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#FollowFriday: Brian Vickery
I remember the exact moment I met Brian Vickery in person for the first time.
It was in the lobby of the Hampton Inn in Knoxville at the start of Social Slam last year.
I was standing in a group of people, next to Sean McGinnis, who is intimidating in his own right (until he opens his mouth) and Brian just walked right up and introduced himself.
Stuff like that always impresses me because I’m such an introvert, I would never do that unless the person was alone or with only one or two other people.
Since then, Brian and I have become good friends and I’ve learned a ton about him that I’d love to share with you.
- He is the father of two young women; one who just had a baby and the other who is going to college this fall (and got accepted to many great schools).
- He lives in Denver (I’m jealous).
- He’s not very old and is already a grandfather (this freaks me out). Heck at the rate I’m going, he’ll be younger when his grandkid graduates from high school than I’ll be when my kid does.
- He’s the co-host (with Marjorini, er Margie, Clayman) of Heckler’s Hangout, where I once was a guest.
- He’s a huge sports fan (namely the Dallas Cowboys, though he’s become a Broncos fan, especially with Manning there), but he talks about football, baseball, basketball, judo, soccer, taekwondo, tennis, and exercise on his blog.
- He is a partner at Mantis Technology Group, which does lots of analytics and business data analysis that helps an organization grow.
- He’s been married (to the same woman!) for more than 20 years (I think he must have been 12 when he got married).
- His birthday was yesterday – yes, a Valentine’s Day baby, which is probably why he’s so sweet. Wish him a happy belated birthday!
He’s not only a guy’s guy, he’s surrounded by so many women, he also knows how to talk to us.
Get to know him. He can be found on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest (!!!), LinkedIn, his blog, occasionally on 12Most, and every Thursday night on Heckler’s Hangout.
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148 Comments on "#FollowFriday: Brian Vickery"
Not sure how I wasn’t following you already Brian! Rectified! Welcome to the nutty-fruitcake-land that is Follow Friday – @howiegoldfarb will try and tell you you life will now begin to fall apart, slowly, painfully, but if anything MY life kept getting better! I just think some people can handle fame, and some people can’t. 😉
@belllindsay That last sentence there is so freaking true! Hahaha!
@katskrieger @belllindsay Oh boy.
@belllindsay Do I get my own theme song now? I think there is an old Brian’s Song that we could repurpose to me…the Bears had a nice run with it already.
You forgot one Gini: He’s not Canadian! Brian knows I am developing a deep fear of them as they close in around me.And I did NOT know you were a DALLAS fan too! Now there is more fodder for Heckler’s Hangouts!Seriously, Brian IS a lovely guy, and it’s great to see him on here.
@AmyMccTobin You better be developing a deep fear of us Amy. You know what they say. It’s always the quiet ones.
@belllindsay I have YET to meet a quiet Canadian.
@AmyMccTobin @belllindsay chirp. chirp. You do know @RebeccaTodd don’t you?
@AmyMccTobin YOU are definitely surrounded by them!
@AmyMccTobin OK, loaded question…which is worse: A Canadian or Texan! Pick your poison, Amy…and make sure you get that camera to working!
I’m a recovering Dallas fan. Jerry Jones is like a 12-step program that only needs 1-step – him opening his mouth 😉
@dbvickery @AmyMccTobin I hereby take back every nice thing I have ever said about Brian Vickery.
@belllindsay @AmyMccTobin Drat…ruined within minutes of my Follow Friday Fame. I’ve heard stories like this, but never expected it to happen to me.
@dbvickery @AmyMccTobin I warned you about the Canadians. But did you listen? Noooooo.
Yay Brian. Boo Cowboys.
@KenMueller Go Bears!
@KenMueller Perhaps we could just narrow it down to Boo Jerry Jones? Of course, if you are already booing the Cowboys, then you are primed for starting to cheer Go Broncos!
Welcome to the club Brian! I was following on Twitter and remedied the rest. Happy belated birthday as well!
