There have been a lot of exciting things going on for me behind the scenes, but I’m glad to say I can finally share what’s been going on for me with you.
This week I started a new job as a Social Media Specialist for PEAK6 Online. For those of you who don’t know, PEAK6 is headquartered in Chicago’s financial district directly inside the Chicago Board of Trade building.
This is exciting for two reasons:
1. The building itself oozes with historical significance from the action on the trading room floor to the beautiful art deco architecture.
2. Batman was here… Seriously. Many scenes from The Dark Knight were shot directly outside the window from the PEAK6 offices. How cool is that?
In my new role, I’ll be helping with social media strategy for each of the PEAK6 Online business units including WeSeed, www.ONN.tv and OptionsHouse.
Social media engagement poses brand-new challenges for businesses in the financial industry and I’m excited to learn how to navigate the space and share what I learn along the way.
Here’s a little bit of background information for each of the above mentioned PEAK6 business units:
WeSeed – WeSeed is an online community that lets people learn about the stock market in a risk-free environment by building virtual stock portfolios of pretend stocks called WeShares. WeSeed members select their WeShares based on things they’re already passionate about, like technology, fashion or food. Follow WeSeed on Twitter: @WeSeed
www.ONN.tv – www.ONN.tv, aka the Options News Network, is an online video channel that provides daily options news and entertainment, options education, options trading ideas, and expert commentary on the options market. There are even videos that help explain the basics of options trading on the site. Follow ONN.tv on Twitter: @OptionsNews FYI, you can also follow ONN.tv host Jud Pyle on his newly-launched Twitter profile: @judpyle
OptionsHouse** – OptionsHouse is a retail online brokerage firm that lets investors make options and stock trades on a custom trading platform. The site also provides data feeds, execution capability and trading tools. Options House also offers seminars and webinars designed to help people better understand options investing. Follow OptionsHouse on Twitter: @OptionsHouse
Here are some fun pictures of me in and around PEAK6 in Chicago:
Me and @cheapsuits at PEAK6 offices inside the Chicago Board of Trade Building
Everyone who works for a securities company gets fingerprinted I swear!
I'm Batman ;)
The view from our offices at the Chicago Board of Trade building. Batman was here!
mmmmm candy!
Sorry, Chicago, I won’t live here permanently. However, I’ll be doing a lot of traveling back and forth from Detroit for awhile until new PEAK6 Online offices are ready to open in Seattle.
Yes, Seattle
A new PEAK6 Online office will soon be open in Seattle and I’ll be working out there with a great new team to help expand the company’s online presence. I’ll know more soon enough.
P.S. Here are some more of the fun people who work for the PEAK6 family of businesses you can follow on Twitter:
@crosberg
@brandonzeman
@cfritchle
@lucyglib
@chicagomac
@bradgold
@behindthehills
@armchairdj
@cheapsuits (especially him)
FYI, since I mentioned options trading in the summary of the activities at OptionsHouse, in good faith I need to include the following:
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. In addition, electronic trading poses unique risk to investors. System response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system performance and other factors. OptionsHouse provides neither investment nor tax advice. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options<http://www.optionsclearing.com/publications/risks/riskchap1.jsp> | Risk Statements and Disclosures<http://optionshouse.com/risk/> | Privacy Policy<http://optionshouse.com/risk/privacy/>, copies of which can also be obtained by contacting OptionsHouse’s Customer Service Department at <mailto:>.
Please forgive the delay in posting the details of my new position. The first week on the job was action-packed and I’m glad to say I’ve already hit the ground running.
Wish me luck?
A big thank you to Caitlin Rosberg (@crosberg) for her great work on the photos.
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{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, Shannon, this sounds really great and you obviously are excited about the move. Get me Batman’s autograph sometime, will ya? :)
Thanks, Ari! I know this is a big step up in the world for me and I’m very excited for the opportunity. I’ll miss my friends and family here in Michigan… but I have two words: Holiday + Tweetup. :-)
Shannon,
Congrats. Seems like a great opportunity and I know that you will rock it! Good luck with the move!
