Professional of the Week – November 29, 2011 - Tony Rodriguez, Mad City Ads LLC
Phone: 608-561-1690
Email: tony@madcityads.com
Website: http://www.madcityads.com
Birthplace: Chicago
Spouse/Partner: Anne
Organizations: Sun Prairie Optimists, Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Social Media Breakfast Madison
Education: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, B.A. in sociology, 1997
How long have you been at MadCityAds, and how would you describe your role?
I started my company in 1997 as ABC Web Designs and have been
providing freelance Web design services to my clients for 14 years. In
2002, I changed my company name to MadCityAds and in 2009 I formed
MadCityAds, LLC.
I provide Web design, development, and social media consulting
services. I pride myself on the relationships I build with my customers
and on providing an excellent product for a competitive price.
Who would you most like to be a mentor to, or have the most influence on?
I would love to be a mentor to one or several troubled youths
who have an interest in a career in Internet development. Oddly, I have
the opportunity to work with this population through the
Prairie Phoenix Academy in Sun Prairie and am looking forward to working with the students there.
What was a personal high point in your career?
What started out as a low point for me after a job loss in
2009 turned into the best year for my business and my personal life.
Being 100% freelance was a leap I did not make voluntarily, but once I
made the leap, I really learned to love it.
Do you have any long-range goals that you’d like to achieve before leaving your company?
I feel I am well on my way to my goal of being seen as a thought leader in the Madison market in the area of social media.
What do you read to help keep you current in your field or industry?
What trade associations or training do you belong to that you feel are a
good referral?
I subscribe to the blogs of Chris Brogan, Seth Godin, and Scott Stratten, and I read
Website Magazine each month. I attend and co-manage the
Social Media Breakfast Madison group and attend the Social Media Club of Madison as well as
High Tech Happy Hour and find all of these groups to be a great resource for both education and networking.
What were your career aspirations when you were in high school?
When I was in high school, I dreamed of being a computer programmer, and upon my arrival at
UW-Whitewater,
I decided to go another route and studied sociology with the intent of
working with troubled teens. When I graduated I worked as a mentor for
several teens in the Walworth County area, but also worked as a
webmaster for a small Internet service provider. While I still do
volunteer work with youth through the
Sun Prairie Optimist Club and other avenues, ultimately I still landed in the technology field.
What brought you to Madison?
In 2002 I received a job offer from
American TV
working in their corporate headquarters on the west side of Madison as
part of their Web development team. I remained part of that team for
nearly seven years and still stay in contact with my former supervisor
and coworkers.
Is there anything you’d like to share about your family?
I am a first-generation American citizen and a first-generation college graduate. I am half Puerto Rican and half Ukrainian.
What do you do outside of the office to relax?
My wife and I love to go camping and to travel to warm
weather climates. I have a great interest in all things cinema and
consider myself a movie buff.
What is your favorite place to travel to, and why?
So far my favorite vacation spot is
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
We love the weather, the people, and of course the food. Puerto
Vallarta is a beautiful destination with people as warm as the climate,
magnificent sunsets, and five-star dining that can't be beat.
What kinds of books do you read for pleasure? What’s a recent title that might give us the flavor of what you like to read?
I enjoy reading any good fiction, but am partial to science fiction and fantasy as well as horror books. I recently read
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks.
Finally, list three words you think best describe you:
Honest, sincere, funny.
Source:
http://www.ibmadison.com/professional-of-the-week
Blogger's Note: I copied the full article, as it appears that the linked page will change content. Congratulations Tony. Well deserved write up.
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