Sean Brace
My vision for Philly Influencer has always been bigger than just sports. That’s why we use the tagline Sports. Social. Culture. All with a Philly Feel. I never had a worry about getting the sports side of things going because, well, it’s obvious. We eat up everything sports in this area. However, I didn’t think it would be as difficult to get the Social and Culture side of things going. To my surprise, it has. But that’s exactly what I like to see as well.
Follow me on this… instead of folding up and saying maybe we should ease off of social and culture and stick to sports, we’re doing the opposite. We’re attacking.
Over the last few weeks, we have looked very hard at a number of candidates to step up and join the great Candis McLean and help make the Social and Culture sides at Philly Influencer the place to get news on everything happening around this great city of ours. Movie reviews, restaurant openings, pop-up shops, museum exhibits, concerts, etc. You name it, we’re going to be all over it. For you! This is a project that will take time. But just like our sports coverage, if it’s good, you folks will read it, share it and of course come back to us and make PhillyInfluencer.com a part of your daily routine!
With all that being said, allow me to introduce our new Social and Culture additions at Pi!
Candis McLean
First up, I can’t say enough about Candis McLean. She has come on strong in these past few weeks, showing you everything that’s happening in our area with her A+ Weekend Picks and staying on top of everything that’s buzz-worthy! She has the direction that we need to take and we’re taking her lead! Please read all about what’s happening in our city this weekend right here!
Matt Cassidy
Next up, is Matt Cassidy. Matt’s résumé jumped off the screen at me and then of course, his writing skills matched his résumé.
Hailing from West Chester, Matt Cassidy is a Temple journalism product with bylines at Philly Mag’s Birds 24/7, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Rally section, ChesmontSports.com, Daily Local News, PoliticsPA.com and Philadelphia Business Journal. Breaking the “Curse of Billy Penn” five months before the 2008 Phillies, Matt claimed a world championship title for Philadelphia with his high school Model U.N. team at the U.N. headquarters in New York. You can find Matt competing in the West Chester Story Slam, tending goal for your local men’s league hockey team or on the beach in North Wildwood. He believes every music fan should listen to both Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged and Tame Impala’s Lonerism.
Chris Tremoglie
And finally, I wanted to bring on someone that would stir it up. Someone that’s not afraid to put out a much different opinion. He’s a solid man, volunteering in our community and on top of everything that’s happening as well! I know you, the reader, are going to battle with Chris, and that’s what it’s all about. Creating discussion.
I introduce to you, Chris Tremoglie.
Chris is a new culture columnist of Philly Influencer. Additionally, he is editor-in-chief of The Student Vanguard, founder and president of the Dark Knight Foundation (a non-profit organization which helps the homeless and women’s shelters in the Philadelphia area) and volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House. He was recently, admitted into the University of Pennsylvania.
Chris is also a self-anointed Philadelphia E & E – expert and enthusiast. He is an avid sports fan of all Philly Sports teams. Somewhat of an athlete, Chris is a former Philadelphia All-Public Wrestler, a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a 7-time championship quarterback in the Philadelphia Sport and Social Club. Also, he not-so-secretly hopes Nsync makes a comeback.
Frank A. Festa
Frank is another one that has a stacked résumé. A true difference maker!
Recent grad of The College of New Jersey. I’m a diehard Sixers fan, avid reader, aspiring author and lover of all things Philly. With the Influencer, I’ll report on breaking news in national media, movies and music, the Sixers and the culture of our great city.
So with these new additions, I ask you the reader to please, take a minute to share our posts. If we point you in the right direction for an event, please let the people know we did. Comment on our posts and, most importantly, interact will all parties involved at PhillyInfluencer.com!