Create West Virginia

WV Education

An article, "Teaming up on Tech," in yesterday's Charleston Gazette, 05/21/2008, disscused the different efforts in our WV Educational system to promote learning.  It's exciting to see and hear the progress that happens within our state. 

The article discussed a movement towards "student-centered" education with the "use of computer-based programs and Web sites."  Mark Moore with the Dept of Education's Office of Instructional Technology is leading a seminar to teach the educators about the new movement.  Hop on the website www.Thinkinfinity.org and check it out.  Its is a useful tool for our teachers in this "student-centered" educational movement. 

As a community, I'd like to see support for our educators and parents to promote this type of learning and progress the development of our students in WV! 

Josie

Creative Community in the Northern Panhandle

The Wheeling Rotary club received a treat yesterday as Jeff James came to introduce many of our business leaders to the idea of the creative community and where we as a state and as a city stand.  Judging by the questions afterward and some of the comments during his talk, it seemed to be really well received.  Kathleen McDermott of Oglebay Institute supported Jeff's figures by stating that arts alone are currently contributing over $8 million annually to the city of Wheeling.

Afterwards others came up to Jeff to share their progress, concerns, and questions.  John Reasbeck of StratusWave Communications talked about the wi-fi work they've done for Wheeling at the riverfront and other areas.  Others discussed the history of Wheeling either from both business and creative community standpoints.

So a big thanks to Jeff for getting the ball rolling up here.  Hopefully we can keep the dialogue going until we set up a workshop in the Northern Panhandle. 

And good luck to all involved with the workshop in Sheperdstown today!

- Justin Seibert
Direct Online Marketing

The Wheeling Rotary club received a treat yesterday as Jeff James came to introduce many of our business leaders to the idea of the creative community and where we as a state and as a city stand.  Judging by the questions afterward and some of the comments during his talk, it seemed to be really well received.  Kathleen McDermott of Oglebay Institute supported Jeff's figures by stating that arts alone are currently contributing over $8 million annually to the city of Wheeling.

Afterwards others came up to Jeff to share their progress, concerns, and questions.  John Reasbeck of StratusWave Communications talked about the wi-fi work they've done for Wheeling at the riverfront and other areas.  Others discussed the history of Wheeling either from both business and creative community standpoints.

So a big thanks to Jeff for getting the ball rolling up here.  Hopefully we can keep the dialogue going until we set up a workshop in the Northern Panhandle. 

And good luck to all involved with the workshop in Sheperdstown today!

- Justin Seibert
Direct Online Marketing

Attracting Talent to WV

One of the challenges we face here in West Virginia is adding talent to our workforces.  The main source of this problem is that many of our youth leave WV for work or opportunities elsewhere.  I personally had made up my mind to leave the state as soon as I was old enough, although I think I always knew I wanted to come back one day.

Which I did.  After my wife became pregnant with our second child.  And after looking all over the country at places to live.  We really liked Denver and Raleigh, but ended up giving Wheeling the nod.  Now I was fortunate – we already knew about Wheeling and the rest of West Virginia.  I had grown up here and my wife had seen it almost a dozen times before we decided to call it home.  Others aren’t personally familiar with the state.

I was talking with the father of a childhood friend last week who has done economic development and recruiting for decades.  He says it’s always the same story with folks who have no ties to the area.  If he could actually get them to West Virginia, they almost always ended up taking the job and moving.  But, it was really hard for him to get many people over the stereotype to actually consider it. 

Maybe that’s why so many mouths fell agape when I told people my firm had just brought in a world-class, award-winning blogger (although not everyone knew what "blogger" meant) from Cleveland via England who sought my company out. 

Paul Woodhouse (the formerly nameless blogger) came because of the chance to work for us.  We brought his wife and him down for a weekend to make sure they knew what they were getting themselves into.  Funny thing – they loved it for all the reasons we do. 

Just like everywhere else West Virginia has problems that offer opportunities. If we can create positions and make our communities attractive to talent like Paul, we can start retaining our youth, enticing prodigal sons and daughters to return, and bring in new lifeblood.  We just have to start and stick with it.

I’m excited to be involved with the Create West Virginia movement for these reasons.  We can turn our fortunes around without losing what makes the Mountain State so special.  I hope we will.

- Justin Seibert, President, Direct Online Marketing™