Archive Bio
What's my name?
Heathervescent is all lowercase, except in this case where it it the first word of a sentence, which good grammar dictates you capitalize the first letter. Heathervescent is all one word, although you will see it as "heather vescent" in places where they insist I have a last name. Do not be confused "vescent" is not my last name. Most people call me heathervescent or Heather. Feel free to use either. My "legal name" is Heather Schlegel.
Need a Bio? (ps, these are all outdated)
Here are some bios of me around the web:
Heather Schlegel is a futurist, technologist, and cacophonist. She has helped build and launch over 50 Internet products in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles at over 30 startups since 1996. Schlegel is the American Innovation Leader for Innotribe, the innovation initative of Swift; responsible for enabling collaborative financial innovation in North, Central and South America.
Schlegel's academic research includes the future of transactions and complimentary currencies; the impact of technology on identity creation and positive wildcards. Schlegel runs her own company, The Purple Tornado, a consultancy focused on bringing ideas to reality since 2006.
Schlegel is primarily known by her online moniker, heathervescent, where she explores the intersection of technology, culture and identity.
- From the blog, circa late 2011, early 2012
Heather Schlegel is an innovative Internet start-up veteran with more than 12 years of experience, contributing to more than 50 successful technology product launches. Schlegel worked for AOL as the first DHTML (AJAX) technology evangelist in 2000, and later as a product manager for AOL's AIM division. She joins Crowdgather from her technology marketing consultancy, The Purple Tornado.
Schlegel is active in many areas of society and naturally creates communities, most recently she lead the revitalization of the LA technology community by creating Geek Dinner events, which became an anchor point to launch StartupLA, Twistup, BarcampLA and many other technology events. Heather Schlegel has been featured in the LA Times for her efforts in the LA Tech Community and has spoken at various industry conferences.
From Crowdgather, June 2008
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Heather has been involved in the successful launch of over 50 Internet software products, web applications and websites for both big (AOL) and small companies. She was a technology evangelist for Web 2.0 technology in 2000 and has been blogging since 1997.
Heather has been featured in the Los Angeles Times for her blog, heathervescent, and for her pioneering role in cultivating the technology community in Los Angeles. Her commitment and community leadership has facilitated the launch and proliferation of several technology and niche culture events, e.g. Monthly Geek Dinners, BarcampLA, StartUpLA, Twiistup, Lunch 2.0 and MobileCamp LA.
Heather has developed a brand around her that people associate with expertise, charisma, strategy and integrity. As an “expert” in the “Art of the Possible, “ Heather takes a vision through strategy to execution, and takes great pride in getting things done.
From The Purple Tornado, 2008
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In addition to her 50+ successful internet product launches, President Heather Schlegel aka Heathervescent has participated in, organized and promoted a myriad of technology-focused and culture-jamming events such as Twiistup, BarcampLA, StartupLA, Geek Dinner, Streetwars, Improv Everywhere, and more. Blogger, pyromaniac, weapons enthusiast, and technology evangelist are only a few of Heathervescent's personas. As a self-professed "expert" in the "art of the possible," Heather's vision for the Purple Tornado is to help others make their visions into successful realities. At events, you'll find Heather in the middle of the fray, instantly recognizable by her vibrant purple hair.
From Roflcon, April 2008
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The rare combination of style and substance, heathervescent is no stranger to geek gatherings. Over the past two years she has built up an LA Technology community coordinating monthly geek dinners and twice produced Barcamp LA, an ad-hoc technology conference. Equally comfortable coding lolcode, evangelizing innovative technology or ad-libbing ppt karaoke, Heather brings energy, mad skillz and a passion for technology to everything she does.
From Twiistup, Aug 2007
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I get things done. I execute. On my own visions and if you hire me, yours.
I’m smart; I can deal with executives and sales people, engineers and admins. I know the product development lifecycle inside and out. My colleagues can confirm this. I have worked for big companies and small ones. I started one.
I get excited by technology and products that integrate technology in ways that directly benefit humans to have a richer and more fulfilling life.
From LinkedIn, circa 2006
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A native Angelino in exile for 30 years, Heathervescent returned to Los Angeles in June of 2004 from the SF Bay Area. An innovative internet product developer (who holds technology patents) she worked for many start-ups in the Bay Area. She currently works writing and creating blogs in addition to building web applications that inspire people to live their dreams.
Heathervescent has a love affair with her vehicles and the LA freeway system. You can equally find her rocking out in her fem Saab convertible as well as tearing up the off-road in her pumped-up Toyota Monster Truck. When tired of four wheels, she takes their love child, a Honda Motorcycle, on rides up Angeles Crest and Piuma Canyon.
When not working on her business or driving the freeways she is involved with Theory Radio, where she hosts an Internet radio show, Burning Man, that thing in the desert, DaLata Designs, clothing made from recycled soda cans from Brazil, writes her own personal blog at Heathervescent and writes serious and not-so-seriously about metaphysical planes at Daily Mantra. She's always looking for new roads, fashionable lingerie, good dance music and inspiring adventures.
- from b.la, 2005-2007