Please let me introduce myself…
(a note from Sue)
For many companies, social media is the Wild West. It’s frightening. It’s misunderstood. And it’s often under resourced and poorly staffed. I specialize in making sense of the chaos and removing the fear.
Most recently, I had the pleasure to serve as head of global social media at Cargill (one of the largest private companies in the United States). My team was responsible for more than 360 channels globally, covering all facets of social media – B2B and B2C, organic and paid. We covered all platforms – Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, and social media networks in other countries, including WeChat and Weibo in China. I am also well-versed in the ever-growing list of “social-adjacent” platforms like Glassdoor, Yelp, Wikipedia, Reddit, Google, etc.
As one of the country’s top experts on social media governance, social media security and social media risk, I am truly committed to helping the world’s biggest companies keep their social media safe. Additionally, I have a deep passion for training, having developed a robust multi-lingual training program for Cargill’s 160,000 global employees.
Prior to working in social media, I was a journalist – first in Lansing, Mich. at the Lansing State Journal, and then in Raleigh, N.C. at the News & Observer. For my entire 10-year reporting career, I covered retail, consumer trends and the economy. This helps me every day in my social media work as I am able to create social media strategies that factor in consumer trends, human behavior and economic factors.
Here’s my personal LinkedIn profile if you’re interested in my credentials.
National Institute for Social Media
I am honored to serve as a member of the National Institute for Social Media’s Advisory Committee (2022 - present), I am also honored to be a NISM Certified Social Media Strategist. This is more than just a certification to me — it is one of the few ways that professionals in this field can demonstrate true expertise and subject matter knowledge in a way that is validated by an accredited third party.
NISM is dedicated to social media certification and education for professional social media practitioners. Our curriculum is designed by educators and leaders in digital marketing and communication to validate the core skills essential for success in the various vocations of social media. Not only does NISM offer exceptional education it’s a life-long community for professional development, continuing education and sharing best practices.
If you would like to learn more about SMS certification or NISM, I am more than happy to chat with you!
About certification (you may be certified as an individual or an agency team!)
NISM job board (it’s free to post a job listing!)
NISM scholarship application (we offer quarterly scholarship opportunities to those seeking help becoming certified!)
And on a more personal note…
I grew up outside of Philadelphia (go Phillies!) but have made my home in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Here are some random and hopefully interesting things about me:
I am a superfan of the band Trampled by Turtles. I’ve seen them in concert more than 40 times.
I love Minnesota’s North Shore, especially Duluth – which is pretty much my favorite place in the world.
I love organizing stuff and I hate clutter – my favorite store is The Container Store!
I am a dog lover, especially beagles (sorry, not sorry, cat people).
I am an avid gardener, and I love succulents. I have almost 50 of them!
I love to bake, especially holiday cookies!
I am pretty much always goofing around (except when I’m working, of course. Then I’m very, very serious. Really.)
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
— Winston Churchill
