Don't we all love those ubiquitous name tags they give out at networking events? Anyway, I'm Nick Rice, the latest expert blogger for Fast Company. I wanted to put out a short post to introduce myself and give you some background on me.

I started professional life as a graphic designer for my alma mater and after a few years realized that my talents fell more on the business side of design. I moved from a university setting to a Fortune 500 global manufacturing firm. There I spent ten years in various marketing management roles in both a B2C and B2B capacity. While there, I was able to explore the consultative side of marketing with companies like Adobe, Dell, Farmers Insurance, and IBM. After a decade of success, my entrepreneurial spirit took over and I jumped at the opportunity to work in a small business environment.

I am currently responsible for Account Strategy and New Business Development for Cre8tive Group, a firm that specializes in marketing and branding strategies for socially aware organizations. I am passionate about helping people improve through better communications and marketing efforts. I've been actively involved in the blogosphere for over a year and keep an increasingly popular personal/professional blog entitled Strategic Design.

I'm very excited about joining the Fast Company team. Like you, I've loved the magazine for years and I cannot wait to begin contributing to the website. Don't hesitate to ask me a question or post a comment - after all that's what social media is all about. The conversations are the best part. Look for more posts on marketing, branding, design and new media.

Nick Rice • Lexington, Ky • nick@cre8tivegroup.com • www.cre8tivegroup.com