CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Media Week Chicago 2014 will host a lineup of more than 130 events at venues throughout the city that explore the business, cultural and economic impact of social media from Sept. 22 to 26. The event is co-hosted by Zocalo Group, Tribune Publishing's 435 Digital and Black Pug Interactive.

"Zocalo Group is thrilled to continue our partnership with Tribune's 435 Digital and Black Pug Interactive to showcase the city's prowess in advancing the discipline of using social media to engage consumers," said Paul M. Rand, President and CEO of Zocalo Group. "Social media has become critical for brands and consumers, and Social Media Week helps bring this discussion to a global playing field."

Social Media Week Chicago gathers and showcases the best perspectives on fast-moving social, digital and tech trends. Thought leaders in everything from business to nonprofit to education will share their solutions to these challenges and visions for the future.

This year, the conference is introducing two new offerings in response to the community's call for deeper, richer content and more immersive and high-quality attendee experiences. Both will be hosted at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Chicago.


    --  Tuesday, Sept. 23: Masterclasses - intimate hands-on workshops where
        smaller groups will dive deep into disciplines and best practices
    --  Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 24 and 25: Digital Marketing Summit - an
        advanced-level, two-day immersion into social media for marketers,
        curated by Chicago's leading-edge professional community

Some of this year's featured events include:





    --  Building The City Of The FutureMonday, Sept. 22, 9 to 10 a.m. at
        Morningstar



    --  How Transparency And Authenticity Will Change Your Life and
        BusinessWednesday, Sept. 24, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Hyatt Regency

    --  There's No Such Thing As A No-Brainer: Why Behavioral Economics Matter
        In Social MediaThursday, Sept. 25, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. at Hyatt Regency

To see a full list of Chicago events, visit www.socialmediaweek.org/chicago and go to the "Schedule" tab. Social Media Week Chicago is supported by sponsors including 140 Proof, Sprout Social, BuzzFeed, Tumblr, Resolution Media, NUVI, Digital Professional Institute, MARC USA and Pride@Groupon.

Additional partners include venue hosts Illini Center, MacArthur Foundation, Morningstar, Willis Tower and Rockit Bar & Grill.

Occurring simultaneously in 11 cities around the globe, Social Media Week 2014 offers a unique global platform that will provide participants with cutting-edge information and the latest trends in social and mobile media. Through a series of interconnected activities across the world, Social Media Week offers a global, community-sourced conversation focused on the theme The Future of Now: Making Sense of Our Always On, Always Connected World.

For more information on Social Media Week Chicago, visit http://socialmediaweek.org/chicago/ or follow the conversation on Facebook or @SMWChicago and #SMWChicago on Twitter. For exclusive interviews, reviews and insights related to the social space, check out the Social Media Week Chicago blog at http://socialmediaweek.org/chicago/news/.

About Zocalo Group
 Zocalo Group is a full-service digital, social media and word-of-mouth marketing agency, helping leading consumer and business-to-business brands become the most talked about and recommended in their categories. Based in Chicago, Zocalo Group has received numerous industry awards for brand programs and measurement initiatives. Zocalo Group is a unit of Ketchum and a part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC). For more information, please visit www.zocalogroup.com.

About the 435 Digital
 435 Digital, a new breed of digital marketing agencies, powered by Chicago Tribune, fuels businesses with tools, resources and know how to drive a better return on investment. With performance-based strategies in website development, search engine optimization, social media marketing, content marketing and paid search, clients gain confidence and peace of mind working with leading experts at 435 Digital. For more information, please visit www.435digital.com.

About Black Pug Interactive
 Black Pug Interactive is an integrated digital marketing strategy and special events management firm focused on helping small- to medium-sized businesses and non-profits navigate the digital marketing landscape. Based in Chicago, Black Pug's philosophy "multum in parvo," which means "much in little," reflects its approach to leveraging only the right brand strategies and tactics in a smart, simple fashion to achieve maximum impact. For more information, please visit www.blackpuginteractive.com.

About Social Media Week
Social Media Week is owned and operated by Crowdcentric Media LLC and is a global platform connecting people, content, and conversation around emerging trends in social and mobile media. Delivered primarily through a network of internationally hosted conferences and online through social media, Social Media Week literally connects hundreds of thousands of people every year through learning experiences that aim to advance our understanding of social media's role in society. To learn more, visit http://socialmediaweek.org/.

SOURCE Zocalo Group