Brian Barcaro - Social Media Professional

Brian Barcaro is available to give talks about a variety of topics for different age groups such as media professionals, partents, teens or young adults.  Brian attemtps to help people look at issues such as new media & web 2.0, social networking, & online dating from a practical view with uncommon sense. Please see his list of talks below.

What people had to say about Brian's talks:

"Brian's presentation to both the adults and the high school age children was energetic, engaging and very interactive.  He was able to make you feel he was talking just to you and was very comfortable on stage.  He was easy to listen to and thought fast on his feet when he realized that many of the adults did not know the difference between a pixel and a picture – myself included.  He re-directed his talk to address the level of the audience.  Most impressive."

              -- Barbara Kelly, Founder, Midwest Catholic Family Conference

Brian offered practical ideas and a common sense approach to the high school program participants in regards to social networking on the internet.  He mentioned parental permission and monitoring to the young people quite often.   As a parent, I appreciated his wisdom, honesty and advice in dealing with aspects of the internet that I wasn’t aware.  He bridged the gap between me and my daughter concerning MySpace and Facebook information safety.    Brian reiterated how communication with your child is imperative whether it’s about the internet, cell phones, media, or friends.

            -- Phyllis Misak, High School Program Chair, Midwest Catholic Family Conference

"Kersti and I just wanted to say thanks again for taking the time to come to Atlanta to speak at our TOT! Everyone really enjoyed the talk, there was some aspect of the talk that appealed to everyone in the audience, especially singles who continue to struggle to find a solid spiritual person in this midst of our increasingly secular world."

            -- Ann Blasick, Former Young Adult Ministry Program Coordinator Archdiocese of Atlanta

Brian Barcaro is the co-founder of Acolyte, LLC an Internet software development and Management Company. Through is work with Acolyte Brian was also involved with the co-founding of 4marks.com a social networking platform for Catholics as well as CatholicMatch.com. Over the last 10 years CatholicMatch.com has grown to the leading online web service for single Catholics in the world.  In just over six months 4marks.com which began as an expeirment almost two years ago has exploded into the largest social networking and new media distribution service for Catholics.

While in college Brian became heavily involved in the Newman Catholic Association and served as the President of the Pennsylvania State Conference. Following graduation he worked for a short time as National Marketing Director for a medium-sized automobile electronics company. He then joined the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown as the Director of Development and Alumni Relations for Catholics on the campus of Penn State University.

Brian eventually left that position to further his education with Law Degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.  During his first year as a law student he co-founded both Acolyte and CatholicMatch.com (then StRaphael.net) with his roommate, Jason LaFosse. Follwoing his fist year at Duquense Brian along with his two partners, Jason LaFosse and Mike Lloyd began working with Acolyte full-time while he finished law degree at night. In addtion to managing Acolyte, Brian currently oversees strategic marketing, business development and product development strategies for CatholicMatch.com & 4marks.com.

Brian has been on several radio and television shows including EWTN’s Life on the Rock, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, BBC World News, Steve Woods Family Life Center program, Relevant Radio’s Morning Air. He has written and been quoted in many articles dealing with a variety of new media topics, especially concerning social networking and online singles services. Some of the publications he has appeared in include: The New York Times, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Salon.com, Wired.com, The Observer, National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, Faith & Family Magazine, among many others.

In January of 2003 he gave a presentation to Bishops and Catholic professionals at the New Evangelization Association (NEA) International Conference in Dallas, TX. His talk focused on using modern Internet-related communication technologies in the Church.

Brian is a graduate of California University of PA with a BA degree in Communications, and is a member of Phi Kappa Delta Honor Fraternity. He also has his Juris Doctor (Law Degree) from Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost. A native of Altoona, PA, Brian currently resides in the Pittsburgh area and is a hardcore Nittany Lion & Steelers fan .

 
Brian's talks to include but are not limmited to the following subject matter...

• What is New Media and how is it changing our world?
• Why Web 2.0 really did change the web forever.
• Online Dating 101 - Why is it so huge?
• Meeting your spouse online, is it really different?
• Social Networking, this is not your Grandfather's email.
• How can organizations or small groups benefit from New Media?

All of these talks can be tailored for Catholic or Christian groups taking into account their specific concerns and sensitivies. 

To schedule Brian for one of these talks, please submit your request here