About City of Experts
OUR HISTORY...
 
Need Drives
OPPORTUNITY
|
City of Experts was founded by St. Louis businesswoman Karen Hoffman after she considered the frustration and time she spent on finding experts and consultants for keynote speakers, business advisors, and panel discussions. As a busy executive, she spent countless hours directly and indirectly networking to find a specific speaker or business consultant locally and nationally. She thought, “wouldn’t it be great if a resource was developed to showcase experts by region and expertise?” "If other executives, event planners, and small businesses considered the time they spend finding the right consultant or expert, they would certainly see the value of having access to a pool of local experts," said Hoffman. The idea has been validated and supported by program chairs, meeting planners, expert speakers and consultants.
We are pleased that you have visited our site and we are excited to help you develop meaningful and profitable connections! |
OUR MISSION...
Making
CONNECTIONS
|
City of Experts helps make strategic business connections. City of Experts is THE marketing arm for local expert speakers, consultants, authors and coaches. The City of Experts Team is dedicated to promoting our Experts through our website, word of mouth marketing, business articles, direct mail programs, e-mail marketing, networking events, workshops, media publications, advertising, expos, and more. For less than 60 cents a day, our experts are being promoted in ways that would normally cost them hundreds of dollars a month because we can leverage our resources. City of Experts also provides a critical resource to FIND those LOCAL Experts. Our Searchers save countless hours, resources and money and searching is always FREE. Click here for the Top Ten Reasons to Join City of Experts. |
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM...
Karen
HOFFMAN
|
THE CONNECTOR and CATALYST FOR CREATING COMMUNITIES OF COLLABORATION
Karen’s passion is making "strategic" business connections and creating communities of collaboration that help people develop, grow, and achieve extraordinary results. She acts as a catalyst with her authentic and strategic introductions. Karen is also known as the Idea Coach and facilitates a variety of workshops, seminars, and entrepreneur groups focused on collaboration and positivity. Karen’s unique gift for connecting people, uncovering talent, and initiating partnerships has developed a loyal following. City of Experts is Karen’s initiative for connecting busy professionals (program chairs for trade associations, meeting planners, media, sales managers, HR leaders, etc.) was to create an internet-based search database dedicated to shortening the time it takes to find business consultants, keynote speakers, authors, coaches that are "experts” for a wide variety of industries. Over the years Karen has been recognized by a variety of organizations. Past awards include: eWomen Network www.ewomennetwork.com a North Amercican based women's business and networking group awarded Karen the coveted "Business MatchMaker" of the year award in 2007; Zonta International awarded her the "Yellow Rose of Service" award in 2009; Karen was recognized as the Home Based Business Champion of the Year for St. Louis, MO from the SBA-Small Business Administration as well as Region VI for the SBA in 2007 and she was the first woman to receive the Regional Commerce and Growth Association’s “Pace Setter” award for helping small businesses in 1991. Among other stories that have appeared, St. Louis Magazine named Karen the "Queen of Possibilities" in the profile story they ran about her in May 2008. You can reach Karen at (314) 503-6376 or karen@cityofexperts.com. |
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM...
 
Carmen
Gagnon |
The Vision Manager Carmen, like City of Experts co-founder Karen Hoffman, loves to make strategic business connections. A "Vision Manager" Carmen helps her clients stay focused n their vision and joined the City of Experts Team to help City of Experts become the vision Karen Hoffman saw in early 2000-to be a national resources that helps organizations find local experts. Expert speakers, consultants, coaches and authors that can speak, consult, be interviewed locally. Carmen can be reached at 314-276-7772 or Carmen@CityofExperts.com . OUR "VENDOR-PARTNER" TEAM
Marc
Fussell |
RazorBall.Net, Inc. Marc is our technology partner and through his innovative company, RazorBall.Net, Marc brings new features to the City of Expert's website. For affordable and personalized service, contact Marc at 314-754-1466 or via email at marc@razorball.net . Visit RazorBall at www.Razorball.net . OUR "VENDOR-PARTNER" TEAM
Cathy
Davis |
Davis Creative Cathy helps create the direct mail postcards we use to promote our expert speakers, authors and consultants to different groups, associations as well as the media. She is a highly-creative, experienced professional, with great folllow through and great follow-through on projects. Cathy can be reached at 314-374-7481 or at cathy@daviscreative2.com OUR "VENDOR-PARTNER" TEAM
Michelle
Nelson |
Back 2 Basics Marketing, LLC Michelle has supported City of Experts in helping with PR support and ideation. Michelle can be reached at 636-293-5958 or visit her website at www.back2basicsmarketing.com OUR "VENDOR-PARTNER" TEAM
Mark
Russo |
Spazio's in Westport (Russo's Catering) City of Experts has used Spazio's for almost all of their networking events because of the service that Mark Russo wants Spazio's to provide to their clients. Karen in particular loves to meet at Spazio's to support Mark and introduce people to the Spaqzio's. Sometimes she is asked by those that work there if in fact she lives there because she makes a point of meeting there so often. In 2009 several City of Experts events are being held in Russo venues. Contact Spazio's at 314-576-0488 or visit their website at www.russosgourmet.com |
Co-Founder...
Angela
LIEB
|
ENTREPRENEUR AND STRATEGIC PIONEER TO THE GROWTH OF SMALL BUSINESS Angela Lieb is the founder and former owner and operator of OffiStart Business Centers. She currently has a successful consulting business that works with landlords and developers when they want a business center in their building or office park. She is a partner with City of Experts and is currently working on building the prototype for a new concept called Xpress Office Center. She is the Director of Training and Business Development for a new business center franchise and managed the development of the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood Military post. Lieb’s passion is working with small business owners to help them grow their business. She has worked with hundreds of small businesses by offering them inexpensive alternatives to help jump-start their businesses. She recently received the SBA Region VII award for the Home Based Business Champion for 2006.to receive the Regional Commerce and Growth Association’s “Pace Setter” award for helping small business. Karen loves working with business owners/entrepreneurs. A speaker on marketing, barter, entrepreneurship and passion, she derives pleasure in sharing ideas, information and resources to help grow a business, focusing on the team and the team’s passions while including companies profits and growth as measuring tools. You can reach Angela at (636) 755-2976 or angela@cityofexperts.com. |
Co-Founder...
Ken
SCHRIEVER
|
TECHNOLOGY DRIVES BUSINESS Ken is a founding member and Principal of Surrealit. He has over 18 years experience in technology oriented fields and ten-plus years in managing corporate MIS/IT departments. As the Director of Operations, Ken helps determine and implement company policies, technology, vision, and direction. Ken is highly adept at streamlining, creative problem solving, team leadership, and projects management. He is highly skilled in contingency planning, team building and business management. |
|
| |
| |
|
|
