Last week, I announced on Twitter that I was leaving Crocs to pursue other opportunities. Today, I’m proud to announce what my actual plans are. I am leaving Boulder and the great state of Colorado to return back East to work for R/GA in New York City. This was a move that happened quickly, but when the opportunity came to join a firm with the reputation and status of R/GA – I couldn’t pass it up.
My time at Crocs was an eventful one. The last two and a half years of my life were perhaps the happiest I have ever had. I enjoyed the sun and fresh air of Colorado. I met some amazing friends. And I was able to create something I am very proud of for a company that I will always hold dear to my heart. I finally was able to work in Social Media and use my passion for this form of communication to build a true community around a very well known brand. It was something that I received great kudos for – whether through official channels or pats on the back at conferences – and for that, I am forever indebted. The opportunity I have at R/GA would probably not be here if it wasn’t for Crocs.
Photo by @greeblemonkey
Crocs, however, is bigger than I am and I leave behind a social media program that will be in very capable hands. It’s bittersweet to have to walk away from something I built – knowing that I will no longer have a say in how things are handled – but I feel that the passionate consumer base that I helped organize will be there for whomever takes the reigns. I’m excited to watch things from the sidelines, to simply be a member of the Crocs community, and to watch the brand, my colleagues and my friends grow.
The personal and professional pressures that I felt really made this decision an easy one. I simply felt the tug of the city – watching the Yankees win the World Series, listening to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys belt out ballads to the boroughs – I couldn’t help but want to return back to the only place that felt right for me. Professionally, I loved my time at Crocs but wanted new challenges – I wanted to apply my skill sets in new ways and R/GA provides a greater stage for me to shine. Agency life will be vastly different. It will test me in so many different ways. Yet, in this crucible, I feel I will become a better professional. I’m excited and I’m glad all of you will be around for the ride.
In the end, like with all social media, I couldn’t have done it without the crowd. With out all of you out there who read my tweets, my blog posts, who followed my every move on the social web – thank you so much. It was all of you that made the 12 hour days easy. It was all the smiles we made together that made this job fun. You were there for me through everything. It was your enthusiasm to listen to me that made me who I am. There is an African proverb that says that the path to greatness is paved by giving thanks to the great that came before you. You, all those readers and people that follow me, are the greatness that has come before me. Whether you’re a friend I made in Boulder, contacts I made through the industry, or random pixels of an avatar of someone I never met – I am truly thankful. Leave a comment below so I know who is out there and who made this past two and a half years the greatest of my short lifetime.
You're welcome any time. I'll give you the tour!
I am so glad that we're friends and I know we'll be seeing each other a bunch still!
:-)
That's Brian
I will!!!
Thank you
Thank you so much!
You have a place to crash whenever you want!
You have a place to crash whenever you want!
thanks!
Most definitely! Thanks for the support
I will! I know I'll see you around and if you're in the city, get a hold of me!
That means a great deal to me – so thank you for your kind words. I see big things happening in NY. I'm very excited!
Thank you! If you're in Boulder – stop by the Rio from 5:30-7:30. I'll be there saying some goodbyes.
You're leaving a big empty space in the Twittersphere. Hopefully you'll still be involved in social media either professionally or personally. I loved that you cited the Yankees as one of your reasons!
P.S. If you don't send me an unmarked box of Crocs by the end of the week I'll ruin you. Don't think I won't do it!
The Yankees were so a reason that I needed to go back. I can't believe they won the world series while I was on the other side of the country!!!! AHHH
And I will definitely be involved in social media. My job at R/GA is a social media job. Plus, I'm a digital native – I live and breathe this stuff – so there won't be as much of an empty space!
Good luck with your new path! I'm sure you'll be great! If it weren't for you I wouldn't have half a dozen pair of Crocs in my closet. You changed my mind!
The product changed your mind. I was just the guy who delivered the message.
yay yay yay! how quickly things can shift toward something GREAT and FULFILLING, if you simply follow the fervency your mind and heart reveals! Coming to Colorado, or the west in general, is about seeking out an unrevealed passion. You are a great example of that, my friend.
George, congratulations and best of luck to you in the big apple. I'm sorry we never got to collaborate re @Crocs & @Upromise but hope our paths cross one day.
Good luck in your next endeavor! I never got to know you on a personal level, but I have followed your Tweets, and I'm a Crocs consumer who's been lurking about the blog for several months now. I wish you the best.
Thank you!
I'm sure they will!
I'm writing a post about Boulder. You're included in it….
Congrats on the new gig! Wave if you're passing through Cleveland en route to NYC. :)
I'll be flying so I'll wave from the air!
How exciting! :) I look forward to hearing more about your new journey.
We'll miss you George, but congrats! I'll see you at conferences and look forward to hearing about your new adventures!
Thanks. I can't wait to share with everyone!
The best part of Boulder is that it will be always with me. Seeing the community at conferences around the country is great and I will always hold dear the people I met here and how amazing it is.
See you in New York, you better do great things and visit us!
I have a bit of Boulder in me, so of course I'll do great things. This town instills that in you.
And yeah, it's a cheap flight so I imagine I will be in Boulder quite a bit. After all, I'm still paying rent here… lol
Best of luck on your new journey, George. It makes me happy that you'll be back in NYC. I will always cherish your kindness and wonderful personality. We'll definitely catch up when I visit the city.
The greatest thing about the internet is that we can always be there for each other no matter where we are. Congratulations and good luck.
Hey George….. congratulations! Nice to see you doing well in your professional life! I hope you love your time in NY city, a very exciting place to be.
lol no worries. SxSW is right around the corner again
Good luck! Colorado will miss you!
I'm here! Always have been – way back in the day before Twitter and Facebook were even invented – and always will be!
Congratulations George, we'll miss you!
what what! shout out! Do we still get to do NYC “George Style” next summer?
hope you are settling in in NYC-I am sure that CO will miss you lots!
hope you are settling in in NYC-I am sure that CO will miss you lots!
You are living the happiest days of your life in your new company..
Good luck..!!!