Socium Spotlight: Thomas Rochelle

For this month’s Socium Spotlight, we’re excited to feature our Paid Search Manager, Thomas Rochelle!

Looking back on your first day at Socium, how do your expectations compare to the reality of your role?
I could tell in the interview process that I was stepping into a tight-knit community, but the impact that our culture has had on my day-to-day work has surprised me in the best way. Everyone on the team is so genuine, friendly, and willing to share knowledge and learn from each other, which has made working at Socium really rewarding.

What has Socium taught you about the marketing/advertising industry?
I’ve learned a lot about the complementary nature of successful marketing programs. Having the opportunity to work alongside really smart people not just on our paid search team but also on our paid social, SEO and performance creative teams has given me a better understanding of how everything should work together.

What drew you to Socium?
The brands we work with. The impressive nature of Socium’s clients initially piqued my interest. There’s a really strong variety of companies that we partner with, whether they’re ecomm or lead gen, and I knew that would provide a great opportunity for me to learn.

What made Socium stand out when you were looking for your next adventure?
During the interview process I was asked to prepare an informational presentation about myself, not necessarily containing components of my resume. At this point in the interview process, we had already covered a lot of technical stuff, so adding some levity and fun in there was really refreshing and told me a lot about the culture I’d be coming into.

What’s the best lifestyle benefit of working at Socium?
Remote work flexibility has been incredibly convenient and beneficial for me. I have a large family that is spread across the country, and our remote work policy allows me to see all of them and never miss anything important due to work.

What’s your favorite job perk that Socium offers?
I look forward to Summer Fridays every year. The feeling of starting the weekend a bit early for a few months straight is always really nice.

What did you do before coming to Socium?
I worked for the San Antonio Spurs for a year before earning my Masters in Marketing from UT Austin. After that, I worked for another paid media agency based in Austin, TX.

What did you use to daydream about being when you grew up?
Initially, I wanted to be an NBA player, but when I never topped 6 feet, I realized that marketing was the path for me.

What’s a memorable campaign you’ve worked on for a client?
I work with a custom home builder, running campaigns in about 30 different markets across the country. Our ads have ultimately resulted in people building a home for their families, and I think it’s pretty cool to play a part in that.

What kind of approach do you take when working with clients?
I’m a big believer that in order to run effective campaigns, it’s better to have as much context about the brand as possible, even if it may not be directly related to the channels I’m managing. I’ve had the opportunity to sit down in person with future clients to discuss big-picture strategy and future plans, and it’s always a really productive use of time.

What piece of advice would you offer fellow digital marketers?
Be humble, be willing to listen and learn, and pay it forward by imparting your knowledge and experience to others.

What do you do outside of work?
I’m a big sports fan and love going to Spurs games and Texas Longhorns football games.

What’s something on your bucket list?
I don’t know if I’ll ever get to all of them, but I’d really like to go to as many national parks as possible. My favorites so far have been Yellowstone, Arches, and Big Bend.

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
I’d love to go to Italy, but it’s a cold 55 degrees in Texas as I’m writing this, so put me on a beach in the Caribbean.

What has been your favorite event at Socium?
This year’s retreat has been my favorite event so far. I had never been to Savannah before and loved it. It’s somewhere I’m sure I’ll go back to at some point.

Thank you, Thomas, for working with us on this month’s Socium Spotlight!    

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