@BasilPuglisi

Content & Strategy, Powered by Factics & AI, Since 2009

#SMAC

About Basil Puglisi: Building Influence with Integrity

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Basil Google Glass

Basil C. Puglisi is a strategic consultant, digital media expert, educator, and author with a legacy rooted in teaching others how to influence with integrity. Since 2009, he has been at the forefront of digital communications—long before “influencer” became an industry term. His work spans consulting, publishing, and public speaking, all grounded in one core belief: clarity creates confidence, and confidence builds influence.

Almost Two Decades at the Forefront of Digital Strategy

In the early 2010s, Basil’s name appeared frequently across the digital media landscape. He spoke on national stages, published insights, and helped shape professional standards for a rapidly evolving field. He served on the Board of Directors for Social Media Club, advancing conversations on ethics and responsibility in media, and co-founded Social Media Action Camp (SMAC), producing collaborative events that generated measurable impact.

As founding editor of Digital Ethos, a nonprofit publication, Basil created a platform for responsible discourse online. His work has been published or featured in outlets including Newsday, Social Media Today, and Social Media Monthly.

Social Media Events, Digital Media Events, Speaker, sessions

Contact Basil today to request availability for engagements, workshops, or panel moderation. – basil(at)puglisiconsulting[dot]com

Proven Experience with Brands, Events, and Community

Basil’s work in digital strategy has always been about building stages—literal and figurative—where ideas, brands, and communities could connect.

He co-produced the Parents & Baby Expo, a nine-location trade show series that partnered with Huggies, Mead Johnson, Babies “R” Us, and other household names, while also producing exhibitor video content that gave smaller brands a national-level spotlight.

He also worked on the AOL launch of Patch.com on Long Island, partnering with local Chambers of Commerce to build visibility through advertising, content, and small business video campaigns.

Basil Events Conferences

At Social Media Week NYC, Basil produced and hosted events that brought global platforms and thought leaders into direct conversation. His sessions featured representatives from Google, Facebook, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Constant Contact, and Empire Avenue, as well as authors like Ekaterina Walter (Think Like Zuck) and Brian Solis (What’s the Future of Business). Smaller agencies and innovators—including Bumblebee Media, Internet Marketing Labs, Heyo, Wbbgrrls International, and Hyperactivate—also joined, underscoring Basil’s role as a connector across the ecosystem.

At Social Media Action Camp (SMAC), Basil curated and hosted some of the leading voices in digital marketing, including:

  • Ekaterina Walter (Intel)
  • Scott Monty (Ford)
  • Ric Dragon (Social Marketology)
  • Wendi Capllon-Carol (Constant Contact)
  • Duleepa Wijayawardhana (Empire Avenue)
  • Nelly Yusupova (WebGrrls International)
  • Amy Vernon (Internet Media Labs)
  • Mark Coatney (Tumblr)

Social Media Action Camp (SMAC): Teachers Not Speakers™

In 2012, SMAC became one of the most impactful events at Social Media Week NYC, built around Basil’s philosophy of “Teachers, Not Speakers™.”

  • #SMWsmac generated 1,484 tweets across 15 countries, representing about 5% of all social activity in NYC that week.
  • Sessions drew 976 views on Livestream and 71 check-ins on Foursquare.
  • The official event page drove 177 Facebook Likes, 250 LinkedIn shares, and 834 additional tweets, making SMAC the most socially shared event worldwide for Social Media Week 2012.
  • Kred and Ogilvy’s Movers & Shakers ranked Basil the #1 Top Influencer of Social Media Week NYC 2012.

đź“ŚLI experts to lead social-media event in NYC
đź“Ś Ogilvy Movers & Shakers Leaderboard graphic

The 2013 SMAC Summit expanded further:

  • 128 attendees (sold out)
  • 3,000+ tweets
  • Over 10 million impressions
  • 1,000+ Livestream views
  • Generated 25% of all #SMWNYC impressions that day

Speakers included Dino Dogan (Triberr), Gemma Craven (Ogilvy), Christine Murphy (DDB), Ric Dragon (DragonSearch), Marc Fischman (Hyperactivate), Gabriel Shaoolian (Blue Fountain Media), Cynthia Sanchez (Oh So Pinteresting), Melonie Dodaro (TopDog Social Media), Amy Vernon, Hilary Topper, and Brian Solis (Altimeter Group).

