It’s official: I recently accepted a new position as social media manager with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) — and that move means a return home to Detroit.
I’ll be wrapping things up here in Seattle for the remainder of this month and starting the new role at BCBSM June 7.
As excited as I am to enter this new phase, it’s also bittersweet. I’ve made many great friends in Seattle and I will miss people I worked with for more than a year at PEAK6 Online in the Seattle and Chicago offices. I’ve learned so much this last year, and I’m thankful to have had the chance to attend Gnomedex and several Social Media Club events in Seattle and Chicago as a result of so much time spent in each city.
Leaving is never easy, especially when it involves a cross-country relocation, but returning to the Detroit community and family is something my husband and I are excited about. Plus, I know many of the people I connect with on a regular basis at social media events, blogs and Twitter will still be there.
I’m also extremely excited to begin my new role. What struck me most throughout this process, is that the BCBSM organization is heading down the social media path for the right reasons. They see it as an opportunity to better connect with all stakeholders, including consumers, so they can serve the needs of each. I think that’s very cool!
Working for a nonprofit healthcare organization also means I’ll get to learn all about social media communications with respect to HIPAA regulation — the challenges and solutions. As I continue to learn and grow professionally, I will look forward to sharing what I learn along the way here with you.
The past few years have been a wild ride and I am grateful you’re still here with me, no matter where I choose to call home.
Photo by ifmuth
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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Cool! We’ll hit up Sandbaggers when you get back :p
Yeah right! :)
Congrats! Good luck on the move home.
Congrats, Shannon! My wife works at Blue Cross Blue Shield here in MN, so once you get going, please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Seattle will surely be sad to see you go, but happy you’re returning to the Midwest!
@arikhanson
Thanks, Arik! I’m sure your wife has a lot of insight to share. Would love that :)
Exciting news, Shannon. Congrats, and welcome back to the midwest! :)
Heather
@prTini
I’ve excited for your new adventure. I’ve been really intrigued by the intersection of social media and health (and you bring up the interesting privacy and HIPPA implications) for awhile. Partially due to personal experience (http://tinyurl.com/2b9lgyk)!
I think there’s a lot of good that can be accomplished in this field, but there’s still (an excitingly) large amount of figuring-out-best-practices to be done!
Thanks so much for sharing that link. I agree that there is a lot of potential in healthcare — both in how to use the social web to create more meaningful interactions with respect to health, and in figuring out where the boundaries need to be with respect to privacy, etc.
Thanks again!
Hey Shannon,
Great to finally meet you at Sobcon and congrats on the new gig. By the sounds of things, you and hubs will have a blast.
Cheers!
@knealemann
Congratulations Shannon!!! We in Seattle are of course sad to see you go but super excited for your new opportunity! You’ll rock it!
Congrats Shannon! Sounds like a great move for you and I’m sure you’ll be happy to be back in Detroit! m
Shannon – congrats on the new role. glad to hear you are heading back to Detroit.
I’m sad (you’ll be leaving Seattle) and happy for you (sounds like an exciting challenge) all at the same time.
I’ll miss seeing you around events but look forward to watching the amazing things you’ll be doing.
Looks like you made your choice based on all the right reasons.
Congratulations, Shannon, and best of luck!
:(
Congratulations! We’ve been lucky to have you here in Seattle.
Congratulations, Shannon, on the new gig. It sounds like a good fit, and being back home definitely has its advantages.
Congratulations, Shannon! I’m hoping we’ll get a chance to connect now that you’re moving back to the D. I’m a big fan of your blog, and I can’t wait to hear about all of the cool things you’re doing for BCBSM!
Erica
@ericafinley
Congrats Shannon! Save a few coneys for me.
Jeremy
Awesome news, and congrats on the new position!
I completely understand the move is bittersweet, but you know we miss you in the D. :)
Good luck!
Congrats, Shannon! We look forward to having you back in the D, just in time for warm weather, too. And from a personal standpoint, I look forward to seeing your work in the healthcare arena.
Mike
Congrats again Shannon and I look forward to meeting you soon!
Congrats on your new position Shannon! Looking forward to following your success at BCBSM. Sounds like this is perfecting timing for you and for them.
Congratulations, Shannon!
Good news – good luck with it!
Congratulations on your move back! I am also in the process or relocating back to Detroit after many years away. You may want to reach out to friend RePopulate Detroit on Facebook, a friend of mine runs it and is starting a movement for those of us returning. Its is very, very exciting.
Congrats!! Welcome back home!!
Awesome! Congrats Shannon! Can’t wait to see you!
Congrats Shannon and welcome back! Looking forward to connecting at some meet-ups!
Shannon, I am so happy for you; so well deserved! You will do great things and so honored and humbled we are friends :)
See you soon!!!!!
m.
Congrats.
Just so you know: healthcare is a mess and loaded with really odd personalities (some good, others not so much). Which is to say you’ll do just fine ;)
All the best to you. Make sure you join in on the #hcsm and #RNchat Twitter chats.
Cheers!
Phil
Phil – I’ve been following your blog for quite awhile! I will definitely make sure to check out #hcsm and #RNchat on Twitter. Thanks for the heads up and the well wishes :-)
Congrats! Good luck with your move. I look forward to meeting you soon.
So sad for us, but nothing like being close to family :)
Happy for you Shannon. Congrats!
And so glad we got to hang out a bit – you are always warm and brilliant.
I hope to see you somewhere soon, but let us figure out a happy hour for you before you leave!
Welcome back.
We’ve missed you!!!!
(Ahhhhh…this must mark the beginning of a reversal of the Michigan Brain Drain! I am so glad!)
Hugs, and cocktails soon? (June, July, whatever?)
BTW, I have friends at BCBSM. Let me know if I can help with even more introductions.
Hugs,
K.
Congrats hon!!! BCBSM will be lucky to have you! :)
Congrats! Great for you, great for BCBS, great for Detroit!
Congratulations on the exciting news Shannon! Looking forward to having you back in the D. Best of luck in the new role at BCBS!
It seems I just read your blog post announcing your move from Detroit. Now, you’re coming back. How fast time flies when you’re having fun!
You’re having fun, right? ;)
Congratulations Shannon. Welcome back to the D.
Congratulations Shannon! Sounds like a great challenge. BCBS (RI) is a client of ours, and we too have HIPPA regulations to adhere to, more on the traditional media side.
Being back with family must be wonderful too!
Best of luck and as always, looking forward to hearing about your journey.
EVERYONE -
Thank you so much for the well wishes and congratulations. I’ve had a hard time responding to everyone and I feel incredibly fortunate that you all care enough to leave a comment.
Thanks again – I know who each of you are and appreciate your comments very much!
Welcome back to Michigan! Hope the new job is all you are hoping for.
Shannon: I must have been so engrossed in my own move OUT of health insurance that I missed your move INTO it! I hope that things are going great for you; if I can ever share any insights related to my experience at Humana, don’t hesitate to let me know.
Belated congratulations and good luck!
Gm
anyone that would want to work in that dump is a moron
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