Owls are everywhere — especially the creative space within the media industry. For students interested in pursuing careers in social media and content creation, it's never been more crucial to connect with alumni who are prospering within the creator realm. Alumni in the industry are returning to the nest to connect with current students and share how being #TempleMade got them to where they are today. Check out a few of the alumni working in the creative space below who are taking their careers to new heights.
Dave Silver, KLN ’13
Rec Philly
Dave Silver is a visionary entrepreneur known for co-founding REC Philly, and starting the 501c3 non-profit organization, Amplify Philly. Dave was raised in the Philadelphia region and attended Temple University.
Dave credits his time at Temple as crucial for providing him the building blocks to move into entrepreneurship, including his time in the Advertising Club and Media Club while a student.
REC, the brainchild of Dave and his high-school best friend, William Toms, serves as a social club for creative entrepreneurs, empowering artists with community, programming, and reliable space & equipment to create. Dave now lives in Miami, FL as they gear up to open REC Miami.
In addition to REC's impact, Dave's initiatives earned him recognition, including Forbes' "30 Under 30" for social impact in 2021, as well as the Titan 100 Top 100 CEOs, and the Philadelphia 100's "Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses" awards in 2022.
"Check your ego and prove your value. Show your passion and take initiative."
Binh Nguyen, KLN ’17
Visit Philadelphia
Binh Nguyen is an accomplished public relations professional with over seven years of experience. As senior director of communications at Visit Philadelphia, Nguyen executes media relations along all of Visit Philadelphia’s storylines, generating positive coverage for the destination in various media channels. In collaboration with her colleagues, Nguyen helps lead the communications team’s planning and execution strategies.
Beyond her work at Visit Philadelphia, Nguyen serves as director-at-large on the Temple University Alumni Association board, where she actively fosters a strong alumni network and enhances the university's legacy. Nguyen has also found a passion for sharing her love of food and culture through her popular @Philly_Sushi Instagram page. With over 55,000 followers, she curates and manages captivating content that showcases Philadelphia's delicious sushi scene.
"Be consistent and make sure the content is authentic to you. Be able to pivot to what your audience enjoys seeing and is responding to. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable."
Hector Nunez, KLN ’05
Wooder Ice
After graduating from Temple University, Hector worked several years in the field of Public Relations, working with clients such as SEPTA and PA Tourism after which he worked as a Project Manager in both the field of SEO and Marketing.
In 2014, he launched WooderIce.com. What started off as a humble blog pre-influencer era has developed into a go-to source for Philly news and events. Since launching the site, Hector has worked with clients such as LiveNation, RocNation, Motown Records, Diageo, Tito's Vodka and many more.
In recent years Hector has been awarded Al Dia's 2023 Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 2023 PhillyMag's Best of Philly "Best Philly Tour Guide" and has received grants from both the Philadelphia Flyers as well as Comcast. Check out our full-length feature on Hector and Wooder Ice from earlier this year.
"Tend to your garden. If you have 5 followers, just tend to them. Don't worry about the other accounts with more followers. Stay true to your voice and brand. Stay consistent and build through partnerships. It will grow organically as you build."
Eric Cortes, KLN ’07
Visit Philadelphia
Eric Cortes is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in communications and marketing. Currently, he holds the position of Senior Director of Social at Visit Philadelphia, where he takes charge of both organic, paid and influencer strategies.
He was recognized as one of the "2023 Philadelphia Forty Under 40" by City and State, highlighting his continued impact in the field of communications and marketing. Furthermore, he was also honored as one of the five Colombians celebrated by El Sol Latino Newspaper, showcasing his ongoing contributions to Philadelphia’s Latino community and beyond.
Eric Cortes holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Temple University and a master's degree in Writing Studies from St. Joseph's University. His commitment to professional growth is evident through his completion of a graduate certificate in Professional Writing at Old Dominion University in the fall of 2019.
"Take risks. Measure everything. Stay up-to-date. Know your strengths — and your worth."
Dave, Binh and Hector were recently a part of a panel discussion with students on campus about content creators.
Dave, Binh and Hector were recently a part of a panel discussion with students on campus about content creators.
Panelists also included John Ryan, Social Media Specialist for Philadelphia Conventions & Visitors Bureau, and Leo Manning, Digital Communications Manager for Center City District.
Panelists also included John Ryan, Social Media Specialist for Philadelphia Conventions & Visitors Bureau, and Leo Manning, Digital Communications Manager for Center City District.
Built with Shorthand