đź“Ś Kred Top 1% Influencer

Through SMAC, Basil not only hosted conversations—he created data-driven, globally recognized events that shaped the dialogue of Social Media Week.

Early Technology Pioneer

In 2013, Basil became the first Long Island resident selected for the Google Glass Explorer program, a milestone covered by Newsday (“LIer test drives Google Glass,” July 8, 2013). He was one of only 10,000 Americans invited by Google to test the device, blending camera, display, touchpad, and microphone into a wearable headset.

That same year, Basil moderated a featured Google Glass panel at the NYXPO in New York City, leading a discussion with early Explorers on how wearable technology could transform communication, events, and storytelling.

By combining first-hand experience with public engagement, Basil positioned himself not just as an adopter of frontier technology but as a translator—helping professionals and organizations see how new tools could be applied strategically. That same forward-looking approach guides his current work in artificial intelligence.

📌 Newsday article: Newsday Staff. (2013, July 8). LIer test drives Google Glass. Newsday.


Healy, T. (Host). (n.d.). The Profit Express with Tim Healy [Radio broadcast interview with Basil Puglisi]. WRHU 88.7 FM. Available at https://youtu.be/7ZFDvPqG8Ws?feature=shared

Evolution Behind the Scenes

In 2014, Basil shifted into public service, a role that carried strict restrictions on personal use of social media and public visibility. While this reduced his presence on big stages and in public events, it expanded his capacity to guide organizations privately, focusing less on self-promotion and more on building systems that delivered results.

That period of quiet was not absence, but evolution. Spending less time showcasing himself made him a stronger consultant and teacher. It sharpened his ability to create clarity, enforce accountability, and measure outcomes for others.

Behind the scenes, Basil refined the methodologies that define his work today, including Factics—a blend of facts and tactics that turns information into action. His commitment to education over presentation also gave rise to his enduring philosophy: “Teachers, Not Speakers.”

Throughout this time, Basil continued publishing at BasilPuglisi.com, building an archive of more than 900 articles on digital strategy, content, and AI—making it one of the most extensive independent resources of its kind. He also advanced into artificial intelligence, completing the University of Helsinki’s Elements of AI and Ethics of AI certifications, most recently in August 2025.

This chapter was about depth, not disappearance. It provided the discipline of public service, the structure of proven methodologies, and the foresight of AI—tools Basil now brings into every consulting engagement and teaching opportunity.

Methodology and Publications

In 2012, Basil introduced Factics (Facts + Tactics + KPIs) at the NYXPO in NYC’s Javits Center as a model for turning information into action. This methodology became the foundation for his consulting and his first book, Digital Factics: Twitter.

Today, Basil is reviving the Digital Factics book series to guide professionals in mastering modern platforms with clarity and accountability. The release schedule includes:

  • Digital Factics: Instagram — December 2025
  • Digital Factics: X (revised edition) — January 2026
  • Followed by titles on AI, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn, Medium, Threads, BlueSky, and other emerging platforms.

The series blends Basil’s Factics methodology with real-world tactics and KPIs, helping leaders and organizations turn digital complexity into measurable outcomes.

Beyond Consulting: Public Service and Leadership

Outside of consulting, Basil served 12 years in law enforcement. His work included authoring statistical reports, creating training materials for 1,600 officers, delivering FAA presentations on drone policy, and presenting expert testimony in court. This period honed his ability to communicate complex ideas, build scalable systems, and earn trust in high-stakes environments.

He holds dual BAs in Sociology and Criminal Justice, and a Master of Public Administration.

Today: Strategy in the AI Era

Today, Basil continues his mission through two channels:

  • BasilPuglisi.com → his personal thought leadership hub, featuring articles on AI, content, and strategy.
  • Puglisi Consulting → his selective consulting practice, where he applies board-level oversight to events, campaigns, and strategic initiatives.

Through speaking engagements, consulting, and publishing, Basil remains dedicated to one mission: helping others turn ideas into action and content into clarity—always backed by facts, always rooted in purpose.

“Influence is earned, not bought. It starts with clarity, is built with content, and stands on facts. It is far more important to be purposeful than first to publish.”
— Basil C. Puglisi, M.P.A.