@katskrieger Thanks for the LinkedIn invite, Kat. The club feels so prestigious that I feel like perhaps I should just park cars (I hear that there are great tips). I’d apply for the Cabana Boy job, but heck…I’m a Granddaddy now. Nobody wants to look at THAT!
This makes me SOOOOO happy. Thank you thank you thank you Gini for highlighting Brian. He’s one of the finest fish I know 🙂
@margieclayman But I’m still your favorite. RIGHT?!?
@margieclayman Can I be a Grumpy Cat…Fish? You ladies both rock and bring plenty of smiles on a weekly basis. Thanks!
Yay! Any excellent choice who I’m glad to know. dbvickery
@jasonkonopinski but does he feel the same Jason? He called you a duckwaddler on his show the other night. #justsaying
@HowieG @jasonkonopinski Duckwaddler? LOL!
@jasonkonopinski Jason brings his own mood music to Hecklers’ Hangout to calm the savage beasts. Sean’s hangout may have had some serious questions answered, but Jason’s hangout was smooooth. I thought Jure was going to light up any minute.
Glad to see you here, Brian! Hope to spend more time with you at the Hangout this year (however, as a Dad of daughters, you will understand how Wednesday evening ballet classes can interrupt things…). And Happy Belated Birthday, too.
@creativeoncall Thanks, Chuck. Kinda funny…I taught both of my daughters soccer and taekwondo, and one of them judo. Still disrupts the old schedule, though – so I can relate. I got a huge kick out of your Saturday Serenade a few weeks back. very creative!
Thanks for the birthday wishes.
@MargieClayman I figured you’d be a fan @dbvickery
YAYYYYYYYYYYY 🙂 🙂 🙂 @ginidietrich @dbvickery
.@MargieClayman if you are that happy why not RT that? #ff @ginidietrich @dbvickery
@dogwalkblog I already tweeted out the post 🙂 @ginidietrich @dbvickery
I was late to my own #FollowFriday party because I slept in after yesterday’s party 😉 @margieclayman @dogwalkblog @ginidietrich
No! Now you’ve ruined him! His head is gonna get all big like Margie’s. Ugh.
@Sean McGinnis But if it gets any bigger – and balder – then you have another product placement opportunity for the 312 Digital head tattoo!
@ginidietrich Clonipin’s half life was extended this morning n I’m currently tryin 2 quell the malaise w/2nd cup of coffee. Extend me energy
@Justjeffpls Drink that coffee!
@ginidietrich Pullin out of clouds a bit.
@ginidietrich Aren’t u ever ‘that way?’
@Justjeffpls Sometimes. Tuesdays are usually rough for me.
Brian Vickery is a fine choice. I’m happy to have made his acquaintance.
@Erin F. I only wish I could be at SXSW to be your friendly neighborhood heckler during your presentation. You know, toss you some softball heckles to knock out of the park in front of that rowdy Austin crowd.
@dbvickery That would be too much fun! Maybe we’ll be at the same event the next time I speak, and you can pitch some heckles. Have to keep looking for the next opportunity, right?
Nice to meet you Brian and happy belated birthday!!
@yvettepistorio Thanks, Yvette – had a great birthday, and this was a fantastic Follow Friday post to start my day this morning!
@HowieG @Sean McGinnis @jasonkonopinski Howie you’re supposed to tell him how his life will start to fall apart now. Sheeeesh.
@belllindsay @HowieG @Sean McGinnis @jasonkonopinski Autographed Gigli DVD…gold.
@belllindsay @HowieG @Sean McGinnis @jasonkonopinski Great, I’ve reached my pinnacle…and can only go downhill from here! And at such a young age, too!
@dbvickery @HowieG @Sean McGinnis What’s the word……THUNDERBIRD.
@jasonkonopinski @HowieG @Sean McGinnis MD-20/20 …stay thirsty my friend, which means what goes down will eventually come back up with some of this stuff! This started out such a nice Follow Friday chat…
I was lucky enough to be there in the lobby for that momentous meeting! He is indeed an all around great guy. Not sure about that McGinnis character…
@rosemaryoneill Yes, you were! And I agree with you about McGinnis.
@ginidietrich @rosemaryoneill Are you to Social Slam this year Rosemary?
