Keynote Speaker
Industry Speakers
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Paul V. Mockapetris Twenty years ago, Paul Mockapetris designed the Domain Name System (DNS), which allows users to enter names (such as www.ieee.org) instead of numeric network addresses to locate people and resources on the Internet. Today, the DNS is the Internet's database of Web and email addresses and is being embedded into new applications, such as ENUM for IP telephony. Dr. Mockapetris defined the DNS protocol and created its initial implementation. With Dr. Jon Postel and others at University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and SRI, he deployed the initial root server system and coordinated with other researchers the implementation of DNS on all Internet operating systems. At ISI, he also implemented the first SMTP email server. A member of the IEEE, Dr. Mockapetris has chaired the Internet Engineering Task Force and has received the University of California at Irvine's distinguished alumnus award. He is chief scientist and chairman at Nominum in Redwood City, Calif. |
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Divyank Turakhia Divyank is the President of Skenzo and co-founder of the Directi Group (the parent company of Skenzo). He has been chiefly responsible for transforming Skenzo from a fledgling startup within the Directi Group, to one of the world's leading companies in the traffic monetization business. Divyank started his career at the age of 14 through internet consulting for large businesses. In 1998, at the age of 16, he co-founded the Directi Group (currently worth >$300 Million). Deloitte & Touche has ranked his companies amongst the Top 50 Fastest Growing Technology Companies in India and Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies in Asia consecutively for 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008. His company, Skenzo, was featured by Red Herring in the list of the Top 200 Private Companies in Asia for 2007. In Jan 2008, Financial Express featured Divyank as one of India's “New Business Leaders". Divyank was featured in the list of Asia's Top Young Entrepreneurs for 2006 by BusinessWeek Magazine, and in the Young Achievers List for 2007 by Society Magazine. In addition to all this, he has also been featured by several other leading global & regional news channels and media publications such as CNBC, DD Metro, Economic Times, Education Times, ToI, Rediff.com, Express Computers etc. Divyank has a very strong technology background. He is respected as an innovator in the field of web services, and has contributed articles to both technical journals and industry magazines. He has been instrumental in architecting and successfully creating, some of the most advanced products and solutions in the field of traffic monetization, web & email hosting, anti-spam, and data security. His patent-pending traffic optimization algorithms are being used as the primary base for powering the Skenzo System, and have assisted significantly in making Skenzo the #1 fastest growing domain parking company worldwide for 2006 & 2007. |
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Rick Schwartz Rick Schwartz, aka "Domain King" and "Webfather", is the CEO and Cofounder of T.R.A.F.F.I.C. As one of the early domain pioneers dating back to 1995, Rick has a knack for predicting big trends and getting it right. He may have been the first to recognize the value of "Type in" traffic which is now commonly referred to as "direct navigation" - the most potent and targeted traffic on the net. Rick has a prime portfolio of one and two word domains, and is considered by many to be among the leading experts on domain names, traffic, website flow and valuation. Besides eRealEstate.com and domains like Candy.com, Properties.com, Tradeshows.com, ChristmasCarols.com and some 5000 others, Rick is also an accomplished businessman in several other industries including furniture, lighting and advertising. He ran one of the most profitable and efficient home based businesses with no employees back in the early 1990's out of a 10 x 10 bedroom. He sold it for over 7 figures freeing his time to devote exclusively to the internet in 1998. Rick also sold men.com for $1.3 million in a cash deal that was finalized in May 2004. A domain name that he bought for $15,000 in 1997. Many attribute that sale to jump starting the domain space at a time considered the lowest point the domain business has seen. It also cemented his main theory that "Domains would go up faster in value than any commodity ever know to mankind." Laughed at in 1995 and 1996 it is FACT today. No stock, no land, no gold, no jewel has ever gone up faster and further in value. Rick has a string of 6 figure domain sales back to the 1999 sale of eScore.com to Kaplan Educational Services, eCruise.com to iCruise.com and the sale of "PartnerCash.com in 2006 for $110,000. All purchased for $35-$100.. He sold iReport.com to CNN in 2008 for $750,000. This domain may become one of the most advertised domains ever as CNN deploys their new weapon in the media war of survival. Another domain he bought for registration fees. His domain 236.com sold in 2007 is now being used as a production between IAC, and The Huffington Post. So it is evident that Rick has tapped into something that corporate America is interested in. In 2005 he bought Property.com for $750,000 as well as many other 