The full post is available on the DNA13 blog.

Please follow my new blog at http://itsfreshground.com/blog to get all my thoughts on social media, PR, measurement, marketing and business.

So what’s to become of this blog and site? I’m not sure yet, but I’m thinking about redirecting More Than Marketing to the Fresh Ground Blog, while keeping VanHoosear.com directing here — if that’s possible. I will be switching my RSS feed over to the Fresh Ground Blog, and am considering switching my Facebook Notes feed as well. If you read this on Facebook, are you more interested in my thoughts on social media, PR and technology, or what I had for breakfast?

My undergraduate degree in communications, obviously my first four-year stint (okay, more like 4.5 if you count a couple summer terms) is where I found my love of public relations and refined my editorial skills (which I first picked up in high school as an occasional contributor to our high school paper and to the newsletter for my Civil Air Patrol Squadron, for which I was awarded 1989 Michigan Wing Newsletter Editor of the Year). My love for PR and editing skills came in good part thanks to Ned S. Hubbell and PRSSA, where I edited the MSU chapter’s newsletter called the Forecaster (I won a couple awards for that too). Unfortunately, PR didn’t pay so well in the early 90s, so I had to make my money a different way. I chose to go back to school. I studied communications, but got an assistantship from the MSU Computer Lab to pay my way. Still a lousy salary, but they also paid for school. This led to my slow but inevitable temporary departure from communications and marketing.

My first five years of my professional career, from about 1992 to 1997, gave me my really deep understanding of technology, and exposed me to public speaking, training and the joys of editing and the web. These first five years took me from my graduate program in communications to a temp job, a part-time job, and finally a full-time job at the Computer Lab. I went from running the Graphics Lab (where I learned to be a Photoshop guru) to the last editor of ACRONYMS (the Computer Lab’s newsletter, where I learned PageMaker), to running the school’s non-academic computer training program (where I taught, in addition to PageMaker and Photoshop, Excel, Unix, Windows, Networking and several other popular classes), to helping launch the schools first virtual university project (where I was responsible for setting up the computers that served web pages and streamed video and audio to Extension Schools across Michigan).

My next three years (1997-2000) brought me to Boston, where I transitioned from technology back to communications at Advis, later bought by Primix, later bought by Burntsand. I went from a Java trainer (my first, very short-lived gig at Advis) to network administrator (running Windows Server and NeXT machines) to pre-sales consultant (where I got to do live demo installations of web applications for PeopleSoft and SAP) to marketing communications manager (where I was re-acquainted with PR in a big way, especially when my company made Barron’s famous Burn List that essentially kicked off the dot com crash).

When the opportunity to jump ship and work at the PR agency I had hired for Primix came around, I jumped at it. I cut my teeth in PR from 2000 to 2003 as an account manager and account director at Miller/Shandwick Technologies (later merged with a couple other IPG agencies to form Weber Shandwick Worldwide). And when the opportunity came to work for my old boss at Miller/Shandwick came, I also jumped on board his growing small PR agency called Topaz Partners.

My five-year tenure at Topaz Partners from 2003 to 2008 marked my rapid introduction to Web 2.0 and social media. I launched our blog on July 7th, 2004, and it was downhill from there (you can see every old blog post of mine here). I loved it there, but it seemed like it was time to move on.

SocialSphere gave me an opportunity to grow into some new markets, including some more consumer- and government-focused areas. I got to work with some great people, and cut my teeth on some new technologies. I helped the company solidify its client services, including the development of some pretty mean spreadsheets that drove our (whenever possible and always morphing) daily War Room discussions. It was what you would call a learning organization, rapidly trying new ideas at it worked to improve itself. It was an enjoyable 8 months, but it was again time to move on.

Why? Well, for a long time now I’ve been wanting to strike out on my own. I have a wonderful combination of technology, communications and marketing skills and a great network thanks to all the social media involvement I’ve had. I’m not quite ready to share what’s next yet, but stay tuned over the next few weeks for more news as I set the stage for what I hope will be a successful business.

So I’ll be posting updates on what’s new and what’s next over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, I wanted to apologize for the lack of updates. Between work, family and an attempt to get healthy, I’ve had very little time to keep up with my RSS feeds, blog and socializing.

So, 50 pounds lighter — I’ve plateaued (or is “valleyed” the better word) at 195 pounds and will wait a few weeks before pushing it down some more (I’d love to hit and stay around 175) — and feeling better, I’m trying to re-emerge, circulate a bit more around the Boston social media scene, etc.

