Seattle Social Media Profiles » Social Media Enthusiasts

Joshua Wong of Washburn Communication & SSMP

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:55:32 +0000

“columnbreak? Err… columnbreak…Wait… huh?” That was my reaction the first time I saw the handle pop up across my screen. I had just received a friend invite via Zune from “columnbreak” and was left confused as I couldn’t recall who it was. “Should I know this guy from somewhere? If I don’t, why would he be interested in knowing that I just listened to Milli Vanilli’s ‘Blame It on the Rain’ six times in a row?” Not sure what to do, I accepted the friend request and hoped for the best.

Soon after that, I had the pleasure of actually meeting the man known as columnbreak after an SMC Seattle event and quickly discovered that he is a really good guy who’s passionate about social media. His actual name is Joshua Wong and he works as a mild-mannered Production Editor by day, but by night, he’s a social media junkie who really enjoys all things Japan. It was about six months ago that I met Josh and, speaking truthfully, having gotten to know him over that period has been a real pleasure.

Get to know Josh already, wouldja?

The Basics:

1. What is your name?
Joshua Wong

2. E-mail?
joshua@columnbreak.com

3. What is your occupation/company?
Production Editor at Washburn Communication.

4. Originally from? When and how did you end up in the Greater Seattle area? (if applicable)
I’ve spent most of my life in Renton, Washington.

5. How can people find you on the web?
I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and columnbreak.

Social Media:

6. Why do you like social media?
Social media is great a way to learn about people and events, keep in contact with friends, and be actively involved with some unique happenings both online and offline. It’s just a really easy, evolving way to learn and develop personal and professional relationships, and there are so many people that participate in it who don’t even realize what kind of impact they’re making on others.

7. How do you utilize social media?
I use social media to learn more about what’s going on in the world. I regularly read news on the MSNBC website, but what I watch on YouTube channels, read from friends on Twitter, and view on Flickr aren’t just articles or media, they’re experiences that I gain insight from. It’s enlightening to soak in and apply the vast amounts of information that I stumble on. For example:

A photo of a Japanese temple on Flickr might prompt me to visit that temple when I go to Japan.
A friend’s music taste on their Zune page might convince me to download some of the songs that they listen to.
My live video streaming of a local band on Qik might influence someone to attend a show and become a fan of the band’s music.

Without these experiences, I would be missing out on a lot of great things. And, it’s always comforting to think “That was awesome” after attending an event, eating at a restaurant that someone recommended, or getting a couple of solid opinions to an open-ended question.

8. What is one thing that mainstream population should know about social media?
I think that people should just have fun with social media. Companies shouldn’t worry about proving an ROI from YouTube and they shouldn’t use it to solely advertise products or services on Twitter. Common (um… and uncommon, I suppose) folks shouldn’t have to feel that they need to understand what it is to be involved. The fun with being involved in social media is the ability to gradually understanding what it is and how we can grow from it.

9. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
I hope that folks will find what I say entertaining. I definitely provide some honest insights, but nothing brutal. Occasionally, I’ll favorite someone’s tweet, read it five days later, and re-tweet it. I figure that, as long as the material isn’t time-sensitive, others who might’ve not seen it can see it at a later time. Plus, I’m not big on re-tweeting something that’s been re-tweeted by five or more people within an hour, so that’s why I sometimes sit on it for awhile.

10. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
The social media scene here is active, open, and friendly. My biggest worry about going to SMC Seattle events, tweetups, and other monthly gatherings was that I’d feel like a wallflower. That’s totally not the case. Even for me, a fairly shy guy, it’s really easy to get comfortable at these events.

Also, for anyone on the fence about going to a social media event, give it a shot. I know a few people that were hesitant to go because they weren’t sure what to talk about or had the idea that people only talked about technology or social media. What surprises them is that conversations go in all sorts of directions. It’s great having such a growing, diverse group of people!

11. Do you have a good social media success story or “wow” moment?
I’ve had a couple of social media “neat” moments, but my “wow” moment came fairly recently.

A friend on Twitter who lives in Japan asked a question aimed at software developers. The next day, he asked the same question, mentioning that no one had answered him. I re-tweeted his question and within 10 minutes, one of my developer friends from the Seattle area @ replied him. It was pretty amazing, especially given the distance between the two, the immediate response, and how I acted as a middleman to get a question answered.

12. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future you would like to let people know about? Please include dates, locations, etc. Where can more information be found?
Y’know, I usually don’t know of any conferences or events until someone re-tweets about them. A good place to start is the SMC Seattle calendar. And, although I haven’t tried it yet, I think that subscribing to RSS feeds like “bellevuetweetup” on Twitter or becoming fans of local social groups that have Facebook pages could be helpful if you don’t have time to search for local events.

