Blog 
SimpliFlying has become known for its thought leadership in the aviation marketing space – from our Top 10 Case Study packs to our infographics and presentations at industry conferences. And this year, we’re looking to carry on the streak with the introduction of podcasts, webinars, eBooks and a major expansion into airport marketing! To accomplish this, we need to work with great minds and it’s with great excitement and pride that I introduce to you two new members of the SimpliFlying family who have joined us recently.
Marco Serusi, Valencia, Spain
Marco Serusi joined SimpliFlying in November 2011 as Community Engagement Executive, based in Valencia (Spain). He specializes in creating content related to airline marketing strategies and in maintaining our thought leadership in this area through upcoming initiatives like eBooks and podcasts. In the short time he’s been with us, he’s already launched SimpliFlying on Google+ and re-launched our Facebook fan page.
Before joining SimpliFlying, Marco worked for Aeronova, a Spanish charter airline, where he started as an intern and, within a year, became the youngest director of the company, taking up his former position of Marketing and Development Director at age 23. Marco has a passion for travelling that is well represented by his curriculum. After leaving Italy aged 18, he graduated in Air Transport in the UK, and then moved to Spain where he earned his MBA and specialized in Marketing. He is fluent in three languages (Italian, English and Spanish) and he’s studying two more (French and Polish).
You can connect with him on Twitter, LinkedIn or Google Plus.
Elizabeth Cecconi, Rochester, New York
Elizabeth Cecconi joined SimpliFlying in mid-Jan 2012 as the Community Engagement Executive at SimpliFlying, with a special focus on airports. She will be leading business development for airports globally for SimpliFlying, including providing strategy consulting for our clients, delivering MasterClasses and building thought leadership in the airport marketing field.
Elizabeth has her over 7.5 years of aviation marketing and air service development experience, having recently led all marketing and air service development initiatives at the South Bend Airport (SBN) in Indiana, and before that serving as the Marketing Manager and a key part of the three-member core marketing team at The Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) – one of the pioneers in using social media at airports. Elizabeth has a Bachelors in Science in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Elizabeth was the co-founder and former president of the Michiana Chapter of the Social Media Club, a member of the Aviation Association of Indiana Outreach Committee and a charter member of the American Association of Airport Executives Next Generation Leaders Council. In her free time she can usually be found Skiing, traveling or boating.
You can connect with her on Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+ as well.
With Elizabeth leading execution on the airports side of things, Robert Cook, who led our charge in airports over the last year or so will be moving into a new role as one of the Board of Advisors at SimpliFlying, still advising us and sharing his immense expertise in the airport business.
A Twitter-only hiring process
The amazing thing is that both Marco and Elizabeth were hired purely through Twitter! We had sent out a couple of tweets saying that we’re hiring. The word spread across our 8,500+ followers and even made it to LinkedIn and Facebook. We had received over 20 applications in less than a week, which is when the shortlisting process began.
We shared the detailed role descriptions with the candidates and asked each candidate of them to submit a “creative” cover letter as to why they qualify. We received Youtube videos, Prezi presentations and even full-fledged websites from across the world (very, very impressive!). Those who were shortlisted were then given a task to perform, something they’d do in their role, like marketing an infographic. The top five performers were then interviewed and we finalized the positions not to long ago! It was a lot of fun for all of us.
To get a glimpse of what it is like working for a cubicle-less startup, do read Shubhodeep’s story, who’s been with SimpliFlying for over 18 months now.
Meanwhile, we’re all very excited about the expanding family and look forward to enriching your lives with airline and airport marketing goodness over the upcoming months and years!