When I caught up with Nat Finn at Valparaiso’s Blackbird Café he could not have seemed more in his element. He joked with the staff from behind his laptop, iPhone in hand. Not distracted, but definitely wired in. Technology, and specifically its use as a social medium, is a huge part of Finn’s life. When it comes to social media in northwest Indiana, Finn’s influence cannot be overlooked. This is what makes him a Valpo Life in the Spotlight.
Originally, Finn was interested in Internet Marketing as a career because he would be able to work from anywhere and travel everywhere. These are both things he continues to value, but, for the time being, he has situated himself in Valparaiso. As a fourth-generation graduate of Valparaiso High School, Finn is clearly rooted deeply in the community. Coming from a family with so much history in town can be a blessing, but it can also be an obstacle. Finn explained that it can be hard to make a name for yourself when people already know your family.
Making a name for himself is exactly what Finn is doing in the region. Finn is the co-founder of Northwest Indiana Social Media, whose goal is to bring area businesses into the twenty-first century, using technology, and the co-director of Northwest Indiana Tweetups, which ventures to bring people together to meet and network outside of the online communities we are all so comfortable with. He is also co-Founder and strategist for BakedFinn, a joint venture with Chris Bake. The company seeks to help small and medium-sized businesses through online marketing techniques.
I asked Finn why someone with so much talent, experience, and the opportunity to work from anywhere would want to stay in the same town where he grew up. He answered the way anyone who lived here would: Valpo is a great place to be. He noted the sense of community, the opportunity for peace and quietness, as well as the wealth of occasions for involvement, things to do, and the proximity to Chicago and all it has to offer.
By giving businesses the opportunity to communicate with their clients and customers through social media and encouraging community involvement with local businesses, Finn has helped bring some of the flair of an urban lifestyle to our suburban city. This reason alone is enough to make Nat Finn a Valpo Life in the Spotlight.
Check out Finn’s blog, How to Publish a Book. Of Blues. Hopefully.
Save the Date! The next Tweetup will be held on February 27 at 6:30pm at Industrial Revolution!