Debi is our expert speaker for the break-out session, “Social Media 101: What is it and What Does it Mean to My Business.”

Debi Hammond – Founder/CEO, Merlot Marketing

Debi is a columnist, blogger, speaker, agency principal, wife and mother. She is the founder of Merlot Marketing: an award-winning full-service agency that has been named one of the fastest-growing companies in the Sacramento region four years in a row. She attributes the growth to amazing clients and an incredible team (a team that is as passionate about their work and Merlot’s clients as she is). Her experience and expertise span everything from national consumer brands to B2B, with countless local, national and international awards for Web design, creative, brand development, events, promotions and public relations. In fact, in 2005, Debi was named the Sacramento Public Relations Association’s PR Person of the Year!

Prior to founding Merlot Marketing, Debi held senior marketing positions at a dot-com start-up, a luxury appliance manufacturing company and a full-service advertising agency based in southern California. Debi authors Merlot Marketing’s business blog and is a contributing writer for the Sacramento Business Journal and has been published in numerous other publications. A graduate of San Jose State University, Debi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising with a Minor in Marketing.