Vancouver Business & Technology Community
This week I had the privilege of joining Vivien Anayian - known as VG Universe in the Tazzu Forums - for coffee.
Right from the moment we met, I felt like I’d known Vivien forever. She had this ease about her that comes only from knowing one’s self. Our conversation was as rich and full-bodied as the java I was enjoying!
Vivien, born in Georgia (at that time part of the Soviet Union) came to Canada on her own in 2000. Now, married to the love of her life and best friend Garry (a local musician), the two of them with their lovely 2 1/4 year old daughter Veronica call the beautiful North Shore home.
Photography by Colin Brumelle © All rights reserved
This past Monday, Rastin and I had the opportunity to sit down with Rob Lewis - the newly appointed President of Techvibes - over a cup of coffee at Calhoun’s.
We had a really nice visit.
Rob is a sincere and very likable guy, with a passion to restore Techvibes into the healthy and vibrant community it once was - and then some!
Today, I have the honor of spotlighting a relatively new Tazzu member Eric Karjaluoto, who goes by the username karj in the forums.
When asked to tell me a bit about himself, Eric began “I suppose I’d start by saying that I’m interested in making things. Currently I’m one of the people at smashLAB where we make websites.” Eric goes on to say how he feels very lucky to have a great business partner, Eric Shelkie “who is one of the smartest (and nicest) people I know”.
Eric and Eric (yeah! imagine being the receptionist at smashLAB) have worked together for seven years and continue to dream up little adventures and ideas, and have a great deal of fun in the process.
When not at the studio, Karj spends every moment with his family. He and his wife have a 9 month son “who is crawling everywhere, and currently taste testing the bulk of our furniture”. Eric beams “without any question, this is the happiest stage of my life. Every day seems to bring a little surprise with it.”
Yesterday we received the news that our online networking neighbour Techvibes has been purchased, and is slated for a make-over and re-launch.
Over the next six months, Techvibes Media Inc. will focus on improving and updating the current Techvibes.com website to take advantage of its strong brand awareness across Canada. A complete overhaul of the website is planned for the fall of 2007 and will include the integration of technology product reviews, enhanced localization features, and user powered content.
Techvibes has been one of the first initiators in Vancouver’s Technology Community who’ve helped people appreciate and understand the value of business networking and making new contacts and friends. We all have many memorable stories to tell about Techvibe’s past glory days.
Welcome to our first Tazzu Member Spotlight.
May I introduce to you Leah - also known as techno.chic in the Tazzu Forums. Smart, funny and beautiful inside and out, Leah is a great asset to the Tazzu Community.
Leah and I have known each other for a while now, and first met on another forum where we were both Moderators. When questioned if she would be interested in moderating here at Tazzu, her response was a resounding ‘of course!’ - the rest is history.
Leah is a Network Administrator hailing from Surrey BC, but currently resides in Los Angeles CA with her newly-wed husband. Apart from hanging out with friends, another one of Leah’s passions is photography, specifically Architecture, Animals, and Gardens & Flowers. Be sure to visit her flickr account to view her beautiful photos.
Photography by Jonathan Some rights reserved.
A while back, I asked the Tazzu Forum Members to assist me with a list of ‘online networking tips’. Below is a compilation, and summary of the great response that was received - they are in no particular order.
Thank you to the following Tazzu Members for your participation in this discussion: Verithin, infinity, Liesa, techno.chic, MCSD, Aristocrat, EdC, jentekk, sstark, emeraldconsulting, and kulpreet_singh.
1. Utilize Your Profile Efficiently
Work your profile! Have a proper avatar, add website links to your signature, and list your preferred title. In a virtual world that is the only way that people can learn more about you, and eventually trust you. Hiding behind a vague image, and username doesn’t mean ‘business’ to most people.
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