

ADAM JAPKO
FOUNDER & CEO
Leading up to his founding Esteem Media leadership role, Adam Japko served as President of DigitalSherpa, a high growth SMB social media, content marketing, and internet discovery business offering content, social media, reputation management, local listings, lead generation, web business intelligence, and more. The company served over 4,000 SMBs. These experiences, along with the unexpected success of his wine blog, WineZag, reaffirmed a deep belief that authentic digital content& consistent online community engagement drive in-person networking to create a powerful brew capable of transforming personal and business brands. Prior to DigitalSherpa, Adam lead the creation of the largest network of regional luxury shelter media properties for Network Communications, Inc (NCI). While President there, he acquired or launched all of the properties that now make up most of Esteem Media, Inc.’s current portfolio.
Earlier, Japko spent 14 years at PennWell Corporation, a privately held business-to-business information provider serving the global Technology, Energy, and Municipal Services markets as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Advanced Technology Division and member of the company’s board of directors. His background in the publishing, online, and event management industry also includes management positions at Media Networks, Inc. a 3M Company specializing in local networks of national magazines including Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, and Business Week, Sunday Magazine Network, and various B2B media companies including BMT, Gralla, and Miller Freeman (United Newspapers).
Adam continues as an active member of the wine industry’s social media landscape through his award winning blog; WineZag. In 1979 Japko received a BA in Journalism from New York University, pursuing advanced road studies following the Grateful Dead since 1971.
ELIZABETH RALLS
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Elizabeth Ralls is an 11-year magazine-industry veteran who put down roots in Atlanta nearly a decade ago and now resides in Buckhead with her family of five. A shelter editor and writer by trade (and by default, photo stylist and/or child and dog whisperer on shoots), she’s constantly searching for great design for the pages of Atlanta’s only monthly home and garden publication, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.
LUBA HRYNYK
Luba Hrynyk‘s (pronounced Hrinick) knew she was hooked at her very first event, a rare coin auction in Boston. Luba’s event experience now spans more than 2 decades and spans numismatic auctions to technology trade shows.
Prior to joining Esteem Media, Luba ran events at the PennWell Corporation spearheading marketing strategy and implementation for multiple events in the semi-conductor, LED, and military and aerospace industries. Luba has produced events on most continents in countless industries. She built her event chops at The Interface Group and later Key3Media, producers of COMDEX — the largest producer of computer expositions and conferences in North America. As National Director, Luba was responsible for direct marketing and ad campaigns for the COMDEX brand.
Luba is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from St. John Fisher College with a BA in Communications/Business Management.