Archive for April, 2008

 
Apr
24
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-24-2008

A very interesting op-ed in the Cincy paper about how the local government can better work with its primary college to keep more of its graduates in the region.



 
Apr
20
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-20-2008

Roanoker Cameron Johnson is featured in this Washington Post story on the day of the final episode of Oprah’s Big Give. The story chronicles his accomplishments at an early age growing up in Roanoke to his current accolades as a 23-year-old.

The reason this blog is covering his story is because Cameron is the young professional from our area who is dedicated to our region, and is sincerely interested in helping the region, regardless of his numerous other professional opportunities. He has given back and will continue to do so. We must communicate Roanoke, Virginia is a place that enables this type of entrepreneurship and success for a young professional.  Let’s celebrate all of his accomplishments.   



 
Apr
18
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-18-2008

The Corvin family in Roanoke, Virginia was recently featured on Oprah’s Big Give via the contestant Cameron Johnson. Today, the Roanoke Times provided a follow up story to Sunday night’s show.



 
Apr
17
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-17-2008

Scarborough Research released this study showing the percentage of residents in the 120 DMAs, according to Nielsen, who have broadband access (defined as either cable modem or DSL). Roanoke-Lynchburg was last on the list measured of 79 DMAs with a 29% mark. Roanoke is the 67th largest DMA in the U.S.

What does this mean? It depends on how you look at it.

It could be more of a choice, people not wanting to invest in the broadband in their homes.

It could be access due to the mountainous terrain and wiring is less cost efficient by the companies.

It could be since the percentage of internet users are doing only email and light surfing, they may not need the speed and power of broadband for downloading music and video.

According to a former employee of Hughes Net - a satellite broadband provider - Roanoke is one of the strongest market units perhaps because of its geography constraints of traditional broadband, yet the desire to have access to broadband.

There is no doubt accessing the information highway today is like accessing the interstate highway from years back and certainly among a younger, web savvy audience broadband is an essential lifestyle amenity just like running water was in rural America several generations ago. We must acknowledge the importance of broadband and being connected in this fast and powerful way.



 
Apr
17
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-17-2008

Roanoke, Virginia native Cameron Johnson is down to the final three in Oprah’s Big Give with the final episode this Sunday evening, April 20 at 8 pm on ABC.

A CNNMoney article recently examined how entrepreneurs, like Cameron, have an advantage on these TV reality shows.

More than having the advantage on reality shows, having more residents with an entrepreneurial spirit differentiates your regional economy and allows it to compete in the global economy. We must have more entrepreneurs working for themselves rather than working for someone else. Cameron is our poster child for the young professional/ young adult movement in Roanoke and entrepreneurial spirit needed in the 21st century.  



 
Apr
09
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-9-2008

Roanoke native Cameron Johnson is in the final three of Oprah’s Big Give and Sunday’s episode will be partially filmed in Roanoke. There is a viewing party on Sunday night at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall starting at 7 pm and the show will air at 8 pm. It is free and open to the public. We are also planning a Big Give of our own. More details to come.



 
Apr
05
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-5-2008

Buffalo which has come up with some pretty creative events in the past to recruit and retain young adults, such as Old Home Week, has integrated the YP movement into their new strategy. Our own Roanoke Valley Economic Partnership is also changing its focus to better attract and retain young professionals. Kudos to both for being proactive in doing this… 



 
Apr
03
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-3-2008

I received this very interesting news article that was printed in the Roanoke Times in 1990 about the second year of First Fridays in 1990. This is the image we want to get back to in downtown Roanoke and we are getting there - no doubt. (Note: From 1990 to 2000, the region lost about 8500 young adults between the ages of 21-34).

In 1990, it was new, it was a different era when there was mass media and the message got out to everyone. There were not online communities and niche groups to join. Everyone was lumped into one event. Times have changed to more splendor groups instead of one big event. However, First Fridays does have the potential to get back to the 1800 number, but they need the help of local media and young professionals to attend the events and tell their friends through MySpace, Facebook, etc. Enjoy reading…

April 5, 1990

FIRST FRIDAYS KICKS OFF SECOND SEASON

Author: TRACY WIMMER STAFF WRITER

What do you get when you cross 1,800 young professionals, a jazz band, a couple of beer trucks and a worthy charity?

No, not a Republican convention.

First Fridays at Five.

The after-business-hours social benefit, held on three Fridays last summer, brought folks together at downtown’s Century Square for a little goodwill and cheer - from 5 to 8 p.m.

Organizers, city officials and restaurant owners agree the event has proven its worth. From the first social in August 1989 until the final one last October, the crowd jumped from 800 to 1,800 people and the donation to charity rose from $1,200 to $2,000.

After incorporating the event and electing an 11-member board in January, First Fridays organizers expanded the season from April through October. Friday marks the first social of the season - same place, same time.

Barry Simmerman, one of the event’s creators and now president of the board, said he felt First Fridays was quite successful considering how little he and fellow organizers actually knew when they started planning it.

Aside from the obvious monetary and exposure benefits for selected charities, Simmerman said First Fridays was also responsible for bringing people downtown that otherwise might not usually come. Business cards collected at each event revealed a lot people coming from Salem and the Peters Creek Road area, he said.

“We’ve actually had no complaints at all,” Simmerman said.

Roanoke Special Events Coordinator Laban Johnson said he’s delighted with outcome of First Fridays, noting that events hold a lot of business downtown and is the “sophisticated event we need more of to reach younger citizens.”

Business increases by about 20 percent on the nights of the events, according to Greg Winslow, bartender at 309 First Street Restaurant.

And John Williams, owner of Billy’s Ritz, said that although Friday is the restaurant’s big night anyway, First Fridays have had an impact on his business.

But above all, the event is meant for fun. It gives professionals - young or old - a chance to kick off their weekend in a relaxed atmosphere.

Music throughout the season will be primarily jazz. The Ross Humphries Trio will perform Friday. Proceeds will go to the Literacy Foundation.

A $1 admission is charged. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be sold. The Roanoke Jaycees will handle manpower for the event.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be held on the third floor of the Market Building.



 
Apr
01
Posted (admin) in Uncategorized on April-1-2008

I met with a middle-age woman yesterday who wants to move to the region from another Southern state. I was impressed with her education, career background and commitment to other people. This is the type of person we need to drive the region forward.

Then it hit me.  We put a lot of effort into attracting and retaining talent and we get one like this and ask, “Why does she want to move here from Georgia with all of this fantastic experience?”

If we believe our talent expansion efforts are working and our region is a great place to live, then we should not be surprised to get candidates like this knocking on our doors. Perhaps, these efforts are beginning to pay off and now we must think creatively how to incorporate these talented individuals into our workforce.

We have amassed the Roanoke Connect database (www.roanokeva.gov/connect) to over 2800 people (plus 300-400 that have opted-out) in the last 2 years with over 1000 of them coming from outside the region. Thus far we have been able to quantify 70 persons getting jobs locally through this online matching process. However, this is only a couple percent of those who contacted us.

As we are cleaning the database, I am beginning to realize that the window of conversion with some of these people when they joined our database (unsolicited) is slowly fading.

It’s obvious the demand is there from outsiders to live in the region, and the supply of certain jobs is also ample, however it seems the connections are still not being made perhaps because skills needed are not an exact match of candidates. It seems we are getting closer, but there is still something holding us up and I cannot put my finger on it exactly. Can anyone finish this thought for me?

Thanks!