Called “an articulate and passionate thought leader on the use of social media as a business and community tool”, Tommy Vallier has been continuously expanding, diversifying and honing his digital skills since his first website went online in 1995. As an intermittent blogger since 1998, he has been active in the use and development of new media tools (such as blogs, podcasts, social networking sites, wikis, online video sharing tools and more) since their pioneering days.
Most importantly though, Tommy connects technology to what matters most: people. He continuously helps groups, individuals and businesses understand how new media can help them build and maintain a cohesive, dynamic and active community of customers, colleagues, peers and other stakeholders.
In recent years, Tommy has worked exclusively on the web. As the community manager for interactive podcasting site TalkShoe.com, he was responsible for managing a highly active community of several thousand registered users.
Tommy left TalkShoe to explore his entrepreneurial passions and then helped start the Limestone New Media Group – a group of new media enthusiasts and professionals whose mission is to encourage, facilitate, and promote the positive growth of social media in the Kingston, Ontario area. The group meets regularly to discuss technology news and works continuously on projects that further it’s mission.
In addition to community work, Tommy is a regular speaker and trainer on social media tools and has entertained and educated rooms of all sizes. He has also been a volunteer at a number of technology-focused events and is a current organizer of the highly successful PodCamp Toronto. As a result, Tommy or the work he’s been involved in has been featured in The Toronto Star, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times and Wired Magazine amongst others.
Recently, Tommy launched a web development project centered around the WordPress platform. This successful venture has been challenging the industry by billing it’s customers by the minute instead of using the standard hourly rate model. Because of this radical shift, this service is often highly recommended to others and is continuing to grow daily.
When not at his desk, Tommy enjoys casual cycling, origami, video games, and spending time exploring his city. He is happily married and currently lives in Kingston, Ontario.
Tommy Vallier helps groups, individuals and businesses understand how social media tools can be used to their fullest. He is also a community builder and web developer living in Kingston, Ontario.