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Hudson Valley Online Chat

Chat with 1,863 fellow Hudson Valley creators, professionals, and small business owners

See how people are using our Slack community to ask questions, share opportunities, find work, and make friends. Below is the full archive of content from three of our most active channels:

December 18, 2024
Ryan Havers
Ryan Havers 10:24 AM
Hi folks!

I would like to re-introduce myself. My name is Ryan Havers. My background is in audio, music and broadcast radio. I worked at SiriusXM for 22 years, first as a broadcast engineer, working my way up to managing a 24/7 broadcast operation with a team of 8. I wore many hats (PM, tech, systems admin, etc) since I had quite a bit of institutional knowledge. I weathered many changes within the company (merger with XM, onboarding of Howard Stern, streaming, video, acquisitions…)

I made the decision to leave the company in January of 2024 because I needed to cool the engines and spend time with my family (my kids are growing up waaaay too fast lol). Since then, I’ve taken on artistic projects, mixing recorded/live music and theater tech work. It’s made me realize just how much I like A/V multimedia projects.

I’m currently getting certified in Dante and will probably move on to Avixa certs after that. I’d love to be a part of a team who builds immersive multimedia experiences.

If you know of any companies in the Hudson Valley who is looking for a tech or PM in the world of A/V, please send them my way. Thank you!

Ryan
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 12:12 PM
Tomorrow must be Holiday Part B
Because tonight is HOLIDAY PARTAY
(It’s not too late to RSVP: https://connecthv.com/events)
December 19, 2024
adamnkopec
adamnkopec 8:42 AM
Hey y’all, I’m Adam Kopec, just joined and happy to be here 👋 My wife and I live in Pine Plains full-time after doing the Brooklyn/Upstate split for the past 5 years. Now that we’re firmly putting our roots down (especially with the birth of our daughter 2 months ago) we’d love to build our community and meet like-minded folks.

A bit about me professionally (formerly design at Instagram, Coinbase, etc) I’m also an avid musician, car and watch enthusiast. Let’s hang out 😊
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 9:56 AM
:santa: Thank you so much to everyone who made it to our holiday party in Poughkeepsie last night! I met a ton of people and saw some familiar faces, and we gave out some fantastic raffle prizes. (And I saw Reconnect Foods slinging a ton of tacos in their food truck right outside :taco: )

The next meetup will be on February 12 in Kingston at the Senate Garage — mark your calendars!

And: if you took any good pictures or videos last night, post them here!
December 21, 2024
Deztiny Di Meo
Deztiny Di Meo 1:17 PM
I just launched my business page on Instagram and Facebook @deztinydesignco Does anyone have any tips for building the right following to get leads? I’ve followed a bunch of local businesses and larger brands in my niche and starting to interact with them, I plan to post more examples of my branding work but don’t want to post too much too close together.
David Arnett
David Arnett 3:21 PM
Quick shoutout to @Jeremy Toeman at Augie for helping us cut a sweet promo video for our new game, which we never would have been able to do on our own. Full details here
And here's more about the game itself, as long as I'm announcing stuff 🙂 Come play along any weeknight!
December 23, 2024
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 8:36 AM
:sponsor: A note on sponsorships: Community sponsorships help ConnectHV keep the lights on, paying server fees and other expenses that add up running a software platform + Slack community + in-person events... they're the thing preventing me from being entirely out-of-pocket on this project! All sponsors are members of the ConnectHV community, ensuring that they're people or organizations with "skin in the game" keeping our community an authentic, valuable, non-ad-polluted space for all of us in the Hudson Valley.

