Regional conference on social media

As many as 500 experts in social media and its uses are expected in the Reno-Sparks area for a major conference in December.

Organizers hope the first SM@RT conference that's short for "Social Media at Reno-Tahoe" will serve as the seed for an ongoing annual event.

The conference is scheduled for Dec. 8-10 at John Ascuaga's Nugget. It's sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, the College of Business Administration and Extended Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Todd Felts, an assistant professor of journalism at UNR, said organizers hope to draw participants from markets within a one-hour airline journey from Reno as well as local practitioners in social media.

About half of those attending the conference will be from out-of-state, Felts said.

The marketing for SM@RT emphasizes winter recreational activities in the region as well as the educational opportunities in the conference. It's being pitched to marketing professionals as well as executives of companies and nonprofits that want to use social media as a marketing tool.

Speakers will include David Nour, author of "Relationship Economics," and Scott Klosoky, former chief executive of Critical Technologies Inc., an Oklahoma City software company.

SM@RT organizers have begun sponsorship sales to northern Nevada businesses.