As with past weeks, we’re highlighting the people who are engaging in social media, creating a human connection with our community (or creating helpful content for them), and embodying a key element of our “Radian6-ness.”

This week, we put two Community Engagement Specialists in the spotlight.

Zoe Geddes-Soltess, Community Engagement Specialist; Retail, CPG

Zoe joined Radian6 in February of 2011 as a Community Engagement Specialist and hasn’t looked back. With a background in communications, graduating from the University of Calgary with a BA in Communications Studies, Zoe is passionate about writing and finding new ways to connect with people. She previously worked in investor relations and communications at a property management company in Calgary, Alberta until moving to Fredericton, New Brunswick. She has since relocated back out West to be closer to her roots, but is happy to remain an active member of the Radian6 family. You can find Zoe engaging in the social space on topics around social media as it relates to Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail. She also contributes to the Radian6 blogs and collaborates on other Radian6 content, including the recently released ebook, Social Media Strategy for the Retail Industry. Zoe loves to share and converse on a variety of topics, including social media, food, arts and culture, and anything else that she finds interesting or amusing.

Jason Boies, Community Engagement Specialist; Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Jason was born and raised in Radian6’s hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick. A former commercial sales and services rep for a major Direct-To-Home Satellite television company, Jason made the transition into substitute teaching and restaurant serving/bartending after graduating from our own University of New Brunswick, where he completed the Bachelor of Arts Program with a major in Psychology as well as the Bachelor of Education Program with a focus on elementary level education and social studies. Finding the life of a supply teacher a bit too inconsistent, Jason made the transition to the Community Team here at Radian6 this past summer.

An avid film fanatic and pop culture geek always on the lookout for the irony and humor in life, Jason can be found on Twitter where he tweets not only about the healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries, but social media in general as well as film and TV news. He also general interesting articles with a focus often on the funnier side of life.

What’s your tip for successfully working with a social media community?

Zoe: Let your personality shine through and make a genuine effort to get to know other people on a personal level. I share lots of content about social media but sometimes I’ll share links or photos that are just silly or quirky or reflect my personal interests. I also love to chat with people on Twitter about topics of all kinds, whether it’s bantering with my awesome coworkers or discussing a recipe that someone is trying out for the first time. Being true to who you are and taking the time to learn more about your community will help deepen your social media connections and make them more rewarding.

Jason: Keep in mind that you are entering a medium that moves at a ridiculously-fast speed and you need to keep extremely responsive. So while most of the popular platforms are free, it still requires resources and an investment of your time and effort. In the end, it’s worth the investment. Also keep in mind that your organization already likely employs very capable salespeople, so as a Community Manager, try to keep the hard sell of your site/product to a minimum.

You can reach our team at community@radian6.com, or click on Zoe or Jason’s name for their Twitter handles.

Tags: Community, CPG, healthcare, management, Pharma, retail, Social Enterprise