Kipp
Kipp,
Thank you so much — and thanks for stopping by. :-)
Holy cow, big news! Congrats, Shannon. Detroit’s loss is Seattle’s gain. Maybe you can convince them to get a damn hockey team. A real one, I mean.
David!
I know — big news and a big move. I’ll always remember your willingness to help out at a moment’s notice with the Startup Weekend video *and* the chance meeting at O’Hare on mutual layovers… wow! Proof that social media changes the meaning of local in so many ways! Thanks for the congrats. I’ll see what I can do on the hockey front for the city, but I’m a busy girl — there’s only so much I can do. ;-)
Congrats, Shannon! It sounds like a great opportunity for you. Good luck with the move to Seattle.
Hey, you! What a total “WOOT!” moment! Your new adventure sounds exciting and challenging and like a great way for you to keep plowing ground with social media and community building. Congratulations and best luck and fortunes to you! Heather
Congrats and Good luck! We will miss your Red Wings tweets.
huthandr,
Thanks so much. I’m pretty sure someone within the organization will maintain the Twitter account. Besides, watching fans on Twitter talking to each other about the games was even cooler than having them talk to me.
Shannon, you will be missed but I am over the moon happy for you! You’ll really enjoy Seattle and there is no doubt in my mind that you will take the city by storm! I’m really thankful for social media because we can still keep in touch. Big huge hugs and congratulations to you, you deserve it!
Karen,
Oh we’ll definitely keep in touch! Thank you for being such a consistently warm presence on the Interwebz. I can’t tell you how much your words enrich my experience and help realign my head with my heart.
Detroit to Seattle?
Very cool! … I mean, very ‘official’ :-)
Congrats and good luck on transforming the financial worlds social media presence.
Joe,
Haha, YES, *very* official indeed. :) Thanks for that.
Good luck, sounds like a fantastic opportunity to grow an organization that values thought leadership. Big move from Detroit to Seattle!
Good luck with the new gig! I lived/worked in Chicago a few years ago (am in Madison now) and it can be a hella fun town. Club Lucky is the bomb for Italian. Enjoy!
Shannon:
Congratulations on your move, and you must be thrilled to move to Chicago. What a great city. Love it, and looking forward to being there soon for SOBCON.
Hey, Geoff! I’m really hoping to make it over to SOBCon, too! I’m actually moving to Seattle once the office opens up there. For now though it’s just back and forth to Chicago from Detroit — I know it’s a little confusing for me as well. :)
Best of luck to you, Shannon. This sounds like a fantastic opportunity for you and for PEAK6.
Good luck! Looks like an exciting new opportunity! If you ever find time to head to MN while in Chicago, let me know.
As a fellow Detroit native who has been in Chicago for a few years now, I enjoyed seeing your work with the Red Wings. Hope you enjoy Chicago while you are here! Good luck.
Shannon that is a great opportunity. Chicago is a great city and Seattle too. They are lucky to have you! Congratulations.
Congrats, my friend. I wish you all the best. PEAK6 made a great decision!
Congrats! This is great news. We’re always happy to have another social media type in Chicago (even if it’s only occasionally).
Congratulations! As I read the post I wondered where the financial disclaimer was and there it was at the end.
Best to you!
Michael,
Hah! I’m sure our compliance department will be happy to see your positive acknowledgment of their efforts.
Honestly, I had mixed emotions about including it here. While it seems out of the spirit of what we try to do with social media, I think it’s important to remember that some of the laws and rules that govern us still provide a bit of protection to citizens, consumers, investors, etc.
In fact, I had small hopes that the placement of the disclaimer might serve to spark a little discussion… ;-)
Congratulations, Shannon. SO happy for you. You are so talented and have such a bright future in front of yourself. And I’m so jealous that you’ll be working in a city with other great PR/social media minds like Allan Schoenberg, Sarah Evans, Matt Batt, Kelly Olexa and a host of others. Excited to follow you as your new journey begins!
Well, well, well. I suppose I can let you move into our building. Perhaps I can even make time to give you a trading floor tour and behind the scenes look at the exchange. This really is great news and once you’re settled in we can get together. I would love to have you meet our digital communications team and we should even think about doing more with onn.TV and weseed. All the best and I’ll see you soon.
