I am thrilled to announce that new Social Media Lab will be launched this fall in partnership with Virginia Marti College. Six classes will be offered (details below) at a reasonable rate of $40 per class. Two seminars – aptly titled the “Social Media All-Stars” will be announced, with guest speakers, shortly. I could not be more happy with the new home for the Social Media Lab as it partners with the Digital Media Department at the College. Big, big props to Geof Pelaia of Virginia Marti College for seeing the end vision of the Lab. We are going to start the Lab with small classes with some of the biggest names in the local social media arena. The Lab will offer some of the best content in the marketplace at very affordable rates.

Classes will start October 12th at the Virginia Marti College campus in Lakewood, OH. Every Tuesday for six weeks the Lab will offer cutting edge social media strategies. Classes offered will include:

1. The Four Pillars of Social Media: This class presentation will begin with a description of the Four Pillars of Social Media – the Blog, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. These pillars are the foundation for a provocative and successful social media strategy. This class is a primer on how to register and how to use each of the Pillars. The class will also delve into the strategy on how to link and effectively use each pillar as an effective communications tool for your business or personal brand. Case studies on best practices as well as on poorly executed strategies will be discussed. Emerging social media tools will also be detailed such as FourSquare, Pandora, YouTube, Flickr and Meetup.com. This is to be the platform class for all other Social Media Lab Classes. Proctor: Michael DeAloia
2. Branding in the Social Media Sphere: Your social media brand – whether personal, corporate or both – will frequently deliver the first impression to your prospects and clients. This class will teach you how to design, construct, and execute your branding framework across multiple social media platforms. Instruction will focus on how to select your brand’s visual identity and message and integrate them across: Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Blogs. Participants will learn how to select the appropriate technology platforms to support their strategic objectives, create appropriate content, engage with online participants and develop enduring social media relationships. Although useful, no knowledge of drawing, design or photo editing software is necessary. Proctor: John Heaney
3. Social Media & Human Resource Policies: This course will focus on three stakeholders: The Company, the HR Employee and the potential employee. The course will also touch on the SM tools needed by each of these stakeholders. This course will focus heavily on a previous Social Media Lab class – The Four Pillars of Social Media. Proctor: Julie D’Aloiso
4. Social Media & Business Development: This course is intended for business owners and executives who want to drive their business growth and who recognize the need to promote and reinforce their distinctive qualities through the targeted use of social media. At the end of the session, attendees will have a clear understanding of the potential of social media to promote and advance their brand, how to design a strategic and measurable social media plan, the essential elements of online brand design, how to select the most appropriate social media platforms, how to construct and distribute compelling content, how to manage business development activities across multiple social media platforms, how to engage fans appropriately to maximize your reach and encourage their passion, and how to get started today. Proctor: John Heaney
5. Social Media & Exceptional Customer Experience: This workshop will address practices and principles for leveraging social media in the areas of shaping customer expectations, quick service disappointment recovery, product promotions, engaging core-influencer customers, and engaging satisfied customer in the broadcasting of success stories. Proctor: Jack Ricchiuto
6. Social Media Analytics: This course will examine analytics and reporting theories appropriate in specific client Social Media situations. Attendees will learn to use computer software for solving research and problems. There will be advanced work in social media objectives, strategy, tests and execution of social media plans and evaluation. Material will compare tracking used in traditional advertising. At the end of the course attendees should be able to develop a program that can track Social Media ROI and implement it. Proctor: TBD

To review and register all of the Social Media Lab Classes please connect HERE. For more information feel free to connect with me at 216.212.4067 or at mdealoia@mac.

The Social Media Lab was designed to be the “think tank” on social media for Cleveland, OH. The Social Media lab is a partnership between Virginia Marti College and the Lab. The purpose of the Lab is to establish a citadel of thought on all issues regarding social media and how businesses and individuals could use social media to improve their business opportunities. The Lab is a one of kind environment where business owners, managers and individuals can not only learn from some of the brightest minds in social media but actually get to implement, in real time, the strategies being discussed. With the new partnership with Virginia Marti College we are well on our way. Look forward to seeing you in class.

