The first panel of the 2009 GrowSmartBiz Conference addressed how small businesses could increase their productivity and performance through sound marketing and innovation. The panelists included folks like:

- John Arnold (Contant Contact)
- Marissa Levin (Information Experts)
- Ramon Ray (SmallBizTechnology)
- Bob London (London, Ink)

To read more on the live blogging coverage, check out Ken’s post here. You can see the video of the session below?

Marissa Levin, Information Experts

As Founder and CEO of Information Experts, Marissa Levin leads IE’s efforts to create technology-based integrated communications solutions, human capital strategies, and learning strategies for government agencies and for organizations across a wide range of vertical markets. Marissa has led the organization’s entry into the federal market to achieve a sizeable presence in more than 14 agencies spanning all facets of government (civilian, defense, and intelligence), the capture of multiple GSA schedules, the award of the highly competitive OPM TMA Human Capital and Training Contracts, and many others.

Marissa has become known throughout the regional business community as a leader and visionary. She is also the Women’s Entrepreneurship columnist for the DC Examiner, and is a regular columnist for http://www.womengrowbusiness.com and Yahoo. Under her leadership, Information Experts was recently named as a small business success story for USAID, and was named to the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for 2009. She was also named as a 2008 BRAVO Award winner by SmartCEO Magazine, has been named as a 2009 SmartCEO Smart 100 participant, and also named as one of Washington’s Top 100 Technology Titans for 2009 by Washingtonian Magazine.

Additionally, Marissa has been featured in USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal,Working Mother Magazine, Washington Woman Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, BisNow, and on CBS as a successful woman business owner and working mother.

Bob London, London, Ink

Bob London is president and founder of London, Ink, a marketing and communications consulting firm that helps organizations define and prioritize their products and services based on what the market wants — or doesn’t want — to buy. In pioneering the Virtual VP of Marketing concept, Bob works with established and early-stage companies who aren’t ready for the cost and commitment of a full-time marketing executive to assess their market opportunity, determine the strategic options and develop a practical go-to-market plan.

Bob has successfully managed marketing initiatives with annual budgets ranging from the $150 million network tv launch of MCI Friends & Family (back when network tv really meant something) to $75 (seriously!). His work and writing has been profiled or covered by the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Miami Herald, USA Today and Marketing News, the AMA’s flagship magazine, and he recently spoke at Network Solutions’ Unintentional Entrepreneur series. While building London, Ink, Bob has also become known as a serious networker who continually leverages face to face and online networking channels to generate targeted awareness of his business — an approach he has dubbed, “Cloud Marketing.” He is also a published business humor writer — samples can be seen at Bob-servations.com.

John Arnold,

John Arnold is a leading marketing speaker, author, and web marketing expert specializing in email marketing, web marketing, and mobile marketing strategies. John is the author of E-Mail Marketing for Dummies and co-author of the comprehensive desk reference Web Marketing All-In-One for Dummies.

Ramon Ray, SmallBiztechnology.com

Ramon Ray, technology evangelist, is an author, speaker and the editor ofSmallbiztechnology.com. Since 1986, Ramon has been using computers and was first “online” in 1995. He is the author of “Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses”, has written hundreds of technology articles and posted thousands of technology news items on Smallbiztechnology.com. His content is syndicated and read by thousands of readers. He has written technology articles for Entrepreneur, Allbusiness, Inc Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, New York Enterprise Report, CNet, Var Business, TechTarget and other media.

Ramon is not simply a technology writer, but as a former technology consultant, has years of hands on experience in building networks, installing software, upgrading computers, configuring mobile technology and supporting the technology small businesses use on a daily basis. He is often quoted in the media, including Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, WCBS Radio, Crains New York, National Federal of Independent Business, Small Business Advocate Radio Show and has been invited to speak at events including the United States Small Business Administration Service Core of Retired Executives “Strategies for Succeeding in Business”, Inc 500, PC Expo, Internet World, American Woman’s Economic Development Corporation and Business Development Institute events.

Distinctions: Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Board of Director’s and Technology Committee Chairperson, Jim Blasingame’s Small Business Advocate Radio Show, Brain Trust Member IBM, Small Business Expert Panel

Steve King, Emergent Research

Steve is a founding partner at Emergent Research where he leads ongoing research to identify, analyze and forecast the trends and shifts impacting the small business sector of the U.S. and global economies. He also researches the impact of the Internet and connective technologies on media and marketing.

Prior to founding Emergent Research, Steve held a number of executive, general management, and marketing positions with both large and small corporations. He is a Senior Fellow and board member at the Society for New Communications Research and an advisory board member at Pond Ventures.

Regularly quoted in the media and an active public speaker, Steve contributes to US News & World Report, the American Express Open Forum, Intuit’s Small Business United blog and other on and offline publications. Steve blogs on his research at www.smallbizlabs.com.