Just For Fun:

13. What are your hobbies?
I enjoy cooking, playing basketball, and doing karaoke.

14. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
Japan is my all-time favorite place for vacation. I love taking the trains to different places in and around Tokyo. The trains are 99% on time, which makes planning an excursion really easy.

15. Favorite restaurant in Seattle? Favorite food?
My favorite restaurant is Wann, a Japanese place in downtown Seattle. I don’t eat out much, but when I think about doing so, that place is the first one that pops into my head. I like the atmosphere, the happy-hour food, and their oolong high (oolong tea mixed with shochu). My favorite food is definitely the chicken karaage.

16. Favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer?
Nothing beats driving around and listening to 90’s rap with the windows rolled down (Will Smith’s “Summertime,” anyone?). Usually, though, I have a destination in mind, like a barbeque with friends or playing basketball.

17. Most embarrassing CD you own?
It would definitely have to be my imported version of an NSYNC CD. I paid $45 for it on eBay about 10 years ago in hopes of selling it to my sister. That didn’t work out, so I’ve been stuck with it since then. It doesn’t get much play.

18. Any hidden talents?
Not really. I can make a frog face with my hands and sound like Kermit the Frog. Nothing game-changing, though.

19. What would you like everyone to know about you?
I’m a dog person.

Joshua Wong Links

Jean-Luc David: MS-er, Author, Great Guy

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:02:58 +0000

One of the amazing things about Seattle’s social media community is there are an abundance of incredibly intelligent and friendly people. It’s these people that I never get tired of talking with, and a perfect example of this is my friend Jean-Luc David.

A native Torontonian, Jean-Luc can be described as many things: a Microsoftie; an author; a developer; and a techie-to say the very least. He is a man of many talents and is someone who can be found at many of the great tweetups and SMC Seattle meetings around the Puget Sound. If the opportunity presents itself, go say hello to Jean-Luc. I promise you, you won’t regret it!

The Basics:

1. What is your name?
Jean-Luc David

2. E-mail?
Jean-Luc.David@microsoft.com

3. What is your occupation/company?
I help manage Technical Evangelists at Microsoft.

4. Originally from? When and how did you end up in the Greater Seattle area? (if applicable)
Originally from Toronto, Canada. Moved to the Seattle area in October 2008 when I took on new position at Microsoft. Yes-I’m Canadian.

5. How can people find you on the web?
www.twitter.com/jldavid. You can also find me on Facebook and LinkedIn. My Flickr photo site can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/jldavid.

Social Media:

6. Why do you like social media?
I’m generally a “people person” and enjoy any opportunity I can get to connect in person and now online. I’m pretty passionate about social media these days.

7. How do you utilize social media?
As a social person, I meet up with tons of fun and interesting individuals. As you know, we only have 365 days in the year and even if I went to breakfast/lunch/dinner, I still wouldn’t be able to meet everyone face to face. Social Media is my CRM (customer relationship management) system-it allows me to scale and maintain a relationship with a very large number of people, know what they are up to, and interact.

8. What is one thing that mainstream population should know about social media?
Don’t fear or underestimate the power of social media.

9. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
There are different types of posters on Twitter-I enjoy sharing topical news that hits my radar. Could be related to technology, gadgets, social networking-it’s pretty diverse. If you reply to me, I will do my best to respond. I enjoy conversations, meeting new people, and so forth.

10. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
Seattle has the unfair reputation of being a socially “cold” place-commonly referred to as the “Seattle Freeze.” I think the vibrant social media scene is “melting away” that reputation. At any given moment in time, there are dozens of events happening all over the city. If you compare the number of Twitter Meet-ups on Twtvite.com for Seattle to other U.S. cities, you’ll notice we have a lot more happening here.

11. What was your “wow” moment with social media?
Like everybody else, I started by posting personal status messages – i.e. “having breakfast – eggs.” Things started getting interesting when I would meet people, and they would know what I had for breakfast, including my boss-it’s like they were reading my mind. I can remember being new to Seattle and having a plumbing issue. I twittered about it and got several offers of help from people in the area. That really reinforced the power of the collective-now, there is a phenomenon of volunteer tweet-ups. I think social media for social good is one of the areas that will have great impact going forward.

12. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future you would like to let people know about? Please include dates, locations, etc. Where can more information be found?
Not currently working on anything-however, I have a software development background and if I have time, would love to build a few interesting Twitter or Facebook applications.