Allan,
Thanks so much! I’ll be back in Chicago this week so I’ll be sure to bug you. :) Would LOVE to meet the rest of your digital communications team.
Shannon, this is quite the adventure you’re on! Those PEAK6 folks are obviously quite wise to snap you up. I can’t wait to learn more from you as you move forward into this exciting new area — congrats!
Congrats, Shannon. You will sooooo kick ass & take names, and Detroit will miss you. Think of all the awesome coffee shops you’ll have access to in Seattle!!
Thanks, Stacy,
I’ll miss Detroit, too. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I think I am making the right move. I will miss the people here in Michigan, but I’ll be back to visit… PLUS, we have social media tools to communicate, right? :)
Congrats! and good luck with the new gig.
I know you don’t like it when others say this, and you are too humble to admit it, but you are one of the few people that will be leading the social media space moving forward. So happy for your success!
Mack,
You’re always so supportive and I appreciate you reaching out. Thanks for the kind words — I also think a great deal your work, too by the way. :)
Hi Shannon,
Wishing you many great adventures in your new work. This sounds like a terrific opportunity. Congratulations!
Best,
Daria
Hi Shannon! Best of luck with new job. Will youkeep your Reg Wings position or quit with sports?
Asya,
Two full-time jobs might be a little difficult to manage even for me. ;)
I resigned from my former position with the Red Wings in order to move into my new position with PEAK6 Online.
Congratulations Shannon! That looks like an amazing opportunity and you will take the windy city by storm. I echo Brandon – PEAK6 is smart and they made a great decision! Michigan will miss you.
Dave,
I won’t be moving permanently to Chicago — I’ll eventually be in Seattle. I’ll be going back and forth a bit from Detroit until the new Seattle location opens up a bit later.
I’ll be back to visit Detroit, I promise! Thanks for the congrats and all the best to you and Jenni.
Good luck and how fabulous to work in that great building.
The Chicago Board of Trade building, eh? During a recent bout of internet surfing, I realized the origin of “futures trading” began in that building. And now you’re there. I never heard of that company, but I’m sure you’ll be dishing the details here and there.
Good luck!
Shannon:
Peak6 sounds like an awesome opportunity for you! Good luck with everything in your new job. You’ll do a great job! Keep us up on all of your adventures and experiences.
Congrats on your new position and commuting back and forth!
Best of luck and I am another position that adored all you did for the Red Wings and the insight you have passed on to me over the few times I have heard you speak or have heard your stories.
Jamie,
Thank you! It was such a pleasure getting to know you and I wish you all the best as well. You’re a very sweet addition to the Detroit community and I’m always glad to see you. Thanks so much for the congrats.
Congrats, Shannon! I’ve missed talking with you on Twitter. And now this explains why I keep seeing on the side of my Facebook page that you support WeSeed. :)
I hope all is well and I look forward to hearing more.
P.S. *Roug Voice* You are Batman.
Congrats, Shannon! The superstar continues to blaze her own trail :)
Dude! That is AWEsome! Congrats! You get to move to the city I’d most love to live in – Seattle (even though I’ve never been there). The new gig sounds very exciting!
So are you saying there’s an opening for the Red Wings position? If only the Tigers had a similar position… I’d be all over that!
Seriously though, I’m happy and excited for you. Good luck! :)
I had the pleasure of meeting you at Chris Brogan’s inbound bootcamp at AMD and to hear you speak. It’s very exciting that you’re really leading the way in social media. Can’t wait to see all the great things you’re doing. Congrats and best of luck!
Shannon,
Congrats again! I’m very happy for you! Also it was a pleasure being able to collaborate with you.
I’m sure that I’ll catch up with you again in either Seattle or Chicago!
Shannon. . . you are gonna’ rock that place. Congrats to you for being so brave and getting out there and doing what we need to see! Ambition, happiness, LIKING YOUR JOB!! THANKS for what you’re doing and sharing it with us!
Don’t worry, Detroit won’t forget you! We’ll still be here rooting for you!
