Project Manager of the Quarter – October 2018
Is eight years a long time? It is in the digital world. Just think: by mid-2010, Instagram and Snapchat didn’t exist, and most of us still hadn’t made the leap from flip-phone to smartphone. In those same eight years, we’ve seen lots of employees and Mod contractors grow with us, and today we’re highlighting one particularly spectacular guy: our newest Project Manager of the Quarter, Brian Fuhrman!
Years ago, Brian was involved in an online radio station that provided 24/7 live DJ and event services to MMORPGs. That’s where he met our Senior VP, Global Operations, Rich Weil, who told him all about ModSquad (then Metaverse Mod Squad). Brian was sold!
In his time as a Project Manager for ModSquad, Brian has been at the helm of many projects, particularly for a number of our video game clients. He’s managed teams providing customer support, community moderation, social engagement, and everything in between. He’s happy to work on any project in the digital gaming space, but his favorite is working in community management. In his words, “there is nothing greater than watching a grassroots community thrive.”
As a Project Manager, Brian works to inspire and support his colleagues and clients. He also hopes the work he and his teams do can help contribute to larger goals for the digital space:
At the end of the day, online communities can be very challenging. There are so many different personality types that make up a community, and my hopes and dreams are that everyone can enjoy a community without ridicule or bad-mouthing and instead just enjoy one another and the product everyone has rallied around.
Brian has been involved in many product launches for clients, and it’s thanks in large part to his thorough communication and problem-solving skills that they go off without a hitch.
The feeling of launching a product after months and months (and months!) of work is a one-of-a-kind feeling, something that extends beyond being proud.
Through the years of project management, Brian has amassed a wealth of knowledge. Asked what tips he would give a new Project Manager, he shared these best practices:
- Embrace and empower the people you work with
- Find your weaknesses and strive to improve
- Ask for help when you need it
- Communicate effectively
- Find a mentor
And his number one, above-all tip: have passion for what you do. Brian furthers his passions by getting involved, learning everything he can, and most importantly, having fun.
“Brian is one of the most energetic, positive, community-driven people I’ve met at ModSquad. He loves this profession, and his enthusiasm is electric. He’s always looking for ways to learn more, be better, and grow. He’s a super fan of his clients and a rock-solid Project Manager.”
–Izzy Neis, Sr. Director, Digital Engagement
“Brian is a favorite Project Manager among clients. He’s smart, proactive, knowledgeable, and hardworking, as well as always willing to talk your ear off about Doctor Who or video games. He’s one of our go-to guys for any clients with gaming community needs.”
–Jason Ferguson, Sr. Director, Client Services
“Brian is excellent at what he does. He is consistently awesome and will run through walls to get the job done. He knows what it takes for his project to be successful, turning ifs into whens and problems into solutions. Brian loves ModSquad and is a fun person to be around. He engages those around him with his enthusiastic ModSquad spirit.”
–Matt Ramsey, Account Manager