Introducing The New Faces of BOCA: Jay Zarate

Say hello to Jay Zarate, BOCA’s newest assistant account executive!

A jack-of-all-trades, Jay has experience working in social media, advertising and graphic design. After graduating with a business marketing and management degree from Sonoma State, Jay moved back to the Bay Area drawn by the technology buzz and endless opportunities.

1. How would your friends and family describe you?

They would describe me as reliable. I always want to be the type of person anyone could go to when they need help with anything. Outgoing is another one. I love meeting new people and talking to them. I would also say driven because ever since I was a kid I had a goal to graduate college and I never looked back. Now I’m just trying to find my place in the world. Finally, for fun I like to play basketball as a shooting guard and enjoy videogames like Super Smash Bros.

2. How did you hear about BOCA and what are your job duties?

I first heard about BOCA from Alivia Snyder, one of our account executives. We knew each other from Sonoma State University where we experienced Greek life together.

As for my job responsibilities, I keep up to date on the latest industry trends for clients. I also help manage weekly reports, update media lists, manage award opportunities and coordinate media meetings so accounts can run smoothly. I’ve started pitching more reporters too, which I think is pretty cool. I was also excited to get a chance to go to Dreamforce this year. Working at BOCA is a new challenge for me, and I find it incredibly rewarding.

3. If you could be an animal for a day what would you be?

I would love to be a cute dog. Just because everyone loves a cute dog, and a bunch of people comes up to pet you all the time. They also feed you, like to get their picture taken with you and always want to hang out with you. And you don’t have to do stuff either. You just get to sit there and have someone rub your belly, sleep and do whatever you want. A dog’s life is great.

4. What’s your favorite food?

Oh man. If I had to pick one, it has to be chicken wings. I love my chicken wings. Lemon pepper is my favorite especially from Wingstop.

5. Where would you like to travel?

Everywhere. One thing I really want to do is see every NBA arena in the US. There are 30, and to see all of them would be pretty cool.

6. Which famous person would you like to have a 30-minute conversation with?

Stephen Curry. He’s my favorite basketball player. I idolize my game around him. I’ve followed him since college, and he’s a very hard worker. He is also very driven too, even though he’s short, not very athletic or the quickest guy. Everyone always said he couldn’t make it in the NBA, but that didn’t stop him. He stuck with it and continued to work hard until he made it. Now he’s one of the best point guards in the NBA.

I try to be the same way, and I would love to speak with him and pick his brain. Especially about basketball for one thing, and then to hear more about his journey and struggles to get to where he is today. Criticism is the type of thing you get with every job and life in general. To hear from him about he how he dealt with people telling him things like you can never make it and how he proved them wrong is inspiring to me. Criticism can hurt, and I want to learn how to be tougher with that mentally.

Introducing the New Faces of BOCA: Jordan Eggers

It’s time to meet our new content writer Jordan Eggers! Originally from California, Jordan grew up in the Central Valley before settling in the Bay Area in her teens. Prior to writing, she originally wanted to teach, and although she enjoyed assisting in classrooms and teaching abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand, she didn’t see it as something she wanted to do long term.

The turning point for her was when she met Jean Dickinson, previously head of the journalism department at Diablo Valley College who inspired her to give writing a shot and eventually pursue graduate school. At the time, Jordan didn’t know if she'd find her passion and felt pretty lost with what she wanted to do, but Jean helped guide her on the correct career path.

Currently, Jordan is happy pursuing her writing career at BOCA. If she wasn’t working in PR, she’d be interested in teaching at the college level so she could help influence students like Jean influenced her.

1. How would your friends and family describe you?

They’d say I’m goofy, down to earth and genuine. I’m also an outdoor person and enjoy spending time with my fiancé and dog hanging out at parks, going camping and taking long road trips.

2. How did you hear about BOCA and what are your job duties?

When I saw the opportunity it looked appealing to me. I was impressed with BOCA’s website, blog and social media.

Most importantly, the company had a great atmosphere and culture. I think that’s amazing and such a rare find. As for my job duties, I write bylines and press releases, conduct interviews with clients to understand their message and assist our other writers with assignments.