---

Another big thanks to Quantious for sponsoring ConnectHV this week! Quantious (founded by @lisa) is an award-winning marketing agency that works with companies like Meta, Google, Akamai, Adobe, and Microsoft — all while being based in the Hudson Valley 🎉

In their own words:

> A two-time Inc. 5000 honoree, local agency Quantious empowers creative minds—designers, marketers, developers, and more—to deliver their best work with less stress. Whether it’s bridging gaps, managing execution, or tackling big ideas, Quantious has your back.
>
> Learn more at Quantious.com and see how they help you shine!
Thank you!
December 27, 2024
Eli Walker
Eli Walker 7:13 PM
Happy holidays everyone! I’m in the market for tax accountant referrals :computer: 🙏
January 1, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 8:29 PM
Royalty-free 4K drone footage of the Hudson Valley
I've built an Unsplash-like interface so anyone can browse, search, and filter the drone footage I've been shooting for ConnectHV marketing & b-roll. It's all licensed under CC0, so use it for whatever you like, no permission or attribution required. Have at it!

https://connecthv.com/drone-footage
January 2, 2025
micahkhanplusultra
micahkhanplusultra 8:57 AM
Hi folks! Just wanted to share the project we just wrapped before the New Year!
https://deadline.com/2024/12/spencer-grammer-ajay-naidu-pilot-books-1236241012/
January 4, 2025
kristina.koller.jazz
kristina.koller.jazz 4:49 PM
Hey everyone, if you’re looking for speed dating and other social events, check out my IG page: @letsmeetny
January 6, 2025
Lindsay Farrell
Lindsay Farrell 10:34 AM
Happy New Year all! The culmination of many external chats and internal vibes is the kick-off of market research into a bathhouse in Kingston :personinsteamyroom::skin-tone-2:. The community building bug has really gotten around the last couple of years, and the top insight here among many is the lack of an affordable and accessible service designed for gathering and HV residents.

This is in very early stages and we're excited to have a resource like HV for support! We have a loose (and small) but strong network already of designers, real estate developers, operators, enthusiasts, investors, and 100+ responses to our interest survey already. Help us grow all of it!


Please reach out to join the network and/or fill out the survey below:
https://tinyurl.com/3n76hktx
Matthew Iles
Matthew Iles 12:27 PM
Hi all -- Happy New Year! I'm Matthew Iles, a 4x founder including 2 marketing agencies and 2 venture-backed software companies. I'm mission-oriented and hard-charging, and this year, I want to focus as much of my energy on the Hudson Valley business scene as possible. (That, and learning enough about robotics and advanced manufacturing to be dangerous.)

My wife Katie (Chief Growth Officer at The Farmer's Dog) and I have lived in Newburgh since 2019, Brooklyn/Manhattan for 15+ years before that. We ran a marketing agency together from 2010-2015, and created the Digital Marketing course for General Assembly along the way. We have a 4yo son Forest and a 1.5yo daughter Genevieve. ❤️

My strengths are Growth, Product & Ops, in that order. I'd say I'm 60/40 B2C > B2B, but I've done it all including many deals with large enterprises. I love helping entrepreneurs grow, and I especially enjoy helping people avoid the same mistakes I've made (there are many).

More details on what I'm working on soon, as my hope is to be useful to as many of you as possible. Until then, thanks so much to @Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV), @clarissa.deng and @Eliza Edge for the warm welcome to the community so far, and I look forward to connecting with more of you soon and throughout the year.

If interested in chatting about anything at all, please just DM me to discuss.

Wishing you all the best 2025. :)

Take care,
Matthew
Michael Domanic
Michael Domanic 4:47 PM
Hi folks, I run AI at UserTesting. I am hosting a monthly AI focused installment of our Insights Unlocked podcast where I chat with folks from the UX/CX space. Typically our conversations center around an interesting story or general thoughts our guests have to share about how AI is impacting their work or CX/UX in general. If you or anyone you know fit that description and might be interested in joining the conversation, please feel free to reach out to me via DM. Thank you!
January 7, 2025
trevorvaz31
trevorvaz31 4:26 PM
Hi everyone, and happy new year!
I’m Trevor, a photog/videographer and licensed drone operator. Excited to start the new year and meet more creatives and clients in the area! I’ve done some work for restaurants, vineyards, event spaces, weddings, real estate, personal shoots and more!
You can check out my website here nyaerialmedia.com

Best of luck to all of you growing your business and network in the new year!
January 8, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 12:30 PM
Great article @Cloey Callahan, and awesome to see a ConnectHV shoutout!!
lewisj511
lewisj511 4:30 PM
Hello @everyone ! I just wanted to drop a plug for the annual CRAF American Advertising Awards Show. The deadline to enter is this Friday, but will likely be extended into next week. There are categories for all kinds of creative work. And if you’re in the Hudson Valley, you’re definitely welcome to enter up here in the capital region.

