Community Management: Creating a Team of Social Media Enthusiasts
By: David B. ThomasOver the past few weeks, you’ve met our social media-loving team of community managers. They engage in social media, create a human connection with our community (or create helpful content for them), and embody a key element of our “Radian6-ness.” Of course, we continue to celebrate community management every day given its impact and important role in our enterprise social media strategy.
But we’re not done yet. Here are three more members of our community management team.
Heather MacLean, Senior Community Manager
Working with the Community Engagement Specialists team, Heather brings extensive marketing and public relations experience from both private and public sector organizations. Heather has worked in social media for close to a decade and was the driving force behind Canada’s first electric utility embarking upon their social media journey.
Prior to the world of social media, Heather designed and executed the marketing and communications plan for Canada’s first Airline Travel Bank™. For her efforts, Heather was nominated and a finalist for Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. In addition to the utilities/energy and aviation industries, Heather has worked in the IT, e-learning, aerospace/defense, tourism and news media industries.
Addicted to learning, Heather is working on her third degree in her spare time, loves spending time with family and friends and her Collie, Seven. Heather’s other passions include the advocacy of literacy as the foundation for community.
Jenn Seeley, Community Engagement Specialist, Resident Travel Industry Watchtower
Jenn has been traveling since she was a little girl. From family vacations at Disney World to educational visits around Europe, she’s happiest when she’s on the go. Take offs and landings never get old. It’s no surprise that she loves her job as a Community Engagement Specialist with Radian6, focusing on travel, tourism, leisure and entertainment.
Originally from the tiny home of the longest covered bridge in the world, Jenn loves any opportunity to connect with people in faraway places. It’s no wonder she loves social media (and is slightly addicted to Twitter).
In her free time, Jenn enjoys watercolor painting, playing the trumpet and pretending she can knit.
Trish Forant, Community Manager
Trish joined the company in February of last year and is coming up on her one year anniversary. Prior to joining Radian6, she worked as a consultant, helping non-profits and small businesses create their social media strategies as an IT Instructor for ExecuTrain and as an Internet Specialist at Carnival Cruise Lines. If you’ve been on the social media scene for some time, you may know her best as @Dayngr, the founder, president and social media presence behind eMailOurMilitary.com, a charitable organization she created to support military service members through email and new media.
When she’s not engaging on behalf of Radian6, you can find Trish blogging about her life in sunny South Florida, being a mom to the Dayngrous Duo and her eldest son who recently became a Marine. As an active philanthropist, she’s passionate about using new media for good and is a founding member of Mom Bloggers for Social Good.
What’s your tip for successfully working with a social media community?
Heather: The main thing to remember is that you are working with people. People like to be listened to, valued, respected and know that if they have a question, they can seek answers. Working in social media is no different. It is all about people.
Jenn: The travel industry is very mature in social media compared to other vertical markets. One might think this makes my job easier, but in fact it becomes more difficult to really find the best conversations to jump into, and it’s easy to be overwhelmed. My advice? Be patient, find the conversations that are the most interesting and do your best to be helpful. Sharing is caring!
Trish: Be yourself, let your personality shine though and be as social as possible. In many ways, working with your community across social platforms is like working at the counter of the small town general store, but on a much larger scale. Get to know the people by name, let them get to know you and treat them with the same respect you’d want them to treat you.
You can reach our team at community@radian6.com, or click on Heather’s, Jenn’s or Trish’s name for their Twitter handles.

















Take yourself way too seriously