I’ll be putting an appearance in at tomorrow’s Social Media Breakfast Boston 15, and will be speaking on Saturday for PodCamp Boston 4 (more on that later today or tomorrow).

So stay tuned for more updates, those of you still checking in.

• marketing
(I have secured this person)

• engineering


• HR


• management
(I have secured this person)

• customer service

If you have recommendations for me, or would like to offer yourself up, post a comment here, or drop me an email or phone call. Thanks!

In Loving Memory of Brad Van Hoosear (1970-2007)
Photo Copyright (c) Kay Phelan, uploaded by tvanhoosear

Brad Van Hoosear died in December 2007 of pancreatic cancer at the young age of 37. Here are some facts about pancreatic cancer, many from Brad’s mother, who was at Brad’s side throughout his terrible ordeal.

In 2007, The National Cancer Institute estimates 37,170 new cases of pancreatic cancer and 33,370 deaths in USA. Most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will have passed away by the end of the first year. Americans are twice as likely to be affected by pancreatic cancer that Europeans, for reasons unknown.

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_cancer, but verified elsewhere) include pain in the upper abdomen that typically radiates to the back and is relieved by leaning forward, loss of appetite, significant weight loss and jaundice. By the time you feel the pain from pancreatic cancer, however, it’s likely already beyond most typical cancer treatments currently available.

Furthermore, there are currently no non-intrusive, conclusive tests for pancreatic cancer beyond magnetic and sonic imaging that can pick up cancer masses, but which typically are only authorized after symptoms appear, when it’s already too late.

There are some known risk factors for the disease (the Wikipedia article lists several), and a few preventative measures, including quitting smoking, taking vitamin D, and eating foods rich in vitamins B12, B6 and folate.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer increases with age; most people are between 60 and 80 when they receive the diagnosis. Brad was 37. He was so young that, even though his symptoms were exactly those of the cancer, he was misdiagnosed because of his age. The doctor even said “If you were 60, I’d say you had pancreatic cancer.” Well, he did. But even if he had been diagnosed, it would’ve been too late.

There are people actively looking into ways to new treatment options. One such person is Michelle Calabretta, Ph.D., who blogs about her research at http://drmiggy.wordpress.com/ (she’s also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/drmiggy), but there are many others—you can read her blog for lots of good information and links to all kinds of cancer research, not just pancreatic.

In the U.S., pancreatic cancer is 9th or 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer (depending on gender), but the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women. The median survival period from the time of diagnosis until demise is arguably the worst of any of the cancers. The median survival for untreated advanced cancer of the pancreas is about 3 1/2 months; with good treatment this increases to about six months. Brad fought the disease for a year and a half—his youth and strength of spirit carried him.

I knew very little about this disease when Brad was first diagnosed. Quickly, however, I learned that a coworker’s cousin had died of it. When I tweeted about it yesterday (http://twitter.com/vanhoosear), more cases came out of the woodwork. In my network of 300+ Twitter followers, six wrote back saying they had lost a friend, acquaintance or family member to this disease! (Dozens more shared sympathy and support, for which I am very thankful, as is Brad’s direct family, with whom I shared this groundswell of support.)

A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. There is no cure, few treatment options, and the 5 year survival rate is less than 5%. Despite this high mortality rate, the federal government spends woefully little money on pancreatic cancer research. It’s a very painful way to die, few treatments exist, and no cures.

The National Cancer Institute’s cancer research budget was $4.824 billion in 2004, an estimated $52.7 million of which was devoted to pancreatic cancer (1% of the budget for the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women). Research spending per pancreatic cancer patient is $1,145, the lowest of any leading cancer.

There are things you can do to help change this!

First, learn more about the disease. Start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_cancer and http://tinyurl.com/24p83b.

Next, tell your friends and family about the disease, especially if they match a lot of the predisposing factors outlined in Wikipedia.

Remember that November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Buy a purple ribbon pin to show your support: http://tinyurl.com/2964gg.

If cancer has affected you personally, tell people about it. I’ve found the experience very fulfilling and comforting.

