This is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to write. I am quite the outgoing person, but when it came to write something about myself, I sat in front of my computer with no clue what to say. After literally three days, I just figured, time to just create an overview of the last 27 years and see how it goes!
All The Way Back
I grew up in Rocky Hill, Connecticut which is a small town about 15 minutes outside of Hartford. I had an immediate love for music from day one and once I got old enough, gadgets, cars and the internet followed.
I started my first website in 1996 when I was in eighth grade. The site was a fan site dedicated to Alanis Morissette. I was an extremely avid fan and the world of fan sites was new so I gave it a shot. The website in its many years saw millions of visitors and was even featured in Entertainment Weekly.
Catching the Media Bug
After graduating high school, my friends and I had a week road-trip up in Canada. The first visit was in Toronto where we had the honor of getting a private tour of MuchMusic (the Canadian version of MTV) and the VJ at the time actually put us on the air. The experience was amazing. As I looked around the studio I decided that I truly wanted to pursue a career in media of some type, especially music. I attended Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY where I majored in Communications with a concentration of Radio/TV/Film. While I was at Marist I was heavily involved in on-campus student affairs including the campus entertainement as well as in housing and residential life.
AOL Music
For my entire senior year I was an intern for AOL Music and AOL Radio. The experiences I gained during my internship were remarkable as I really had my own JOBS as opposed to random tasks and errands. When I graduated I was offered a position and I instantly took it. The job began as mainly data entry. My total time at AOL was 2003-2008. In the five years I was there my position jumped from data entry to running the Record Label Relations department as well as Music Director for Pop Radio (I was often referred to as the 14-year-old of the staff based on my taste in music). I was part of the Emmy winning production team for AOL’s LIVE8 commercial. I was part of the short list of people on the team to actually receive a statue!
Heading Home Under the Umbrella
After 5 years in New York City working for AOL, I had an overwhelming desire to move back to the suburbs, away from the “crazy world” of NYC living. While I absolutely loved my position at AOL, it wasn’t something I could do from 2 hours away from the team, so my first true job hunt began and timing worked perfect and I accepted a position at Travelers (working for insurance in Hartford? SHOCKING…I know.) running the Media Services area. In the last year there I have morphed it into Media & Production Services as we have added in-house video productions to the services that were available before I arrived.
Just The Way I Like It
So what else is there about me that could possibly be interesting? In an attempt to not fill out a Match.COM style profile, I will just hit on my “favorites,” things I enjoy, recommendations, and anything else someone may find interesting. I now live in my own townhouse in the same town I grew up in (I attach that to my undying love of the late Hartford Whalers). I am accompanied by my dog of 2 years Butch. As you can tell by his name, he is an 8 pound Yorkshire Terrier. He got a buddy in May, surprisingly a cat which I named Rocco (embracing the Italian side of my heritage). Also in August my friend Lauren moved into my spare room. I am very close with my friends and family and couldn’t be happier to be back.
In no surprise I am a huge media fan. It’s rare to find me with out the television or iPod going. I have a very obsessive personality so I don’t have too many FAVORITES but I definitely squeeze as much of the life out of them that I can.
TV
My favorite show currently is Chelsea Lately on E! with comedian Chelsea Handler. Chelsea is by far THE funniest person I have ever watched, listened to, seen. Her facial expressions, personality and creativity make her impossible to hate. Other than Chelsea my DVR often sees NCIS, JAG, Law and Order:SVU, The West Wing, The Golden Girls, The Nanny, and quite a bit Food Network shows.
Music
Alanis Morissette has been my favorite artist since 1996. There is little she does that I am not wowed by. Her albums aren’t filled with any throwaway songs. I don’t listen to her when I am in a high energy mood, but her music takes up 1/4 of my iPod. Other artists I both love and recommend if you aren’t familiar are James Morrison (no… not from the Doors), Kelly Clarkson (the 14-year-old girl is starting to show herself), Jason Mraz, and I was really a very avid fan of Kris Allen from the past year of ‘American Idol.’
PHEW
So that’s me in a nutshell, or a very longwinded rant on myself. I am always happy to chat about anything 
by 
December 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Amazing, I did not heard about that till now. Cheers.
September 5, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Wow! I’m impressed and intimidated at the same time. You seem to have a much better grasp at this technology thing than I. You’ve gone all out on your page and I’m still figuring it out;). I loved Alanis Morissette, but I must admit I haven’t heard much from her since the late 90s. What ever happened to her? Is she still singing? I see that you have a dog named, Butch. I have a dog by the same name. He is a 10-year-old cocker spaniel , who is often upstaged by his 4-year-old son Buddy.
So, what made you decide to get in this program? You seem well versed in marketing, writing, handling Web design and using the Internet. What do you hope to get out of this course and program?
September 3, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Brendan I am scanning your blog entries and wanting to read several, plus loving your personal writeup. I am a newsreporter, my classroom blog is NewsLive but I was really taken with what you love musically because my tastes run similarly, although I have only brushed the surface of listening to Alanis Morissette… she knocks me out. Your site is beautifully executed I am an admirer! Welcome to the class!