SIPAlert Daily, Vol. 1, Issue 42

The Road Taken
An inside look at a SIPA member, the choices he or she has made on the road to success, and the challenges ahead.

Dave Garrett, president and CEO, gantthead.com

SIPA: What was your first job out of college and how did you get into this business?
GARRETT: I was an Allstate Agent for about a year but didn't really have the hands for it. Then I managed debt collectors for the next year but didn't have enough tattoos or body piercings for that. Neither of them was really a career for me, but I learneda lot in each about what motivates people—both positively and negatively. Obviously, sales is critical in publishing. Unfortunately, sometimes debt collection is as well.
I got into this business before I realized what it was...

Has there been a defining moment in your career? Perhaps when you knew you were on the right road.
The defining moment in my career was actually realizing that I was in publishing. We started gantthead at the height of the dot-com boom in 2000. Back then a dot-com was defined as anything online that got people's attention. It didn't matter how or if it made money. Publishing was old school and had to be print-based. About a year post-launch—after the crash—we had to make money, and advertising (the thing that everyone said doesn't work) was the only thing that was really working. It was at that point I knew that this was something that people had been doing for decades; it's just that some of the mechanics had changed. For years I thought there was no place where I could find publishing peers—people who ran niche companies that are the same size as mine. I joined SIPA as soon as I found it (a few years ago) and it's been a helpful learning experience ever since.

In brief, describe your business/company?
Gantthead.com is the world’s largest online community of IT project managers. It is both a robust social network and an extensive library of resources that members rely on to perform their work. The gantthead media network is largely advertising supported. Clients include: IBM, Microsoft, Microstrategy, HP, Intuit, Management Concepts and many more.

What are two or three important concepts or rules that have helped you to succeed in business?
- Specific to gantthead's niche market: Evergreen content produced by practitioners and refined by editorial staff produces the best return on investment.
- Not specific to our market: People are always interested in different angles on the basics. It's all about each of the individuals you are serving, rather than a group, profession, trends or gimmicks.

What is the single-most successful thing that your company is doing right now?
Our large-scale virtual event called PMXPO is getting rave reviews from both audience and advertisers. The technology allowed us to have thousands of people engaged for a full day. The audience got free content that they would have otherwise had to pay for and travel to see. Advertisers got great leads and an opportunity to interact directly with prospects, and the whole thing was really great for our brand! It's been a win for everyone. 

Do you see a trend or path in 2010 that you know you have to lock onto?
Online or off, I think there are definite trends based on audience demands and expectations that we all have to be mindful of.
- An expectation of deeper engagement, higher value experiences—whether that's online via video, events, etc., or offline through higher-touch, more interactive events. Anything flat will be in decline.
- "Don't waste my time" is another trend I've seen. This means smaller chunks of content, writing with economy and purpose, and making benefits very clear to the reader or end user.

What are the key benefits of SIPA membership for you and your team?
Just the opportunity to meet and interact with peers. There's nothing more valuable.

Where did you grow up?
University Park, Maryland, near the University of Maryland. I'm in Virginia now, so the D.C. area has always been home.

What college did you attend? Is there a moment from that time that stands out?
I went to University of Maryland undergrad (B.A. in Radio, Television and Film) and The American University for grad school (M.S. in MIS). I remember graduating during a recession and wondering how I was going to make enough money to support myself with a degree in RTVF. Then I remember looking through want ads years later and seeing tons of computer-related jobs—then sort of grudgingly going to grad school. The past 10 years in my life have been the only time when I've really felt like I was in the perfect job. Ironically, both degrees helped me get here in some way. It's funny how things come together sometimes.

Are you married? Do you have children?
I have three children, one on the way, and just got married. Hmm - what does that tell you about me?

What is your favorite hobby and how did it develop in your life?
I've always loved photography—even more after having kids. I think that "moments" matter more than anything else in your life. Pictures help you capture them.

What was the last book you read and movie you saw?
I'm not terribly religious, but I've been doing some exploring lately. Here are two books that I've just finished. Einstein's God by Krista Tippet; God Is Not One by Stephen Prothero. As far as movies go, I just saw Eclipse with my daughter and Grown-ups with my son.