Last Thursday night, a bunch of us from the Boston-area social media scene got together to welcome Ken Burbary to town. That was the original plan, at least.
A few days before the Tweetup, Aaron Strout let us know that he’s leaving Mzinga, and Boston, for a position at Powered in Austin, TX.
So we had a dual-purpose Tweetup: To welcome Ken to Boston, and to congratulate Aaron and wish him well.
Aaron leaving Mzinga came as a shock to many. The bigger shock, though, was how he could leave Boston?
However, Aaron isn’t the type of guy to leave a good position, sell his house and move his family halfway around the country for just anything. I remember him telling me several months ago that an opportunity would have to be huge for him to leave Mzinga.
Aaron is going to be the head of marketing at Powered, a company that “provides a way for consumers to engage with brands on their terms — and in a way that the consumer values, not avoids.” Sounds like a great match for Aaron.
But what of Mzinga? Aaron, along with Jim Storer, has been one of the biggest personalities at Mzinga. Jim will fill in for Aaron nicely, along with Alexa Scordato.
And Boston? With the exodus of many social media personalities - including Scott Monty, Bryan Person, John Johansen, and Kyle Flaherty - from Boston, there’s a growing hole in the Boston social media hierarchy.
Sure, we have superstars like Chris Brogan and Laura Fitton, and a slew of rookies - recent college grads with a load of potential. What we need are utility players, those social media people that may not have a big name, but have enough knowledge to stand up and be a leader in the community.
So, to Aaron, best of luck to you and your family in Austin. And to all you Boston social media peeps, do you have it in you to be the next leader?
You should look in the mirror Gradon.
Ha! Suki said it for me. YOU are one of the up and comers, my dear… you just deserve a role that uses all your talents and your capacity to engage.
But that will come.:)
I ditto the others, Gradon. Stop being so modest!!
So who are some of the social media leaders in Boston? Hmmm…there is Christine Perkett and her team at Perkett PR, your friend and mine Bob Collins and his group at Shift Communications, and don’t forget Ken George and his team at WBUR (who are making giant in-roads in public radio meets social media). And the HubSpot gang.
There are Dan Schawbel and Jamie Pappas at EMC pushing the message for people to blog and brand; and marketing legends Mike Lewis and Myles Bristowe who are evangelizing the power of social media to traditional firms.
How about everyone who showed up at the SM4SC event?
And me. But like you, I’m modest.
Gradon, as one of the my colleagues in social media, YOU are one of the names I look to for thought leadership in what we do here in Boston and globally through social media. Yes, you are a friend, but you are also One Smart Cookie. also, you are trying to import Meg Fowler, Canada’s greatest natural resource, so between you two, and Dmitri Gunn, Chris, Laura, the young up and coming 20-somethings and the rest of us that make up this close knit community - I think we’ll be ok, don’t you? What I love about Boston - it has the most inclusive and supportive tech community of anywhere I’ve lived or worked. I love it. (And yes, Aaron, Sarah, Bryan and everyone else will still more definitely be missed)
or, “the many colleagues”.
under caffeinated typos for the win.
Graon, as one of the folks who moved from my hometown of Boston to Austin I actually have a different perspective. You see so many social media players leaving Boston because there ARE so many social media players in Boston. I’ve worked in NYC, San Francisco and Austin over the past three years and Boston completely takes the cake with talented folks who understand what social media is and, more importantly, what it is not.
In essence there is such an overflow in Boston that you are bound to have folks heading to other places. The beauty of this cycle is that you can alsways find a kindred social media spirit to watch a Sox game with in DC, Chicago, Detroit, Austin, San Fran….etc.
/kff
Ugh, sorry…typing too fast…’Gradon’
Nonsense. To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the demise of the Boston social media scene have been greatly exaggerated. Between yourself, Dmitri Gunn, Ben Grossman and all the others you listed (not to mention the entire staff of SHIFT, and up & coming talent pools from schools like Emerson College & Boston University), Boston is in good hands.
If anything, the opportunities that Kyle, Jon, Bryan, and Aaron have had signify the how Austin is catching up - as are many other cities across the country.
So, far from being a drain on one metroplpolitan area, I view it as many other regions getting up to speed - something we should all be happy about, for it represents the legitimacy and maturation of the industry.