@Sean McGinnis @ginidietrich not only am I going, I’m on a panel! Hope I don’t get heckled lol.
@rosemaryoneill @Sean @ginidietrich OK, now you are just baiting me, right?
@rosemaryoneill @Sean @ginidietrich You can count on it! I’ve got my ticket in hand! Just chatted with adamtoporek who’s also coming!
@Sean McGinnis @rosemaryoneill @Sean @ginidietrich Looking forward to it. We definitely have to chat in Knoxville Rosemary — I see you live in my hometown.
@rosemaryoneill Hah, thanks Rosemary. That was a great night. We met in the lobby, and then went out for dinner together (think Gini had two sets of shoes for walking around Knoxville). First time I met Sam Fiorella IRL was at that dinner. His first remarks: I thought you would be taller.
It went downhill from there! Not everybody can tower over the room like Sean.
@dbvickery @rosemaryoneill That was a seriously fun dinner. I still have pics in my Facebook stream from that night.
Hey Brian, good to see you sir; I see you are eat up w/ sports like I am. Sports is a religion, right?
@Sean McGinnis I think @ginidietrich is still mad when you set your beer on her head so you could eat while standing.
Always a pleasure sir, here’s to continuing on our fabulous journey in 2013.
@bdorman264 @Sean McGinnis @ginidietrich do you hold Sir Charles’ Cigar when he putts?
@HowieG @bdorman264 @Sean McGinnis @ginidietrich No, because I would set the fairway on fire when I dropped the cigar while laughing at Sir Charles’ golf swing…
@bdorman264 @ginidietrich LMAO!
@Sean McGinnis @bdorman264 The sad thing is…it’s not far from the truth.
@bdorman264 @Sean McGinnis @ginidietrich I think it is awesome how different sports (and teams) are religions depending on where you are. Lived in Texas, and you either loved or hated the Cowboys…Oilers were distant 2nd at the time. Then you had the Longhorns/Aggies and Longhorns/Sooners battles.
Lived in the Carolinas where it was about Duke vs North Carolina in basketball. In Seattle, they lost the Sonics, and the true sports fan went into despair. In Denver, we root for the Broncos – and anybody playing the Raiders!
Thanks, Bill…been enjoying your blog posts this year.
@dbvickery @bdorman264 @ginidietrich Steelers!
Three cheers for Brian Vickery! He always welcomes conversation and my impression is that he is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Except on the Hecklers’ Hangout. SHEESH!
Happy Belated Birthday, Brian!
Why is everyone so mean to @Sean McGinnis ?
@dwaynealicie @Sean McGinnis If you knew Sean in person, you wouldn’t have to ask.
@ginidietrich @Sean McGinnis Such ominousness! <nervous laughter>
@dwaynealicie @ginidietrich You ask a VERY good question Dwayne! Why IS everyone so mean to me? It all starts with Gini. I blame her (as I do for most things).
@Sean McGinnis @dwaynealicie He’s like the big brother I never had (my brothers are all younger). He’s relentless.
@ginidietrich @dwaynealicie THANK YOU! Are you reading this jeanniecw?
@Sean McGinnis suspicious…..@ginidietrich @dwaynealicie
@jeanniecw @Sean @ginidietrich @dwaynealicie Hahahahaha! Whatevs.
@dwaynealicie @Sean McGinnis I have a Grumpy Cat reputation to uphold on Hecklers’ Hangout…gotta be brusque to keep the likes of Jure and Sam in line. Who am I kidding – nobody keeps those two in line.
Sean’s an easy target…think it is the dome! We are trying to convince him to tattoo 312 Digital on it, but he is not listening.
@dbvickery @Sean McGinnis Tattoos in the head/facial area are always a good idea!
@dwaynealicie @dbvickery LMAO!
@dbvickery Spin Sucks! Spin Sucks! Spin Sucks! LOL!! Love you, gramps!
Hello Brian! Nice to meet you here. Full disclosure I love DA Bears but this past season when they were out of the running I was all for the Broncos. I traveled between Christmas and New Year’s through Indiana with my Bears clothes and the Colts nation was not to nice so I started LOVING PAYTON MANNING and told them all about it. Happy Friday to you!!!