Take Care! Happy Easter!
Cheryl
Cheryl! Oh wow. Thanks so much for the wonderful comment. It’s been a long time!
Congratulations on your new gig…here in Chicago (at least some of the time)! I’ve heard nothing but good things about you and look forward to meeting you sometime soon. Cheers!
I don’t know where to begin other then welcome aboard Shannon! We are so fortunate to have you on our team. There is a long tale about my association with Shannon and how she ended up as my coworker. Suffice it to say it NEVER would have happened without twitter. Our firm began a search for a position almost a year ago to the day that we had know idea about. We knew the end result (building a community off and online) but had NO clue how to connect the dots. We didn’t know where to begin. We didn’t even know how to talk the talk. I have to thank everyone who help point us and guide us in the right direction who was there from the begining: Brain Clark from GMD (who is on twitter but I can’t find him) @jenbruin, @jasonfalls (!), @spikejones and of course @Shannonpaul whom(like the above forementioned)
didn’t hesitate to talk with an anonymous screwball from
twitter. I have learned a lot from this journey especially being anonymous on the web is not the way to go. Maybe we can all meet at a tweetup some day and I can bore you with the details of how a simple question about Social Media Press Releases ended up with Shannon being hired a year later. Another interesting thing I have learned is many of you ‘SM’ practitioners forget that there are end users(your customers and potential customers) and just plain folk on twitter. Tsk tsk tsk….some of your twitter behavior influenced our decision to reach out (or not) to you. And one thing is for sure, you all talk in terms of customers,brands and products but forget that some of us are in highly regulated industries and we don’t fit neatly into your SM box. With that I ask (again) does anyone have a solution for the SEC regs on archiving conversations on twitter ?? (looks like Shannon has some work ahead of her!)
Shannon,
Congratulations on such an exciting position! More proof that your hard work is paying off. I’ll miss our f2f chats about social media and digital marketing happenings here in the D but am looking forward to hearing about all the new things you’re doing in another city. It’s been a wonderful 12-18 months getting to know you and collaborate with you. Wishing you nothing but continued success and happiness. Knock em dead!
Ken
Congrats, Shannon!!! Although you will be missed, I wish you nothing but the best. Please let us know when you’re coming back to visit and keep us posted on the new job!
Shannon!
Welcome to PEAK6! We are so very fortunate to have you join our team. I am looking forward to seeing how you will grow PEAK6 Online.
All the best,
Travis
The hometown crew wishes you well, Shannon; I know you’ll go out there are rock, and represent us all well. You’re gonna proudly tell people “I’m from Detroit!” and they’ll know that we are a city that knows what the hell we’re doing.
Our friendship survived one big hiatus, it’ll survive another. My life has improved for having you back in it, and I’m not gonna let another 10 years lapse before we see each other again. I don’t have too many friends that understand where I come from and understand me the way you do, and the distance between Seattle and Detroit isn’t gonna change that.
You’re gonna do great. You’re a fuckin’ rock star.
Shannon, I’m clearly a little behind in my reading — hence I’m just reading this. :) A belated congrats on your new move — it sounds like a great next step for you. Best of luck!!
Heather (@prtini)
Congrats on the new gig! Detroit misses you already, I’m sure. Was good to catch you at Module Midwest, see you again before too long,
Jeremy
Congratulations, that’s exciting. Looks like they’re off to a good start if they’re headed to Seattle.
Shannon, Seattle is VERY dog friendly. The larger the dog, the more space you’ll find in Upper Queen Anne, Wallingford, Greenlake, Phinney Ridge. Let me know if I can help out!
Congratulations, Shannon! How exciting for you! Chicago and Seattle? Wow– you can’t go wrong, but Detroit will miss you!
Bella
Congrats on the new gig. Who is taking over that dream job with the Red Wings? Any chance they would outsource?? (hint, hint)
Big congrats, Shannon. You’ve come a long way in a short time, and I think it’s safe for us all to say you are among the social media elite.
The Wings will miss you, and I know JB&A still does. Best of luck, keep us posted, and enjoy Chicago while you can. I so love that town.
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