Imagine a hidden door down a dark alley that opens into a transformed space filled with music, laughter, food and dancing. It’s an underground space that opens onto fantastic views of the City. It’s secret, sassy and so much fun. It’s a speakeasy with a 21st century twist. And you are all invited! So join us for a wonderful celebration of the arts on July 23rd under the Detroit Superior Bridge.

The Ingenuity Festival is a celebration of art and technology, designed for audiences of any age and experience, staged in the great urban center of Cleveland. Prominent international masters present original works alongside the finest of Northeast Ohio’s performing and visual artists. High technology firms and major colleges and universities are presented alongside acclaimed artists to create a dazzling display of exciting and captivating new work! Ingenuity pushes boundaries, creating a unique festival experience that draws and celebrates diversity, and involves the audience as spectator and participant!

Do not miss this one-night only event in Cleveland’s most unique and hidden arts space. Ingenuity Speakeasy 2.0 benefits IngenuityFest, Cleveland’s cutting edge festival of art, music and technology. The 2010 Ingenuity Festival will be held from September 24th to 26th on the lower level of the Detroit Superior Bridge.

ONE EVENT – TWO WAYS TO ENJOY IT!

The Premier Event – 6pm to 9pm

Music from the TOPS Swing Band, dancers from Get Hep to Swing and Models showing off 20’s and 30’s style dresses. Plus Ingenuity Artists, Silent Auctions, Classic Cocktails and more. Tix $100 ($350 – 4 Pack Special)

Skyline Party – 9pm to 1am

Amazing DJ’s, drinks and dancing in the catacombs and on the Bridge. Tickets $20.

Click here to order Tickets Online.

Or contact me (I have a certain amount of tixs) at 216.212.4067 or a mdealoia@mac.com.

A dear friend of mine – John Bukovnik, CEO of Easy2 Technologies, unexpectedly passed away on Friday. He was an All-American person who, unfortunately, died well before his time. God just recruited an incredible person for the lofty designs of heaven. Prior to Easy2 Technologies, John built a solid career at Liggett-Stashower, Little Tikes and Adcom Communications. I met John many, many years ago when he had just started Easy2. The Company was still being incubated at the old EDI facility on the Case Western Reserve University Campus. He was solid, earnest guy. Always at the ready to listen, but confident in the company he created and the great people around him.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and two sons. He always talked glowingly about his family. In fact, John and I just had lunch a few weeks ago and he seemed at the top of his game excited about the new opportunities the company had been blessed to receive. I hope the entire Cleveland tech community joins me in prayer for John and his family. He was, indeed, one of the finest individuals I had ever met.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 21st at 1pm at Hawken School Gates Mills Campus – Kennedy Auditorium.

As part of a monthly series on seeking the right job opportunity, Careers in Transition is presenting “The Secrets of Social Media” on Saturday, July 17th, 2010. I will be hosting and John Heaney – principal of Orange Envelopes, will be the special guest as we discuss how to use Social Media in the job search.

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Visual CV are part of an ever expanding group of social mediums that have revolutionized the way we communicate. John and I will show you how to build your own personal “brand” and how social media is a better way of staying in-touch with companies that are key to your job search.

From the college student to the semi-retired and everyone in between, Careers in Transition is a volunteer group of Human Capital professionals that provides advice, guidance and council to anyone needing help and direction in find ones work balance.

This session is to be held on Saturday, July 17th from 9:00am – 11:00am in the Chapel at Fairmount Presbyterian Church. The Church is located at 2757 Fairmount Blvd in Cleveland Heights. Reservations are not necessary and all donations are gratefully accepted. Should be a great presentation, please join us.

Did you know that a Clevelander has written a new business book? Jim Kukral is preparing to release his first book called “Attention! This Book Will Make You Money” in August. Published by Wiley, the book focuses on showing businesses and brands how to drive more sales, leads and publicity on the Web. Jim is a good friend of mine. A man of substance and great intellect. He is widely considered an expert on social media and I am proud of the fact he has written a great book. Check it out at www.attentionthebook.com.

