Brad Gerick joined DNAinfo as audience development director after two years leading social media at the New York Daily News. In his time there, social traffic increased by more than 400 percent, and the News was named No. 1 on Twitter and No. 5 on Facebook among all U.S. publishers.

Prior to that, he was a Maryland reporter and editor for Patch, where he launched the 900-town network's No. 1-ranked site (Bel Air) before moving to New York as the company's first social media manager.

A New York City resident since 2012, Brad first lived in Long Island City, Queens, before moving to Park Slope, and most recently, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He thinks the Cronut is worth the hype, but not the Ramen Burger. When he's not exploring new parks, coffee shops and restaurants, he enjoys rooting for his hometown Orioles in Yankee Stadium.

In Chicago, Brad prefers running along Lake Michigan and finding new places to have a great dinner. Please send him your best suggestions.

Brad graduated from Mount St. Mary's University with a Masters in Business Administration after studying journalism and English as an undergraduate. While at the Mount, he was the managing editor and sports editor of the school newspaper; two-time team MVP and all-conference tournament honoree for the Division I golf team; class president; manager of the basketball team that won its 2008 conference championship before losing to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.