From our very first blog post over four years ago, the goal of the Qonverge Blog has been to educate, inform and entertain our clients, community and peers. We also view the blog as an inside look into the people that make their home “In the Q”.

Starting today you’ll be seeing less from us on the blog (that’s actually been happening for quite some time) and more through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and whatever comes next.

Given the proper commitment and dedication, blogging can be a powerful marketing tool. Frankly, we’re busy creating super cool Web sites, videos and print material and like working out, blogging is hard work. Social media on the other hand is quick, engaging and honestly a lot more fun.

While the medium may have evolved (subtle tagline plug)…our message remains the same. We’ll just be presenting it through more concise, timely and relevant media. After all, that’s what you’ve asked for and if nothing else we’re accommodating folks.

As always, your blog comments, Facebook posts and retweets are welcome.

The Piasecki family moved back to good ol’ MKG a little over 5 years ago.  At that time I was a little leery about moving back to my hometown. What could be better than Detroit, with the restaurant offerings, bars, nightlife and sports teams? Well, the decision was made and Jason, I, Emma, Grace and baby on the way (Aaron) made the 3 hour trip back to our hometown with all of our belongings not far behind.

It’s been a good 5 years.  We’ve found some great local restaurants, love the beaches, the seasons, the people, our careers and are really excited about the new downtown progress. Now that the kids can get themselves ready and I have had some great sleep over the last few years, we are settled in and have been exploring the town.

Below are some of the favorite places that we have visited.  We would love your suggestions for places we may have missed!

Local Restaurants

1. Mia & Grace (Everything about it!)
2. Dockers (the deck)
3. City Cafe
4. Asian Buffet
5. Pablos Tacos
6. CF Prime
7. G&L
8. Sardine Room (Great for Breakfast)
9. The Galley Deli (great garlicky chicken salad!)
10. Fricanos

Places

1. Hackley and Hume Homes
2. Michigan Adventure Park -   (go on a weekday!)
3. Cheese Lady
4. Farmers Market
5. The Sugar Bowl (Sledding)
6. Muskegon Art Museum
7. Ghezzi’s
8. The “Q” for Karaoke
9. Raymors Fish Market
10. Sherman Bowling Alley

Events

1. Summer Celebration
2. Muskegon Bike Time
3. Muskegon Film Festival
4. Michigan Irish Music Festival
5. Taste of Muskegon
6. Parties in the Park

I have the privilege of serving on United Way of the Lakeshore’s board and chairing their communications committee. United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. That’s a pretty big statement. When I first got involved, I wasn’t quite sure what it meant.

Today United Way’s message is being heard loud and clear through their “Live United” campaign. The campaign focuses on the areas of health, education and income and encourages people to:

• Give
• Advocate
• Volunteer

Not only am I involved in a worthy cause but also get to satisfy my marketing jones by being part of a huge rebranding campaign.

So how do I “Live United”? It’s more than giving money. It’s giving my time. It’s volunteering our services to give a little extra with a Web site or campaign video. It’s advocating by championing the United Way cause and putting on a Live United shirt for a photoshoot.

For 90 years, United Way has been providing local health and human service agencies with critical financial support to address the most pressing needs in our communities. Over 93,000 people in Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo counties were touched by United Way last year. United Way helps partner agencies like American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Every Women’s Place just to name of the few of the over 90 agencies that received funds.

I challenge you to Give, Advocate and Volunteer for United Way. Give your money. Give your time. Start a campaign at your office. Wear the shirt. Write a blog post. No matter who you are, our community needs all of us to Live United more than ever.

What a blast! I wasn’t even sure I was in Muskegon when I looked down Western Avenue “Steel Horse Alley” last Saturday night. Over the weekend, the town was jam packed with 90,000+ people and rows and rows and rows of bikes! Clothing vendors, food booths, bike shows and Beer Tents! Muskegon has lived up to its name “BeerTent Capital”. All 4 tents, creatively named HAWG HEAVEN, BUST’D HAWG, PORKY’S, and TWISTED LIZARD were bursting at the seams with bikers and Muskegon locals.

You don’t have to be a biker to love this festival. Just throw on a black shirt and you can kinda fit in. Maybe next year we’ll bust out the “Chaps and Thongs”…..yeah right! I saw some interesting T-shirts as well. I even took some pictures of them. (Jason won’t let me post them on this blog….ask me what they said if you talk to me).

Although Travis Tritt and Grand Funk Railroad aren’t my style, they sounded pretty good. The Poison concert was a bigger draw last year. Jason and I have several requests for next year:

• Kid Rock
• Cinderella
• Motley Crue
• RATT
• Def Leopard
• Twisted Sister
• Guns and Roses
• Warrant
• Ozzy Osbourne
• And my favorite Ben Folds (Ha!)

Visit mlive for photo albums and more information regarding this truly awesome event!

Check out the official Bike Time Web site to hear the dates for 2009!

We’ll see you in Hawg Heaven in 2009!

I just got back from the Rothbury Music Festival tonight, and even though I am exhausted, I thought it might be fun to do some band reviews.  Since my brain is basically on standby mode, I will be doing three word reviews of the bands that I saw.

Fiction Plane
Adult teen angst.

Modest Mouse
They sounded fine.

Of Montreal
Awesome kabuki show.

Evelyn Evelyn
Phoned it in.

Primus
Extended their songs.

Dresden Dolls
Blew me away!

Medeski, Martin and Wood
Smooth organ grooves

SXIP’s Hour of Charm
Hilarious gay circus.

Rodrigo y Gabriella
Superhuman flamenco guitar.

The rest of the shows
Did not see.