Albert Maruggi has spent his 25 year career in communications working in broadcast journalism, national politics, corporate marketing, and venture capital. In the 1980s Maruggi worked as a radio and television journalist in markets across the Midwest. He moved to politics when he became a press secretary for a Congressman from Nebraska and then the press secretary for the Republican National Committee during the 1988 president election cycle. He served as a communications senior staff member for presidential cabinet members in the Bush '41 Administration. He's also held several upper-level corporate marketing and communications positions.

Now he's putting all of that experience together as the leader of his own marketing firm, providing services ranging from public relations strategy to social media consulting to audio and video production. Maruggi has developed a keen sense of the impact new media are having on marketing, communication and business in general. From the technical aspects of recording and production to the strategic elements of new-media marketing, Maruggi is a well-rounded and knowledgeable resource on new media and consumer engagement.

Maruggi launched Provident Partners' own podcast, the Marketing Edge, in February 2005. The firm has built a solid audience for its own podcast and has put its continually developing knowledge of new media to use for many of its clients. From business consultants to software developers, publishers to governors, Provident Partners has used social media to break ground and achieve business goals.

Mike's resume includes Web development, technology support services, print journalism and public relations. Mixed with a wealth of early-adopter geekdom, he brings a knack for helping businesses figure out "What's this?" and "What can it do for me?"

At Provident Partners, Mike leads the public relations projects and helps clients understand and learn to use social media tools like blogs, podcasts, Twitter and more. Mike also helps with the technical side of the production of Provident Partners' Marketing Edge podcast.