Reporting from the Dean South Region of Loudoun County

This week in the Loudoun County political circus (bested only in this region by the Debacle known as the DC District Government), the Loudoun Board of Supervisors changed the name of the “District 4” region of Eastern Loudoun County to the “Jennie Dean” District, from the “Dulles District”. At the core of the proposal are some interesting and well-intentioned proposals for highlighting Jennie Dean, a former slave and famed evangelist who founded the Prosperity Baptist Church in the former African-American community of Conklin, next to South Riding on Braddock Road.

Here in the “why fix what’s not broken, and in fact is heading down the road to recovery” column, this extremely parochial and short-sighted decision has some interesting business and local marketing ramifications. The Dulles region is both a locally and internationally-recognized area of economic activity represented by organizations and companies flying its banner – from the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, to the Dulles Area Association of Realtors, Dulles World Trade Center and Dulles South Public Safety Center, use of “Dulles” in the names of many local hotels, tourism descriptors and businesses is pervasive, durable and successful. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority also works to attract new investment to the “Dulles Business Area”, which they describe as “situated to the immediate east of the Washington Dulles International Airport” - obviously therefore only in Fairfax County.

This decision to remove the label “Dulles” from Loudoun County government interests will likely seriously impair the support of this region’s economic development interests by Loudoun County and its business and marketing-related investments. For example, every mention by the County of significant interest to potential investors in the “Dean” District, loses an opportunity to mention the “Dulles” area – building therefore a volume of information tagged with an unknown moniker, unrelated to all the supporting and linked interests. Every time our taxpayer dollars is spent on advertising Loudoun County investments in the “Dean District”, or communicating events and news about the “Dean District”, this dilutes and in fact is competitive to the Return-on-Investment (ROI) we expect from our close business associations with the Dulles Airport and surrounding region.

Therefore, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, every time the word “Dean” replaces the word “Dulles” in official County publications, websites, emails, newspaper and magazine articles – I’d like, say, 5 cents returned to me – the cost of squandered economic opportunity in the form of Loudoun’s withdrawal from participation in and support of regional branding and marketing, especially on the Internet. This means you, incoming Dean District Supervisor. (In fact, incoming Supervisor, please help your Dulles area constituents understand how you propose to extend and enhance the economic vitality of the Dulles region and brand, leveraging the "Dean" label?).

You're welcome, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

Help Wanted/SEO Job Available - DC Digital Marketing Specialist, Telecommuting

KME is currently interviewing for the following position; target starting date 4/1/2011:

Digital Marketing Specialist

Job Description:

Full-time, salaried position delivers full suite of Interactive Marketing activities including search engine optimization (SEO); search engine marketing and pay-per-click(SEM/PPC); e-newsletter marketing; social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) marketing, campaign development and oversight. The candidate will oversee day-to-day Internet Marketing activities for specific clients, and will oversee KME administrative staff. Clients range from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

This is a full-time, salaried position during normal business hours, with significant telecommuting options available; KME and client meetings are in Northern Virginia, Fairfax and Loudoun counties (local candidates are preferred). Salary Range is $35-$45K, commensurate with experience, motivation and best fit. Additional business development bonuses or other benefits are available.

The most qualified candidates will be very comfortable with Microsoft Office (Word & Excel), be professional communicators in speech and written American English, be very comfortable using Internet applications, search engines, websites and social media, and be thorough and organized with superior time management skills. Website design and development skills (HTML/CSS) including graphics design is a definite plus, but not required.

Significant training and experience-building opportunities is available from local industry experts, as well as significant growth and responsibility opportunities commensurate with early addition to a startup-style company.

Core Duties & Responsibilities:

• Keyword Analysis & Research
  
• SEO Implementation & Basic Analysis
  
• Online Paid Advertising Management
  
• Client Management & Communication
  
• Social Media Implementation & Oversight
  
• E-Newsletter Development, Review & Optimization

Please send resume (no calls) and/or online portfolio information to:

resumes at(@) kmeinternetmarketing dot(.) com

Odyssey of the Mind in Virginia, Loudoun, Fairfax

Once again, that extremely competitive and mind-bending experience known as "Odyssey of the Mind" tournament season is upon us - the Virginia Region 13 Tournament was yesterday (Western Fairfax and PWC); the Region 15 Tournament (which includes Loudoun County) is next Saturday.

Very well-known among the academic-focused, "OM" is a school-year long competition among teams of about 8 students in age groups starting from 3rd-grade - this year, we had a 5th-grader and 7th-grader participate. The competition includes a demonstration of "Spontaneous" group engagement and problem-solving skills, presentation of a "Long-Term Problem" (things like building a better mousetrap or constructing balsa-wood structures that support the most weight), and a Skit, where the group performs a very funny but thoughtful short play within some very precise and challenging constraints (complete with required, team-built props and costumes).

Congratulations to the long and challenging hours put in by parents and volunteers, coaches, judges, the "Navigators" and "Odysseers", and of course the student teams - who spent at least 4-6 hours a week since September (and some even more) practicing and preparing for the entirely student-created presentation and competition!



A Nysmith 3-5th grade team (mix of Loudoun and Fairfax area students) takes the stage to accept their award!). See an article and picture from last year's event.