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About
About
What is sfBIG?
sfBIG is the premier advertising and media community for the Bay area. We enable the industry with opportunities to connect to enjoy content on the hottest industry topics and networking with like-minded innovators and professionals.
Vision + Mission
Welcome to sfBIG: Shaping the Future of Advertising and Marketing
At sfBIG (The San Francisco Bay Area Innovation Group), we are driven by the pioneering spirit of San Francisco’s Bay Area—a dynamic epicenter of innovation and creativity. Founded with a vision to unite and inspire advertising and marketing professionals, sfBIG serves as a beacon of opportunity in an ever-evolving landscape.
Our Vision
A future where advertising and marketing professionals in the Bay Area are empowered to lead, innovate, and thrive. We strive to foster an environment where collaboration is celebrated, knowledge is shared, and boundaries are pushed.
Our Mission
To empower advertising and marketing professionals in the Bay Area by fostering an environment of content, connection, and community, promoting industry growth, innovation, and a youthful dynamism.
sfBIG Board of Directors
Meet Our Board of Directors
Comprised of seasoned professionals and industry leaders, our Board is dedicated to facilitating partnerships, knowledge sharing, and growth opportunities for professionals and organizations alike. With their wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to excellence, they stand at the forefront of driving meaningful change and advancement in our community. Together, let’s embark on a journey of discovery, education, and inspiration, shaping the future of the advertising and marketing landscape one bold step at a time. Welcome to sfBIG, where the possibilities are limitless, and the future is ours to create.
Board of Directors
Our History
In 2003, as San Francisco’s digital advertising scene grew, professionals struggled to promote new technologies within a traditional landscape. Inspired by New York’s Silicon Alley, a group of marketers and digital publishing experts saw the need for a community hub dedicated to education, networking, and collaboration. Over breakfast at the San Francisco Flower Mart, they founded sfBIG, quickly garnering support from industry giants like Google, Yahoo!, and MSN.
sfBIG made its debut in October 2004 at Mezzanine, attracting over 600 attendees and marking a significant moment in the city’s digital evolution. Since then, sfBIG has remained committed to empowering digital professionals through ongoing education, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts. With each event and gathering, sfBIG continues to nurture a vibrant community of innovators and leaders in the digital space.
Amidst San Francisco’s booming digital advertising scene in 2003, marketers, agencies, and digital publishing professionals felt the strain of championing emerging technologies in a traditional landscape. Conversations in coffee houses and dinner tables buzzed with a desire to reignite the city’s creative spark, fearing the loss of talent to other markets.
Inspired by New York’s Silicon Alley, a group of like-minded professionals realized the need for a community hub—an oasis for education, networking, and idea-sharing. Thus, sfBIG was conceived around a breakfast table in the San Francisco Flower Mart.
Led by an esteemed executive team, sfBIG embarked on a mission to reshape the digital landscape. With strategic partnerships and a commitment to sustainability, the organization quickly gained momentum, attracting support from the current industry giants like Google, Yahoo!, and MSN.
In October 2004, sfBIG made its debut at Mezzanine, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s digital evolution. Despite uncertainties, the event drew over 600 attendees, signaling the beginning of a new era.
Since then, sfBIG has remained steadfast in its commitment to empower digital professionals through education, networking, and advocacy. With each signature event and monthly gathering, the organization continues to foster a vibrant community of pioneers and innovators.
About John Durham
In 2021, the industry and SFBig lost a luminary—a visionary whose impact stretched far beyond the confines of his titles and organizations. John Durham was the heart and soul of SFBig, a guiding force that transformed an industry into a vibrant community. A lifelong teacher, mentor, and sage whose words were as nourishing as an exquisite gourmet meal, whose wisdom was that of the finest aged wine, and whose presence lit up rooms with the warmth of a cherished friend.
“If the measure of a man is the lives he has touched, there is no tape or ruler long or deep enough to measure the impact of John Durham,” remarked Rishad Tobaccowala. And indeed, John’s influence reverberates through the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Here, we gather his Durhamisms—(n) an aphorism describing life and truth. His pearls of wisdom that illuminate life’s truths, a compass that guides the willing toward a life well-lived. Let us celebrate the essence of his being—a source of inspiration that continues to shine brightly in our hearts and minds.
In 2021, the industry and SFBig lost a luminary—a visionary whose impact stretched far beyond the confines of his titles and organizations. John Durham was the heart and soul of SFBig, a guiding force that transformed an industry into a vibrant community. A lifelong teacher, mentor, and sage whose words were as nourishing as an exquisite gourmet meal, whose wisdom was that of the finest aged wine, and whose presence lit up rooms with the warmth of a cherished friend.
“If the measure of a man is the lives he has touched, there is no tape or ruler long or deep enough to measure the impact of John Durham,” remarked Rishad Tobaccowala. And indeed, John’s influence reverberates through the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Here, we gather his Durhamisms—(n) an aphorism describing life and truth. His pearls of wisdom that illuminate life’s truths, a compass that guides the willing toward a life well-lived. Let us celebrate the essence of his being—a source of inspiration that continues to shine brightly in our hearts and minds.
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