About – Dean Praetorius

 
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Words. Tech. Business. Food.


If you’re looking for help, I’m all ears. For the past 12 years I’ve worked with and for media and technology companies to help shape their ideas into realities and thriving businesses. I specialize in connecting different parts of an organization to the newest processes and products. 

Social media. SEO. Product. Editorial strategy. Business development. I’ve had a hand in it all.

Born and raised in New York, I got my start with a variety of media players – ABC News, VH1, The New York Sun, even The Onion – each experience unique on its own. I joined the Huffington Post in 2010 and went on to lead its social and search efforts while running a site-wide editorial team covering breaking news and the best of the internet. In 2014, I joined Gary Vaynerchuk to develop VaynerPublishing, an initiative to build independent editorial properties backed by Fortune 500 advertisers. After a stint on my own, consulting  for the likes of Medium, XO Group, Dow Jones and Ladders, I joined Spoon University to lead its editorial and audience development operations as it was acquired by Scripps and Discovery.

 These days I'm one half half of Toast Media Group, a consulting firm aiming to help publishers and brands understand how to grow in a modern digital landscape.
 If you’re interested in learning more about working with us, just ask.

I'm also working on a super secret new project that I'll be raising money for in the coming months. But more to come on that front.

But wait… what’s with all the food?

Long story short, if you’re wondering what makes me tick, you’ve found it. Food, to me is a magical thing – a transformative process – and stands at the heart of of what makes us who we are. 

I cook, I eat, and sometimes I write about both. It’s impractical, but if that isn’t love, I don’t know what is. If you’re interested in working with me around food, you know where to find me.