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Martin Hofmann

a personal blog about technology, communications and other stuff that interests me

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High Road

Now is the time

Now is the time

by Martin · Oct 15, 2010

After 15 years of working in the agency world, I am joining the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in a communications role.

Leaving High Road is tough. It’s a special place. I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot of colleagues, clients and partners to thank. My seven and a half years at High Road were full of change and growth. The agency tripled in size, expanded from three to five offices, and won big Canadian brands and interesting U.S. clients. During that same time, digital technologies and social platforms have added new ways for people to communicate, connect and search for information. High Road has trained, hired and acquired to stay ahead of these developments and make sure the right skill sets are in place to help clients benefit from them.

What has stayed consistent throughout all the change is a corporate culture that combines leadership with team work, risk-taking with sound advice, and entrepreneurship with fun. I am lucky to have benefited from it; I learned a lot from High Roaders. Another thing that won’t change: the fact that High Road is an agency. This is why I have decided to make a move. I started my career in the public sector (on a different continent), and always considered it something worth revisiting. Well, now is the time.

I love that governments are increasingly going digital to communicate or seek input. For example, Canada recently let people and organizations submit and vote on ideas for its Digital Economy Strategy; Germany’s chancellor and some ministers are answering citizen’s questions using “many-to-one communications” platform DirektZu.de; the U.S. Department of State in 2007 launched its DipNote blog and added other social media services over time. A lot is already happening across the world, and we need more of that. I want to contribute to it here in Ontario. But it’s not simply about choosing new ways over old. It’s about looking at all aspects of communication, and choosing the smartest ways to inform and interact. Digital, social and mobile ideas can play a big role here.

Yet, my best personal experience with government communications is still a handshake. When I arrived in Canada ten years ago, I was greeted at immigration with an extended hand and the words “welcome to Canada; glad to have you here.” Whether it was based on a customs officer’s individual effort or official guidance, I don’t know. What matters to me is that the welcome handshake made me both feel excited about my future in a new country and think about my responsibilities as a new resident.

It was a simple, powerful act of government communication. As a public relations professional, I always thought it is an example of something to aspire to. Granted, interaction between government and citizens is usually more complex and less heart-warming. But I’ll carry the spirit of the handshake and the passion for new ideas with me when I start my next job on Monday at the Government of Ontario. I can’t wait to meet my new team and get going.

If you have suggestions or examples of great government communications, I’d love to hear from you.

Filed Under: English, High Road, Ongoing, Personal

Overview of Windows Phone 7

by Martin · Jun 20, 2010

New Microsoft video provides an overview of key features in Windows Phone 7. I like the look and feel but will reserve judgement until I actually get to try it out on a real phone myself.

Filed Under: English, High Road, Ongoing, Technology

Dick Tracy watch phone

by Martin · Jan 8, 2009

Now a reality…

 

Note: LG Electronics is a High Road Communications client. I don’t work on the account. But I’d love to try out that watch phone…

Filed Under: English, High Road, Innovation, Technology

All you need is a blog to market your product? You’re so wrong

All you need is a blog to market your product? You’re so wrong

by Martin · Nov 7, 2008

For the upcoming StartupEmpire conference in Toronto, we shot a few short videos with Mike McDerment, CEO of FreshBooks. In the videos, he talks about his experience as a startup entrepreneur here in Canada.

The first one is about blogs and marketing: All you need is a blog to market your product? You’re so wrong. More videos next week.

(High Road Communications is a sponsor of StartupEmpire)

Filed Under: Canada, Communications, English, Events, High Road, Technology

StartupEmpire – The Conference

by Martin · Oct 17, 2008

Here’s a video of Jevon MacDonald and David Crow talking about the upcoming StartupEmpire conference in Toronto on November 13 and 14. It’s a Canadian conference “from entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs”.

StartupEmpire already has an amazing lineup of speakers including Don Dodge, Hugh MacLeod, Howard Lindzon, David Cohen, Austin Hill, Leila Boujnane, Lane Becker and Charlie O’Donnell. Watch the video for Jevon and David’s perspective on what they want to accomplish with the conference.

More information is available at www.startupempire.ca and on David and Jevon’s blogs.

Disclaimer: High Road Communications is a sponsor of the conference.

Filed Under: Canada, Communications, English, Events, High Road, Innovation, Technology Tagged With: startupempire

Toronto Technology Week – This is my City!

by Martin · May 31, 2007

As part of her opening keynote for Toronto Technology Week, High Road Communications co-founder and president Mia Wedgbury (my boss) showed a video with Jay Goldman of Radiant Core, Mark Relph of Microsoft Canada (High Road client) and Ken Nickerson of iBinary talking about their view on tech in Toronto and what we can do to promote the region as a centre of excellence. Here’s the video that I uploaded to Soapbox. For Mia’s perspective, see here.


Video: Toronto Tech Week – This is my City!

Filed Under: Canada, Events, High Road, Technology

High Road is hiring

by Martin · Apr 11, 2007

“We have immediate opportunities for consultants with 1 – 2 years agency exp as well as account managers with 4-6 years experience. The ideal candidates will have relevant technology and/or entertainment/gaming industry experience in an agency environment.”

Contact info and more here.

Filed Under: High Road, Personal

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