3. If you could be an animal for a day what would you be?

An eagle because one, their badass and at the top of the food chain, and two, I don’t want any other birds swooping in to kill me. Also, I want the ability to fly all over and see everything.

4. What’s your favorite food?

I love Mexican food, and I’ll eat potatoes in any shape or form.

5. Where would you like to travel?

I want to travel everywhere, but I’d love to go to the Netherlands. I have friends there, and I’d liked to see them since they’ve visited me before when they came to the US. In general, though, I’d really just like to explore Europe and all the history it has to offer.

6. Which famous person would you like to have a 30-minute conversation with?

I’d want to talk to lots of people like Mark Cuban because he’s a little bit of a hustler, and I like that, but I’d have to say my grandpa.

I admire his business ethics, and I feel I missed the opportunity to have an important conversation with him about finances. He was so good with money, and I think he’d have a lot of interesting insights to share with me about how he got started and what kept him motivated.

For example, he worked at a gas station and then saved enough money to buy it. Then he used the money made there to purchase a home and rent it out, and then buy another property and repeat the process. Saving money is all about reinvesting it in something to make more money. He even bought a farm eventually. I thought it was really inspiring how hard he worked, and I wish I could have those conversations with him today.

11 Stellar Networking Tips

Jay Zarate and Lucas Mayer demonstrating how to deliver the proper handshake.

We all know that first impressions matter and in the world of business it’s all about the people you know. With Dreamforce taking place in San Francisco this week and the conference season upon us, how you can you make sure you meet the right people and leave a lasting impression? We’ve rounded up our favorite networking tips so you can easily connect with other professionals and make the most out of these new relationships.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE CONFERENCE

1. Research people and companies ahead of time

When you do your homework, you feel more confident and prepared. Take some time to not only read a company’s website, but also check out their Twitter and Facebook for additional information. By doing research, you avoid wasting valuable time talking to the wrong people. For instance, if you are looking to expand your network in the mobile security industry, you want to make sure you’re talking to people who are in the trenches and know the market.

2. Make sure your portfolio and social media profiles are current

The first thing most people do after accepting your business card is look at your social media channels like LinkedIn. Outdated information on your LinkedIn profile gives a false image of your credentials and expertise. Make sure your information is up to date and accurate and put your best face forward on all of your social media channels.

3. Dress for Success

Always strive to look your best at conferences because not only will it make you feel great, but also like a bad online profile, dressing sloppy can deter from an otherwise great business interaction. So take the time to pick out a great outfit, and remember to opt for comfortable shoes!

4. Memorize an easy introduction

Sometimes your nerves can get the best of you. One way to avoid this is to memorize a simple phrase to start a conversation with anyone. Ask them what brings them to the conference or if they know a good Wi-Fi spot nearby. Once you get past this hurdle making small talk doesn’t seem so hard.

WHAT TO DO DURING THE CONFERENCE

5. Network during down time

Your best chances to connect with people often happen when you least expect it. Such as during coffee breaks, the hours before the conference, walking to your car or public transportation, etc. Noteworthy working professionals, always have people waiting to speak with them, so it can be tough to introduce yourself during peak hours. At a conference, the quiet moments of the show are the best time to speak with someone.

6. Carry a pen with you at all times

You’ll go through a lot of business cards and even with your helpful friend, Google, it’s easy to forget the important connections you made. So always jot down a quick note on the back of their card to help you create an effective follow up email later.

7. Be creative with your name tag

Everyone wears a nametag, but how can you stand out from the crowd? One clever trick is to write one word or phrase below your name that can be a conversation starter. Jot down your alma mater, favorite sports team or the city you are from to spark conversations.

8. Grab lunch with a stranger

You’ll meet a lot of friendly people at conferences and taking the time to befriend them can pay off later. They may not seem useful now, but when you’re making a career change or moving to a new city having someone there to help you can make your transition easier. Lot’s of conferences have power lunches and open seating so breaking the ice with someone new doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.

