We asked Keith McArthur ,Senior Director of Social Media, Rogers Communications about their involvement in this year’s event:

1. Why did you sponsor PodCamp?

Social Media is all about community and PodCamp Toronto is a great opportunity for us to connect with members of the community. It’s great to see old friends and meet new people who are plugged in and engaged with what’s new in the world of social media in general and podcasting in particular. This is a great opportunity to learn how others are using social media and to use these insights to improve the way we connect and engage with our customers. We’re also happy to be providing PodCamp attendees with a place to charge their laptops and handsets. Look for me and my colleagues in our red @RogersHelps shirts.

2. What are you most looking forward to at PodCamp this year?

One of the best things about PodCamp is the variety of people who attend. There are some of the world’s leading podcasters and social media experts as well as people who are brand new to this space. There are people from major corporations, people using social media for small business and hobbyist podcasters. And everybody is both teacher and student – everybody learns from everybody else.

3. What session/speaker are you most interested in seeing?

What I like most about unconferences is that sessions aren’t vetted or juried – which means there will always be some great sessions and some stinkers. What’s fun is that the big name speakers aren’t always the ones delivering the great sessions. If I had to choose one session I’m most looking forward to, it’s the live recording of Inside PR. Terry Fallis, David Jones and Martin Waxman do a great job. Much as I hate to say it, the show’s better today than when I was a co-host.

4. For PodCamp newbies, do you have any words of advice?

1) Meet as many people as you can. 2) Take some risks in your choice of sessions. 3) Remember that most of your learning will happen outside of the sessions.

We asked Arun Kirupananthan, about their involvement this year:

1. Why did you sponsor PodCamp?

Sponsoring Podcamp made so much sense for us. We utilize social media on a daily basis to stay connected with members of our WebsiteSpark program and totally believe in it’s power to bring communities together. Podcamp gives us a chance to connect face-to-face with the people we hear about digitally daily!

2. What are you most looking forward to at PodCamp this year?.

We’re looking forward to hanging out with local web developers and bloggers and learning about social media best practices. We also want to challenge web developers to compete for the title of FTW! Competition this year at www.webnotwar.ca/ftw .

3. What session/speaker are you most interested in seeing?

The optimizing WordPress for Podcast session sounds really interesting.

4. For PodCamp newbies, do you have any words of advice?

Well, in this case we’re the newbies. We’ve heard so many great things about PodCamp and look forward to it!

PodCamp Toronto is proud to announce Chevrolet as one of our gold sponsors for PodCamp Toronto 2010.

We asked George Saratlic, Product Communications, about their involvement this year:

1. Why did you sponsor PodCamp?

I’ve personally attended PodCamp the past 2 years and think it’s a great event. At Chevrolet and GM, we’ve been involved in various social media & networks for a while now. We like to be part of the conversation as much as we can, and see PodCamp as great opportunity to get involved in the conversation in Toronto and GTA.

Meeting great people and learning something from everyone.

Would I sound biased if I said the session by Chris Barger (technically kind of my boss;) hahaha, “The Social Web, Crisis Response & Reputation Rejuvenation in the Automotive Industry”. But, actually, I’m looking forward to Erin Bury’s session:  ”Community Management and the future of communications at companies big & small”.

I’d say, first off, relax. Plan out your days/sessions.  But, if you’re in a session, and you think it’s not what you expected or what you were looking for, get out and join another one.
Also… be social.  Meet new people and don’t be shy to join conversations.  Sometimes the best conversations happen randomly in the hallway or on the steps.

PodCamp Toronto is proud to announce Web Host Industry Review as one of our gold sponsors for PodCamp Toronto 2010. Web Host Industry Review is the largest news organization and consumer resource dedicated to the web hosting industry, publishing since 2000.

We asked about their involvement this year:

1. Why did you sponsor PodCamp?

We support local Internet related events and had a great response last year. PodCamp is a unique and practical event for attendees and the organizers make it very easy to sponsor.

Interesting, like-minded attendees and great networking opportunities.

Bill Sweetman, Vergel Evans

Have fun and don’t be shy. PodCamp is a lot of very smart and creative people looking to help you succeed.

