2010 Core Conversation

What is a Core Conversation?

A Core Conversation is a moderated, panel discussion about a chosen topic. For this single presentation, everyone attending BarCamp will be in one room. All of the BarCamp’ers are welcome to join in the conversation as it unfolds. The topic of conversation is kept on path by a moderator who will have specific questions for the panel, however the overall direction and tone of the conversation is determined by you, the BarCamp community.

What’s the topic of conversation?

For our first annual BarCamp Jonesboro Core Conversation topic, we have chosen “Turning Friend Requests into Real-life Communities”. By use of Social Media, we are able to form lasting community groups quicker than ever. These groups can be formed online through a group of like-minded people who have come in contact through a series of online networks based around grouping people according likes and dislikes, geo-location, brands of clothing we prefer, where we buy our coffee and many more things which we openly share. However, recently these communities have begun to form real-life community organizations which get together for large events, often spontaneously. We’ll explore how and why this is happening and how you can get involved; not only as a community member, but also from the perspective of both consumers or business owners.

Panel Members

For this Core Conversation, we are honored to have a group of people who have been involved in not only Social Media, but also community building for quite some time with great success. Our panel members come from different backgrounds, professions and markets, as well as a range of locations including Memphis, TN to Northeast Arkansas and even down into Central Arkansas.

Amy Bradley-Hole

Amy Bradley-Hole has worked with luxury brands within the hospitality industry for over 10 years. As a Communications Director, Amy has been responsible for branding, promoting and creating communities for various businesses and organizations.  She’s often asked to speak about the power of personal branding. She has also been a technical and freelance writer and was a former columnist for Consumer Traveler and MSNBC. Amy serves on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Arts Center’s Contemporaries group, and is also a member of the Arkansas chapters of the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators. In her spare time, she enjoys driving her children crazy and making anything and everything, from origami to bread. // twitter: @amybhole

Cotton Rohrscheib

Cotton Rohrscheib has been involved with the web as an entrepreneur and a developer for over a decade now. Cotton is also a partner and co-founder of Pleth, LLC, an Arkansas based technology firm specializing in web development, managed hosting, business class email solutions, and consulting. Cotton also co-founded the Central Arkansas Refresh Group, a user group with over 180 members that meet on a monthly basis to discuss industry related topics and recognize emerging technologies. In addition to working with his clients at Pleth, Cotton also maintains a popular blog and podcast called The Cotton Club, http://thecottonclub.cc, that covers a wide variety of topics related to the web and social media. // twitter: @cottonr

Dave Barger

A University of Memphis graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, who spent time in the Navy and working for major corporations, Barger understands the operating nuances of Corporate America, as well as the impact “the voice of the customer” has on any organization. Now, he has become a leading resource in Memphis for a new revolution in the field of online communication, “Social Networking.” He has been sharing his vision of business in the world of Web 2.0 with entrepreneurs and established companies all over the Memphis area and beyond. Since 2007, he has shared that vision with over 1784 people in 5 states with 65 Social Media/Networking presentations. “Social networking is the realization of a promise the Web made in the early 90′s, that the people would have a voice. That promise is finally coming to life with the proliferation of social media and the wide acceptance of social networking,” Barger said. // twitter: @lalunablanca

Keith Crawford

Keith Crawford is a believer in the power of networks. He’s been a Network Engineer for the past 10 years, specializing in network
infrastructure and security. Three years ago he discovered the revolutionary power of social networks to connect people and communicate ideas, and he’s been an evangelist ever since. He has a passion for creating communities through these networks, as well as helping churches and non-profits utilize this medium to change the world around us. He is an organizer of Little Rock Tweetup, the founder of Arkansas Tweetup, a leader in Southern Socials, a collaborator of Refresh Central Arkansas, and serves on advisory boards for several non-profits. On the rare occasions Keith isn’t at the keyboard, you’ll find him serving in his local church or spoiling his mutt. He lives in Central Arkansas with his wife, Sunshine. // twitter: @tsudo

Steven Trotter

Steven Trotter has been involved in the web, both as a graphic artist and entrepreneur, for over 15 years. However, his real passion is community cultivation. Since he started his first civic club at the age of 11, he has been involved in founding, and participating in, community organizations, both online and off. With the advent of Social Media, he has been able to use these tools to not only form longer-lasting communities, but also to organize events which bring these communities together into cooperative spaces. Steven is the Creative Director at Pleth, LLC, owner of Trotter Designs & Corvus Mobile, a founding member of Jonesboro Coworking, a founding member of Refresh Jonesboro, a casual blogger, an amateur photographer and a very casual kayaker. // twitter: @steventrotter