6 figure purchases throughout the years. He estimates his portfolio to be worth well in excess of $100 Million and took about $5 million to acquire all his holdings. Rick also runs the premiere domain forum on the net in which the top domainers and sponsors in the world are invited to participate and join. His members read like the Who's-Who of the domain channel. It is known as the hardest website on the net to get into. While others beg for traffic, Rick and his members screens every applicant before they are accepted. Thus, the basis for TRAFFIC being a tradeshow that is by invitation only. Attendees agree that this is one of the most important features of the show as it guarantees a productive investment of their valuable time as they break bread with the "Biggest and the Best" in a warm and cordial environment. Last but certainly not least, Rick is a Founding Member of the ICA. The ICA is a Non-Profit group looking out for the best interests of domain owners and investors. |
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Ron Jackson Ron Jackson is the founder, editor and publisher of Domain Name Journal, the domain industry's trade magazine at www.DNJournal.com. When mainstream media outlets want to know what is happening in the domain business, they call Ron. He and DN Journal have been featured in Newsweek Magazine, USA Today, the New York Times, MSNBC and in many local and regional newspapers such as the Boston Herald and Arizona Republic. Ron is also an active domain owner himself. With a portfolio of more than 6,000 domains he is the only professional journalist who has intimate knowledge of how this industry works as well as direct contacts with many of the pioneers who built it. Ron began his media career as News Director of an Ohio radio station before moving on to TV. He spent 17 years as a news and sports anchor/reporter at ABC and CBS television stations in Tampa, Florida. An entrepreneur at heart, Ron decided to open his own business in 1989 when he rolled out the first in a series of successful record stores. His mail order division became known worldwide as a leading source for music memorabilia. During this time he discovered the power of the Internet when he was able to replace his expensive national magazine ads with a website in 1997. Business exploded while his advertising costs dropped to a fraction of what they had been before. Just a few years later, when file sharing and downloading started causing problems for music retailers, he recognized that the Internet would permanently change his industry and most others forever. Sensing a new opportunity that dwarfed everything he had seen before, Ron walked away from the music business and entered the domain industry in 2002. As he began acquiring domains (the key components of the most important communications medium of all time) he was surprised to find that this vital industry did not have it's own trade magazine. Ron filled that void by debuting DNJournal.com on New Year's Day 2003. The unique combination of professional writing with his insider's perspective resulted in a publication that has been embraced by individuals and companies operating in the space. DN Journal is now regarded as one of the "institutions" in this dynamic young industry. |
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Ari Goldberger Ari Goldberger is an attorney handling domain name transactions and disputes. He has practiced law since 1992 after graduating with Honors from Rutgers Law Camden, where he was also a member of the Law Journal. He was a litigator with the Philadelphia law firm of Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz for five years. In 1994, Ari came up with a concept to create an online Internet law firm which he called ESQwire, and registered the domain name ESQwire.com. In one of the earliest domain name disputes, the Hearst Corporation, publisher of Esquire magazine sued Ari in federal court. Ultimately settled, with Ari retaining the domain name, the ESQwire.com case received substantial coverage on the Internet. In 1997, Ari was hired by New York Internet start-up Mail.com, Inc. as Vice President of Business Development, also charged with handling all legal issues concerning Mail.com's domain names. Ari was responsible for Mail.com's purchasing of of domain names, including Paris.com, England.com, Britain.com, and Japan.com. While at Mail.com, Ari continued to operate ESQwire, through which he represents clients in connection with domain name transactions and disputes. Ari has handled hundreds of domain name transactions and has litigated domain name disputes in Federal courts and under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Policy. |
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John Andrews John Andrews is a Search Marketing and Competitive Edge consultant based in Seattle. In the mid 1990s he pioneered the use of SEO for dissemination and utilization of government-funded medical research, demonstrating search as a highly efficient means of reaching health information consumers. In 2002 he decided search optimization was not only more rewarding but also more challenging than his unfinished dissertation in brain imaging. John owns and operates hundreds of domains and consults to businesses and fast-growth brands on the competitive aspects of web publishing, including SEO. John is a principal with search marketing firm Upper Left Placement, Inc. and authors the SEO insider blog JohnOn.com. |
