UBM Studios' Vice President, Digital Media Strategy, Michael Kushner, to Share Insights on Virtual Environments at the MTO Summit

CHICAGO, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- UBM Studios today announced that Michael Kushner, Vice President, Digital Media Strategy, will share insights on virtual environments at the MTO Summit, the premier educational event for technology buyers and sellers in the meetings industry, which will take place March 21-22, 2011 at the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare.

Kushner will participate in the "How to Make Virtual Events Satisfy Customers and Deliver Profitability" session, which will take place Tuesday, March 22 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  The panel of participants will discuss:  how to pick the right business model, which mitigates risk and provides profit; do you repackage current face-to-face content or does virtual require original content?; how do you determine whether your customers want virtual events?; what are the factors which make virtual events succeed or fail?; and is the future: hybrid or stand alone virtual events?.  Other session participants include:  Warwick Davies, The Event Mechanic!; Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Nielsen Expositions Sports Group; Michael Doyle, Virtual Edge Institute; and Stephen Lieber, HIMSS.

"As the only company to bring the right content, to the right community with the right engagement UBM is transforming the way individuals interact and conduct business online.  I am looking forward to discussing how virtual events have become a critical channel for delivering content and how they deliver profitability," said Kushner.

Kushner has a track record of significantly growing revenue and profit by monetizing content/information through innovative, interactive delivery platforms in both domestic and global markets.  Kushner led the streaming media business for the Business Media division of the Nielsen Company where he oversaw a $3m+ business that produced over 150 webcasts, 200 event videos and 20 virtual expos and conferences.  Additionally, Kushner launched Reed Business Interactive at Reed Elsevier and produced one of the first enterprise virtual trade shows as an extension of a trade publication. He also pioneered ads webcast series, trade show video and video product showcases as media extensions, building a multimillion dollar business.   Kushner was also founder of Virtual Media Strategies, a consulting firm that developed ancillary lines of business integrating print, on-line, events and custom media, transforming one-dimensional products into multimedia brands. 

For additional information on UBM Studios or to purchase a virtual business solution, contact Kate Spellman at 516 562 7383 or kate.spellman@ubm.com.

To follow UBM Studios on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/UBMStudios, to follow on Facebook, visit UBM Studios and to follow on LinkedIn, visit UBM Studios. 

MTO Summit

In 2008, Tarsus Advon launched MTO Summit, a series of executive level conferences which bring together the buyers and supplies of technology in the events industry. The goal of MTO Summit is to bring an extension of MeetingTechOnline website into reality with a face-to-face networking event. These nationwide conferences educate association executives, show producers and management on technology in the events industry, and introduce technology suppliers who are changing the way technology is used. For more information and to register for the MTO Summit go to: www.mtosummit.com.

About UBM Studios (www.ubmstudios.com)

UBM Studios is a leader in virtual events and virtual business solutions.  A pioneer with virtual platforms, UBM Studios delivers deep expertise in live and online events that brings business value to customers.  UBM Studios connects, educates and enables virtual communications through a portfolio that fits every budget.  UBM Studios is the only virtual event provider to offer platform, content, audience recruitment, reporting and social marketing and gaming.   UBM Studios virtual events include Virtual Trade Shows, Virtual Career Fairs, Virtual Seminar Centers, Virtual Resource Centers, Virtual Product Launch, Virtual Business Continuity, Virtual Corporate Meetings, Virtual Sales Meetings, Virtual Focus Group Centers and Virtual Training.  UBM Studios delivers a complete global communication solution in Asia, Europe and North America in industries including, health, finance, technology, building and education.

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities -- from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists -- with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.ubm.com.

SOURCE UBM Studios