Ben Woelk – TechCommGeekMom

Off the wall presentations featuring Ben Woelk – Content Content podcast episode 11 – ed marsh dot comed marsh dot com

Posted on September 1, 2016 by TechCommGeekMom

Ben Woelk, technical communicator and Information Security Office Program Manager at the Rochester Institute of Technology, talks about being an introverted leader and how it’s changed his career and his passion. Mentioned during this episode Ben Woelk on Twitter STC … Continue reading →

Source: Off the wall presentations featuring Ben Woelk – Content Content podcast episode 11 – ed marsh dot comed marsh dot com

That’s right! Ed’s got another webisode of ContentContent up, and this time, it’s with Ben Woelk! Ben was one of the first people I met when I first got involved with the STC, and he’s been one of the great mentors I’ve had within STC ever since then. I remember him putting me at ease at my first STC Summit because I was rather shy and hardly knew anyone, and he was awesome in assuring me that all would be well–and he was right. His take on introverted leadership has been catching like wildfire in the last year, as I think he’s tapped into something that many technical communicators grapple with–how to be a leader when you are an introverted person.

Take a listen, and let Ed know what you think about the webisode!

–TechCommGeekMom

Uncategorized

Book Review: Shockproofing Your Use of Social Media: Staying Safe Online by Ben Woelk

Posted on December 1, 2014 by TechCommGeekMom

The book is available as an e-book on Amazon! (Image courtesy of Amazon.com)

A few weeks ago, I was asked by new author, Ben Woelk (who some in the tech comm field will recognize as a leader in our STC community) to review his new book in the Guru Guides series called Shockproofing Your Use of Social Media: Staying Safe Online. I’ve been busy trying to keep up with work, and finally had an opportunity to read the book.

The book is actually very short, but jam-packed with useful information. Ben is in charge of internet security at Rochester Institute of Technology, so I think he’s got a pretty good idea of what he’s talking about. This is a subject that he speaks about regularly at STC gatherings when he can, and he’s always got good information and insight. This short volume is no different. Ben covers internet security related to social media, but many of his tips and suggestions easily can be carried over into other online experiences, like shopping and banking. In fact, after reading his book, I used one of his tips about passwords when having to change my credit card password for the umpteenth time today. His tips are practical, easy, and he also makes suggestions for free or low-cost solutions to safeguard your information.

As I mentioned, this is a slim volume, so I was able to read the entire book in less than an hour, but it’s organized in a way that you could read the entire book in a sitting, or use it as a handy reference for specific topics. It works either way easily.

The one thing that I hope will be done going forward is that there will be frequent updates to this guide. As I read it, I realized that some of this information may be dated in a year or so, since both social media and OS platforms update and change quickly over a short period of time. Making frequent updates–or new editions of the book–will ensure that the information stays fresh and relevant. For the moment, this is a brand-new book, so the information is good!

At this writing, the book is available on Amazon.com on sale for a mere $0.99 (USD), and will go up in a day or so back to its original price of $2.99. Either way, even at full price, it’s a BARGAIN for invaluable information that can help protect your identity!

I highly recommend this book. Go check it out!

Uncategorized

Join me at the STC-PMC 2014 Mid-Atlantic Conference!

Posted on March 16, 2014March 17, 2014 by TechCommGeekMom

One of the things I like about the STC having a chapter set-up is that even if the closest chapter isn’t next door, it’s usually still close enough to find people from your region with whom you can connect. For me, I found my “tribe” with the STC – Philadelphia Metro Chapter, or “STC-PMC” as we call it.

Every year, the STC-PMC hosts a Mid-Atlantic Technical Conference that people from around mid-Atlantic region–and beyond–come to learn and present information going on in the world of tech comm. My first exposure to tech comm conferences–and presenting–was at last year’s STC-PMC conference, and it was just a positive experience. I met many people whom I had only known through social media, and met new people as well. Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love”, and it’s evident with this STC chapter. I immediately felt welcomed both as a member and as a new presenter as well.

The conference itself opened my eyes to new possibilities and new ideas as well. I also felt that it validated many of my own experiences as well–that I was coming up with similar ideas and solutions as others in the field. I also liked that unlike the STC Summit or some of the other conferences I’ve been to, this one is a little smaller and more intimate, allowing everyone the opportunity to get to know the speakers and the other attendees on a more one-to-one level.

This year’s STC-PMC conference is on Saturday, March 22nd just outside of Philadelphia in Willow Grove, PA. This all-day event is going to be jam-packed full of good information that’s timely and will be helpful in your tech comm evolution. I’m presenting this year, and my presentation is called, “Blogging Out Loud: The Basics of Blogging.” It seems I know a little something about blogging and am willing to share. 🙂

But I’m not the only draw–Neil Perlin, STC President Nicky Bleiel, Ellen Buttolph, Roger Renteria, Ben and Marilyn Woelk, Donn DeBoard, Todd DeLuca, Traci Browne, David Dylan Thomas, Bernard Aschwanden and Christopher Ward will all be presenting as well. There’s lunch, prizes, and lightning talks, too! All at a very affordable price!

Afterwards, there will be a free networking event at the nearby Iron Abbey restaurant sponsored by WebWorks and Publishing Smarter. (You don’t need to go to the conference to attend the networking event, but you’ll get more bang for your buck if you do both!)

So, it’s a fantastic event that the STC-PMC is setting up, and gee–it’s on a Saturday! You don’t have to worry about missing work to take advantage of this great networking and learning opportunity.

If you’re relatively nearby and want to participate, there’s still time and still some spots left! Register today by going to http://www.stcpmc.org/conference.

You won’t regret it! (And if you do come, make sure to seek me out and say hello!)