Derek’s Bio
My passion is strategizing and executing on an action plan around the use of Social Networking in relation to hardened business objectives. My professional career began when I owned and ran a music website. I utilized “Web2.0″ tools before they were utilized in the business world. The results:
We averaged 1 Million unique visitors a months and rated at 157,251 in the world at Alexa.com in 2004
Since then I have worked for Shared Insights & Mzinga. My goal is to continue to use the knowledge I have gained to help my next employer derive true value and benefits from their community and social networking ventures.
Experience
Director Of Social Media & Senior Consultant at Authority Domains Inc.
Privately Held ; Marketing and Advertising industry
February 2009 – Present ( 2 months)
• Map the use of Social Networking to the business objectives of Global 2000 Authority Domains customers
• Enabling a Social Media presence for Authority Domains around Social Media Consulting, SEO Optimization & Link Building.
• Design and execute launch strategy on three Social Media Consulting solutions, designed for Small, Mid-Level and Enterprise level businesses.
• Provide clients with community best practices related to content development, event programming, online facilitation, member outreach, and business objectives
• Responsible for the creation of Social Media workshops and training based on client need, budget and time-line
• Cultivate and drive new sales opportunities with new and existing Authority Domains customers
• Execute a clear business plan based on budget, client acquisition and marketing plan.
• Provide valuable content to the marketplace to drive interactions about the Authority Domains product lines.
• Continue to be a Social Media “thought leader”.
Community Consultant at mZinga
Privately Held ; 51-200 employees ; Computer Software industry
2007 – January 7th, 2009 (2 years)
• Map the use of Social Networking to the business objectives of Global 2000 Mzinga customers
• Manage community clients such as: TIAA-CREF, Disney, Martha Stewart, Bersin & Associates, DTCC, WebEx/Cisco, Ciena & QuickArrow, Lifescripts, totaling over $1M in revenue annually
• Design and execute launch strategy and ongoing client community initiatives
• Provide clients with community best practices related to content development, event programming, online facilitation, member outreach, and business objectives
• Responsible for growing existing social communities participation by over 35% on average
• Cultivate and drive new sales opportunities with new and existing Mzinga customers
• Share lessons learned in hosted communities with the Mzinga professional networks team
• Provide strategic consulting & assessment services for non-Mzinga customers around community recruitment, engagement and development
• Train new Mzinga employees on how to map social networking strategy
Senior Account Executive & Community Manager at Shared Insights
Privately Held ; 11-50 employees ; Information Technology and Services industry
2005 – 2007 (2 years)
• Achieved status as #1 sales executive in department generating nearly $2M in sales with existing and new accounts
• Managed many of our Fortune 500 relationships including Abbott Labs, Cisco Systems, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase
• Responsible for building 500+ member social networking communities around job functions, topics of interest, and events
• Established future accounts while meeting current sales quotas
• Hand selected to participate on product definitions and packaging team
• Managed one of Shared Insights premier conference communities for Enterprise Architects
Account Executive at DCI
Privately Held ; 51-200 employees ; Information Technology and Services industry
November 1999 – April 2005 (5 years 6 months)
• Exceeded sales quota of $1.5 MM in revenue for six straight years
• Built new conferences alongside new business team responsible for making markets for buyers and sellers to interact
• Sold group and individual passes to conferences, seminars, and elearning courses
• Established a list of repeat IT conference customers while establishing new relationships as part of the hunter team
• Consulted on filling conference, community, and elearning short comings based on customer feedback
• Targeted and engaged new IT conference opportunities
Owner at Website
Music industry
1997 – 2005 (8 years)
• Owned a music website devoted to unbiased promotion of artists reviews, label promotions, and concert events.
• Averaged 1MM unique visitors a months and with significant positioning on Alexa.com in 2004
• Utilized “Web2.0” tools to drive organic interactions and facilitate website exposure.
• Directed content, marketing, editing, and public relations strategy and processes
• Developed Two compact discs as well as organized numerous benefit concerts for many of the hottest acts in rock-n-roll
Sales Representative at WXXK, WGXL, WTSL, WVRR
Broadcast Media industry
1997 – 1999 (2 years)
• Account Executive responsible for $250,000 first year revenue( Radio Advertising)
• Developed a marketing campaign for Loves Bedding that increased revenue 40%.
• Wrote and produced radio advertisements for the local Coke and Budweiser distributors.
Specialties
Social Networking, Online Business Communities, Viral Marketing, Community Mapping & Monetization, Brand Loyalty,Thought Leadership, Lead Generation, Social Networking ROI, Online Marketing, Conference & Event Strategy Community integration.
Interests:
I am interested in the emerging community marketplace. In talking with customer and peers I have come to my own conclusion that the future of business lies within social business communities. If businesses do not embrace this means to acquire customer knowledge and build a direct line to the consumer, they will not compete in their marketplace.
Groups and Affiliations
Past Community Consultant for: TIAA-CREF, Disney, Martha Stewart, Bersin & Associates, DTCC, WebEx, cMarket, TheGathering2.0, Catalyze (iRise), EDR, About.com, Lifescripts, Ciena, Quickarrow, John Deere, Meredith Publishing, FOX, FOXTEL, Yes Network.
Affiliations: LinkedIn, Facebook, We Are Smarter Than Me, Social Media Club of Boston, Boston Food Bank, Toys For Tots, Relay For Life
Thought Leadership: We Are Smarter Than Me Founding Community Team Member – 1st Business book written by communities using wiki technology – Named the #6 Best Business book of 2007 by Amazon.com
Hi
Derek & Hadley, Sorry to hear about the job situation.
Enjoyed your blog! Thanks again for the ” The Back of the Napkin Book”. It may be one of the best books I have ever read about problem and idea formulation and presentation I have ever encountered. You must have terrific insight to pick out such a book as a necessary aid to complete my Tennis Project. I will call this evening to see if we can get together this weekend.
All the best // John
Uncle John, thanks for the kind words. Keep me in the know how I can help your Tennis dream become a reality. I am glad the book helped.
Good work behind the glass…..
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