When it comes right down to it, there are two things I do best: build relationships and tell stories. These two skills, interwoven, make me a vital asset to every team I work with. I believe that people are the building blocks of any business, and they have to be treated properly if you want to succeed. I approach every individual with a fundamental belief that they deserve to be respected and listened to, and that their unique contributions are vital to the work at hand. Whether I'm acting as the organizational "glue" by facilitating solid and productive teamwork, managing customers, stakeholders, or vendors, or delivering top-notch customer service, the philosophy that healthy relationships are at the core of organizational strength is always central to my work.
I also know that good communication is the lifeblood of these relationships. Communicating clearly and effectively is an absolute necessity. The right messages need to reach the right audiences at the right times. Honesty and transparency are paramount. Responsiveness is not optional. Information moves too quickly to drop the ball. Humility and a sense of humor are the often neglected pieces of the communications puzzle.
I am insatiably curious about a wide range of topics and read constantly, bringing the insights I glean to all of my projects. In addition to the written word, I work in various creative media to do my work, including photography, video editing, and graphic design.
Social Media Philosophy:
I believe that in the business world of the 21st century, social media isn't optional. It's not part of a toolkit or an add-on, or something that can be considered a passing fad. It's the new way that customer service is happening right now, because it's where customers are - interacting, spending their leisure time, and discussing the things that impact their lives. Social media empowers individuals with a voice like never before, and the opinions they share with their network of friends and colleagues about the products and services they're using can fall into only one of three categories: advocacy, criticism, or indifference. If you're not engaging actively in social media as part of a comprehensive communications strategy, your organization may not survive.
I received my BA in Communication Arts with honors from Franciscan University in 2001. I am a member of the American Society of Association Executives.
I currently serve as the Director of Community Relations at the Society for Technical Communication, where I manage the administrative needs of over 100 chapters and special interest groups around the world. As a member of our senior management team, I serve as a lead for our organizational communications effort, creating messaging and advising on strategy both in traditional and social communications. I work with our webmaster to support our members and communities in the use of our website and online platform, oversee our annual online elections, and act as the staff liaison to several Board-level committees.
I bring over a decade of communications and social media experience to my work. Since 2003, I've produced thousands of blog posts using platforms from across the blogging and content management spectrum, including Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr and Joomla. I've ghostwritten website copy, blog posts, and strategic messaging for small grassroots organizations, Boards of Directors, and top executives at fortune 500 companies on a wide variety of topics.
Prior to my work at STC, I worked as an account executive for TMG Strategies (now re-branded as McGinn & Company) performing media analysis for clients in the automotive and health care industries. I covered social media and cultural trends for the firm's Undercurrents blog, including topics like early indicators that Twitter was going to be a real political game-changer, and the way internet applications are drastically altering the way we communicate critical life events and information. I also worked closely with the first Social Media team at General Motors to develop social media strategy and content for the world's largest auto manufacturer, which was an innovator in corporate-to-consumer social communications. I worked on social communications for initiatives like Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles, the 1st-place entry in 2007's DARPA Urban Challenge to produce autonomous cars, and the plug-in electric concept vehicle now known worldwide as the Chevy Volt. In addition to these other projects, I was fortunate to be part of the team that developed the concept and approach that later led to Chevrolet's first consumer-generated Super Bowl ad.
Since 2008, I've been a columnist for Crisis Magazine, an innovative and popular online magazine covering topical issues in the areas of faith, culture and politics. My writing has also appeared in The Washington Times, Accuracy in Academia, and General Motors’ FYI Blog. I've been featured as an essayist and guest on American Public Radio’s Speaking of Faith With Krista Tippet, and have made multiple appearances on Sacred Heart Radio’s Son Rise Morning Show.
Please see my writing portfolio for samples of my work. For my full resume, please contact me at steve at steveskojec dot com