Finally, consider supporting awareness and research into treating this terrible disease. There are many causes out there. These are just a few:

• American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/DON/DON_0.asp
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN): http://www.pancan.org/
• Pancreatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland: http://www.pancsoc.org.uk/
• Johns Hopkins Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center: http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/
• Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research: http://www.lustgarten.org/

My dear cousin left behind a very rich life, despite its shortness, wonderful memories for his friends and family (including myself), and one final, incredible gift. Brad’s final legacy was to donate his cancerous tissue to Dr. Iacobuzio-Donahue’s research department at Johns Hopkins University in the effort to help find a cure for this dreaded disease.

If you knew Brad, or have been moved by this particular case, please consider making a memorial donation directly to the work of Dr. Iacobuzio-Donahue in Brad’s honor:

“GI Medical Donation Program”
c/o Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue, MD, PhD
Dept of Pathology Johns Hopkins University
1550 Orleans Street, CRB II, Room 343
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 955-9132

Please include your name and address, and note that your donation is being made in memory of Bradley Van Hoosear.

Brad, thank you. You’ve inspired friends, family, and now hundreds of people online to think about pancreatic cancer, moving us one important step closer to treating, preventing and someday curing this terrible cancer.

You will be missed!

The Personal Touch: Barney’s New York
No, we don’t spend a lot of money or time there (thank God!), but my wife is a big fan of their incredible perfume collection. When she visits, the salespeople remember her name. When she buys something, she will often get a nice handwritten note in the mail. These things, in addition to the nice smelling perfumes, keep her coming back.

It’s All About Who You Know: Cafe Madrid, Chelmsford
A dear friend of ours hosted a birthday get-together for my wife on Friday. I don’t often find myself in Chelmsford, MA, but I was impressed by what I found. In addition to the great service and great food (we ordered the tapas sampler and the paella, and they threw in the Spanish equivalent of antipasto while we waited), the husband of the owner of this small Spanish-American restaurant came by our table, offered to take our picture (above), and emailed it to me. That’s service! If you’re in Chelmsford, stop by for good food (and ask Larry, who’s also a dentist and a damn fine maker of sangria, if he’s figured out that photo printer yet).

Did You Find What You Were Looking For?: Home Depot
It was in-between snow storms, and with no immediate snow in the forecast. I thought for sure I’d be able to find three things quickly: rock salt, a snow shovel, and a snow pusher for my car. The only rock salt I found was in a 25 lb. bag: quite a bit more than i was looking for. The snow shovels were hiding in the garden center, nowhere near an entrance. Finally, the snow pusher was nowhere to be found. I walked out empty-handed (the shovels sucked). I tweeted my frustration, and got a reply from Home Depot. A simple and scripted one that asked “Did you find what you were looking for?,” but it was enough (for now) to know that they at least saw my tweet (now do something about it). What can I say; I’m easy!

Know When To Say Yes: Verizon
On a whim, I wandered into my local Verizon store to complain about my mobile phone, the LG Voyager, which has gotten scratched to hell and was prone to shutting off for no good reason. No questions asked, they gave me a new phone, and found the right cover to prevent more scratching. I was prepared to give them Hell, talk them down contract price-wise, but I was so disarmed I didn’t even bother asking about getting cheaper service (that WILL come soon though, trust me, especially with $40 all you can eat data+voice plans out there).

Right Here, Right Now: Bank of America
I may sound like a total shill here, as these are brands that can evoke very strong negative reactions in people, but I have nothing but good things to say about my Bank of America customer service experience. I left my card in an ATM and got a replacement card within 15 minutes of noticing it. Bank of America succeeds by having processes in place to deal with a LOT of contingencies, and by being available to me almost all the time. The training they must give doesn’t always sink in right away, but my experience has been much more positive than negative.

Okay, so what are some examples of not giving me the personal touch that I need?

Ignorance Ain’t Bliss: ANHosting/MidPhase
This company, the soon to be former hosting provider for this blog, has BIG problems. First of all, they have a brand problem, as I can’t even really tell you what the company’s real name is. Second, they have serious downtime issues. Finally, their customer service doesn’t handle escalations appropriately, or at all. I can’t get beyond a level 2ish technician to a business-level person who can really explain all the downtime that my site has gotten. Finally, they just don’t give a rat’s ass about ANYTHING online–they won’t engage, period. Ironic (if not entirely unusual, unfortunately) for an ONLINE HOSTING provider, no?

