Even More Networking Goodness

This is more of a cool, personal post than the last one. This week I got to hang out with an Internet personality, Cheezhead, aka Joel Cheesman. And why is this cool? (......works). Well, just a year and a half ago, I had no idea who he was. Here's a brief time-line of our history.

March 2007 - I joined CoolWorks.com and was introduced to Google Reader and the Cheezhead blog about recruiting and SEO.

June 2007 - I actually meet Joel and photographed him in action at the annual SHRM conference in Las Vegas.



Time rolls on and I keep reading his blog. We become friends on Facebook, we follow each other on Twitter, and then one day....

October 2008 - I get a message via Facebook that he is coming to Seattle to do a presentation for a client and wants some sightseeing advice. I offer up some best of Seattle options and suggest meeting for coffee. He says sounds good, but he'll check with Ms. Cheezhead, who is joining him on the trip. And so, a tweet later and text from Joel, we end up meeting for drinks at Anthony's on the Waterfront. Good times.

Another day passes and we meet up again for lunch at a Seattle hole in the wall place called Salumi, operated by the Batali family, and talk shop. While standing in the long line to get our tasty sandwiches, we chat about how cool it is to be able to know people around the country, who work for entirely different companies, but are tied together through like-minded interests via the 'Net. In some ways, it's just crazy, and in other ways it's indescribably cool.

Anyhow, I am pleased as punch that I got to hang out with them and show them an insider's look at my town. My tour guiding skills are still serving me well. Thanks, Gray Line!

Now, I can't wait for another opportunity to hang out with the Cheez at some HR or recruiting conference or maybe on a visit to Cleveland!



The bottom line:
Social networking ROCKS!