If you have any questions please let me know!
Capitalregionadfed.com/addys
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 10:00 PM
In my constant scramble to assemble a cogent social strategy for the ConnectHV Instagram, I want to start posting more about what people in here are working on.

If you're interested in showing off your project or company on social media, fill out this Google Form! https://forms.gle/QveFx2BSnRMfYvbf7
January 12, 2025
skylaschreter9
skylaschreter9 1:45 PM
WORK/INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY:
IP, COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK CONSULTANT

Hello everyone,

My HV-based startup is growing, and we are in need of assistance trademarking and copyrighting our various IP property in preparation for the expansion of our brand. Our operating team currently consists solely of myself and my partner (we are the founders and owner-operators) and we don’t currently have the time to take this project on ourselves. We are looking for someone who would be interested in a full or partial equity trade. Our business has been operational for 6 months and we are post-revenue. We operate in a very demanding industry, and I’ll be happy to give all relevant details to those who may be interested and suited to the opportunity.

To learn more, please reach out to me directly via DM with a little bit of info about yourself and we’ll start the conversation & talk more details!

Thank you!
Skyla Schreter
January 13, 2025
Lindsey Grossman
Lindsey Grossman 2:29 PM
[Research opportunity - chat with me about banking and payments for an hour; $150 research compensation]

Hi Hudson Valley Connect crew:

🙏 An ask to my network: I’m conducting some very interesting customer research for one of my clients in the banking / payments industry and need help finding research participants.

:magright: I’m looking to conduct 1-hr 1:1 virtual interviews with startups and small business leaders who are either the decision maker, or closely influence the decision, on which bank your company uses. These folks should be close to the money management of your business, what tools the company uses, etc. The respondents must be from startups and small businesses operating in the US. :us:

😃 :face
withopeneyesandhandovermouth: :facewithsymbolsonmouth: We will discuss:
- which bank/s you chose, and why;
- your experiences using that bank - the good, the bad, the ugly;
- what’s important to you on integration with other financial, accounting and payments tools you use.

🤐 The interview will be kept confidential inside the company and only used to help inform roadmap and product decisions.

:heavydollarsign: :stopwatch: You will be compensated $150 for your time.

If you’re interested, or know others who might be, please get in touch! You can DM me here on Slack and we'll move it to email if there is a good fit! 🙏
January 14, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 8:24 AM
💕 Hey everyone, the next ConnectHV meetup will be Wednesday, February 12 at the Senate Garage in Kingston, with a very Valentine's Week theme of "Love Your Community"

Make sure you RSVP!

https://connecthv.com/events
robertilubow
robertilubow 7:59 PM
I've been thinking about this a lot lately but with Meta's abhorrent policy shift last week, there seems to be some genuine momentum for normal people looking to break out of Zuck's walled garden(s).

I think one of the biggest hurdles is that for all of Meta's faults, which are innumerable, their platforms are still pretty good for local discovery. Groups and Marketplace are the only good things about Facebook, and Instagram has sort of become the de facto public bulletin board.

Is there anyone here who would be interested in working on spinning up a Hudson Valley Pixelfed server (essentially a federated Instagram clone) and coming up with a strategy to recruit local businesses and municipalities to begin using it?

We're talking about it over in the Hudson Valley Meet Discord, and I think it really has legs, but would require a concerted effort to get it off the ground.
January 15, 2025
Matthew Ballen
Matthew Ballen 12:00 PM
Hey, just wondering if anyone here was getting deep into AI content creation, especially videos. I’m a video producer and scriptwriter/copywriter (the Onion, Blavity, Scribd) and would love to compare notes with anyone making stuff. I’m currently using AI to animate NFTs and making social media vids, but the hope is to do some real commercials and short films now that the tech is turning the corner finally...

