Blake Killian

Director of Social Media

Why do you do what you do?
I’m a creator. I like to make things. Sometimes it’s the world’s best hollandaise atop perfectly poached eggs, and other times it’s a blog post series for a client project. I do what I do because I love creating something out of nothing. At its heart, social media isn’t Facebook and Twitter. Being social means interacting with people – real people. So, that’s the other reason I do what I do. I’m an advocate and protector of my chosen profession as something that isn’t fluffy, trendy or meaningless. Social media can change (and has changed) the world, but it can also dramatically change your business.

What was your proudest career moment?
I will always be grateful for the time I spent at one of the largest death-care providers in the country. Yes, I said death-care, as in the funeral and cemetery business. It was a corporation, so it taught me a lot about systems, processes and human resource management. However, I was still a marketing geek in a 100-year-old company, so I had a job to do. I was part of a team that did many things online for that company, but I think I left that company a geekier place. I’m proud of that.

What fuels you to do the best?
I started my career in e-commerce which is all about conversions and return-on-investment. I’m grateful for that early hard wiring, because it forces me to keep big ideas in scope (not to mention profitable). Being a steward of other people’s money is something that I take very seriously, so that responsibility keeps me at my best.

What drew you to Zehnder?
The Zehnder team always seemed to be having the best time. They were happy, but they were also competitive. I like being happy, and I like being competitive. It was only after I got to know the team a little better that I realized how dedicated each team member is to his or her craft. These are more than jobs to these people; it’s what each of them was meant to do. What’s better than that? Sign me up.

What do you suck at?
For the longest time, I thought I would be a cartoonist, but I’ve never been able to draw hands. I also have a difficult time keeping my enthusiasm for new projects (especially food projects) in perspective.

Describe your most quirky trait:
As much of a foodie as I am, one of my favorite things to eat is the Iced Lemon Pound Cake from Starbucks. My quirky trait is that I will only eat it upside down, that is, I start eating at the bottom so my last bites are the lemony-icing ones. Oh, and I have to keep the volume level on my TV at a multiple of five; I will watch TV with the volume at 40, 45 or 50, but not, say, 43 or 47. Weird, I know.

Outside Zehnder I love to....

Cook (I make the best eggs benedict you will ever eat.)
Eat (I will never forget that night at Alinea.)
Travel (Italy is everything they say it is. China was fascinating. Peru should be fun.)
Watch TV (We have 4 Tivos at our house.)
Buy things from Amazon.com (1-click is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.)