In the meantime, those left in Boston will be able to shepherd the new generation and offer some deeper perspective from the business community.
So get crackin’!
Gradon,
Great post and as many have said, I think your time is NOW. As someone living far from home, I’ve really enjoyed and depended on the strong connections to the Boston social media scene to stay aware and continue to feel like a real Bostonian. Please help continue our traditions and keep things flowing!
While it is sad for so many great people (and close friends) to leave Boston for other areas, there is still a very vibrant and active community here. Even outside of Boston proper there is plenty of people doing great things all over New England and new blood entering the mix every day.
Seconding all commenters above: Boston is so rich with social media -savvy talent that we have had to annex Austin to make room, that is all. And Gradon, thanks to your recent efforts and your general presence, I would also add you to the list of Boston leaders.
And by the way– thanks to those above who gave a shout to SHIFT Communications. I’m one of those folks, for those who don’t know, and appreciate the mentions.
Gradon,
Thanks for the post. It’s good to see someone actively pushing for this. I’ve been saying for a long time the E. Coast (particularly Boston) has as much or more “social talent” than the W. Coast, but now one would know that. Maybe we’re just more modest.
Maybe it’s time for some type of bigger, annual or semi-annual conference/event?
Joel
Gradon,
It was a great night meeting you, and the other social media stars from Boston @ The Good Life. I think you’re not giving yourself, and them, enough credit. And based on the responses to this post, I’d say others agree. The future of Boston Social Media is bright, and you’re a big part of it. Best of luck to you & the others in leading the way. I’m looking forward watching from Detroit.
Gradon,
First of all, I am honored to be mentioned so kindly in your post. Second (and belatedly), as the group here has confirmed, you are easily one of the top dogs in Boston on the social media front (you just need to get a job that better aligns you with your passion - do that and you’ll blow us all away). Third, you still have tons of talent as evidenced by the folks commenting on this post like CC, Ari, Doug, The Perkett-ers, the SHIFT-ers, Van Hoosear, @bostonmike, @cspenn, @dmitrigunn, Leslie AKA @geechee_girl, Ann Handley, Jim, Rachel and Alexa from Mzinga (and don’t forget Colin if he can stay focused). The best part of all is that I can’t wait to come back for a social media breakfast and compare notes for what Bryan, Kyle, my sister Heather, Peter Kim and JLJohansen have done down in Austin.
Best,
Aaron | @astrout
[...] becki325 @ 2:26 pm Tags: Aaron Strout, Gradon Tripp, Social Media Interesting post by Gradon Tripp here on the social media leadership in BOS. And, I might add, that Aaron’s move to Austin was a [...]
Gradon,
Although I must admit I have met several of people you cite as leaving, YOU among several aforementioned others, are a solid core SM group. Maybe not a “loss” of SM leadership, but a “shift” to others. I am proud to call myself a recent graduate and a social media junkie. I was glad to met you at PCB3, and I’ve been impressed with your work since then, in just a few months you’ve done amazing things. I was inspired by the Boston SM community, and I would like to help contribute to the growth of the SM community here in the Twin Cities.
Shawn | @shawnhorton
Alright, Alright.. I know it stinks Aaron’s leaving Mzinga, but as the surviving Mzinga CMO who is suffering this loss (you guys will miss his tweets, I will miss his impact on this business), I look at it this way:
1) Its good for the industry. Having Aaron Strout out in the bigger “community” is a positive for all of us. He’ll surely expand his network thereby expanding ours. And if he says ONE thing bad about Boston, we’ll find him.
2) Its good for Boston. I just moved my family back to Boston from Silicon Valley. I spread the word that “Boston is a talent and creative mecca” while I was there… and I am sure Aaron will too.
3) Get out of the fishbowl. This was Aaron’s time to spread his wings and fly… or shed his gills and walk… or… you get the idea. He’s off to do some great things
Let’s all just wish him congratulations and grow soul patches in his honor, shall we? And… by the way… I’ll happily drink his beer at any upcoming tweetups — while I can’t fill his shoes, I can have fun trying. consider me the “New Blood” CC Chapman mentioned above.
Cheers!
@patrickmoran
CMO, Mzinga
[...] few weeks ago I wrote about Aaron Strout moving from Boston to Auston (or #bostontoaustin, as Bryan Person tagged on [...]