Just For Fun:

13. What are your hobbies?
Photography, music (I play guitar, piano, and percussion), travel, and authoring (books and articles-I’ve written five books so far)

14. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
Rome by far. Been there twice-visit the obvious spots (Coliseum, Vatican). Also try to find a small restaurant called Damé (near Villa Borghese). One of the best meals I’ve had in my life. Hunting for great homemade gelato around the city is also a fun activity.

15. Favorite restaurant in Seattle? Favorite food?
Currently, Casuelitas Caribbean Café on Vine Street. Delicious Caribbean food with a fusion of other cultural flavors. Definitely recommended.

16. What would you like everyone to know about you?
Interesting facts-appeared in an episode of Blind Date in Los Angeles, wrecked one of David Copperfield’s magic tricks in Las Vegas, sang onstage with Sammy Hagar in Cabo San Lucas, polished my father’s car with Crisco oil as a child, Wayne Gretzky landed a flight I was on-the list goes on and on.

Jean-Luc David Links:

Veronica Sopher: Seattle’s Twitter Queen

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:56:19 +0000

Meet Veronica Sopher: unassuming mom/wife/employee at Ben Bridge by day, but by night, one of Seattle social media’s rising stars. Known as “Wei” to her close friends and family, Veronica is a key member of SMC Seattle’s Board, working as it’s Community Director where her role is to get the word out on all things SMC Seattle. Judging by the attendance at SMC Seattle events, I’d say she’s doing an incredible job. Within our community,Veronica has garnered so much respect that she was recently mentioned in Mashable.com’s article Social Media Hub: Seattle, where she was called “Seattle’s Twitter Queen” by Kevin Urie.

Thanks to members of our community like Veronica, the Seattle social media scene is thriving. Her energy and passion benefits us all and is helping to nurture our community. And with that, I’m happy to feature our next profile: Veronica Sopher.

The Basics:

1. What is your name?
Veronica Wei Sopher. My family and best friends call me Wei.

2. E-mail?
vsopher@gmail.com

3. What is your occupation? Company?
Ben Bridge Jeweler and Social Media Club Seattle.

4. Originally from? When and how did you end up in the Greater Seattle area?
Taiwan. I arrived in the Puget Sound area in 1989 to attend school here.

5. How can people find you on the web?

www.twitter.com/Shih_Wei and www.weiwardgirl.wordpress.com

Social Media:

6. Why do you like social media?
I’ve always loved helping people connect. Social media is a great set of tools for that.

7. How do you utilize social media?
I definitely use it for communication and interaction. There are so many different sites and tools, but I mainly use Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

8. What is one thing that mainstream population should know about social media?
The words “social media” seem to turn a lot of people off. Some are intimidated, assuming it’s only for the technically savvy crowd. I wish I could show everyone that’s not the case. Social networking is not a new concept. Lots of people have been on Internet forums or posted reviews on Amazon, and those are all considered social networking. The tools vary, but the basic idea is the same: It’s all about communication and community.

9. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
I strive for a good mix of information and conversation. My tweets tend to be more business-like on weekdays, but on evenings and weekends, I often talk about food, parenting, gardening, etc. I would encourage new followers to say something to me so that we can start a two-way conversation, and please remember that we’re all human.

10. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
It is definitely thriving! We’re blessed with so many great talents in the area, and there’s no shortage of sharing. The recent Mashable piece on “Social Media Hub: Seattle” only lists a fraction of all the wonderful things going on here.

11. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future that you would like to let people know about?
Social Media Club Seattle holds monthly events. Our new Web site is www.smcseattle.com. We’re working on a collaborative calendar of events for everyone. If you know of a social media-related event, please feel free to send us the info and we’ll get it listed.

Just For Fun:

12. What are your hobbies?
Baking, gardening, reading, and spending time with family and friends (which almost always involves good food).

13. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
Taiwan. Umm, lots of eating and napping. It’s vacation time, right?

14. Favorite restaurant in Seattle? Favorite food?
My answer to this question changes often. That said, I rarely turn down Taiwanese small eats, good seafood, or Japanese cuisine.

15. Favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer?
I spend quite a bit of my summer at the foot of Tiger Mountain in Issaquah. My husband is a paraglider pilot. It’s a great crowd there. A lot of geeks, so I feel right at home. There’s often BBQ or bonfires on weekends, so come out and join us!

16. Most embarrassing CD you own?
What do you mean? I’m not embarrassed by my Air Supply collection!

17. Any hidden talents?
I play the piano and used to sing competitively.

18. What would you like everyone to know about you?
I’m really fun, laidback, and BS-free.

Veronica Sopher Links

Veronica Sopher, SMC Seattle, interviewed by Dennis Noland