Sharyn

Months of brainstorming and planning went into this year’s DECO holiday card and I can truly say that is the best video card we have created to date. You may recall the New Year’s resolution card, or even our attempt to re-create the 12 days of Christmas. And then there is this year’s card. Imagine speed decorating while competing to be named the best decorated unit.

Check out our holiday card which show’s all the amazing decorations and teamwork of the DECO staff!

Now that you’ve seen the video, you may be wondering… who won our contest? While most participated, some really excelled.

• Honorable mentions. The Center for Professional Studies (CPS), TowsonGlobal, and the Vice President’s office. These units all tried their very best to pull together various holiday themes in their office spaces. CPS included decorations from all of the staff’s cultural backgrounds, TowsonGlobal’s tasteful blue and green Christmas tree was gorgeous, and the Vice President’s office transformed a palm tree into a Christmas tree and surrounded it with Towson paraphernalia.
• A tie for second. The Center for Applied IT (CAIT), lead by Dawn Bott, and the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI), lead by Raquel Frye, had such great concepts the judges couldn’t distinguish between second and third place so it was ruled a tie! These groups really coordinated their themes. CAIT’s winter wonderland and RESI’s snowy village were well thought out and could not be pulled off without the team’s full efforts.
• And the winners! But, in the end, it was hard to compete with two dedicated decorators from the Administration and Finance team, Anna Orfanidis and Lusine Baghdasarian. Their decorations could rival 34^th Street in Hampden!

Sharyn

That’s right…we’re doing all of the above and then some! Over the past 2 years, our online brand has expanded, and just so you know, we’re not just blogging. You can find various DECO research and outreach centers promoting their brand through various social outlets. Go ahead, take a look and like or follow us!

Economic and Community Outreach

• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Slideshare

Center for GIS (CGIS)

• Facebook

Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI)

• Facebook
• Twitter

TowsonGlobal

• Facebook
• Twitter

TU in the Community

• Facebook
• Twitter

University Economic Development Association (UEDA)

• Twitter

Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU)

• Twitter

Sharyn

At our recent monthly blogger user group meeting, Dawn Bott reminded us that our second anniversary of blogging was approaching. Instead of celebrating with a huge campaign for the “Blogger of the Year” like we did last year, we are celebrating with a reflective post.

About two and a half years ago, the DECO blog’s concept was just a glimmer in Bobbie Laur and my eyes. And now, we have:

• Over 36,000 views
• 254 posts since our launch (September 1, 2009)
• And a consistent group of more than 10 bloggers

While our blog topics vary greatly, we took a look at what posts have been most popular. Here are some of the most popular posts on the blog since our start in 2009.

• The Great Debate: IT Degree vs. IT Certification vs. Industry Experience
• Can the iPad replace my laptop?
• Lessons Learned: Creating a KML-Enabled ArcGIS Server Map Service
• CGIS launches an exciting new way to view shallow water habitat data
• Economic Stimulus + Towson University
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Approved Training
• PureBang Games and My Hopeful Journey Announced as the Winners of TowsonGlobal’s Business Plan Competition
• Orioles Opening Day: What’s the Economic Impact of Baseball in Baltimore?

So, you’re probably wondering… what do we have planned for our third year? The most exciting part of year three is the addition of several new bloggers.

• Tim Brooks will take a look at cutting edge technology that everyone is curious about.
• Kelsey Beckett will be blogging away about community engagement activity that is happening at Towson University.
• Ashley Buzzeo will focus on how the use of GIS is impacting how the state of Maryland does business.
• And Jenn Lake will provide an interesting perspective on everything marketing.

Here’s to year two. Happy blogging!

Sharyn

Did you know that Towson University works with government agencies and businesses from across Maryland to implement a variety of features on their web sites and recommend marketing initiatives to support their goals? These services include advanced application development, e-commerce integration, email marketing service implementation, search engine marketing analysis, geographic information systems (GIS) application development, and database development. We also work with clients to improve the look and feel of web sites as well as the user experience issues that can challenge web visitors. We even assist organizations as they learn more about the use of social media on how it can integrate with their web strategy.

The Division of Economic and Community Outreach has over 100 professional employees who can provide guidance on design, programming, writing and marketing who are poised to enhance your web site so that your employees can focus mission critical programs.

If you would like to learn more about the web services mentioned here, check out our web page dedicated to providing additional information and a quick and easy way to contact us about your organizations needs.

Sharyn

So in case you didn’t get the memo, DECO is now in the Integrated Marketing game. Small businesses and government entities can work with us build their brand through web site development, print marketing, and social media. As the Integrated Marketing Team (Bobbie Laur, Nicole Schiraldi and I) started to think through these services, our main goals were:

• to provide competitive pricing for services
• and to provide management tools for the customer’s websites and social media strategies to provide clients with confidence when the project is complete.

