Dotcom CEO Susan DeFife reinvents herself into a locally based Web 2.0 firm

Susan DeFife

Backfence ... ultra local internet content

The internet’s first focus was to go worldwide, hence the “WWW”. Now with applications like Google Earth, Zillow and new local startup Backfence, you can go ultra local. Backfence, run by CEO Susan DeFife, provides a real sense of geographically based community content, on-line and offers up a TownHall hall type of feel to its users. The website is adaptive and changes as more and more visitors get involved. It’s sort of a news site for a local group of people controlled by the local group of people. Easy to see why advertisers would love to be able to hit their prime targets.

Rajen Sheth

Popular and growing explosively on the West Coast, applications like Backfence and the swing to Web 2.0 continues to gain attention here on the East Coast. ExecutiveBiz’s Web 2.0 interview for the week features Google executive Rajen Sheth in our spotlight interview. Sheth will be speaking at the upcoming The New New Internet: Web 2.0 for Business conference on September 20th, which is open to all, at the Tyson’s Ritz. The all-day line up will feature key players in this new and exciting space. Click here to register.

The event will feature a “Technology Showcase” of Web 2.0 business applications. You can meet the players and see the technology. Companies like iBelong and many others. Click here to see the Technology Showcase.

Dan Colussy

ExecutiveBiz also caught up with the new CEO of locally based Iridium Dan Colussy. In December of 2000, Colussy led the investment group that took Iridium out of bankruptcy and restarted the often rocky path of this global satellite voice and data communications enterprise. Click here to read the interview.

Need a Laugh? Check out our new humor columnist Bob London.

Last week’s survey says social networking is here to stay. Click here to take this weeks survey.

Don’t miss our Government CIO series made possible by Indus Corp. On September 7th we will feature Michael Carlton, CIO of the GSA. Click here to register.

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Join ExecutiveBiz - The DC Area's Premier Networking Group "ExecutiveBiz is a great way for me to meet like minded executives who are looking for ways to address their business challenges. Rather than merely talking about business issues, the organization provides one with the opportunity to meet and interact with people who have "walked the talk". It also helps me get more integrated into the local community both at a social and business level which is something I am keen on doing." -- DP Venkatesh, CEO, mPortal Learn More or Apply for Membership Advertise with ExecutiveBiz Advertising in ExecutiveBiz means you will market to nearly 50,000 DC-Area executives each week. For rates and information, contact Pamela Sorensen at ads@executivebiz.com.

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Government IT Speaker Series Featuring Michael Carleton
CIO of the GSA
Limited to ExecutiveBiz members -- register today!

Michael Carleton

Date: September 7, 2006 Time: 7:30 am to 9:30 am Location: Tower Club - Tysons Sponsored by: Indus Corporation

Join ExecutiveBiz and the Chief Information Officer of the General Services Administration (GSA) Michael Carleton for a members only breakfast meeting at the Tower Club.

This event is geared toward executives in government contracting. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet Mr. Carleton in this intimate setting with the opportunity to ask questions.

This event is currently limited to ExecutiveBiz members and special guests of our sponsor, so you can expect a small, quality group of like-minded executives. Space is very limited -- register now!

*Members and Invited Guests Only* Not a member yet? Join TODAY! Click here for more details.

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The New New Internet:
Web 2.0 for Business
www.newnewinternet.com

You've heard about Myspace and YouTube. You've seen the cover stories in Newsweek, Fortune, and BusinessWeek. Now find out what Web 2.0 will mean for your business, and gain the knowledge that will help you keep your competitive edge.

Where: Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, VA
When: September 20, 2006 -- 8 am to 5:30 pm

Speakers will include:
Jason Goldberg	Mike Arrington	Michael Platt	Rajen Sheth	Andrew McAfee

Interactive content, expert speakers, and business relevant topics!

• Keynote Speakers: Web 2.0 experts from around the country bring their insights.
• Technology Showcase: Web 2.0 and technology companies will be demonstrating and competing for main event slots. Competition facilitated by our blue ribbon panel of VC judges.
• Panel Discussion Topics: Software as a service and mash ups as a way to consume enterprise software and Social Networking and the wisdom of crowds as applied to the enterprise.
• Iron Chef Mash Up: Web 2.0 transformation demonstration.

Don't miss this event. Learn more and register today.

Advertising here is smarter. Find out why & reach nearly 50,000 execs each week.

