BLASTmedia‘s Social Media Team has added yet another rockstar to our roster of talented new hires — Jacqueline Simard.

Coming to us all the way from Jacksonville, Florida, where she was previously the marketing coordinator for the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Jacksonville, Jacqueline brings a host of new media experience, skills, and knowledge to the social media FORCE that is BLASTmedia.

A bona fide social media maven, Jacqueline also has experience blogging for the popular online information hub, The Examiner, where she was able to further promote the city of  Jacksonville by covering its entertainment and nightlife. To gain additional experience in the realm of social media, Jacqueline took on a volunteer position as social media manager for Much Ado About Books, a city-wide event aimed at raising funds for the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation.

Needless to say, we are THRILLED to welcome Jacqueline aboard the crew here at BLAST. (And we hope she continues to feel good about her decision to call Indianapolis home when she is having to scrape ice off her car windows while standing in a foot of freezing snow at 7:30 AM in the middle of February.)

Jacqueline in training for the harsh Indiana winters she must now look forward to since moving here from Jacksonville, Florida.

Now it’s time for you to get to know more about Jacqueline Simard. Following are her answers to a questionnaire we had her fill out during her first week on the job:

Nickname: No office pet names established just yet, but for the love of Pete, please don’t call me Jackie.

Hometown: The United States of southern Florida (everywhere from West Palm Beach to Orlando).

College attended: University of North Florida, home of the illustrious Ospreys – SWOOP!

Favorite childhood memory: Summers of spandex, Speedos and string jewelry at the New Canaan Field Club.

Favorite sport: I love watching SEC football and am obsessed with all things Jacksonville Jaguars, but am also known to smack around the yellow fuzzies. I used to be a Junior Olympian for swimming, as well!

Favorite movie: Animal House, without a doubt. My father showed it to me when I was 14 and I wanted to be a member of the Greek community ever since. Horrible reason to want to rush a sorority, but I’m happy I did! AOT.

Favorite Indianapolis restaurant: Tough for a newbie but thus far it’s got to be Taste. Get those cheddar biscuits and gravy in my belly!

Random fact: I have size 12 feet. It’s horrible.

One word to describe you: Eclectic

Favorite quote: “Action is the foundational key to all success” — Pablo Picasso

What’s on your iPod: Paul Simon, Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens, Bob Marley & the Wailers, John Mayer Trio, Foo Fighters, The Killers

Favorite Pandora Station: Simon & Garfunkel

Favorite Tweep you follow: Anne Hornyak is a friend of mine I met working with Visit Jacksonville last year. She is a great resource for social media trends and emerging ideas in the travel/tourism industry that can be used by any social media enthusiast.

Favorite Social Media Site/Tool/App: Hootsuite allows me to access multiple social platforms from one dashboard as well as manage my multiple client accounts.

Favorite Source for Social Media News or Tips: I prescribe Mashable.com twice daily for optimal social media insight. Granted, everyone knows it, but it’s what I read in bed before my first cup of coffee and what I check in on prior to tucking myself in.

How would you describe your job at BLASTmedia?: I develop, implement and track social media campaigns for BLASTmedia interactive clients – and boy do I love it!

What do you like to do outside of BLAST?: Freeing myself from Indiana ‘neophyte’ status — one watering hole, attraction and concert at a time!

Thanks to Jacqueline for taking the time to answer these questions… Again, we welcome her to our social media family.

Now, Jacqueline, get to work!

Incoming search terms:

• Jacqueline Simard
• Jacqueline Stevens