Newsday Publications Featuring Basil Puglisi

Other Media Features

Elements of AI Certification at University of Helsinki
Ethics of AI,

Social Media Week: Social Media Action Camp #SMWsmac [Event]

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This will make the fourth official year of Social Media Week’s return to New York. One of the world’s most unique and innovative global platforms for a large selection of interactive conversations and information on new trends in the social and mobile media industries.

Global Promo for Social Media Week 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXLIL0VMt1s

Why Attend Social Media Week?

There are quite a few compelling reasons to attend Social Media Week.

They include:

  • Free Attendance ~ Due to a generous outpouring of support from partners and sponsors, the events that are hosted by Social Media Week directly, are free to attend.
  • Community Content ~ The program is curated in a unique manner allowing coverage for every new and emerging trend, areas of technology, and the industry sector.
  • Unique Venues and Locations ~ As with any other learning experience, those that organize #SMW understand that environment can be detrimental or conducive to retaining knowledge and understanding. Thanks to many strategic partnerships, as well as the venues that donated space and time, places such as the New York Times, MoMa, and the Paley Center for Media will help to enhance attendee experience.

How to Attend

If you are interested in attending Social Media Week events you can head to their page and create an account if you do not already have one. Once registered, visit the scheduling page to locate the events that you are interested in. Remember that all events are free unless otherwise stated. When you find the events you want to be a part of, click the Attend button to the right of it and you are registered. You must register to attend each event individually.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il9AQu8BlN4]

What is Social Media Action Camp?

The Program Schedule will be released the day before the event. At that time you will be able to plan your day. The time for each session is being held due to the need to allow our VIP guests and teachers to make arrangements to attend and participate in Social Media Action Camp.

Speakers include:

  • Elliot Nix – Head of Mobile, Google
  • Bill Corbett Jr. – President, Corbett Public Relations
  • Jeff D. Goldberg – President, JG&A
  • Maria Prieto – CEO, The Hispanic Network
  • Mardy Sitzer – President, Bumblebee Design & Marketing LLC
  • Amy Vernon – VP Strategy, Hasai
  • Jeff Ogden – Host MAD Marketing TV
  • Garth Holsinger – VP Global Sales & Business Development, Klout
  • Basil C. Puglisi – Executive Director & Publisher, dbmei.com
  • David Meerman Scott – Author, The New Rules of Marketing & PR
  • Anthony Napolitano – Director, StumbleUpon
  • Ellen DePasquale – Director, Constant Contact
  • Nathan Latka – CEO, Lujure
  • Dupleep Wijayawardhana – CEO, EmpireAvenue

And more, including two surprise speakers yet to be announced.

The Social Media Action Camp, or #SMAC, is a one day conference that is focused on providing a environment that encourages small business owners, entrepreneurs, and media enthusiast to increase their knowledge on the benefits of helpful social media practices. The camp will feature a range of learning sessions created with a focus on actionable information. Every session lists a set of learning outcomes attendees can expect.

Why Attend Social Media Action Camp?

Attendees can expect to take away vital information on some very important topics.

  • Business Collaboration Practices ~ Attendees can expect to learn how to supply services equal to the power of the big guys, while fashioning a social business presence that only a small business can create.
  • Collaborative Blogging ~ This session offers a look inside the practice and the purpose behind collaborative blogging including how those efforts can truly pay off via the share factor on social media networks.
  • IRL Networking ~ This session will help small business owners learn how to create the most effective strategic alliances that help to generate real-time buzz about your business, products, and services.

In addition, attendees can expect to walk away with functional knowledge on how to create a successful social strategy, a greater understanding of the four major social networks, and a larger box of digital social media tools that can be used for monitoring statistics and updating campaigns.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vVRRApncEo]

How to Attend

General Admission for #SMAC is $99 and for students $39. As a DMBEi subscriber you are entitled to a 25% off discount when you head to the #SMAC home page from here and enter the discount code dbmei25 during the registration process.

The Social Media Action Camp will be held on February 16th, 2012, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the Roger Smith Hotel, 501 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017.

Digital Brand Marketing Education is the event organizer. Please feel free to contact: @BasilPuglisi – info@dbmei.com – 631.909.7360

Author:

@BasilPuglisi is the Executive Director and Publisher for Digital Brand Marketing Education (dbmei.com). Basil C. Puglisi is also the President of Puglisi Consulting Group, Inc. A Digital Brand Marketing Consultancy that manages professional and personal branding for Fortune 500 CEOs, Hedge Fund Managers and Small Business Owners.

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