Courtney Pulitzer's Cyber Scene ~ 6/18/04

ONLINE EVENT:

What: Get Jones outta jail!
When: Before June 22nd Tuesday. by Jerry's Kids the morning of June 23rd
Why: Fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association
How: Contribute via cash, check or credit card Payable to “Muscular Dystrophy Association” Do not send credit card info thru the mail. Call Paul Jones at v919-962-7600 or mail to: Paul Jones, 406 Morgan Creek Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
How much: Every time we reach $600 MDA sends a kid to camp. All contributions, usually about $25 or $50, are welcome.

Paul Jones (http://www.ibiblio.org/pjones/) needs your help! He’s trying to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and if he doesn’t reach his goal, he’ll be locked up in the Carolina Inn! Don’t jail him for too long, ‘cause he says the wallpaper would even offend Oscar Wilde.

            Greetings one and all! Since it’s been a slow week for me “cyber-wise” we’re sinking into the lowest form of reporting, Celebrity Sightings, in addition to some pertinent reports!

            Between sightings at Cipriani’s and the Cub Room,     the Diva’s were definitely down with downtown. Ms. Paris Hilton, in a slinky black dress, black strap-y sandals, hair up in a pony-tail, kept her gaze downward as she glided towards Downtown Cipriani.

            A few days later No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani trotted past us, sheltered from the drizzle by her umbrella-carrying assistant and her bodyguard, and slipped into the Cub Room before three teenagers could catch up with her.

            Opera stars were gathered onstage while New Yorkers, known and unknown, covered the Central Park’s Great Lawn with blankets and picnic’d on Wednesday, June 16^th during the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Madame Butterfly.

            Hartnick Consulting president Kate Hartnick Elliott gathered a menagerie for the festivities, which included Thomas Preti Caterers’s  Business Development director Jessica Alton, New School Communications director George Calderaro, CMP Media’s Call Center Events Show Director Joy Cerequas and her friend Thompson Custom Events’s Rachel (www.thomson.com). 

            Former professional opera singer and Morgan Stanley Private Equity VP Vanessa Adler provided us with blow-by-blow notes during the production while Telosphere principal Alex Struminger, magazine-istas Stephen Sobel (Food and Wine Magazine) and Felicity (More Magazine) and Karen Hartnick (teacher at The Buckley School) all enjoyed the fine fare, conversation and entertainment.

            The hostess, Mrs. Hartnick-Elliot, filled me in on some of her professional goings-on, which includes consulting with the Carnegie Corporation of New York, PACE: Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement and HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) USA.

            Meanwhile, back to the diva’s--Downtown Cipriani’s also was host to Mariah Carey, as reported by Ms. Tery Spataro of Mind Arrays. Ms. Spataro also sent in a report about World Trade Week, which started Monday, May 17^th. The World Trade Institute of Pace University and US Department of Commerce kicked it off with a splendid breakfast. Hosting the event was US Department of Commerce Senior International Trade Specialist Anastasia Xenias

and World Trade Institute Executive Director Donna Sharp.

            It was an information-filled morning with a special keynote given by Port Authority of NY and NJ strategic analysis and industry relations, Port Commerce Department GM Peter Zantal.

            Other speakers included:

            NYS Department of Economic Development International Director Gerry Shaye

            NYCEDC Assistant VP Gabrielle Riera

            NYC & Company VP Domestic & Global Tourism Rhianna Quinn Roddy

            Manhattan Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Ploeger

            The Direct Marketing Association Government Relations SVP Charles Prescott

            USAID Global Trade Network bizdev Manager Peter Fleischman and

            Thailand Board of Investment Economic Counselor Vasana Mututanont.

            Among the 150 attendees, there were about 50 international consulate members attending, which made for some very important networking opportunities!  I also spotted Harris Salat, MARMS CEO Lou Giacolone, US Dept of Commerce, US Commercial Service International Trade Specialist Shakir Farsakh and NYSDED International Trade Specialist Peter Constantine.

            Wednesday's seminar, "Growth In The New World Economy," hosted by Pace University’s World Trade Institute held an impressive and very distinguished panel and moderator, discussing critical issues in world trade today. Chaired by Donna Sharp, they talked about how the US imports more than it exports. So entrepreneurs and business owners--consider the world as your customer!

            US Dept. of Commerce Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade Timothy Hauser made some meaningful comments regarding international trade that struck a nerve with me.  With all of the news focused on outsourcing and loss of jobs there is no safety net policy for the US worker. I walked away thinking the only way to correct the situation is to balance out the trade.

            Kay Wilke gave an impressive overview of trade in her keynote speech at the International Commerce Awards Luncheon. In the “Safety and Security At Home and Abroad” session Richard Cooper said we are living in the "New Normal". Shakir Farsakh moderated “Managing Financial Risk in Transitional Economies.” I spent the day listening and making notes on doing business internationally, ending with a session on marketing and branding internationally and learning about the issues surrounding US perception. I encourage everyone in business check it out at: http://www.worldtradeweek.com. Because there is enough business to go around the world--we should take advantage of it.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WWWAC listmom emeritus Josh Masur has left Heller Ehrman after five years and joined the Palo Alto, California office of Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw LLP .  His practice remains centered on intellectual property litigation and general business litigation for technology companies, with emphasis on issues surrounding computer software and networks, as well as mass and interpersonal communications in both new and traditional media.  You can reach Josh at jmasur@mayerbrownrowe.com or 650.331.2053.

More celebrity news: Bono’s baby, http://www.theonecampaign.org, launched the week of May 17^th and J. Tayloe Emery of DATA (Debt, Trade, AIDS, Africa) reported they signed up over 10,000 people on the petition. He’s also getting into the VC game! Bono will also reportedly be a managing director at Silicon Valley 'venture buyout' firm Elevation Partners, launched by former Silver Lake Partners co-founder Roger McNamee.

FIND/SVP Partners with Empire Media to Launch Find.com. U.S. businesses are throwing away billions of dollars in lost time due to ineffective and deficient research tools, according to a new study released today by FIND/SVP (OTCBB: FSVP), a leading provider of business research, advisory, and consulting services.  In fact, 84 percent of respondents feel that Web searches take longer than they should due to poor results, costing businesses an estimated $31 billion in wasted time.  To solve the issues related with this critical business function, Find.com, a next-generation, true business search engine designed to meet the search demands of business professionals.

Trendscape (Trendsetters.com), a research and consulting firm that provides provocative and insightful reporting on trends affecting business and lifestyle, will host a gathering of leading marketers for a half day of education, entertainment and networking opportunities. INVENTrain will explore trends defining success in today’s marketing environment and present attendees with a unique view of the future. INVENTrain premieres on Sept. 10, at Studio Z in San Francisco. Tickets are available for $395 beginning today, at INVENTrain.com. Tickets purchased after July 2 will be $495. Sponsorships are still available. For more information, call 800-WAY-COOL.