RonAmok!

Since the early 1990s, Ron Ploof has studied the relationship between people and technology. His research has resulted in the following seven principles:

1. It’s not about the technology; it’s what people do with technology that counts
2. Customers and prospects prefer dialog to diatribe
3. In the post-Gutenberg economy, where everyone can own a printing press, New Media technologies are turning traditional business practices upside down
4. In the post-Gutenberg economy, writing for search beats writing for broadcast
5. Companies must become their own publishers
6. Content creation is a vital part of the new organization
7. Storytelling is a vital business skill. Humor doesn’t hurt either

And so he started OC New Media, LLC to help businesses combine these 7 principles with New Media technologies in order to have better conversations with their customers.

Ron graduated from Merrimack College in 1985 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. During his 23 years in the high-tech electronics industry, he’s held numerous positions, including Business Development Manager (responsible for $30M in consulting sales) Entrepreneur, Author, Program Manager, AE Manager, Applications Engineer, and Design Engineer. In May 2008, he left his position as New Media Evangelist, where he helped a $1.2 billion Fortune 1000 company adopt New Media technologies, successfully training 70 employees, launching eight blogs, producing audio programming, and working to integrate corporate video with traditional marketing and public relations vehicles.

Ron is a sought-after public speaker, having presented before Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), The Christa McAuliffe Technology in the Classroom Conference, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Canadian Consulate, The Massachusetts Software Council, Orange County Podcasters, and PodCamp Los Angeles. Ron has been interviewed on local and national radio programs, podcasts, and has been quoted in national and trade publications.

Ron’s presentation style is energetic, practical, and highly entertaining, something that he feels is sorely missing from corporate America. In 1995, he published his first book, The Edison Effect: Success Strategies for the Information Age. The book, written as a novel, teaches people how to be entrepreneurial, self-managing and oriented toward lifelong learning. In 2005 he continued his storytelling efforts by producing Griddlecakes Radio, a family-safe storytelling podcast dedicated to exploring the lost are of audio storytelling. Critics have called Griddlecakes Radio one of the best produced “indie” podcasts, comparing Ron’s style with that of Garrison Keillor, Jean Shepherd, and Stan Freberg.

Ron is presently working on his second book about practical B2B uses for New Media. He can be reached at ronploof{at}gmail.com or by phone at +1,949.230.6194.