Age: 33Company: Blatant ExpressionsTitle: Chief StrategistTown where I live: MiddletownTown where I work: EverywhereCollege(s): Johnson & Wales University (Undergrad), UConn (Graduate)Q&A:What do you do and what are your goals in your current job? I’m an e-commerce and marketing strategist, which is just a fancy way of saying that I create and execute new business plans […]
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Age: 33
Company: Blatant Expressions
Title: Chief Strategist
Town where I live: Middletown
Town where I work: Everywhere
College(s): Johnson & Wales University (Undergrad), UConn (Graduate)
Q&A:
What do you do and what are your goals in your current job? I'm an e-commerce and marketing strategist, which is just a fancy way of saying that I create and execute new business plans to drive revenue growth. I love my job, and my goal is to keep meeting awesome businesses owners throughout Connecticut and helping them succeed.
What are your goals for your community involvement? At End Hunger CT!, my goal is to continue to help build a community where everyone has access to healthy, affordable food. Elsewhere, I'd like to increase my involvement in attracting and keeping small businesses in our state.
What's your biggest passion? That has to be music; there is really nothing else in our world quite as powerful. It's almost emotion incarnate, acting like an anthology of humanity's history, and a roadmap for its future.
What are your future aspirations? Visit Iceland, Ireland and every other amazing place. Meet new people. Publish a book. Learn the guitar. Start another business. Teach a class. Speak Italian. Invent something awesome. Shadow Marcus Lemonis. Get a black belt. Be a TED speaker. Finally get Siri to understand me. Laugh more.
What needs to happen for Hartford to become a more vibrant city where people work, live and play? Go small, as in, focus on attracting and developing small businesses and entrepreneurs. They will bring a greater diversity of industries and opportunities to Hartford and build the kind of excitement that ignites economic growth.
List four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:
- At the Connecticut Lottery Corp., I built a marketing-engagement program that increased content sharing by over 1,000 percent and awareness (reach) by over 3,000 percent in the first year.
- I'm currently the vice-chairperson of the board at End Hunger CT!
- I've helped dozens of entrepreneurs build/grow their businesses through e-commerce and marketing mentorship (via MicroMentor.org).
- I recently graduated with honors from UConn's MPA (Masters in Public Administration) program.
Time Tested:
What personal possession in your life has withstood the test of time? My childhood dog's tags
What hobby did you develop at a young age that you still enjoy today? Creative writing. Oh, and napping.
Twenty years ago, what did you envision as your future profession? A journalist, or a king
Who do you consider your mentor? Brian Campbell, President of Pexagon Technology
