Ok maybe he isn’t Hannah Montana, but you could say our co-founder and CEO Kim Patrick Kobza lives a double life – running Neighborhood America by day and sharing his expertise on Web 2.0 technology by night.
Kim is often invited to speak on discussion panels around the country. These types of speaking engagements offer a unique opportunity to promote your executives as thought leaders and your company as a leading provider of [insert specialty here]. For us, it’s all about social media.
Next week, Kim jets to Washington, D.C. to join the panel, titled: “Rockstars of Gov 2.0 Innovate Federal Acquisition,” part of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC) Executive Sessions. Gov 2.0 is a movement to provide more effective processes for government through Web 2.0 tools like wikis, social networking sites, blogs and RSS feeds. President Barack Obama, whose presidential campaign was heavily influenced by Web 2.0 technology, is calling for the utilization of these tools across all federal departments and agencies.
Kim will speak to how Web 2.0 technology can improve efficiencies in the procurement process, how deploying a secure online community where federal agencies can collaborate and drive innovation can significantly reduce costs and accelerate this process. He’ll explain how social software with enterprise architectures can support this level of connectedness, without sacrificing security compliance.
He knows what he’s talking about — nearly a decade of experience helping government effectively employ Web 2.0 technology. And that shouldn’t be kept a secret.
Customarily, we would write and distribute a news release announcing his involvement to generate attendance. But since this event is not open to the public, the focus is more about associating him and our company with this hot topic, with the intent of getting on our prospects’ radars.
Either way, putting out a news release about any speaking engagement regarding your company creates fresh content to support SEO and your web presence, not to mention brand awareness. Blog about it (like I am right now), share a link on Twitter, post it to Facebook or LinkedIn. With social media, you are expanding your reach effectively and efficiently. In no time, making your company or CEO the rock star of your industry!
If you’re a Will Ferrell fan or just love to laugh, you HAVE to watch the movie Step Brothers. It’s hilarious! One of my favorite scenes is when the new stepbrothers (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly) finally put the bickering and rivalry aside and start to get along (even funnier since they’re 40-year-old grown men living at home!).
John: Did we just become best friends?
Will: Yup.
John: Do you wanna go do karate in the garage?
Will: Yup.
Makes me think of our new relationship with Microsoft, what brought us together, and what’s the story that needs to be told.
Consider two software companies like ours. Rivals, right? Well, that’s not the case here. Microsoft’s play is desktop support, while we excel at SaaS and online environments, hence an amazing opportunity to work together.
Fittingly, in light of Easter weekend, what comes to my mind are elements of the biblical story David and Goliath (minus any stones thrown!) — the software giant and the ‘little guy’ with its sharp focus.
In our story, we’re not trying to bring down the giant, we’re trying to build him up. Microsoft relies on our product to help them connect online with their network of public sector partners and customers.
What will surely be powerful: their potential endorsement, or customer testimonial, based on a successful venture, attached to the prestigious Microsoft name. Who wouldn’t want these guys in their corner?
So did we just become best friends? Heck yeah! (Minus the sibling rivalry!)
In the coming months we’ll be working with their team to actually bring this story to life in a compelling video. I’ll share with you the thinking that goes into such a video production and what you can do to showcase your own customers.
Bogus news is an April Fools’ tradition. And every year, many of us still fall for the joke.
Take me for instance. You would have thought “Gullible” was my middle name this morning driving to work, listening to the radio D.J. rattle off the top, local headlines.
“FGCU installs wet bars in all of their dorm rooms today.” What?! Awesome! But why would the university do that? That encourages drinking. Isn’t that illegal?
“A five-year-old boy swims to Cuba.” Really! Wow, I can’t even swim a quarter-mile. Why would he choose Cuba to swim to?
And moments later, I hear, “Ha… April Fools!” Ugh!!
So I thought it was ironic that on a day when rumors and bogus news run amuck, our company and new partner Microsoft announce HUGE news!!A project the companies have been working on for nearly a year, and today, the announcement comes to fruition.
In a nutshell, Microsoft launched an online community, Public Sector Idea Bank, developed with Neighborhood America. The Idea Bank features several solutions Microsoft announced today and serves as a central collaboration vehicle for Microsoft, its partners and public sector customers to interact, discover new solutions and share ideas for new tool development.
This is HUGE because it’s a living example of what a company… any company, or government entity, can do to capture those amazing ideas that can revolutionize a business… an industry… a nation. And of course, the Idea Bank utilizes our newest product REVEAL (which we also announced today) to make it happen. That’s no joke!!
In the job that I do for Neighborhood America, what selfishly comes to mind is: How does this help strength our story?
Like the Oasis song (okay, dating myself here, but great 90’s song!)… What’s the story morning glory?
Some story elements are obvious… it’s MICROSOFT for Pete’s sake, but I would love to know how you would tell this story. What elements would you highlight? How do you envision the story between a software giant and… now, now I’m stopping there… I’ll continue sharing my thoughts in my next post.
Kathy Saenz
Corporate Communications Manager
Neighborhood America
I’m a former TV news journalist turned marketer for an award-winning social software technology company. My job entails telling compelling stories about the company’s customers, technologies, and accomplishments through a variety of communications formats, but my expertise lies in producing corporate videos.
Fittingly, in light of Easter weekend, what comes to my mind are elements of the biblical story 
Bogus news is an April Fools’ tradition. And every year, many of us still fall for the joke.