We knew a content management system (CMS) was a must for web site maintenance, and we have grown to love using WordPress.com to power our blog. Naturally, it made sense to provide the same advice and direction to our clients who didn’t want the hassle of dealing with uploading files, but also wanted a simple to use CMS that allows for easy editing access to the pages of their web site.

Here are the top five reasons I’d recommend a client use WordPress.com as their web site’s platform:

1. Hosting is free! That’s right, I said FREE!
2. Easy to use CMS. Really, if you can use MS Word, you can use this.
3. Analytics galore! Imagine being able to see your site traffic on a given day, most popular pages, and keywords that bring web searchers to your site. Their analytics can do all that and more!
4. Interactive tools – no problem!  Image tools and professional looking forms and polls just to name a few.
5. Extensive support. There are an enormous number of help documents and a user community of people just like you who are looking for help and are willing to provide guidance.

The IMT was lucky enough to work with the Edenwald Residents’ Association (ERA) in early 2011. A few of their active residents identified a need for a web site that the Edenwald Residents could turn to for immediate information such as events, meetings, contact information and forms. The number one request from ERA was that they’d be able to maintain the site on their own after we finished the creation.  I spoke with Ted Carski, Vice President of The Edenwald Residents’ Association, the other day and he said that “The Edenwald Residents’ Association experience with WordPress.com has far exceeded our expectations. Our team of nine seniors, guided by the Integrated Marketing Team of Towson University and the WordPress Training Manual, brought the project in on schedule and under budget. We will continue to add information that we believe will be of value to our residents.” You can visit their site to learn more about their thriving community and see the final product.

If you’re looking for a web site solution, and don’t know where to start, let us know and we’d be happy to meet with you to discuss options that fit your expectations and budget.

Sharyn

Michael Bentivegna is a busy guy. As the Associate Director of IT Services for the Center for GIS he focuses his time on management, business development, and technology research. It boils down to him being our go to idea guy! Michael is a fun person to talk to and he always has a story to share about something from his life experiences. This interview will provide you with more insight into what makes him tick and what trends are on the upswing in GIS.

Sharyn

When the opportunity to design a logo presents itself, I have two reactions.

Great, this will be fun! Then, oh my, it’s so permanent!

I assume it’s sort of like naming a child. Once it’s out there, it’s a company’s image, their brand, and how every potential customer will identify their company. EEEK! So fellow designers, don’t worry, take a step back and think through these things before you begin.

1. Talk to the client. Ask them about what they are hoping their logo to embody. Is it text based, will it be a symbol, or a combination of both? What colors should be included? Are there any other restrictions or previous use of branding you should take into consideration?

2. Go back to your desk and do some research. Consider various fonts, colors, illustrations and imagery that will enhance the logo. Even look for logos that were successful. What has made them stand the test of time? Consider those elements in your design.

3. Start sketching. Remember to keep your concepts simple so the design is lasting. It’s important for the logo to be recognizable too. The more complex, the more difficult that will be in the long run. Think about this: Paul Rand designed the IBM, ABC, and UPS logos in the 1950s and 1960s and they’re all still being used today! If that doesn’t state the case, I don’t know what will!

4. Take a break. Then revise. It’s important to step away from your work. It’s difficult to identify design issues if you’re constantly looking at the logo.

5. Present your ideas! It’s your moment in the spotlight. Remind the client about the inspiration for the logo that you gathered during your research process and how those things tie in with the original information they shared with you. Be open to constructive criticism as you are discussing the logo since the client will probably have some suggestions and modifications that they’d like you to make.

6. Nothing has to be set in stone. Think about Starbucks. Over the past 40 years, they have continued to use the basic elements of their original logo, but recently Starbucks refined the logo to only include the siren. Their branding over time has allowed them to take their logo from a combination of symbol and descriptive text to just a symbol proving that brand recognition can conquer all.

Go with confidence and design logos. You’ve probably heard of the KISS principle. This is a perfect opportunity to keep it simple!

Sharyn

I heard about a series taking place on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly last week where Regis was learning how to “tweet” in 15 minutes a day. Then, on Sunday morning I was catching up on some DVR’d television shows, and while watching Grey’s Anatomy I picked up on the storyline that Chief Webber was upset with Bailey because she was “tweetering” during surgery. Both Regis and the Chief ended up seeing the benefits of Twitter for their business by the end of the storyline.

