The social media landscape is an exciting way for most businesses to engage and attract new clients. Curious about the latest trends that businesses need to know and follow to improve their social media results? Join us for our next Marketing Matters program when we will discuss ways you can put to use the latest trends in social media for your business marketing message. Light refreshments will be served.

Overview:

• What’s hot for B2B in social media today
• Planning ideas for social media campaigns
• What resources and budgets are needed
• There’s more to life than LinkedIn
• New ideas for today’s marketers
• Questions and answers

Moderator:

Jim Meyer, Coordinated Response

Jim Meyer is the Managing Director at Coordinated Response, a firm helping organizations develop a coordinated response to cyber threats. Jim served on the executive team for Integic Corporation. Subsequently, when Integic was acquired, he served on the management team for Northrop Grumman. Working with Integic and Northrop Grumman, Jim gained experience in cybersecurity and case management solutions, both incorporating business process management and automation. Projects included work in the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Integic Jim served on the executive team for 3 successful software product companies.

Panelists:

Wendy Baird, insight180

Wendy Baird is president and creative director of Insight180, a branding agency for b2b advisory businesses and purpose-driven organizations — those that “sell the invisible." She has been advising companies on positioning strategy, name development, brand identity, and messaging and design strategy for more than 25 years. Wendy recently served on the boards or advisory committees of Howard Tech Council, NFRC, Conscious Capitalism of Central Maryland, and Ignite Howard County. A big picture thinker who thrives on collaboration, Wendy enjoys drawing out the creative side of even the most left-brained folks. She writes/speaks about naming, differentiation, and the power of purpose in branding, and has facilitated brand workshops for dozens of businesses and organizations, including the World Bank Group.

Brooke Edwards, Edwards Performance Solutions

Brooke Edwards joined Edwards in early 2013 supporting marketing and proposal activities and now serves as Edwards’ Marketing Manager. Brooke is responsible for leading all marketing initiatives, collaborating with all Edwards’ Strategic Business Units, and Edwards’ event coordination; including internal, external, and corporate community outreach. Brooke also drives website and social media efforts to promote the growth and influence of Edwards’ capabilities.

Brooke has 6+ years of professional marketing, communications, proposal activity, and event planning experience. Her skills include copy editing, technical writing, project management, document design, and organizational branding. Prior to joining Edwards, she spent 8+ years working in the customer service industry.

Brooke holds industry certificates, including Shipley Federal Proposal Writing and Management, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Project Management Fundamentals.

Christa Peay, Howard County Economic Development Authority

Christa is a true social media enthusiast and enjoys consulting with start-ups in regards to their digital marketing campaign. For the past nine years, Christa has supported several entrepreneurial ventures, both in and outside of Howard County. As of 2017, Christa has supported the HCEDA's in-house startups by conducting business development programs as Program Manager for the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship. In fact, after several meetings regarding social media, Christa recognized a need for an on-going digital marketing workshop to aid entrepreneurs with their marketing outreach, thus launching the MCE's Marketing Matters program. The program was designed to support the HCEDA's in-house startups with establishing their brand aesthetic, identifying useful tools for social media management, and executing a strategic plan to boost user engagement. Shortly into her role as Program Manager for the HCEDA's incubator space, her talent for graphic design and digital marketing were highly recognized. By the summer of 2018, Christa was promoted to the HCEDA’s marketing team as their Communications & Marketing Coordinator. Her duties include social media management, email marketing, graphic designing, publishing press releases, event photography, and event coordination.

As an alumni to the Howard County Public School System, Christa enjoys volunteering for youth professional development programs such as Junior Achievement Rising Women, where she provides professional guidance and mentorship to students pursuing marketing and communications careers.

Registration will close on July 24 at 11:30 PM.

keywords: mce, htc, hceda, marketing, start-ups, social media