Digital Diversity Network to host LA Cloud Gathering in partnership with Annenberg

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - May 31, 2013 - PRLog -- (NEW YORK, NY)  -- Digital Diversity Network (DDN) a national trade association focused on advancing diversity in hi-tech and digital media, will host Leveraging the Digital Evolution on June 4, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Davidson Conference Center on the Campus of the University of Southern California (USC).  This will be DDN’s first West Coast conference and will focus on the evolution of media, entertainment, marketing and e-commerce as digital media and demographic shifts are transforming traditional business models.  USC Annenberg’s School of Communications and Journalism is the organization’s presenting partner.

Speakers for the organization’s second “Cloud Gathering Conference” represent a diverse group of industry professionals and thought leaders from leading consumer, entertainment, media and mobile brands.  Industry leaders will examine issues as far ranging as how brands are evolving and leveraging the possibilities of connected entertainment; how leading companies are keeping pace with consumer behavior in an increasingly interconnected world; how actors, writers, producers and movie studios are adapting as technology blurs the lines between the film and video game mediums; and as digital video launches a new obsession with intellectual property, how do content creators, talent and brand marketers build audiences and breakout success?

“Our mission is resonating with corporations and executives across a broad spectrum of digital industries and disciplines, said DDN Board Chair Tracy Lawrence.  “We’re very excited about our LA Cloud Gathering and the partnership we’ve forged with USC’s Annenberg School of Communications.  DDN is the go-to place to connect with diverse thought leaders who are both creating and leveraging digital content.”

Sponsors of Leveraging the Digital Evolution include:  Bloomberg, Comcast NBCUniversal, News Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Time Warner, Viacom, Warner Bros. Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company.

DDN launched in October 2012 with the goal of taking a leadership role in advancing diversity in

the digital media and hi-tech industries.  With a specific emphasis on increasing diversity in leadership and ownership, the DDN engages members and sponsoring companies through high-level leadership forums, on-line education, social media and networking events. The Los Angeles Cloud Gathering is the second in its series of Conferences that began last November with the Cloud Gathering Conference in New York City

Confirmed Participants

Ayinde Alakoye, Founder/CEO, Hitch Radio

Albert Cheng, EVP & Chief Product Officer, Digital Media, Disney ABC Television Group

Malik Ducard, Content Partnerships Director, YouTube

Andrea Farr, Chairman & CEO, Black Sports Agents Foundation

Michelle Fisher, CEO & Founder, Blaze Mobile

Liz Jenkins, VP, Corporate Development, Media Rights Capital

Jae Kim, Chief Content Officer, All Def Digital

Cheryl Lynch, VP, Corporate Communications NUVOtv

Kay Madati, Head of Entertainment & Media Global Solutions, Facebook

Kevin McFall, VP, Media, Marketing, Digital Strategy & Licensing, Johnson Publishing Co.

Dorinda Marticorena, SVP, Worldwide Marketing & New Technology, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Martez Moore, EVP, Digital Media/Strategy & Business Development, BET Networks

Mauricio Mota, Chief Storytelling Officer & Co-Founder, The Alchemists

Doug Neil, SVP, Digital Marketing, Universal Pictures

Guy Primus, Co-founder, Tentpole Ventures

Rick Ramirez, SVP, Targeted Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures

Professor Jonathan Taplin, Director, Annenberg Innovation Lab, University of Southern California (USC)

Betty Tran-Chillino, Head of Brand Marketing, Machinima

Jay Tucker, Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Programs, Institute for Communication Technology Management, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California

Andrea Wade, President, Diamond Brand Amplification

Tariq M. Walker, VP, Creative Development, Aol On, Branded Entertainment Group

Shana Waterman, SVP, Event Series & Multi-Platform Programming, Fox Broadcasting Company

Hamet Watt, Co-founder Co-CEO of bLife and Co-founder and Chairman of MoviePass

Ric Whitney, Head of VOD/EST Content & Affiliate Marketing, Intel Media

Ernest Wilson, III, Dean, Annenberg School of Communications, University of Southern California (USC)

Visit www.ddno.org to register for the Cloud Gathering Conference. For more information about conference sponsorships or registration, contact Kathy A. Johnson at (646) 202-2643.  Follow the conversation using #DDNO

ABOUT DDN

The Digital Diversity Network (DDN) is a 501(c)6 trade association formed in 2012 to advance diversity in leadership and ownership within the digital media and hi-tech sectors.  With a specific emphasis on recruitment, leadership development and pipeline expansion, the DDN works to ensure that the hi-tech producer/earner economy mirrors the demographics of key consumer/user groups.  While primarily an on-line community, the DDN will engage members and sponsoring companies through high-level leadership forums, on-line education, social media and networking events.