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David Castello & Michael Castello The Castello's impressive portfolio includes Cost.com, Nashville.com, Daycare.com, Acapulco.com, Rate.com, PalmSprings.com, Sample.com, LagunaBeach.com, Whisky.com, WestPalmBeach.com, Bullion.com, LongBeach.com, Kennel.com, Driven.com, Bootleg.com, Banana.com, Manicure.com, Grape.com, GolfClub.com, Pear.com, Adopt.com, Chili.com, Dust.com, Traveler.com and many more. David and Michael first made their mark developing GeoDomains such as PalmSprings.com, LagunaBeach.com, Nashville.com and Acapulco.com. PalmSprings.com is now one of the most successful GeoDomains in the world. In fact, the front page of PalmSprings.com alone generates almost a million dollars a year in advertising revenue. Recent projects include Whisky.com (largest site about Scotch Whisky), Daycare.com (over 12,000 facility members), partnering with TrafficZ to develop Cost.com into the world's most extensive Internet shopping emporium and partnering with WorldGolf.com to build the world's largest Golf GeoDomain Network. David and Michael Castello also sit on the Board of Directors of Associated Cities (AssociatedCities.com). |
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Sahar Sarid Sahar Sarid was an early pioneer in the domain industry, known to many as "Shepherd". His visionary, intuitive, and foresight in the emerging domain niche earned him the respect of many in and out of the domain industry. Sahar is a co-founder of Recall Media Group, who is leading the charge in developing profitable internet businesses with FuneralHomes.com, FuneralJobs.com, FlowChart.com, and some other revolutionary projects in the pipeline. |
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Ryan Steel Ryan Steel is co-founder of aeiou.com and deeply involved in the Rick Latona family of companies. With a strong background in domain development and marketing for the domain industry. With market coverage in domain acquisitions, sales, development and marketing - Ryan Steel is a 12 year veteran in the online space. |
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Rick Latona Rick Latona, president of three companies related to the domain business, DigiPawn.com, Offshoring.com and Domains A & D, has years of experience in various Internet businesses. He also owns tens of thousands of domains. DigiPawn, Inc was the first company to loan money on domains. Offshoring, Inc offers inexpensive labor from the Philippines to those wishing to develop their names. Domains A & D is the company he has used to acquire high-profile names like Baja.com, Iran.com, Raise.com, Manufacture.com, Dollars.com, Locals.com, Eject.com and thousands more, some of which are in the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. auction. |
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Donny Simonton Donny Simonton is the Chief Information Officer responsible for the planning, development, infrastructure, and operations of Parked.com and directNIC.com, which he has served since May 2003. Prior, Donny served as the Product Development Manager from October 1999 until May 2003. Previously, Donny served as a Vice President in the Human Resources and Mergers and Acquisitions department for BankOne. |
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Monte Cahn Monte Cahn, 41, is Founder and CEO of DomainSystems, Inc., which is the parent company of the domain traffic monetization solution www.TrafficClub.com, and 12 ICANN Accredited Registrars including industry leading registrar - www.Moniker.com. DomainSystems and Moniker.com have been pioneering domain name & online identity after-market services since 1999 with an extraordinary focus on delivering customer satisfaction through specializing in domain name sales & monetization, domain name security, customer service, and value added products and services. Monte has more than eighteen years of experience in the healthcare, high-technology, and Internet fields. Monte is an aggressive and successful sales and management professional with experience in marketing & selling Internet services, intellectual property, domain names as well as other online information systems and services. He started investing in domain names in 1996 and helped start the first online domain brokerage business on the internet in 1996. Monte is also responsible for creating the first and only live domain auction process which first debuted at the TRAFFIC East Conference in 2005 and takes place several times a year. Success includes participating in the industry's first domain name sale for over $1 million dollars with the sale of Wallstreet.com and the industries first $2 million dollar plus domain sale with the sale of Autos.com in 1999. Many feel that these two industry record sales were responsible for dot com buying and selling frenzy that started in late 1999. Monte is also responsible for co-developing the industry's first recognized domain appraisal system and to date, DomainSystems/Moniker has completed more than 450K appraisals (IRS accepted) for its customers. Monte has also owned several businesses and significantly contributed to the successful initial public offerings of Pyxis Corporation and MedicaLogic, Inc. Monte is on the board of the World Association of Domain Name Developers (www.WADND.com). Monte Cahn is the host of the new free internet radio show 'Domain Masters' on www.WebmasterRadio.fm and www.yNotRadio.com that broadcasts each week on Wednesdays at 7 PM EST. Monte graduated from University of Kentucky with degrees in marketing, biology, and business administration. |
