David, like all our full-time editors and reporters as well as our contributors, is building his own brand and community around his topic-specific knowledge.

FORBES: Turning Forbes magazine content into Web content -- and vice versa

Each is working to build a brand and loyal following around their topic knowledge.

FORBES: Inside Forbes: We're Breaking Free of the Time Warp the News Industry Is Trapped In

Personal brand-building in the digital era requires topic expertise, audience engagement and scalable support systems.

FORBES: Inside Forbes: Reinventing Personal Brand-Building By Learning From the Masters

Hot Topic, in the middle of a brand restructure, reported a softer sales decrease than expected with a 5% drop, compared with an expected 6% decrease in same-store sales.

FORBES: Stores Report Higher Sales In March

"You'd see a group of consultants hovering over a laptop, trying to prepare for a presentation, or else people had interviews, and the lobby wasn't providing enough privacy for the topic they were discussing, " says Brian Povinelli, senior vice president and global brand leader at Westin and Meridien.

CNN: Hotels vie to become offices of the future