---
title: 'Internet Strategy Forum: Jeremiah Owyang in Portland for Summit, Steve Gehlen hands over the ISF reins'
date: '2009-07-20T12:37:39-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 704
char_count: 4774
tokens: 916
categories:
  - Events
  - InternetStrategyForum
  - ISF
  - JeremiahOwyang
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - SocialMedia
  - SocialMediaClubPDX
  - SteveGehlen
tags:
  - 'internet strategy forum'
  - ISF
  - 'jeremiah owyang'
  - Portland
  - 'social media club'
  - 'Steve Gehlen'
  - Twitter
---

# Internet Strategy Forum: Jeremiah Owyang in Portland for Summit, Steve Gehlen hands over the ISF reins

It’s that time of year again. The time when hundreds of name brand Web types show up to hear from the best and brightest in the industry about how corporations are making the most of the Web. That’s right. It’s time for the annual [Internet Strategy Forum Summit](http://www.internetstrategyforum.org/summit "Internet Strategy Forum Summit").

And this year, [popular Twitter type](http://twitter.com/jowyang "Jeremiah Owyang on Twitter") and [Senior Analyst: Social Computing](http://www.forrester.com/rb/analyst/Jeremiah_Owyang "Jeremiah Owyang's bio at Forrester") at Forrester Research, [Jeremiah Owyang](http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/about/ "About Jeremiah Owyang"), will be among the esteemed keynote speakers.

Not familiar with Jeremiah? Well, in addition to being one of the leading industry analysts tracking social media, he’s often near the top of many a social media list—including being [\#2](https://siliconflorist.com/tag/2/) on the [Twitter Power 150](http://www.twitterpower150.com/ "Twitter Power 150").

Before joining Forrester, he worked at the PodTech Network as Director of Corporate Media Strategy alongside folks like [Robert Scoble](http://scobleizer.com "Robert Scoble"). In fact, you may remember the two of them were [in Portland for a visit during the Internet Strategy Forum Summit in 2007](http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2007/07/blogger-dinner-with-scoble-in-portland-this-thursday-july-19/).

Interested in seeing him speak? Well, [sign up for the Internet Strategy Forum Summit](http://register.internetstrategyforum.org/servlet/com.gcm.servlet.event.EventView?commodityID=37701&command=cp&supplierID=570 "Register for the Internet Strategy Forum Summit"). Use the discount code “SF,” and they’ll knock an additional 20% off of your ticket price.

Need more time with Jeremiah? Word around the campfire is that the [Social Media Club of Portland will be holding a get-together with Owyang](http://socialmediaclubpdx.com/smcevents/jeremiah-owyang-on-the-rooftop-at-webtrends/) the night before the ISF Summit kicks off.

> Join Social Media Club Portland and the Internet Strategy Forum (ISF) on Wednesday, July 22, for a summer social! ISF keynote speaker, Jeremiah Owyang, will join us for a Q&A at this casual event, which will include plenty of time to hang out on WebTrends’ rooftop deck, enjoying hometown favorite Widmer beer and pizza.

[Tickets are $15 until midnight July 21](http://http//smcpdx072209.eventbrite.com/ "Jeremiah Owyang on the rooftop at WebTrends"). Or $20 at the door.

For more information, see the [Internet Strategy Forum Summit](http://www.internetstrategyforum.org/summit "Internet Strategy Forum Summit"). Or [follow the Internet Strategy Forum Summit on Twitter](http://twitter.com/summit "Internet Strategy Forum Summit on Twitter"). For more on Jeremiah Owyang, see [his personal site](http://www.web-strategist.com "Jeremiah Owyang").

### Steve Gehlen’s side project becomes a successful nonprofit startup

Just where did the Internet Strategy Forum begin? Right here in Portland. And like many Portland startups, it began its existence as a side project.

[Steve Gehlen](http://twitter.com/stevegehlen "Steve Gehlen") founded the organization in 2004 and before he knew it, [it had become a way to make a living](http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/06/11/newscolumn2.html "Quit your day job").

> Steve Gehlen founded the Internet Strategy Forum… while working as director of Internet strategy at Oregon Health & Science University. He left that job… to help found more chapters of the ISF around the country.

“I started this organization and conference in 2004 and have been producing it each year since then,” said Steve in an email. “Something that started in Portland is now national, with an impressive national Board of Directors, chapters in various cities, and over 1,500 members.”

But now, it’s time for a transition. After five years of leading the organization, Steve is the handing the reins over to one of the current board members. *\[Editor: This section has been edited at the request of the ISF.\]*

Rest assured, Gehlen won’t be far removed from the organization he built. He’ll continue to participate in the ISF and will very likely bring some new insights to the ISF, thanks to his new gig: [General Manager of eCommerce for Icebreaker](http://siliconflorist.com/2009/07/09/portland-economic-development-strategy-recognizes-open-source-mobile-coworking-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-8222 "Steve Gehlen hints at new role").

For more, see the [Internet Strategy Forum](http://internetstrategyforum.org/ "Internet Strategy Forum").

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