Meet the Team

Hi, my name is Angela,and I launched Java Social Networking in the summer of 2009.  A few months earlier, I was working as a Marketing & Communications Manager in New York City.  Twitter and Facebook were really starting to make their way into marketing team discussions although the term “social media” had not really taken hold just yet. It was during one of my daily subway commutes that I had my “ah ha” moment.  I was considering how useful these social networks could be for the businesses in smaller towns, like Fowlerville, Michigan where I grew up.  I come from a long line of entrepreneurs, and I know that self-employment is like having a job that you never entirely go home from.  Then I thought, when will all of these small business owners have the time learn about the networks and actually maintain some sort of consistency with their online communities? Not only that, but will they even be interested? I was fascinated with this social networking phenomenon and decided from that point forward to learn everything I could about utilizing social networks and online communities for small businesses.

I named the company Java Social Networking for a few reasons, but the main one has to do with the way that coffee shops cater to this industry of freelancers and virtual offices. The JSN team is fundamentally made up of virtual community managers and freelancers who work out of coffee shops in the local areas where our clients are located.

I’m thrilled that we’re going strong after two years. I’m proud of our team and the successes we bring to small businesses across the United States. Let me take a moment to introduce you.

By the way, I prefer my coffee black, bold and plentiful.

Follow me on Twitter @jsncafe and @angeladenby | Connect on Linkedin

Laura came to JSN after working in the hospitality industry for six years or so.  She is brilliant with organic social media management and client relations.  Laura is originally from Michigan (like many of the rest of us), but she’s been living in the NJ/NY area for that past few years. She is the glue that keeps us all moving in the right direction, and I’m reminded of how thankful I am for that every day.

Laura prefers her coffee… honestly, not at all. She usually goes for green tea instead.  Laura is so good at what she does, we let that slide.

Follow Laura on Twitter @laurarenee1 | Connect on Linkedin

Ali joined the JSN team early in 2011.  What doesn’t this girl do?  She writes, draws, tweets… and does it all very well.  Ali is responsible for the a majority of our blog writing projects, and she also works with our social media management team. She’s holds a BA in Studio Art from the University of Vermont and Certificates in Design and Publishing from NYU.  Ali is constantly finding new ways to learn and grow professionally, and her creativity is off the charts.

Ali takes her coffee with real cream and a side of inspiration.

Follow Ali on Twitter @alicharli | Connect on Linkedin

Mitch has been with us pretty much since the beginning.  When we decided to add Web Design to our list of services, Mitch was the first person I personally reached out to.  He was always the guy who had a computer graveyard in his apartment because he was constantly taking things apart just to see how they worked.  You know the type.  He lives in Michigan and spends his non-computer time experimenting with home craft brew recipes.  Every web design project is a little different, and with Mitch we know that even the most puzzling projects are well within reach.

Mitch brews with hops and grapes rather than coffee beans.

Follow me on Twitter @spartybrew | Connect on Linkedin

Christina is one of those people who loves the details.  She has spent countless hours studying the trends in Search Engine Optimization, and she has created an SEO formula that we utilize for each client.  In contrast to her detail-oriented personality, she’s also a people person who loves to get out and take advantage of local culture. Don’t miss Christina’s blog articles on being a Tourist in Your Hometown – Lansing, MI or traveling to the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis amidst the river floods of 2011.

Follow Christina on Twitter @christinawiz | Connect on Linkedin

Deanne is a writer, dancer, graduate student and a friend (and family member) to a few of us on the team.  She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Gothic Literature from Central Michigan University. Prior to this, Deanne achieved her B.A. at Michigan State University – Go Green! Deanne has been dancing for as long as she could walk.  She has a unique perspective on the world around here, and she’s passionate about creative writing. Deanne works on many special projects internally and for clients that require her unique perspective.

Deanne prefers her coffee plentiful.  Check out her blog article: Biggby Coffee… Why We Keep Going Back.

Follow Deanne on Twitter @deannebrooke | Connect on Linkedin

Tina is my sister-in-law, and her lifestyle fascinates me. JSN is a green certified company, and we take environmental responsibility seriously. We try to spread the word by giving our readers, clients and team new ideas for living healthier inside and out. I was so excited to hear that Tina was up for the challenge of managing and submitting content for the Green Living section of our blog.  Tina’s enjoying life as a new “green” mom, and she writes articles about living green in the Midwest. She loves kayaking, hiking, gardening, and pretty much anything that gets her into nature.  A few of Tina’s most popular green living articles include: Top 10 Tips for Better Compost, Make Your Own Laundry Detergent, and Consider a Green Alternative While Traveling. I feel like every time I’m around Tina, I learn something new and it appears that her readers feel the same.

Tina prefers her coffee decaf with tasty cream accompaniments.

Follow Tina on Twitter @tinadenby | Connect on Linkedin

Dane has one of those personalities that makes everyone in the room smile.  He is full of enthusiasm and passion for technology, design and online interaction. Dane’s first project with JSN was about two years ago, a video commercial contest for a green cleaning company. Since then, he’s been working on a variety of website and Facebook page development projects.  He manages to impress me with his speed an skill on each new project we bring him into. Unlike the popular comedian, Dane Cook, this Dane has an “e” on the end of his last name.  That doesn’t prevent confusion as he receives fan emails that were intended for “the other Dane Cook” on a regular basis.

Dane prefers his coffee with friends.

Follow Dane on Twitter @danecooke | Connect on Linkedin

Baxter is our resident dog blogger.  Baxter is a Schnoodle (part Schnauser, part Poodle) who was adopted on Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas before moving to Lansing, MI a couple years later.  Baxter enjoys the finer things in a dogs life – gourmet treats, bike jogs, playing with rocks, boat rides upstate, and/or hanging out at the coffee shop on a crisp fall morning. He’s interested in other top dog social networking enthusiasts such as Mark Zuckerberg’s Dog, Beast who maintains a Facebook page of his own. Baxter manages our JSN blog – Coffee Talk with Baxter – and submits his own articles and comments on occasion.

Baxter prefers dog biscuits over coffee, but he loves the coffeehouse dog scene.

Join Baxter on Facebook
Check out Baxter’s Blog: Coffee Talk with Baxter
Email Baxer: baxter@jsncafe.com