Social media is gaining ground in Pittsburgh.
If you happened to drop in
AlphaLab last week, you mingled with about 100 at the second annual social media mashup of TechPOWR and the
Society for Technical Communication, people who are putting social media to work for them.
Take Holly Maust who has been pushing
Four Square out to the 'burgh for the past year. Maust's prolific involvement in social media has helped to launch a social media consultancy here, Interactive Swim. Maust will be among the speakers at
Podcamp Pittsburgh 5 on Sept. 18-19.
CBS Survivor star Ian Rosenberger, a native of Ambridge, offered the keynote. A former producer of shows for MTV in New York City and a Discovery Channel host, Rosenberger saw the power of social media five years ago and decided to move back to Pittsburgh and jump in.
"It's the best decision I've made in a long time," he says.
Rosenberger is director of emerging media and business development of the Pittsburgh-based
Strategic Images. He also used the forum--and social media--to promote a personal cause, raising money for surgery of a 19-year-old Haitian boy,
Tassy Filsaime, who is suffering from a rapidly growing and potentially fatal cancer.
"The thing about Pittsburgh that's so great is there are so many seeds here, so much talent," says Ian Rosenberger with the ear-to-ear grin that charmed the fans of the CBS hit show Survivor: Palau. "We have a wholesome awesomeness."
"Events like the mashup and PodCamp Pittsburgh demonstrate that Pittsburgh continues to have an active and vibrant social media community," adds Mike Woycheck of Alpha Lab.
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Writer:
Deb SmitSource: Ian Roseberger, Strategic Images; Mike Woycheck, Alpha Lab
Image of Ian Rosenberger courtesy Monty Brinton/CBS