9. Listen as much as you talk

Your elevator speech is important, but your listening skills can be invaluable. People love to talk about themselves, and the fact that you take the time to listen rather than rushing to respond is crucial. Practice one or two thoughtful questions you can ask people about themselves.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE CONFERENCE

10. Take it easy on the alcohol

Making a good impression is hard enough so don’t ruin your efforts by drinking too much at evening receptions. Yes, many parties have free drinks available, but make sure to be responsible.

11. Send personalized LinkedIn messages and follow up on Twitter

Avoid sending generic invites on LinkedIn. Instead, take some time to remind them who you are. If you don’t have time to craft a great e-mail, then send them a short tweet. You can build a strong working relationship with someone by engaging with them on Twitter, but ideally do it within 24 hours, so you’re still fresh on their mind.

Conferences can be overwhelming, but if you keep these tips in mind and adequately prepare for the event, you can make sure every conference is a networking success!

Introducing the New Faces of BOCA: Laura Golden

It’s time to meet another new member of the BOCA team. Say hello to Laura Golden, our Chief Culture Officer, who manages the BOCA office and helps make our company run more efficiently. She also keeps track of everyone’s birthday and brings the team bagels every Monday, which makes her pretty popular around here.

Laura is originally from the Bay Area and after being raised in Sunnyvale, California, she moved to Seattle to study theater with an emphasis on directing and stage management at the University of Washington. Her experience in theater management proved to be a good fit for PR office management and after moving back down to the Bay Area, she has spent ten years working in the PR world in San Francisco.

1.How would your friends and family describe you?

Easygoing, creative and likes to find the humor in life. Some of my hobbies include hiking, photography, playing with Photoshop and looking for new environmental and surrealistic artists. I also still like to direct plays and do one about every two years as a community builder and fundraiser for my Temple in Fremont. Last year at the play I directed at my temple had a cast consisting of around 60 to 80 people with an age range from four-year-olds to seniors in their eighties.

2.How did you hear about BOCA and what are your job duties?

Kathleen Shanahan (BOCA’s founder) and I have known each other since working together at Schwartz many years ago. She once told me that she was going to start her own agency and wanted me to come work for her when she did. The planets finally aligned and I couldn’t say “no.”

My title is Chief Culture Officer, and my job duties include office management, new biz research and basic culture development. I’m excited to be at BOCA and thrilled at the aspect of growing with the company.

3.If you could be an animal for a day what would you be?

When I was at the San Diego Zoo, there was a baby panda that fell out of a tree onto a bunch of leaves from a fairly high branch. I asked the docent doesn’t that hurt them? The docent replied, “No, actually, they bounce.” I’d be a panda because I’ve been in a lot of situations in life where bouncing back made a big difference.

4.What’s your favorite food?

My initial instinct is to say probably evil things that have too much sugar. Are Starbucks Frappuccinos a food group? Pizza was a favorite food of mine for many years, but I’d have to say now its really good fish tacos.

5.Where would you like to travel?

Europe, I’ve been there before and would go back to Italy again just for the food.

6.Which famous person would you like to have a 30-minute conversation with?

Robin Williams. I enjoyed his work and his comedy, and if I were to have a 30-minute conversation with him, he would still have to be alive to do it. I’m actually turned off by most “famous” people’s egos, but Robin was down to earth and certainly felt more real because of it.

BOCAlife: Photo Recap of Our Recruitment Party

The BOCA team had its first recruiting party last week. Check out these photos for a quick recap of the event. 

Alivia Snyder, one of our Account Executives helping prepare for the party. Everyone who attended received a free #BOCAlife t-shirt and a bottle of wine.

Just a few minutes to go until the party starts and a few guests have already arrived.

 It’s a full house at BOCA!

Account Executives Brittney Danon and Ann Hodge posing for a group photo with one of our guests and Jordan Eggers, our content writer.

Here’s Jordan sampling some of the delicious food at the party.

Look at that crowd waiting to hear Kathleen Shannahan our BOCA leader give a speech.

 There she is delivering it in style!

 Ajay, our DJ, closes out the BOCA party with some great music.

Thanks to everyone who attended for a great and memorable party.