Interactive websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other forms of networking are increasingly viable ways to market. This panel will illustrate how key industry players made the plunge into social media and how they are using these tools to benefit their businesses and expand the specialty coffee industry world. How much time, energy and money should my company invest in social media? Who should coordinate these efforts? What kind of return on my investment can I expect? Each panelist will tell his or her story and experiences, and relate how their experiences have influenced their perception of social media.

Presenter 1: Sarah Allen, Co-founder and Editor, Barista Magazine
Sarah Allen is the co-founder and editor of Barista Magazine, an internationally distributed trade publication for specialty coffee retailers and baristas. Sarah has reported on the specialty coffee industry since 2002 and was a founding member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America\'s United States Barista Championship Committee. In 2007, Barista Magazine launched a blog, Pasteboard, which now draws more than 15,000 visitors monthly, making Barista Magazine\'s online presence stronger and broader than any other coffee print journal. Sarah holds a Masters degree in Journalism and is a regular contributor on issues pertaining to the coffee industry for The Guardian.

Presenter 2: Matt Milletto, Vice President, Bellissimo and Founder, Barista Exchange, Bellissimo
Matt Milletto is Bellissimo's Vice President. Matt has extensive experience in retail coffee and has managed multiple coffeehouses and worked as a barista since 1994. Matt is the Director of the American Barista & Coffee School and is one of four lead baristas in Bellissimo's Advanced Barista Training/Fancy Pours DVD. He regularly speaks at Coffee Fest, Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), and other industry tradeshows and has been quoted in numerous newspapers and industry magazines. Matt sits on the SCAA Training Committee and the Espresso Training Sub-Committee. He is the founder of BaristaExchange.com, the coffee industry's leading networking and social media website.

Presenter 3: David Pohl, Head Roaster and Associate Green Coffee Buyer, Licensed Q Grader, Equator Estate Coffees and Teas
David Pohl serves as Equator head roaster and works with co-founder Brooke McDonnell to source green coffees from around the world. In this capacity he manages daily operations and quality control at Equator. He has traveled extensively in South and Central America, is fluent in Spanish, is a member of the editorial advisory board for Roast Magazine and is a Licensed Q-Grader. David also manages the Latin American micro-credit initiatives. Prior to joining Equator, David worked for two Bay Area roasters and Transfair USA. He has a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from UC Berkeley.

Presenter 4: SESSION MODERATOR: Nichole DuPont, Graphic Designer, Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
As coordinator of BUNN’s social marketing initiatives, Nichole regularly tweets, maintains the company’s Facebook page, and manages the two corporate blogs. She keeps a pulse on specialty coffee topics online, and she tries to keep pace with the almost hourly changes in social marketing. Nichole served as a coordinator for the SCAA panel Penning the Perfect Cup in 2009 and volunteers her time to the IWCA (International Women’s Coffee Alliance) marketing committee focusing in social marketing activities. In her spare time, she designs marketing materials and writes copy.