PURPOSE

The mission of this blog is to connect young professionals within the Roanoke and New River Valley (RNR) region of Virginia to professional and social opportunities. It is also designed to alert readers to current trends, information and discussion topics so one can better understand this region. The blog will stimulate conversation, uncover hidden gems and will propose concepts to move the region forward. We also broadcast a weekly video show, Connecting People in the RNR, on Handshake 2.0.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stuart Mease (MBA, Virginia Tech) was hired by the City of Roanoke, Virginia in 2006 to create programs and events aimed at attracting and retaining the creative class workforce for the RNR (Roanoke and New River Valleys) region.

These activities have been uniquely recognized by over 125 local, state and national media exposures. Additionally, Mease has been asked to speak over 75 times to audiences about these programs, including the International Economic Development Council annual conference in 2008. His strategy is to implement new web technologies in the traditional industry of economic development to highlight people and place generating thousands of contacts, friends, connections, followers and subscribers. This style and strategy was recognized by the Creative Class Group as it selected Roanoke as one of only three cities globally to partner in their Creative Community Leadership Project in 2008. Blue Ridge PBS also recognized Mease’s work and invited him to be a content contributor to “JobQuest” a live monthly television show assisting job seekers in the RNR.

Previously, Mease served in several roles at Virginia Tech as the external relations coordinator of the Center for Regional Strategies and the Assistant to the Executive President and Chief Operating Officer of Virginia Tech, Minnis Ridenour.

Mease’s primary focus is “connecting people” to create mutually beneficial relationships. Examples of his ability to “connect” exist in several programs that he personally created.

In 2005, Mease created “Connecting People” a blog with a mission of providing a bridge of communication between individuals (primarily young professionals) seeking employment opportunities in the Roanoke and New River Valleys with individuals and firms with available opportunities. Over 500 posts and thousands of page views have yielded a loyal following and led to a weekly video blog “Connecting People in the RNR” on Handshake20.com

He established the Department of Management Internship Program in 2001, which matched 200 Pamplin Management students with local companies needing general business assistance. Each semester Management students logged 3,000-plus hours for firms primarily in the RNR. The success of this program was recognized in many regional media outlets.

Stuart Mease’s expertise with “connecting people” is evidenced by the number of organizations that ask him to serve as a speaker. He has presented keynote speeches on areas related to his core expertise (e.g., career development, personal networking, and workforce development)to over 150 diverse audiences in the private, educational and government sectors. He was also asked to be a semester adjunct professor in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech to a class of 250 business students.

Part of Mease’s ability to connect others stems from his past experiences in the sports arena. For example, Mease has been a production assistant for ESPN college football and basketball telecasts, as well as, the Virginia Tech/ISP Sports Network. He has worked over 350 sporting events such as the retirement press conference of Dean Smith (former basketball coach of the University of North Carolina), the NCAA and ACC Basketball Tournaments, and numerous college football bowl games, with the likes of Dr. Jerry Punch, Brad Daugherty, Dick Vitale, Mike Patrick, Bill Roth, Mike Burnop, Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit.

Mease has also had over 50 sports articles and press releases published in the USA Today, Carolina Blue, Baseball America, GoHeels.com, and Virginia Tech Gridiron.

In May of 2002, Mease entered the political world as he campaigned for a seat on the Blacksburg Town Council. He generated 1,162 votes, but was shy just 166 votes of earning a seat on the town committee at the age of 26.

Finally, Mease not only preaches the art of “connecting” but lives it as well. He is strongly attached to his residential community of the RNR serving on numerous boards. Mease is an avid golfer and fan of Carolina Basketball. He is married and has one child.

FUN IN THE REGION
http://www.myscoper.com
http://www.roanokenights.com
http://www.citymagazineonline.com/events

JOBS IN THE REGION

www.roanokeva.gov/connect http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs023/1101319933025/archive/1102003423076.html http://jobs.thetechnologycouncil.com/searchjobs.php

ONLINE PROFILES

Facebook
MySpace
LinkedIn
Twitter
MyRoanokeStory

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION

http://www.stuartmease.com/2008-06/get-involved-with-a-roanoke-young-professional-organization/

If you have any suggestions or would like to meetup offline, then email me at stuartmease@gmail.com.