@PattiRoseKnight Actually grew up a Cowboys fan with Denver Broncos in the #2 slot. That reversed over the last 12+ years since living in Denver. Liked Ditka’s Bears – great personalities on those teams.
@dbvickery As long as you don’t like the Packers we’ll be good LOL!
Happy Follow Friday Brian!
@RebeccaTodd Thanks, Rebecca – it was a pleasant surprise/birthday gift.
@dabarlow Pretty cool, eh Denise? @dbvickery @ginidietrich #FollowFriday
Happy Follow Friday Brian! I already follow you, but now I’ll make sure to follow you more so Gini doesn’t get mad. 🙂
@Adam | Customer Experience I would not want to make Gini made – she knows words and things, and she has a lot of shoes.
Thanks, Adam.
@belllindsay @SpinSucks You folks rock with your #FollowFriday. About that Franzia…
@dbvickery @SpinSucks HA! I don’t have a clue what Franzia is. But I’m thinking it’s NOT good. 😉
@belllindsay @SpinSucks Franzia -> “Fine” wine…in a box 😉
@dbvickery @belllindsay Lindsay, how didn’t you know of Franzia?! Who are you?
@spinsucks @belllindsay You haven’t lived until you’ve had wine from a box…and perhaps a little MD 20/20 just to get it out of your system
@dbvickery @belllindsay Lol! You can be super classy and have box wine with cheez-its!
@SpinSucks http://t.co/2eidlWkU
@SpinSucks @dbvickery @belllindsay THUNDERBIRD.
@jasonkonopinski @SpinSucks @belllindsay True story: a friend got stung by a jellyfish. We gave him a bottle of MD 20/20 to kill the pain
@dbvickery @spinsucks @belllindsay MD 20/20 tastes like high school.
@jasonkonopinski @SpinSucks @belllindsay And that is when it happened. Then we moved up to Coors Light/Franzia before hitting bocks/stouts
@dbvickery @SpinSucks HAHA! I’m no wine connoisseur but even *I* won’t drink it from a box!
Well, you two ladies help me toggle between Grumpy Cat and Happy Heckler – thanks to both of you for being YOU @margieclayman @ginidietrich
Happy Friday, 2 of my faves 😀 @dbvickery @ginidietrich
As always – the SpinSucks community comments are more than half the fun! | @howiegoldfarb @SpinSucks @ginidietrich #FollowFriday
@dbvickery @SpinSucks @ginidietrich always every friday I wonder who I get to roast! @comedycentral should hire me!
@howiegoldfarb @SpinSucks @ginidietrich @ComedyCentral Howie roasts ’em, I smoke ’em (via big green egg…not that kind of smoke @jkcallas)
And Brian hopes you rock the house at SXSW Erin (I love speaking in 3rd person) | @erinmfeldman @SpinSucks #FollowFriday
@dbvickery Thank you! I hope I do, too. @SpinSucks
I’ll do Friday dance as long as nobody is posting to YouTube or Vine (I can throw out a hip in 6 sec) @ideabloke @ginidietrich @SpinSucks
@dbvickery @ideabloke @ginidietrich We can’t make any promises…
I must be “transparent” enough if Gini nailed my priorities so well – I appreciate her and SpinSucks #FF @matthewliberty @ginidietrich
I finally got somebody to co-sign for me 😉 Only had to become a grandfather, first! #FollowFriday @dabarlow @MatthewLiberty @ginidietrich
@dbvickery LOL…a special co sign @dabarlow @ginidietrich #FollowFriday
@jocmbarnett Gini was awesome – I appreciate that SpinSucks community, and I love her Follow Friday series…didn’t know I’d be a part of it
You are an online hero and friend, Gini – because you are genuine, occasionally snarky, and insightful! Thx for #FF @ginidietrich @SpinSucks
@dbvickery Just occasionally snarky?
@ginidietrich that is my brilliant ability for understatement you just witnessed! Thanks again for that #FollowFriday, Gini
@dbvickery My pleasure! Hope you had a good birthday.