Cheers!

Matthew
January 16, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 10:49 AM
This does not mean we should have separate channels for every area of interest, just... this is one where sub-meetups and other Hudson Valley activity is becoming plentiful, so it seems like a good idea to have a dedicated space
Matthew Ballen
Matthew Ballen 12:32 PM
Speaking of AI, if anyone has or knows of a small local business in need of a commercial, I’m happy to do one with AI for free (well, you’re welcome to tip me, but not required). I’m a scriptwriter and producer with experience making content for the Onion, Warner Brothers, Google and a lot of SMBs and want to further develop my skills with AI video. Ideally it would be a business that can’t really afford an ad on their own, or something that does something good for the community, but I’m open to whoever responds. Cheers!
Job, anyone? 😉
January 17, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 10:50 AM
There's no category in the Chronogrammies that ConnectHV would qualify for, but I'm deeply honored to share that I've been shortlisted as Maker of the Year!

If you're so inclined, I would looooove to be nominated, for I am vain and think that winning a Chronogrammie would be amazing. Add your vote here! https://www.chronogram.com/hudsonvalley/awards/Page#/gallery/473367876
January 18, 2025
Alexandra
Alexandra 9:19 AM
Hey everyone! It’s incredibly important for women to stay connected and in community now more than ever. I’ve started a discord server to help us do just that. Please lmk if you’d like to join :heart_hands: DMs are open!
January 20, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 9:00 AM
:sponsor: A note on sponsorships: Community sponsorships help ConnectHV keep the lights on, paying server fees and other expenses that add up running a software platform + Slack community + in-person events... they're the thing preventing me from being entirely out-of-pocket on this project! All sponsors are members of the ConnectHV community, ensuring that they're people or organizations with "skin in the game" keeping our community an authentic, valuable, non-ad-polluted space for all of us in the Hudson Valley.

---

Big thanks to ProProject Bookkeeping (@darell) for sponsoring ConnectHV this week! In her own words:

Hey! I’m Darell—Brooklyn born, Yonkers-based, and passionate about helping businesses thrive. 8 years ago, I launched ProProject Bookkeeping to bring clarity and confidence to entrepreneurs like you.

I know that juggling creative projects and financial tasks can feel overwhelming. That’s why I focus on making bookkeeping simple and stress-free. Whether you’re a creative director or small business owner, I’m here to handle the numbers so you can focus on your passion and build the business of your dreams. Learn more www.proprojectbooks.com & @proprojectbooks
Does anyone remember those local business discount/coupon books that kids would sell in school to raise money for band trips and sports uniforms and such?

We want to do something similar for the February meetup! I'm looking for a handful of businesses who'd be interested in providing some kind of discount or offer that we could include for the first 100-150 people who come... things like "10% off your first [insert service here]" or "buy 3, get 1 free". Something that'll help get people to your business, while also making everyone who attends the event feel like they got something valuable and tangible there.

If you're interested in participating, or have something else you'd like to offer, DM me. It'll be a good opportunity to get your business in front of a wide cross-section of the community while also helping us provide something nice for everyone who attends.
January 22, 2025
Michael Domanic
Michael Domanic 9:43 PM
Hey folks, this is a bit of a shot in the dark, but wondering if anyone in this group uses Glean (or maybe another tool like this) to connect large volumes of enterprise data to AI. If so and you have feedback about the product, please DM me. Thank you!
sebastianodell
sebastianodell 9:59 PM
Your restaurant looks amazing! Can’t wait to get out there
January 23, 2025
ginacmccann
ginacmccann 10:01 AM
Ohhhh, Pete, just read about you in Chronogram and jotted the restaurant name in my notebook. I’m down in Poughkeepsie, but do a yearly Mothers Day girls trip to Livingston Manor so you’ll see me then!
Alexa Knight
Alexa Knight 2:10 PM
If anyone else would like to see Central Hudson replaced by a publicly-owned utility, please support the Hudson Valley Power Authority Act! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hvpa/
January 27, 2025
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 9:00 AM
:sponsor: A note on sponsorships: Community sponsorships help ConnectHV keep the lights on, paying server fees and other expenses that add up running a software platform + Slack community + in-person events... they're the thing preventing me from being entirely out-of-pocket on this project! All sponsors are members of the ConnectHV community, ensuring that they're people or organizations with "skin in the game" keeping our community an authentic, valuable, non-ad-polluted space for all of us in the Hudson Valley.