PodCamp Toronto is proud to announce CNW Group as one of our gold sponsors for PodCamp Toronto 2010.   CNW Group is Canada’s leading newswire provider, offering bilingual service and expansive networks that reach key media and market points locally, nationally and globally.  CNW is where both traditional and online media look first for direct-from-source content relevant to their communities.

We asked Amanda Laird, Communications Specialist about their involvement in this year’s event:

Why did you sponsor PodCamp?

We recognize the impact that social media is having on the public relations and media landscapes.  It is important for CNW to be a part of the community to learn how to best support our clients’ needs and the needs of the media who are coming to CNW for news releases and other content.

What are you most looking forward to at PodCamp this year?

Connecting with others interested in social media and communications.  Now that social media is the new normal it is interesting to learn how others are using it for work and play.

What session/speaker are you most interested in seeing?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one, but it’s a tie between Saving Newspapers with Search and Social (for work-related interests) and Leona Hobbs’ hack Your Workflow for Productivity and Creativity (for more personal interests).

Advice for PodCamp newbies:

Just jump in with both feet and don’t be afraid!  Talk, learn, participate, you will be welcomed with open arms!

PodCamp Toronto is proud to announce Voices.com as one of our gold sponsors for 2010.  Voices.com is the leading online marketplace connecting clients with voice-over talents and voice actors.

We asked Voices.com CEO, David Ciccarelli’s about their involvement in this year’s event:

1. Why did you sponsor PodCamp?

Voices.com has a longstanding relationship with the social media community in addition to a wonderful history of participating at PodCamps.  We were present at the first PodCamp in Toronto and have returned year after year.  For the past two years, we have enjoyed supporting local PodCamps as sponsors, and in the spirit of PodCamp we also spoke at the inaugural PodCamp in our hometown, London, ON.  Our team loves connecting with the social media crowd and finds each encounter to be both meaningful and exciting.

2. What are you most looking forward to at PodCamp this year?

Hands down, it’s definitely getting to see old friends again and introducing them to members of our team who have never been to a PodCamp.

3. What session/speaker are you most interested in seeing?

Someone I’d love to see speak is Dave Fleet.  Don’t want to miss his sessions this time as I sat in on Chris Brogan’s last year.

4. For podcamp newbies, do you have any words of advice?

Be sure to meet everyone you can and carry some business cards.  Make sure that you connect with people during the event and follow them on Twitter or become friends on Facebook to keep in touch.  PodCamp gives you the opportunity to learn, have fun and meet new people.  Embracing the community aspect of PodCamp is what it’s all about.

Social Media Group

PodCamp Toronto is proud to announce Social Media Group our Platinum sponsor for 2010. Social Media Group is one of the world’s largest independent agencies helping business navigate the new socially engaged Web. They have developed social media strategies for some of the best-known brands in Europe and North America, including; Ford Motor Company, SAP Global Marketing, Yamaha Motor, Corbis and Harlequin Publishing. SMG has been Ford’s social media agency since 2007.

We reached out to Maggie Fox, CEO of Social Media Group, to hear about their involvement in PodCamp Toronto.

1. Why did you sponsor PodCamp?
Toronto and Southern Ontario have such a strong digital community, we think it’s really important to support it and encourage great events that bring us all together for professional development and socializing!

2. What are you most looking forward to at PodCamp this year?
I’m most looking forward to checking out the lineup and seeing what all our great Canadian digital professionals are thinking about and doing. I’m always surprised and amazed by the innovation and forward thinking that comes out of this community! Also, in the end - a lot of it is really LobbyCon; hanging out in the hallway talking to people. I’m really looking forward to catching up with folks.

3. What session/speaker are you most interested in seeing?
I”m particularly interested in local Hamiltonian Wayne MacPhail’s session on Maker culture, Mark Evans on the age-old importance of good storytelling, Ilya Grigorik from PostRank on measurement, Adele MacAlear on Death and Digital Legacy, Donna Papacosta on Podcasting, and I thought Collin Douma was doing one, but I can’t find it. Collin is great and entertaining, so whatever he’s talking about, I’m there.

4. For PodCamp newbies, do you have any words of advice?
Volunteering is a great way to get involved, and above all I would advise people to attend the sessions that jump out at them. With 35 sessions run by 38 participants, you can’t possibly see it all - so go after what you like, and the rest will follow!

We are really happy to have Social Media Group as a sponsor this year!