· Norma Crippen, Sr. Account Manager, Mary Margaret.com
· Don Daglow, President CEO, Stormfront Studios
· Sheri Davenport, HR Manager, Sony Online Entertainment
· Lori Durham, Vice President of Operations, Aspyr
· Lisa Farina, Content Designer, Sony Online Entertainment
· Sheri Graner Ray, Senior Designer/Author
· Marc Holmes, Art Director, Ensemble Studios
· Sam Lewis, Cartoon Network, Lead Designer
· Karen McMullan, Game Designer, Ensemble Studios
· Mike McShaffry, Head of Studio-Austin, Breakaway Games
· Evangeline Marzec, Test Lead, GameInstinct
· Leah Miller, Director of Brand Management, Aspyr
· Susan O’Conner, President, Susan O'Connor Writing Studio
· Tamir Nadav, Associate Programmer, KingsIsle Entertainment
· Peter Raad, Executive Director, The Guildhall at SMU
· Niki Robinson, Programmer, LimeLife
· Karen Swanson, UI Designer, Ensemble Studios
· Spencer Zuzolo, Director, GameCamp

Denise Fulton, Head of Studio for Midway-Austin
The Best Defense...Why Gender Doesn't Matter (As Much As You Might Think)

Denise Fulton, Head of Studio for Midway-Austin, addresses looking past the issue of gender and focusing on individual accomplishments of women. This topic is useful to both those already in the industry and those who are interested in breaking in.

Roundtables (simultaneously begin at 5 pm)

Attracting Women into Games
Sande Chen (Girls in Games
The game industry is beginning to realize that to produce titles that reach a more diverse audience, they need to diversify their workforce. But finding women to join the industry can be a challenge. Come talk about where and how to attract women into the industry and how to keep them there!

Breaking into the Industry
Tamir Nadiv (KingsIsle Entertainment)
What does it take to get into the industry? Where can a newcomer network? How can they attract the attention of the recruiters? Continue the discussion from the panel and get more in-depth information.

The Role of Quality Assurance
Evangeline Marzec (GameInstinct)
Quality Assurance, or “QA” is often seen as the best way to break into the game industry; but what does a QA tester do? Is there a career path for professional QA people in the industry? What do you need to succeed in a QA position in the game industry? Come talk to a QA industry professional about this crucial part of game development.

Marketing and PR
Leah Miller (Aspyr)
Marketing and PR can make the difference between a game that's critically acclaimed vs. one that's a major hit. Learn more about the role of marketing and PR in the videogame industry, and the skills needed for these challenging jobs.

Meet the Recruiter
Norma Crippen (Mary-Margaret.com)
Interested in a game career but don't know where to start? Talk to recruiters from top game companies for advice on how to begin your job search.

Planning for the Long-term Career
Don Daglow (Stormfornt Studios)
Getting that first game industry job is hard. Building a long-term successful career can be even harder. This discussion will focus on planning for the long term, including ongoing education, networking, and setting career goals.

The Producers
Mike McShaffrey (Breakaway Games)
What does a game producer really do? A highly experienced game producer will talk about the producer role, and the career path to becoming a producer.

Quality of Life
Graeme Devine (Ensemble Studios)
Balancing personal life and the demands of a game industry career is an ongoing challenge for both newcomers and veteran game developers. This discussion will focus on practical problem-solving and also ways in which we can promote change in the industry to address this issue.

What Does a Game Developer Do? Artists, Designers, Programmers
Andrew Rische (Sony Online Entertainment)
3D, 2D, concept, textures and particles…there are many different ways art is used in game design. Come talk to a game industry artist to learn more about what a game artist does and what skills are needed to be successful.
Lisa Farina (Sony Online Entertainment)
What is game design? Is it level design? Is it quest design? What does a designer need to know? Talk to a professional game designer to discover the variety of things a game designer is called on to do.
Niki Robinson (LimeLife)
Everyone knows that game programmers build the engines that run the games. But the types of programmers needed and the specialties required are growing. Learn more about what types of programming is used and specialties that are in demand.

Real Girls pwn the Boys!
Morgan Romine, Amy Brady (Ubisoft)
Meet the women of Frag Dolls, who are changing how female gamers are perceived in the world of videogames.

Education: Educator’s Perspective
Dr. Peter E. Raad (Guildhall )
The Guildhall was created from the ground up as a result of the industry’s need for professionals and future leaders for this rapidly growing and evolving profession. For the game industry to continue its success, it must reflect the diversity and creativity of this society. Therefore, it is critical that the education behind the future leaders of this industry also reflect today’s society. Learn more about the important role education plays in this industry.

Education: Student’s Perspective
Aaron Cole (Ritual Entertainment)
Come hear firsthand from current and former Guildhall students how an education in game development can give you a jumpstart in this exciting industry.

If I Start Making Games, What Else Can I Do?
Aaron Thibault (LGuildhall), John Purdy (Insite Productions)
The application of games is not just for entertainment. There is an increasing awareness that this interactive media will become the preferred mode of human expression in all walks of life. Participate in a discussion on the way games are changing the way we communicate.