thing. During his 2010 bid for the U.S. Senate Al got a gift from Twitter by being placed on their controversial Suggested User List but he quickly found out everyone who follows is not a friend or impressed. But the biggest lesson he learned is that with great gifts come great responsibility and it's up to you to determine what your lasting reputation will be based on how you use it or else be stuck with a white elephant.

·         Crystal Rockwood, president, Rockwood Communications Counsel specializes in high stakes communication issues affecting reputations. Her company provides litigation PR support, website and social media content development and advanced business etiquette. A veteran message strategist, her clients include professional services firms, distributors and manufacturers, celebrities, athletes, sports medical facilities, financial institutions, churches and start-ups. Prior to forming RCC, she was the director of communications at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

The TBC Forum’s discussion and subsequent question-and-answer session is sponsored by Daly-Swartz Public Relations (http://www.dsprel.com); Haynes and Boone LLP (http://www.haynesboone.com); Sekur.me (http://www.sekur.me); Septium Corp.(http://www.septium.com); Smith Micro (http://www.smithmicro.com); and Knobbe Martens, Olson & Bear (http://www.kmob.com).

Admission to the TechBiz Connection event is $20 prepaid and $40 at the door. For further information and RSVP, visit http://www.techbizconnection.org or e-mail president@techbizconnection.org.

TechBiz Connection (http://www.techbizconnection.org) was created to support Southern California business and technology professionals, companies and entrepreneurs by providing timely education and networking opportunities. The organization focuses on where technology and business intersect; everything a successful high-tech company would want to do.

Contact: Daly-Swartz PR for TechBiz Connection

Jeffrey Swartz, 949-470-0075, jeffreyswartz@dsprel.com