According to the website, here are a few things the book will cover.

• Creating a compelling hook
• Maintaining a good brand name online
• Going from idea to success in eight hours
• Twenty-six ways to generate killer ideas
• Three truths for coming up with great ideas
• Making money from online videos
• Making money from social media
• Getting and keeping subscribers
• The universal truths of selling on the Web

Jim has let me know that anyone in Cleveland who buys the book will have the chance to have it personally signed by him, AND will get a no-cost, 30-minute phone consultation with him in September ($250 value). You just have to order the book and send Jim an email with the code “Techczar” in the subject to schedule the appointment. Hey – that’s a quality deal. Make it happen, Cleveland.

For those of you who watch my comings and goings – you will take special note of my affinity for CrossFit Cleveland. I owe a lot to Bill Russell for getting my sorry ass in great shape. Not a lot of people remember that I was hitting the scales near 250 pounds when I left my “Tech Czar” gig at the City of Cleveland in late 2007. Bill for years was pushing me to join CrossFit and I have been a proud member of the executive class for two years now. Last time I weighed myself was 215 pounds, by the by. CrossFit works.

One of the members of CrossFit who has inspired me is Katie “Killer” Rawlings. She is always working out at CrossFit and over the past 18 months has become exceptionally competitive regionally. She is a great person with a wonderful CrossFit story, as well. Katie is one of 50 women world-wide to qualify for the 2010 CrossFit Games. This is a huge honor. So I am asking all of Cleveland to rally in support of Katie. So please join me this Monday – June 28th @ Around the Corner in Lakewood, OH as we raise money to get Katie and Team Killer to California so that she can compete.

THE PARTICULARS

When: June 28th, 7pm – 11pm

Where: Around the Corner – Lakewood, OH

Why: Benefit for Katie Rawlings & Team Killer

Also, I would challenge all of you to join me at least once at a CrossFit workout. The workout is on me! So take me up on the offer. See you on Monday. Be good, Cleveland.

I would not be doing my service to Cleveland if I did not mention my recent tour of “Bodies…The Exhibition” which is currently open to the public on East Fourth. This is the Exhibition’s first visit to Cleveland. The acclaim of the Exhibition is staggering and more than 15 million visitors cities including New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, London and Madrid have enjoyed this amazing look into the human body. A look that is unlike a science book or anatomy model.

This is a marvelous exhibit of the human body. Some of the displays are simply mind-blowing in their detailed offering of what and how the human body works. I was invited to a media preview event by Melissa Koski, one of the cool co-founders of the Social Media Club – Cleveland. It was a thrill. I had complete access to the exhibition as it was still being readied for its public unveiling.

Do yourself a favor and attend “Bodies…The Exhibition.” Cleveland is blessed to be one of the few cities that gets to experience this worldly exhibit. The Exhibition will remain in Cleveland until October and you get to enjoy all the East Fourth has to offer as well after the show. I highly recommend this event. Go Cleveland to see this surreal and highly informational exhibit.

If there is a can’t miss industry in Cleveland right now it is LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. And yet there is fear in the heart of many Clevelanders about the looming July 1st, 2010 Free Agent period. Cleveland cannot afford to lose “The King.” Well – not just Cleveland but the region. It does not bode well for Cleveland to lose another $1 billion franchise. There should be no doubt in your mind that King James is such a franchise. At least globally he is as big as the New York Yankees and Manchester United Football Club. This is not puffery. Consider the following:

• When LeBron arrived in Cleveland in 2003, the Cavaliers franchise value was $258 million (which I must say is a bit high given the state of the team at the time). The franchise is now worth $476 million. That’s an increase of 85%. Consider the value of the Cavaliers if LeBron were to win one NBA championship. Not unreasonable to believe the franchise value would grow to $650 – $725 million. Two NBA championships? The valuation numbers get ridiculous.
• The annual revenues of the Cavaliers the year before LeBron arrived was $72 million. Today, the revenue of the team is believed to be near $160 million. And that does not include the “bump” in revenues other teams receive when LeBron and the Cavaliers play in their arena. But one is led to believe that those figures would be quite substantial too.
• LeBron is signed by the holy trinity of brands – Nike, Coca Cola and McDonald’s – with long term, high dollar contracts.

