Kurt Abrahamson is the CEO of ShareThis. Prior to joining the company, Kurt served as CEO of SocialMedia.com, a leader in online display advertising, which

was acquired by LivingSocial. Before SocialMedia.com, Kurt spent several years at Google, where he managed the direct sales channel for publishers and helped lead the global launch of Google AdSense as Director of the Content Media Group. Abrahamson also served as the Director of Global Sales & Operations Strategy and as Director of Sales Operations for North America.

Before joining Google, Kurt served as Chief Operating Officer of Jupiter Communications and as President of Jupiter Media Metrix, where he helped establish Jupiter as one of the leading Internet research organizations. Kurt received his Bachelor of Science in communications from Cornell, and a Master’s degree in public policy from Harvard.  See more here.

Michael Pranikoff, Global Director of Emerging Media at PR Newswire, is responsible for educating PR Newswire staff and customers about the role emerging media, such as RSS, blogs, social networks, search engines, and other emerging technologies, play in public relations and marketing.

Michael joined PR Newswire in 1998. He immersed himself in the technology industry in and around the Washington, D.C. area working with clients such as XM Satellite Radio, AOL and the Consumer Electronics Association. In 2003, Michael was named the National Technology Markets Specialist, and eventually led to being named PR Newswire’s first Director of Emerging Media. Michael has been a featured speaker and moderator at events across the country.

Michael is also a featured contributor to several blogs, podcasts, and newsletters. Prior to joining PR Newswire, Michael worked for MacNeil / Lehrer Productions which produces the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Michael graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Speech Communications. Michael Pranikoff maintains a link blog linking to sites and conversations that pertain to the intersection of technology and public relations at http://about.me/michaelpranikoff.

As Senior Vice President at General Physics Corporation (GP), Dennis serves as the Managing Director for the Microsoft Global Account Strategy for GP and senior executive in charge of global content development. In this capacity, he oversees all global content development activities conducted by GP for Microsoft and other Fortune 100 companies on a global basis. Prior to his return to GP, Dennis was a senior partner at the DCP Group, strategic consultants to leading corporate and educational organizations on advanced learning technology software platforms and pedagogical approaches for the new generation of plant workers.

Dennis was also President and Chief Operations Officer of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and Chief Executive Officer of Medsn/Indegene, a global leader in interactive medical education and marketing communications for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device market.

As Vice President of Oracle University, Dennis was responsible for the general management of Oracle Corporation’s largest global education business unit ($350 million annually) in the Americas for external customers, partners, and internal employees. In this role, he managed both direct channel and indirect channels (authorized partners and re-sellers) and led the following functional groups: marketing and sales, finance, performance consulting, and e-learning.

Dennis transformed the sales and marketing organization from all field representatives and telesales to a web-enabled, e-business sales organization, including world-class call centers. He integrated the use of e-learning technologies into all of Oracle’s education offerings and delivery mix (online collaboration, online mentoring, and web-mediated instruction) and assisted in the development, launch, and implementation of Oracle iLearning, Oracle’s Enterprise Learning Management System.

Prior to Oracle, Dennis held senior positions at General Physics, including Senior Vice President of International Operations; was a co-founder of Energy Training Corporation, and the CHAMPIONS/MVPs restaurant chain.

Dennis started his career as a training engineer for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation teaching Nuclear Plant Operations at numerous commercial power plants around the world..

He possesses an M.B.A. in Operations Analysis and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering Technology and Biology.

He is a certified commercial nuclear plant senior reactor operator and instructor. Dennis also served in the United States Nuclear Navy and qualified in submarine systems aboard the USS Casimir Pulaski, SSBN 633.

He is a private pilot, a certified classroom and virtual instructor, and a certified curriculum developer and professional musician.

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