As usual, I’m late to the party. Oh well. I learned two important things from this post.
(1) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, you big romantic guy, you!! Born on Valentine’s Day, that has to be a great omen!
(2) @ginidietrich is an introvert? Wow, social media really is a miracle!!
@barrettrossie @ginidietrich Yeah, if Gini is an introvert…I’m a recluse!
I have definitely played the Valentine’s Day card…I love being born on Feb 14th, Barrett! I definitely used it to my advantage when proposing to my wife 25 years ago.
@barrettrossie You didn’t know that? Totally.
Thx Craig – I’ve enjoyed several of Gini’s #FollowFriday pieces…never thought I’d be the subject of one, though @craigmcbreen @SpinSucks
@dbvickery Will @ginidietrich is cool like that 😉 Grandpa, huh? @SpinSucks
@craigmcbreen @ginidietrich @SpinSucks yeah, Grandpa thing came about 5 years early. Bright side: we are still young and OH so good-looking
@barrettrossie @ginidietrich thanks, Barrett – and FYI, still waiting for Savvy’s news from UVA and Univ of Chicago (and 5 others)
@mainwilk @ginidietrich Think Gini just liked meeting a short, introverted Texan after talking with that big Chicagoan @seanmcginnis #FF
@amymcctobin @SpinSucks Follow the Grumpy Cat Heckler!
@amymcctobin @SpinSucks And I have a badge and everything…courtesy of @kmueller62 – still waiting for my free shopping cart.
@dbvickery @SpinSucks @kmueller62 Ken is a badge pimp… we are his hookers.
@AmyMccTobin @SpinSucks @kmueller62 The new highlight in my career – this #FollowFriday just put me over the top!
@adamtoporek @ginidietrich Thx for leaving a comment on the SpinSucks post too, Adam – Great meeting you, and let’s stay on Gini’s good side
@OneJillian @lisa_catto Thanks, Jillian – and it was great to see you on #cmgrhangout today – Gini was awesome with the #FollowFriday today
Hey @dbvickery another Valentines’s baby! Me too. I feel you brother. Being surrounded by women is not so bad, right?
@rdopping Just living the high life, my friend 😉
@BeckyGaylord LOL!!
Thanks, Shonali – I’ve enjoyed the SpinSucks flair in the comments, too! @shonali @ginidietrich
@BeckyGaylord @shonali @ginidietrich Thanks, Becky – that was a birthday present I didn’t see coming – and youngest turned 18 yesterday!
Awesome, Brian! @dbvickery @shonali @ginidietrich
@amymcctobin @SpinSucks Back from about 3 days of celebrating birthdays, and gotta say thanks Amy. I try to be one of the good guys…
@dbvickery @SpinSucks I only posted that because I knew you wouldn’t see it:)
@amymcctobin @SpinSucks Are you going to come heckle @hessiejones this week, Amy?
@dbvickery @hessiejones Yes, but technically she’s my boss, so can I just abuse you per normal Brian?
@amymcctobin @hessiejones Bring it, but don’t make me round up extra Canadians to torment you | #HecklersHangout @samfiorella @KDillabough
@dbvickery @AmyMccTobin @hessiejones @samfiorella I give you full permission Amy (like I have any power or say, haha)
[…] who Brian Vickery cheers for during football […]
[…] who Brian Vickery cheers for during football […]
Hey Gini,
After reading Brian’s sports posts all this time I had to hear it from you Gini that Brian is a Dallas Cowboys Fan. How could I not know this? I figured it out. He has become such a Broncos fan and so smitten with the Manning crowd its all we hear about 😉 Gini, I think you really captured the essence of Brian. As my wonderful Mom used to say about me, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and I am glad he does. What a wonderful family man he is and a brilliant writer. Happy Birthday Brian!
gagasgarden Wow, high praise, Susan. Thank you…sometimes wearing that heart on the sleeve can get me into trouble. 😉
[…] Our mutual friend, football aficionado and marketing wizard, PR genius Gini Dietrich at Spin Sucks #FollowFriday Brian Vickery says it all about him in this write […]