Top 10 Blogs Following Web 2.0 ... a post from the Viget Labs blog.
by Brian Williams, CEO of Viget Labs

We spend a lot of time at Viget keeping an eye on new site launches.  Since we help traditional businesses be successful online and work with emerging Web 2.0 companies (e.g., Squidoo, Pickle) to plan, design, build, and market their sites, staying current is key for us.  People often ask what blogs we follow to keep up, so I did a quick Lab Poll and put together our list of top 10 blogs following Web 2.0 (in no particular order):

1. TechCrunch - Mike Arrington reviews new companies often after a talk with the founder(s).  The reviews are quick and to the point.  With 85,000+ feed subscribers ranging from geeks to venture guys, TechCrunch is currently the center of the Web 2.0 buzz.
2. GigaOM - While not solely focused on Web 2.0, GigaOM is ranked one of the top 100 blogs by Technorati and CNET, with a monthly audience in excess of 500,000.
3. PostBubble - This blog “asks industry experts about what they believe will succeed or crash and give it to you” — meaning each review comes with a success or failure bet.
4. eHub - Designer Emily Chang runs Ideacodes and keeps up eHub with brief listings of new sites, occasional details in her blog, and quick interviews with the brains behind the start-ups.
5. rev2.org - This site covers everyday topics around Web 2.0, written by Sid Yadav of Queenstown, New Zealand.
6. Mashable - Pete Cashmore’s blog covers social sites and Web 2.0 startups.
7. Dion Hinchcliffe - Dion runs Hinchcliffe & Company in nearby Alexandria, VA.  His blog generally focuses on the impact Web 2.0 will have on enterprise applications, but with this post Dion predicts the next round of “Breakout” Web 2.0 Sites.
8. Read/WriteWeb - Here blogger Richard MacManus gives us “information on innovative Web apps and services, together with product positioning, Web news and industry insights.”
9. /Message - Stowe Boyd, another local, is known to be an authority on social media, and his blog covers Web 2.0 accordingly.
10. SolutionWatch - Brian Benzinger provides well-written, in-depth reviews of emerging sites.

Many of these blogs are part of the Web 2.0 Workgroup, a network of blogs focused on Web 2.0.  While its not a blog, last week Seth Godin and Alexaholic put together this list of 937 Web 2.0 companies sorted by their Alexa traffic rank at the Web 2.0 Traffic Watch List.  The list is based on the All Things Web 2.0 directory. Both Web 2.0 List and BuzzShout let the users list, rate, and review sites.  These are all great resources for following the hundreds of new companies in this space.  If it’s really just those glossy, pastel logos you care about, skip right to web2logo.com or create one yourself.

With all the activity around new site launches, following Web 2.0 is increasingly time-consuming.  As new blogs jump on our radar, we’ll no doubt update our feeds and post an updated list — let me know if you have any suggestions …

Brian Williams is a co-founder of ExecutiveBiz and CEO of Viget Labs, a DC-area web consulting and development firm that plans, designs, builds, markets, and supports leading web solutions. Comments? Suggestions? Contact Brian: brian@executivebiz.com / 703-891-0670

Redskins Welcome Home Luncheon - Aug. 30th

Are you the ultimate Redskins fan? Would you like to meet and dine with your favorite Redskins players?

The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and the Redskins Alumni Association will host the annual Redskins Welcome Home Luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner.

The event offers the unique opportunity for Redskins fans to have lunch and spend the afternoon with members of the team. Each attendee will be seated at a table with a player, coach or alumni.

For more information, visit this page (PDF) on Redskins.com. Call (703) 726-7111 today to reserve a seat at the 2006 Welcome Home Luncheon and with any questions.

Wolf Trap Ball 2006: Sailing Denmark
Hosted in Association with the Embassy of Denmark
Save the Date: September 15, 2006

At the close of every summer season, Wolf Trap’s immense Filene Center stage is transformed into a magical set to represent a featured host country for the annual Wolf Trap Ball. For one night, over 1,000 guests dine and dance in the same spotlight that usually shines upon performers from around the world. This year, Wolf Trap is proud to partner with the Embassy of Denmark to produce a Ball that will transport you to the harbors and cafes of Copenhagen, through the country’s world renowned contemporary design, and to Tivoli Gardens—one of the oldest working amusement parks in the world. All proceeds benefit Wolf Trap’s education programs.

For more details and registration information please visit wolftrap.org/involved/ball.html.

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ExecutiveBiz works in partnership with The Potomac Officers Club. The Potomac Officers Club is a non-profit board of trade dedicated to improving business conditions in the Greater Washington area. For more infomation, please visit www.potomacofficersclub.com.

Thanks, Potomac Officers Club Sponsors

J.D. Kathuria

Message from the Editor

This digital magazine is designed to serve the needs of the local business community. Please contact us with your content ideas or advertising requests. We currently reach nearly 50,000 area executives.

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J.D. Kathuria
ExecutiveBiz Editor
jd@executivebiz.com
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