Helping Content Creators, Media Professionals, and Event Producers Build Real Communities

For more than 30 years, I’ve been building connection as a media professional and an event producer. Now, I help other other content creators and conference organizers do the same. Because in today’s world, content is everywhere. What’s rare—and valuable—is community.

I started my career behind a radio mic, eventually leading WBRU in Providence to its highest ratings as Program Director. Since then, I’ve worked with powerhouse media brands like Universal Music Group, Cox Media Group, and TuneIn, as well as major events including CES, the NAB Show, and Podcast Movement.

Along the way, I’ve seen a troubling trend: creators and producers trying to stay relevant by churning out more and more content, only to reach smaller and smaller audiences. It's a race to the bottom. And it's exhausting.

Fortunately, there’s a better way.

Building a Community of Adventurous Foodies

In 2010, I launched a social dining group in Boston called Mystery Meet. Food lovers would sign up for a fixed-price dinner at a mystery location—revealed only 24 hours before the event. The result? A room full of adventurous eaters who quickly bonded over their shared curiosity and love of food. Over time, familiar faces began returning, and conversations about local chefs and restaurant openings became routine.

This experience taught me something foundational: community starts by uniting people with a shared mission. In our case, we were foodies exploring Boston’s vibrant culinary scene. What started as a clever dinner idea quickly turned into a gathering of like-minded people who looked forward to seeing each other each month. Without realizing it, we had built a community.

Building a Community of Food Tourism Professionals

Later, as the host and producer of the Taste Trekkers podcast, I interviewed culinary experts from cities around the world. That’s how I discovered a fragmented group of food tour operators—each passionate about their local scene but working in isolation, unaware of others doing the same work in different cities.

So I created the nation’s first food tourism conference. For the first time, these professionals had a chance to meet, share knowledge, and support one another. I realized that content alone—even a podcast—wasn’t enough to bring people with a shared mission together. You have to create a space for them to actually connect. Once those connections were made, the enthusiasm was undeniable. Ideas flowed, partnerships formed, and an industry-wide network started to take shape.

Building a Community of Performing Artists

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Detroit’s performing artists were suddenly without stages or audiences. I teamed up with a local theater to launch Detroit’s Big Shot, a talent competition judged by entertainment industry professionals. We gave performers a platform to showcase their skills and get expert feedback.

But more importantly, we created an environment where artists could meet, connect, and collaborate. And we did it on a shoestring budget. Community building doesn’t have to be expensive—it just has to be intentional. What started as a competition quickly grew into a network of Detroit performers supporting one another creatively and professionally.

Building a Bridge to the Next Generation of Broadcasters

More recently, I’ve worked with the National Association of Broadcasters and the Broadcast Education Association to help connect established professionals with the next generation of media talent. Together, we hosted a series of virtual networking events that brought broadcasting students face-to-face with working pros.

These events have helped students land internships and jobs—real opportunities that have launched careers. Just as importantly, they’ve shown how new digital tools now make it possible to create spaces for community in ways that weren’t possible before. Whether we gather in person or online, the principles remain the same: bring the right people together around a shared purpose, and amazing things happen.

More Communities:
Musicians, Mixologists, Podcasters, and Comedians

I’ve seen this pattern repeat—sometimes by design, sometimes by accident.

I hosted town halls for local musicians in Rhode Island. I organized mixology competitions that brought together bartenders. At Podcast Movement, I created Broadcasters Meet Podcasters, a track that helped radio professionals integrate with the podcasting world. During lockdown, I even threw a virtual holiday party for Detroit comedians. Each time, I saw the same spark—the energy that comes from people finding others who share their passion and purpose.

Sometimes I did this work professionally. Sometimes I did it just because I love connecting people.

A Blueprint for Launching Communities

For the past 10 years, I’ve worked as a digital marketing consultant for media companies and content creators. During the pandemic, I started experimenting with online platforms—Zoom, Slack, Facebook Groups, LinkedIn, virtual event platforms—and combined them with in-person experiences.

Through that work, I developed a blueprint: a repeatable, proven process for launching communities that blends online tools with real-world events.

Today, I use this approach to help organizations large and small build thriving, engaged communities—not just followers or audiences, but people who genuinely care about each other.