---

Another big thanks to ProProject Bookkeeping (@darell) for sponsoring ConnectHV this week! Check out this message including a generous offer for our community:

Hi again, it’s Darell! I know how hard it can be to juggle your creative work with managing the numbers. As a bookkeeper specializing in creative businesses, I’ve seen how much easier things get when you have a little guidance.

That’s why I’m excited to share 5 Golden Rules to Get Your Books Ready for a Pro. This guide breaks down simple, actionable steps to help you organize your info and prepare to work with a bookkeeper. — Hand off the stress and focus on what you love. Download @ https://proprojectbooks.com/connect
January 28, 2025
trevorvaz31
trevorvaz31 12:59 AM
Let’s connect!
Hi Adam, do you have a link to any of your work? Would love to see it!
Daniel Teweles
Daniel Teweles 9:54 AM
a living legend!!! :star-struck:
January 29, 2025
Diana De Jesus
Diana De Jesus 4:15 PM
Welcome, Emma 👋
Kayiu Carlson
Kayiu Carlson 4:23 PM
Hello! Welcome to the group 🙂
I'm Kayiu and I'm an experience designer. My husband and I are in Pleasant Valley with our 8mo baby. There's a <#C074EGLM5FG|> channel you can check out!

We're hoping to attend one of the meetups soon too! (baby bedtime and sleeping schedule makes going out challenging!)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 4:34 PM
Hey Emma, great to see you in here!!
I second what @Kayiu Carlson said, definitely check out the <#C074EGLM5FG|> channel
Mike Thicke
Mike Thicke 5:26 PM
Hey Emma! I’m in Kingston doing software development and consulting. We have 4-year-old twins and a 6 yo. It feels like I pretty much did nothing but work and parent since the twins were born and I’m finally coming up for air a little bit--went to my first ConnectHV meetup this fall and planning to go to the next one. Hope we can say hi!
Monique
Monique 6:34 PM
Hi all! I've had a lot of conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners over the past few months who could use some marketing help, education, etc. I'm excited to share that I've rolled out a series of classes over the next eight weeks.

First up is, Marketing Plan Essentials if you don't have a marketing plan or are overwhelmed with putting one together this class is for you! It will get you started with an easy-to-complete marketing plan. Not only am I offering classes, but I’m also offering intensives (the week after the class) to workshop your marketing plan for your business.

All classes are online (it's cold out there!) and are held Thursdays, 6pm -8pm

Current Class Offerings:
Marketing Plan Essentials, 2/6
Branding Basics, 2/20
Stress-Less Social Media, 3/6
Marketing Beyond Social Media, 2/20

Best part- they’re only $34 each!

Head over to https://mapsolutionsgroup.com/classes to learn more and to register.
Questions: <mailto:[email protected]|[email protected]>

Join the conversation

Ready to join the conversation? Enter the Slack community below.

What is Slack?

Slack is a chat platform, similar to Discord or Microsoft Teams or old-school IRC. It's meant to be used by businesses for team communication, but we're using it as a community platform. We picked Slack by popular request and it's worked out pretty well so far.

What's the difference between the Slack and the directory?

The directory allows you to showcase your work and find local creatives and professionals. The Slack is a chat platform for the community with active conversation happening all the time. They complement each other, and both are useful!

Why should I join?

Over 1,800 local creatives and professionals are in the group, connecting with each other and sharing opportunities. People are finding work, hiring locally, sharing resources, launching new projects, and generally being a community that's authentic and human rather than the opposite.

What's the vibe?

Conversation in the Slack is casual and human. There are lots of people introducing themselves, asking for recommendations, hiring people and sharing that they're ready to be hired, and announcing new events or projects. (And it's totally fine to just lurk, too!)