We Are Always Right, Except When We’re Right: Apple
I know, I already went off on Apple (and the next two companies) on the SocialSphere blog, but it bears restating here. Apple does a LOT of things right, and whoever on NPR who recently said they’d rather have an Apple employee dress them than a Microsoft one is absolutely right, but Apple and Steve Jobs are NOT infallible, and they run an incredibly old school marketing program for such a hip company. I would appreciate Apple much more if I felt like it listened to me, even if it’s to say that they wouldn’t let me chose their clothes, let alone their software improvements.

Ignore The Man Behind The Curtain: Google
When customer support for any other company takes more than 72 work hours to address a complete failure of their product, you’d move on. When the company is Google and the product is AdWords, you don’t have many other viable options, so you take it. But you don’t forget.

Crowdsourcing? What’s That?: Facebook
So you now have the largest online social network in the U.S. . Do you think to leverage that incredible customer base to help make better informed decisions? No, you plow ahead, ignorant of the will of the masses, and make dumbass decisions like Facebook Beacon, the New Facebook and the completely ridiculous new ToS (apparently they’ve rolled back the ToS).

On Friday, February 13th (my lovely wife’s birthday, by the way), Twitter announced $35 million in new funding. The Bloomberg reporter covering the story issued a news brief based on the announcement and an interview he conducted with one of the VCs. In his write-up, he included a statistic on the number of daily Twitter users, pegging it at 55 million, based on his interpretation of some vague numerical equivalencies given to him by the VC spokesperson.

SocialSphere’s own John Della Volpe was the first I saw to pick up on the error. On Sunday the 15th, he issued a challenge to back up this number, citing the Bloomberg story, the already-updated Wikipedia entry, and the statistic’s already rapid dissemination (it had already begun to appear in SlideShare presentations).

Monday morning, after reading John’s post, I decided to email the reporter in question, who was extremely professional, thorough and responsive throughout the process. After about a day’s deliberation (which is documented partially in the comments section of John’s blog entry, partially on the Wikipedia Twitter discussion page, and partially on Twitter) , the 55 million statistic in the Bloomberg article was redacted.

In the old days, the story would end there. Sure, we could’ve caught and challenged the number a little more quickly, but overall, this was handled pretty nicely on all ends.

But as Twitter user JonGarfunkel pointed out, this one little number has quickly spread: Google blog search returns 1,096 hits for “55 million” users +Twitter.

Such is the power of the blogosphere: to reinforce both the good and the bad, the accurate and the not so accurate.

P.S.: If anybody wants to take up the cause of contacting these bloggers and correcting these blog posts, be my guest! It won’t be me.

Flickr photo courtesy madebymax.

Sam Houston Race Park, Houston’s premier racing, dining and entertainment destination, is seeking an online community manager to help grow visibility for the park in the Houston area and nationwide. This would be a part-time, hourly position working approximately 15-25 hours per week. Salary is commensurate with experience. Bonuses will be offered for meeting specific growth numbers.

DESCRIPTION
The online community manager will be responsible for raising awareness of Sam Houston Race Park (SHRP) online, as measured by community membership, active participation and ultimately by growth in both event attendance and ticket sales.

More specifically, the position will be tasked with managing SHRP’s participation in third-party blogging, microblogging, social networking, social sharing and other social media sites (including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and appropriate entertainment- and horse racing-related sites). The online community manager will create and execute a plan for identifying, evaluating, monitoring and engaging communities on these sites that are relevant to both SHRP’s racing and entertainment businesses.

REQUIREMENTS
The ideal online community manager combines an appreciation for music, sports wagering and horse racing with a deep understanding of Web 2.0, social media and online community building. The organizer must have extensive knowledge of online social networks, including Facebook and MySpace. Strong organizational skills, as well as the ability to work independently are important. A track record of successful community development and event marketing is strongly desired. The ability to bring to the table an existing network of fellow music enthusiasts or racing enthusiasts is a plus. Experience with online multimedia content, including the ability to write blogs and microblogs, and to produce audio and video content is another important attribute that will differentiate a candidate. The organizer should live online, but a physical presence in or around the Houston area and the ability to travel to the Sam Houston Race Park easily is important.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate but discriminating about social media, fluent in “web 2.0″ and a super-user of tools like Delicious, RSS, Flickr, YouTube, widgets, and blogs


• A live music aficionado


• Appreciative of the sport of horse racing and of sports wagering in general


• Organized and open-minded

Please send resume, cover letter and full list of URLs pointing to your online presence to Todd Van Hoosear: