Sean Michael Wood
What happens when you team up with a bunch of bright, creative, young, single professionals? They leave you for exciting projects in new cities.
Not that I’m bitter.
#BMPR started on a whim when my world collided with Joe Ruiz from KSAT news and Andi Narvaez at KGBTexas at a social media breakfast in March 2009. Our connection was a love for social media, a passion for learning and a firm belief that sharing information — not staking out territories or trying to sell a product — moves everyone forward.
Every month, up to 170 San Antonio people meet for lunch to talk about social media in the world of business, media and PR. Speakers range from sports heroes to food bank social media directors, the Twitterfall cascading off the projector screen is jam packed with witty banter; and sometimes there are surprise giveaways (one free night at the local Holiday Inn – Airport to all 165 participants in September!).
But when you work with wonderfully creative people, they often are tapped for new projects. First, Andi Narvaez took off for grad school at the University of Maryland. To help BMPR continue to grow, we brought in Jessica Young, a KGBTexas account exec, and Nan Palmero, business marketing consultant and uber techie, and they’ve added an amazing boost to our group with their creativity.
Then, this week Joe Ruiz escaped to Washington state for a job at the Seattle Times. Sigh.
To fill his local spot, we needed someone with both traditional and social media experience. Someone who was respected by the community and would add new ideas and enthusiasm to the BMPR mission. Most importantly, that person had to be over 40. I was tired of being the old biddy. And these going-away parties are way past my bedtime.
Enter Sean Michael Wood. A longtime journalist turned PR professional, Sean is a gifted writer who has embraced social media in a way that is both useful and entertaining. Having been on both sides of the media and PR fence, he’s an expert on how the two fields interact. He’s funny as hell, serious about the things that matter in this community, and able to cut through the bull. You’ll find his bio on our About Us page.
Although I’m happy to finally have someone in my “seasoned” category, the age requirement is all in jest. In fact, age has nothing to do with choosing Sean as a BMPR leader. It’s Sean’s joie de vivre that will make him such a valued team member. The only way BMPR works is if –in the process of learning and sharing — we are having fun. Nobody’s ever accused Sean of not being that. Get ready…. last one to the karoake tweetup is a rotten egg.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Truer words have never been spoken. Sean, is one of my favorite people in the world and, though I’m completely bummed that I’m not around to hang out with you all and work with the new team personally, I’m very excited that he has agreed to let The BMPR share him with the rest of the world. In the time I have worked with Sean he has taught me that hilarity and taking care of serious business are not mutually exclusive. Also, that you don’t need an actual trumpet to play a tune and, for that matter, that dancing to the beat of your own drum [trumpet] is a matter of sanity.
Welcome Sean!!
Sean, we’re so excited to have you! Brilliance and fun? I say welcome aboard, sailor.