LeBron has proven that a small market team can offer a “billion dollar” value or revenue stream to a single player. Gone are the days when top players gravitated from the small markets to play in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles due to revenue potential. Given the 24×7x365 media coverage, use of the Internet and the globalization of professional sports – especially basketball – this allows top athletes, no matter what market they play in, great latitude in maximizing their revenues and earnings.

To his great credit, LeBron understands this shift in economics perhaps better than you and I. He is the business model. LeBron and two of his best friends created LRMR Marketing. The sole purpose of LRMR Marketing is to capitalize on the value of the LeBron James brand and to enter into as many outsourcing licensing deals as possible. Most athletes do not exercise the full potential of these types of opportunities. Like Tiger Woods before him – LeBron James has all the potential in the world to be a billion dollar brand. And it can all be accomplished from Cleveland, Ohio.

So when I see various groups in the City and region debate whether we should even attempt to keep LeBron – I get upset at this ineptitude of thought. Cleveland can win the LeBron sweepstakes. But we need to learn how to partner with LeBron and LRMR in a most profound way. Outreach and, yes, lobbying should be the duty of all of us. He is profoundly important not just for the economic viability of Cleveland but also for our sense of pride. And putting a price on that is difficult but it has tremendous value to all of us. Listen, this is a young man who has all the potential in the universe to not just change a game – but also a region. He has never embarrassed us. He lives with a champion spirit that should be copied by our corporate and civic leaders. I have no doubt LeBron understands all the financial and economic potential available to him and to us by saving the “brand.” We need, as a region, to step up to the plate and begin creating new opportunities for him and for us to prosper together.

Cleveland has lost so many companies in the last decade – TRW, National City Bank, LTV, Oglebay Norton and soon Eaton. Most of these vacancies and loss we felt were beyond our control – but to save the LeBron franchise is not. Much like he can determine his economic future – so can we! And we can maximize each others potential better when we do it together.

Yesterday, I had the honor of moderating a panel at the City Club of Cleveland where five of Cleveland’s top chefs got to display their culinary talents but also got to speak about their livelihood. The Chefs were:

• Heather Haviland – Lucky’s & Vine and Bean
• Chris Hodgson & Jeremy Esterly – Dim & Den Sum
• Matt Mathlage – Light Bistro
• Mike Nowak – Bar Cento

It was an awesome time. And the event has gotten some fantastic press:

• Northern Ohio Local Food Service
• Crain’s Cleveland

This was one of richest experiences I have had in awhile. Simply put, just a wonderful way to enjoy lunch. Great food and wonderful personalities on display. Read the stories. And spread the gospel on the great culinary scene in Cleveland.

Cleveland 2.0 is a dialogue series that I am honored to chair/moderate. The mission of Cleveland 2.0 is to uncover the emerging personalities, industries and issues in Cleveland. There is no better venue to have these open discussions than in the “Citadel of Free Speech” – the City Club of Cleveland. This is the fourth of six dialogues to be held this year and this new panel will focus on Cleveland’s Emerging Chefs.

Please join us on June 17th @ 11:30am at the venerable City Club in Downtown to listen to and enjoy an open and honest discussion with the City’s emerging chefs/owners as they discuss their vision for their companies and the region. Each Chef will have a tasting station available before the event. So come early to get a flavor of what is happening in Cleveland.

Panelists include:

• Heather Haviland, Chef – Lucky’s/Vine & Bean
• Matthew Mytro, Chef – StoveMonkeys
• Chris Hodgson, Owner – Dim & Den Sum
• Michael Nowak, Chef – Bar Cento/Bier Markt
• Matthew Mathlage, Chef, – Light Bistro

The Panel will be moderated by yours truly.

To register for this great event please go to: www.cityclub.org or call 888.223.6786. Cost of this program is $15 for member of the City Club and $25 for non-members. For more information please connect with Carrie Miller of the City Club at 216.621.0082.