By Alexandra Cameron

The conference celebrated its 100th Anniversary and kicked off highlighting the names behind timeless brands that have not stood still like RH Macy, Henry Ford, Walt Disney and Sam Walton.  This is one of the most credible conferences among the sea of corporate events geared for "marketers" and while expensive, I would rate the content valuable, the format well organized and focused. It was a high energy, well attended few days that had an undercurrent of "risk taking is back in vogue" and "social media is critical and not to be ignored but it is a tool not a solution, a platform not a strategy".

Presentations on day one alone ranged from Marc Pritchard Global Marketing Officer The Procter & Gamble Company, who set the tone and was highly compelling followed by, Marilyn Mersereau Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Cisco Systems, Inc. Mark Baynes Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer, Kellogg Company, Joseph V. Tripodi Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, The Coca-Cola Company, Erin Nelson, Former Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Dell, Inc. Karen Quintos, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Dell, Inc. Paul Krugman Op- Ed columnist The New York Times and Nobel Economics Prize Winner. The following two days had equally strong agendas but awards for the biggest "buzz" in presentation style and inspiration would have to go to Michael Francis Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Target Corporation, and my personal favorite, Cindy Gallop Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ifwerantheworld.com, who I would have to submit my own "Fandmiration" to as the unofficial Rock Star.

Check her out http://adage.com/ana2010/article?article_id=146546