9 Days Till L.A.—Design Bloggers Conference

I’m not a conference person. Group tours, cruise ships, carpooling, Groupon—none of these are for me. When I started my own company eight years ago it was because I wanted to call the shots. I’d worked the previous eight years for the largest media company in the world at the time (Time Inc. and AOL-Time Warner). To grow as a person and as an entrepreneur I simply had to go at it on my own.

That’s why my anticipation about the Design Blogger Conference in Los Angeles next week surprises me. Here’s an opportunity to interact with more people just like me than I have ever encountered. People who love design, people who have forged their own businesses, people who spread their creativity every day. If there’s a rock star event for design bloggers, this is it. I am so excited to be leading the discussion on “What New Media Can Learn From Old Media.” My panelists include Ann Maine, the editor of Traditional Home; Clint Smith, the editor of Atlanta Home & Lifestyle; Loren Rush, HGTV producer extraordinaire; and Anne Sage of Rue Magazine.

I style, write and produce design articles for national and regional magazines such as Traditional Home, Country Living, Better Homes & Gardens and New England Home, which brings me into contact with amazing people—homeowners, designers, manufacturers and artists. The best thing about my job is the personal interaction it affords. Twitter and blogging have taken this idea of personal interaction to a whole new, global level.

Don’t be surprised that when we meet at the conference next week my face lights up and I give you a hug. It’s because I know and follow your work or even if I don’t, I want to hear all about it. We have a precious few days to learn from one another, forge personal connections and help one another in our chosen fields. I will do all I can to help you gain recognition, get published, make connections for you, or just listen or serve as a sounding board. For three days next week I will be the ultimate conference person.