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Larry Fischer Larry Fischer is a domain expert who specializes in top-level generic domains. He has participated in some of the largest domain purchases to date, including Home.com , Autoparts.com , Stocks.com , Gadgets.com , and Nursing.com . Larry was a partner in SmartName.com , one of the first domain name parking companies. SmartName was purchased by industry leader NameMedia, and Larry continues to be a consultant for Name Media. Larry operates a popular domain blog at DirectNavigation.com |
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Gregg McNair Gregg McNair. Director - Domain Holdings Group – MauritiusGregg is a relatively new participant in the domain industry after a long background in stock broking, investment banking and CEO business education. Just 2 years ago Gregg was introduced to domains by much younger tech savvy domainers with whom he now partners. In applying proven investment related skills to the domain industry Gregg has, with his partners, rapidly grown Domain Holdings Group to be respected among the major players in the domain space worldwide. Today the Group has internet related and diverse operations in more than nine countries, defying the claims of many that late comers cannot be really successful in domains. Gregg regards attending TRAFFIC as being pivotal in the success of DHG. |
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Michael Gilmour Born in Melbourne , Australia Michael has been working in the BBS (Bulletin Board System) and Internet industry for the past 20 years. In the mid-nineties Michael completed an MBA majoring in e-commerce. During his first year of the MBA he founded a successful ISP so that he could better understand the economic and technical drivers behind e-commerce. After raising several million dollars in the venture capital market to develop an innovative online marketing technology Michael was invited to speak at the "World Marketing Conference" in Bangkok , Thailand . Michael later served as a director of the prestigious Australian Internet Industry Association, the last two of which he was elected to the position of vice-chairman. As a member of the board he contributed to forming policies relating to many key aspects of the Internet including; Internet privacy standards, multi-casting, cyber-crime, copyright and chaired the committee for establishing online advertising standards. Michael has developed an extensive portfolio of domains and diligently analyzes statistics to maximize their revenue. He then took this expertise and founded whizzbangsblog.com which discusses domain optimization strategies. |
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Paul Sloan Paul Sloan is a San Francisco-based journalist who has written extensively about technology and business. He has held senior positions at Fortune Magazine, the late Business 2.0, CNN and US News & World Report. His work has appeared in publications ranging from The New York Times and Time to Maxim. While at Business 2.0, Sloan wrote an article called Masters of Their Domains that exposed the then little-known industry to the broader public and venture capitalists. Before the article was published, naturally, Sloan registered the MastersOfTheirDomains.com. He has written dozens of other articles about making money on the Internet and about the domain industry, including the popular Business 2.0 cover story on Kevin Ham, which was called The Man Who Owns The Internet. Currently, Sloan is involved in a number of writing projects and is advising S ilicon Valley-based startups. |
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Joseph Casale Joe Casale has been in the technology space for over 40 years, and his expertise in the arena of targeted, online advertising is virtually unmatched in the domain channel. Joe has been the President and CEO of Casale Media for the past 12 years. Casale Media currently reaches over 200 million unique visitors per month through a series of carefully-planned campaigns utilizing transparent ad metrics that have become the benchmark measure of the online spectrum of advertising delivery platforms. Joe's innovative experience in the development and use of new technology, combined with an astute and motivational leadership style, has thrust Casale Media to the forefront of online targeted marketing. The vision employed by the Casale Group of companies has attracted veteran advertisers. His overall online marketing scheme has been emulated, and the metrics used to targeted market to specific groups has become an applied standard across the globe. Joe has also been involved with a technology company, based in Toronto, Cananda, called ComSpec - where he has been on staff for the past 33 years. Founded in 1966, Comspec is one of the world's leading IT providers and a technology pioneer. Organizations around the world use Comspec to improve productivity, lower costs, and increase security. Joe is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and he enjoys collecting vintage technological artifacts that represent significant turning points in the evolution of contemporary culture. |
