- Dave Kerpen
-
Dave Kerpen 
Born Brooklyn, New York Nationality American Occupation CEO, Likeable Media Known for Contestant on Paradise Hotel
Publicity stunts
AuthorDave Kerpen is an entrepreneur, author and former reality television personality. Kerpen first received media attention in the Boston sports market in the late 1990s and early 2000s for his unique vending sales strategies at professional sporting events. He went on to appear as a contestant on Fox's 2003 reality television series, Paradise Hotel, and earned additional media attention for his "sponsored wedding" in 2006. He is currently the CEO of Likeable Media, a social media marketing firm and author of a 2011 book, Likeable Social Media.
Contents
Career
Boston sports media celebrity
For a period in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kerpen was well-known in the Boston professional sports vending industry, often referred to as "the Crunch 'n Munch guy."[1] Kerpen gained prominence due to his unique vending pitches, featuring dancing and singing, at Fleet Center, Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium.[2] Former Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino once had Kerpen ejected from Fleet Center, claiming that he was too distracting to his players.[3]
Reality television
In 2003, Kerpen appeared as a contestant on the Fox reality show Paradise Hotel, which featured competitors vying to stay in the hotel as long as possible. Each week couples paired off by electing to share a room, and the odd person out had to leave the hotel, ultimately concluding with one male and one female winner.[1][2] Kerpen was a runner-up on the program and the only finalist not to receive prize money.[4] In the finale, female winner Charla Pihlstrom had the option of splitting her $250,000 prize money with Kerpen, however she elected to keep it for herself.[5]
Business and political career
Kerpen is the co-founder (with his wife Caroline Kerpen) and CEO of Likeable Media, a social media marketing firm founded in 2006 and based in New York City.[6] He is also the author of the book, Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Generally Amazing on Facebook (& Other Social Networks), featured on the New York Times Bestseller List in June 2011.[7] Kerpen's writings on the industry have been featured on Mashable,[7] The Huffington Post,[8] and other outlets,[9] and he is a featured speaker on social media for publisher McGraw-Hill.[10]
In March 2009, Kerpen formed an exploratory committee to determine whether to run for the position of borough president of Queens.[11] Following a few weeks of campaigning, he left the race, due to the entrenched strength of incumbent Helen Marshall.[12] He was previously expected to run for New York City Council in 2009, but he abandoned that bid when he decided to seek the borough presidency.[13]
Personal
Kerpen was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Hunter College High School and Boston University.[14] He resides in Port Washington, New York with his wife, Carrie, and their two daughters.[13] Their marriage was held at KeySpan Park following a Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball game on July 8, 2006, with numerous companies sponsoring the event, including 1-800-Flowers and Entenmann's.[15][16]
References
- ^ a b Radsken, Jill (19 December 2002). "A Stroke of Guinness". The Boston Herald.
- ^ a b Goodman, Andrew (5 October 2003). "Good Company; When 'Reality' Ends And Reality Begins". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/style/good-company-when-reality-ends-and-reality-begins.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ Fee, Gayle; Raposa, Laura (20 January 1998). "Inside Track; Crunch is on junk-food vendor". The Boston Herald.
- ^ Fee, Gayle; Raposa, Laura (3 September 2003). "Inside Track; Did Crunch 'n' Muncher strike out in 'Paradise'?". The Boston Herald.
- ^ Peloquin, Jahna (21 October 2003). "'Paradise Hotel' Winner Says She's Minnesota Nice". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
- ^ "theKbuzz Launches Likeable Media". Marketwire. 24 May 2010.
- ^ a b "10 Proven Strategies for Greater Likeability on Facebook". Mashable. 10 May 2011. http://mashable.com/2011/05/10/facebook-marketing-strategies/. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^ Kerpen, Dave (28 May 2011). "Why Stephen Colbert Is More Likeable Than Jon Stewart". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-kerpen/why-stephen-colbert-is-mo_b_868471.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ Kerpen, Dave (29 April 2010). "Don't Sell Anything on Facebook". Jen Fong Speaks. http://www.jenfongspeaks.com/dont-sell-anything-on-facebook-guest-post-by-dave-kerpen-thekbuzz/. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ "Social Media Experts Show Marketing Practitioners How to Leverage Social Media". ENP Newsire. 24 February 2011.
- ^ "A Big Announcement". 8 March 2009. http://theunpolitician.blogspot.com/2009/03/big-announcement-ive-formed-exploratory.html. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ "Marshall Gathers Endorsements in Re-Election Bid". Reelect Democrat Helen Marshall For Queens. 3 June 2009. http://www.marshallforqueens2009.com/article.php?Marshall-Gathers-Endorsements-in-Re-Election-Bid-3. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ a b Lee, Gayle; Rapos, Laura (13 January 2008). "Inside Track; Starry Night For Patriots". The Boston Herald.
- ^ "Biography". TV.com. CBS Entertainment. http://www.tv.com/dave-kerpen/person/228541/summary.html. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^ Fletcher, Heather (11 June 2006). "This Wedding Is Brought To You By". The New York Times.
- ^ John Helyar (August 2006). "Living in a Fantasy World". ESPN: The Magazine. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=TKfantasyleague. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
External links
- Likeable Media—official website
- Likeable Social Media—book website
Categories:- Reality television participants
- People from New York City
- People from Brooklyn
- Living people
- American businesspeople
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