I am excited to announce that next week I am headed to Boston to become the new Marketing Campaign Manager at an executive development firm called Linkage. Almost three years ago, I started an event production company called QuickWhatsUp.com. I started out with small events, then began working on major events like the New England Nightclub and Bar Expo, the Rhode Island World of Flavors Competition and the DiscoverYou Holistic and Wellness Expo. My work was honored by a citizen citation from the Mayor of Providence and was named “Best of 2009″ by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. I met dozens of great people from the local nightlife industry through events like the Iron ‘Tender, from the local entertainment industry through events like the Going Going Gong Show and in the local entrepreneurial community.  I had the opportunity to work with great up-and-coming talent, including Spogga, Greg Lato, Johnny Lingo, Ben Hague, Patrick Austin, Benjamin Horsman, Opie, JAT, Sasha Gaulin and more.  I’ve also worked with some great clients, including the Twin River Casino, Anheuser-Busch, Corona, Universal Records, Safari Modeling, the Newport Comedy Series, and many more.

Somewhere along the way, I taught myself to use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, text message databases and blogs. I didn’t set out on this path consciously; I simply couldn’t afford traditional media to promote my events. But I became skilled with it, and realized that others were interested in the knowledge I had acquired. So I began offering courses at the RIEDC in Facebook and Twitter for small business. Eventually, I launched New England Social Media to focus exclusively on social media services for businesses.

While I enjoyed working with small businesses, part of me has wanted to return to a larger pond, like the one I was in during my broadcasting years. So when the Linkage opportunity came along, it was a natural fit. The company produces five large events a year (four summits and a total immersion training experience) as well as dozens of smaller workshops. The combination of working on events and social media while consulting with larger consulting clients was too good to pass up, and it seems like the natural next step in the evolution of my career.

Early on, somebody told me that the business you start is never the business you end up with.  That’s definitely been true for me.  It’s been an interesting ride, and I’ve learned a lot about both the world and myself along the way.  I will continue to offer social media guidance to those in need of my services.  I may even produce an event here and there in Boston, but on a much smaller scale.

I am looking forward to working at Linkage.  I have already met a number of very smart people there, and I am excited by the social media projects they have in store for me.  I am also looking forward to returning to Boston (I was there in 2000-2001 working for WBCN).  I have many friends up there and I have always loved the city.  Providence has been my home for ten years - four as a college student and six as a young professional - and I have enjoyed the city immensely.  I have to confess, it was not until I started QuickWhatsUp.com that I really got to know the rest of the state, from the shops lining Thames Street in Newport to the Bristol waterfront to the Block island beaches.  I have lived in many cities and traveled to many more, but nothing is quite like Providence.  I will miss this state’s quirks, from cabinets covered with jimmies to a stubborn refusal to drive more than fifteen minutes up the road.  I realize that this state has been hit harder than most by the economic downturn, but I have lived in many cities and traveled to many more, and even in these trying times Providence has an amazing amount of culture to offer for a city of its size.  So I wanted to say thank you for allowing me to be part of your community; I have learned a lot from all of you and I will remember you fondly.