Similar circumstances and fears that Regis and Chief Webber faced seem to affect employers in the real business world. They are usually intimidated, don’t understand Twitter, or think that all this social media stuff is just for college aged students, but with a little research and guidance they begin to see how Twitter can add to the marketing plan for their business.

I talked about this with my colleague, Bobbie Laur, who is a project manager with the Integrated Marketing Team and also dabbles in teaching the ins and outs of social media. She has a few tips for the small business owner who is entering the twitter world:

1. Know your audience—using a twitter search app you can easily identify and begin following the influencers in your region and industry.
2. Perfect your profile—Having an articulate and intriguing profile will be the key to attracting followers.
3. Manage your tweets—Twitter can be overwhelming, especially initially, so use a management tool like tweetdeck or hootsuite to assist in scheduling and managing your tweets.

Twitter is just one of many applications available to businesses today to assist with increasing brand recognition, building customer relationships, and increasing sales.  IMT helps clients evaluate their social media marketing efforts and consider which social media tools will benefit them the most.

To find out more about social media strategy development, visit the Integrated Marketing Team’s website.

Sharyn

I’ve worked for the Center for GIS for a LONG time. But, I’m happy to say there are a few other folks who have been here pretty long, too, but more interestingly, they started their careers at CGIS as student employees. I thought it would be interesting to look back and find out more about their days as undergrads (or grad students in some cases).

Ardys Russakis

Ardys Russakis (pronounced R-DIS) started working at CGIS in 1995 and is now the Operations Officer. Her mentor was Dr. Kent Barnes, a professor in the Towson University Department of Geography & Environmental Planning. Ardys believes that his insistence on hard work really paid off. She commented that there were a “number of times I had to redo GIS projects in the lab….by the time I finished my BA I realized how important it was to review, review,  and review your work along the way. If something seems too easy you have probably missed a step, and if something seems impossible you are probably over thinking it.”

Ashley Lesh Buzzeo

Ashley Buzzeo is a rising star around here. She told me that Dr. Jay Morgan, Director Emeritus of CGIS, took the time to mentor her and didn’t just teach her about professional skills, but also life skills that focus on being passionate about work while putting family first. She was recently promoted to project manager and when she shared with me the most valuable skill she gained as a student employee, I can see why these early skills she learned in the workforce have made it easy for her to emerge as a leader. “I learned from day one that at CGIS, our work requires multiple skills, collaboration, and good communication from many coworkers to accomplish specific tasks.” Besides being a leader here, she is one of the most active CGIS staff members in the Maryland State Geographic Information Committee (MSGIC).

Jeremy Monn

Back in 2003 when Jeremy Monn started out as a Graduate Assistant, we sat next to one another in our old offices that use to be located in the basement of Linthicum Hall. Recently, he told me that the most valuable skill he gained while working as a student was preparing and delivering conference presentations.  With encouragement from faculty members in Towson University’s Geography Department and from CGIS supervisors, he prepared and delivered several conference presentations as a graduate assistant. I’m sure that is part of the reason he enjoys teaching as an adjunct in the Geography Department so much. Jeremy also considered Jaime Alvarez, a former CGIS co-worker, to be a good mentor. On Friday afternoons, they’d share a Dr. Pepper and discuss projects. Jaime “was always very approachable and always stressed that I not hesitate to ask him questions.  That’s something I have tried to stress as a CGIS employee and an adjunct instructor.”

Susan Wooden

Just a few months after I started working for CGIS, Susan Wooden was hired as a part time student employee while working on her Master’s degree in Professional Writing. As we discussed our time here, Susan said that not only the coursework sharpened her skills, but also the work she was charged with such as managing proposals and project documents for CGIS made her put everything she was learning about grammar, rhetoric, and style to work right away, under the pressure of deadlines and administrative scrutiny. Besides professors from the Professional Writing program mentoring her, she said that “Dr. Jay Morgan’s encouragement and advice, and his telling me often “Your work is important to CGIS” was key to my longevity and success at CGIS.”

Sharyn

The bar for holiday cards has been raised over the past few years. They’re filled with videos, animations, and other fancy multimedia techniques. I believe this is due to enhancements of the web and tighter marketing budgets for mailings. DECO has embraced the change the past 2 years and this year will be no different.

In 2008 we sent an e-card that was a simple graphic sharing warm wishes.

Last year, you may remember staff resolutions were demonstrated in a video e-card.

This year, we’re stepping it up a notch, involving more people and even showing off our singing talents (or lack thereof)! So, without giving away the details of this year’s holiday card quite yet, we thought we’d peak your interest and get you guessing… what song will we sing for you?

Take the survey now! And be on the look-out for the 2010 holiday card in late December!