IMAG 2016

Golden Gateways: Connecting Brands with Believers

Join us in San Francisco for the 12^th Annual IMAG Conference, bringing together independent magazine media executives from around the country. Peer-to-peer networking coupled with peerless intelligence on issues central to enthusiast brands make this meeting essential for all indie leaders. All brands connect with consumers 24/7, moving seamlessly from print to podcast,  TV to telephone, from live stages to likes and shares.  Learn more about this convergence of commerce, content and community, and what IMAG brands can do to bring a  brand together with passionate believers.

Registration sponsored by:

PROGRAM | IMAGINATION AWARDS | WHO ATTENDS | TRAVEL & LOGISTICS | HOTEL 
 

 Please see the agenda page for more details. 
 

Opening Night Dinner at Airbnb  During a visit to the global headquarters, hear how Airbnb became a trusted community marketplace connecting different people from different backgrounds and creating personal experiences everywhere.     Chip Conley Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy, Airbnb   Jonathan Mildenhall CMO, Airbnb   View from the Top: Stories and Strategies CEOs share individual overviews on the growth-drivers for their companies this year, followed by a moderated discussion. John Battelle Editor in Chief and CEO NewCo (moderator) Andrew Clurman President and CEO Active Interest Media Chuck Croft President,  Kalmbach Publishing Co. Paul Rossi President, The Economist Media Businesses s BIG IDEAS Showcase Hosted by August Home Publishing's Don Peschke Numerous studies in 90 minutes will offer innovative solutions IMAG companies are using to grow their business. This fast-format afternoon will provide you with new ideas you can take home for immediate action.         Communities Who Love Their Brands Philippe Guelton, CEO, SheKnows Media Come hear how SheKnows is forging a new kind of business model that seamlessly integrates users, editors and content creators while engaging more than 91 million unique monthly visitors, and generating 2 billion ad impressions per month.     Social Impact Jim Anderson, CEO, SocialFlow The omnipresence of social media have placed it at the nexus of many aspects of the magazine media business. Find out where social makes the most impact now…and where you need to know about how it can influence areas you haven’t even thought of.    All About the Voice: Your Brand Across Platforms Hear how top indie editors including AFAR's Julia Cosgrove, Dwell's  Amanda Dameron, California Sunday and Pop-Up Magazine's Douglas McGray and San Francisco Magazine's Jon Steinberg keep the brand voice true across platforms, including the role of EIC, the masthead of the future and how content creation and curation co-exist.            Community Defined: Southern Style Rebecca Wesson Darwin, Founder and CEO, Garden & Gun Hear how Garden & Gun taps into a passionate community, simultaneously promoting a respect for Southern traditions while allowing the South’s adaptation and modern lifestyle to shine through.     Understanding Audiences  Jim Elms, Global CEO, Initiative With clients such as Amazon, Coca Cola, KIA, KFC, Hertz and Red Bull, Initiative’s Global CEO shares what he has learned about understanding consumers, connecting brands and communities, and optimizing all channels for maximum impact.   Brands and their Teams Gregg Brockway, Chairman, Chairish Not unlike one of the passionate attendees of a Maker Faire, Gregg Brockway will share how he helped build a team and an infrastructure to meet the demands of a brand growing in all directions…at once.   How Social Fuels a Community Dave Morin, Partner, Slow Ventures Alexandra Suich, U.S. Technology Editor, The Economist  From co-creating Facebook Platform and Facebook Connect, to co-founding the social network Path, Dave Morin understands the impulses and mechanics of bringing people together. In an interview with The Economist's Alexandra Suich, find out where he is placing his bets on the future from his perspective as an angel investor.       Upwardly Mobile: Smartphones at the Heart of Customer Experience Find out how magazine media brands are keeping pace with the world’s fastest growing usage device, the fastest growing ad spending category…and why it is changing everything.  Kristine Shine Chief Growth Officer Wrap (moderator)   Ryan Grabenkort Regional Director, West Coast and APAC, Quartz Chris Klotzbach Director, Flurry from Yahoo   Ann Marinovich Vice President, Advertising Products and Strategies, Forbes Media

 
The first ever IMAG Imagination Awards will honor the work of independent magazine media companies and brands. These awards recognize projects and teams that capture the essence of a brand and demonstrate innovative thinking and imaginative tactics, well-defined business objectives and successful execution and results. 

The Awards ceremony and dinner will be held on Thursday, May 12^th at the IMAG Annual Conference. All conference attendees may attend the awards.

These awards are sponsored by IMAG/ MPA - The Association of Magazine Media, to celebrate the work being done among the IMAG community of independent magazine media brands.

Finalists may have the opportunity to present their projects on site at the conference. Winners will be announced live at the 2016 Imagination Awards dinner.

Please visit the Imagination Awards web page for the call-to-entry form and the application. Contact imaginationawards@magazine.org for more information or to be a judge.

 
The IMAG community is best defined as brands serving enthusiast audiences across many platforms, brought together by their passion for a particular topic or lifestyle. Each year senior executives from independent media brands attend the Annual Conference to explore new opportunities for their companies and brands and share what’s working and what’s not with their business peers. 

 
With three major airports serving the San Francisco area (Oakland, San Francisco and San  Jose), flights are frequent and often cost-effective. We recommend that you and your team coordinate business needs on the west coast, using this time to check in on Bay Area and Silicon Valley marketing partners, social media partners and west-coast based advertising agencies.

Dress
Dress code for the conference is business casual for all sessions.  A sports jacket or festive attire is optional for the Imagination Awards.

 
The InterContinental Mark Hopkins is an iconic San Francisco hotel. Siting at the very top of Nob Hill, the Mark  Hopkins offers incomparable 360° views of San Francisco. Breakfast and lunch during the conference will be hosted in the world-famous Top of the Mark restaurant.

Book your reservation as follows:
Online:  InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco. Note, you will need to first click on Book Now, Enter Dates and Search Rates. The next screen should show the IMAG Conference rate ($269/night).
By Phone: Call 1-800-662-4455 and ask for the IMAG Conference rate at the San Francisco Intercontinental.

For speaking opportunities or assistance with registration, contact Elizabeth Tighe, etighe@magazine.org or call 212-872-3771.