SMC Chicago Focuses on the Hospitality Industry

Thanks to crowdSPRING, we’ll be meeting up at their headquarters for this month's event on Thursday, May 28 to join in their first anniversary party. We plan to go back to Wheeler Mansion later this summer. Registration is capped at 200.

Overflow/After Party

An overflow/after party will be held on the rooftop at Bottom Lounge (http://www.bottomlounge.com), 1375 W. Lake, (312) 929-2022. Drafts are only $4. Festivities will begin at 5:30. The main event will join in the fun at 7:30.

Sponsors

Event location: crowdSPRING: http://www.crowdSPRING.com

Video: Big Teeth Productions http://bigteeth.tv

Refreshments: Windy City Social http://www.windycitysocial.com  

Food: Domino's Pizza http://www.dominos.com

Schedule

Registration 5:30-6:00

Panel 6:00-6:45

Reception 6:45-7:30

Afterparty 7:30 - ?

Topic: Discussing Chicago's Hospitality Social Media Scene

Speakers

Theresa Carter from The Local Tourist, @thelocaltourist

Theresa Carter is the founder and publisher of The Local Tourist: Chicago’s Neighborhood Website at http://www.thelocaltourist.com, speaks at the monthly Chic To Be Geek series and is on the advisory board of Social Media Club Chicago. She’s an Emmy award-winning member of the NBC5 Street Team and a Peter Lisagor Award finalist for Best Community and Neighborhood News. When she’s not telling people what to do and where to go, she’s training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

Andrew Mason from Groupon, @groupon

Launched in November 2008, Groupon (http://groupon.thepoint.com/) features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in a variety of cities across the United States . They have about 25 people working in their Chicago office, along with a smattering of people in Groupon's other cities. Their company philosophy is to treat their customers the way they like to be treated.

Watch Crain’s Chicago video interview with Andrew: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/multiMedia.pl?mmId=719

Mike Evans, GrubHub.com, @grubhub

GrubHub.com began back in 2004 by two guys -- Matt Maloney and Mike Evans -- who were working for a major Internet company in Chicago at the time. As it often happened, Mike and Matt found themselves working late, hungry, and in need of delivery. Both were tired of the usual pizza and Thai places. They turned to the Internet to find a listing of Chicago restaurants that would deliver to them. But, the Internet failed them; there was no place online that could answer their simple question. Matt and Mike decided this needed to change immediately. Matt looked at Mike, and Mike looked at Matt. One said “Grub” and the other said “Hub” and, with that, GrubHub.com was born. The local Chicago site can be found at http://www.grubhub.com/chicago/.

Dawn Reiss, @dawnreiss

Dawn (http://mediabistro.com/dawnreiss) is a freelance writer who previously worked as a St. Petersburg Times and Dallas Morning News staff writer. She’s known for quirky, off-beat features about travel, among other topics, and has been published in more than 25 outlets including: Travel + Leisure, CNN.com, American Way, MSN.com, Chicago magazine, Chicago Tribune and USA Today.  Dawn’s celebrity profiles include: Jerry Springer, Maya Angelou, Wyland, Bob Costas and Magic Johnson.

About the sponsors

crowdSPRING, @crowdspring

crowdSPRING is a little company with big dreams based in Chicago -- one of the greatest cities in the world. Founded by Ross Kimbarovsky and Mike Samson, crowdSPRING was started to help people from around the world access creative talent, and to help creatives from across the globe find new customers.

With backgrounds in both the creative industry and law, crowdSPRING is a labor of love for a team that believes strongly in the creative process and the protection of intellectual property. They left no stone unturned -- from free, binding legal contract generation for every transaction and advanced digital watermarking to a built-in, secure escrow service and a feedback rating system -- they tried to make a safe environment for both Buyers and Creatives alike.

By helping buyers reach countless creatives across the globe, they're changing the game for the little guy. Now small businesses, one-man shops and individuals anywhere can tap into a global pool of creatives. In fact, they're so convinced that global talent pool will give your project new ideas, different perspectives and a far better final product -- they guarantee it.

Big Teeth Productions, @big_teeth

Big Teeth Productions is Chicago's Video Based Smile Factory Since 2005. What's that mean? Well, they are a company that stays on the pulse of what's new and necessary in the topsy turvy marketing atmosphere. They pride themselves on being able to tell the best story in every video they create, but they also know "the game" thanks to their decade plus experience in the ad agency world.

About Social Media Club Chicago

Social Media Club is a worldwide organization, with local chapters, that serves as a connecting organization for anyone interested in social media. Membership is free and open to all levels, including beginners. Meeting monthly since October 2008, Chicago’s SMC chapter presents events that mix socializing, networking and learning. Recent SMC Chicago programs include: the future of social media with Jason Falls; Brand U.0 with David Armano; Social Media Meets Chicago Media; and BtoB and Social Media. For more information, follow @smcchicago on twitter or visit us on Facebook.