Derek A. Pillie has served public and political candidates for over 15 years. He has served on the staff of Indiana’s Third Congressional District, most recently as District Director for just over a decade. In that role, he oversaw Indiana operations of the office; including constituent outreach and helping taxpayers solve problems with federal agencies. He also worked on crucial economic development projects and was heavily involved with advising the office on online media and marketing decisions.

After his federal service expired Derek started working at Cirrus ABS, an online marketing and technology development company. He currently manages their business development efforts. Cirrus ABS has added political campaigns to the portfolio of industries they serve since Derek joined the team, and he continues volunteer efforts on behalf of candidates he supports.

Download Podcast: Click and choose options: Political Campaigns, Part 2 or go to the Business901 iTunes Store.

Related Information:
Preview of Political Campaign Marketing Podcast
Political Campaigning – Strategy Update
What political campaigns can teach business
Lean Six Sigma for Government

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I believe a lot of it is that others have watched you mature, go through your ups and downs, and gotten to know you other than your area of expertise. But being from the smallest biggest city in America, I see this first hand in many instances.Fort Wayne has the stigma that it struggles to grow as a city. I will admit to its troubles, we are surrounded by major cities in every direction and a state line within 20 miles to boot! We also have been tied to the auto-industry for years creating a bond with southeastern Michigan and Northwest Ohio more so than Indianapolis, our own state capital.

What frustrates me, is not the lack of entrepreneur spirit, I think we have that. Not the lack of forward thinking politicians, I think Graham Richard was one and that Tom Henry may be in a totally different way. What frustrates me is the total lack of support on a state basis to develop Fort Wayne as a second city and the agencies within Fort Wayne that are supposed to take the initiative to develop Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. The thinking in Indianapolis is like they are sending Commodore Perry to Japan to open us up to western civilization.

They continue to think our region can be better served by hiring outside people to lead us and to consult us. Is it better to have experience of the job or the experience of the region? (A question, that may be weighed heavily with recent resignation of Kristine Foate, FTW Chamber CEO) I could cite other positions that we have hired in the NE Region and though experience counts, does not local Tribal knowledge count? I am not saying not to hire the best qualified, but I am saying to check your criteria.

Back to the original discussion on entrepreneur spirit and my concern of brain drain on the local economy. If we do not have local talent leading us, is there a reason to believe that an individual staying here would be given a chance? The recognition of our internal strengths and what we have as a community to offer and utilization of our internal talent pool may be the very best single thing we can do as a region. We have the talent here in Fort Wayne to develop ourselves as a second city and put us on the map. What stops us from being what Charlotte is to Raleigh-Durham or Cleveland/Cincinnati is to Columbus or Memphis is to Nashville or Louisville is to Lexington? We talk the talk about developing and preserving local talent but do we really walk the walk? Look at the next expert you use, do they have a suitcase!

Technorati : Chamber of Commerce, Consulting, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Northeast Indiana, SBDC

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Successful Northeast Indiana businesses will be standing by the door when it opens – anticipating rather than reacting to the Stimulus. The main opportunities discussed during the morning presentations were Energy and Environmen t, Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation, Health & Life Sciences, Education, Defense, and Small Businesses. We wrapped up the day by summarizing take-away’s from the lively afternoon round table discussions. For instance, the Stimulus offers numerous incentives for organizations to think (and act) ‘Green’. It was a long day for the B&D team who had held a similar program with the State Chamber in Indianapolis the prior day. Mike Landram opened the morning, John Sampson from the Regional Partnership (and sponsor) joined the forum after lunch and OnCallPSN Advisors moderated the forum and round tables.”

– Rob Drummond, President, OnCallPSN, LLC

I thought Rob summed it up very well in the above quote. However, I wanted to voice my reaction to the entire package. Based on what was presented, here are my thoughts:

1. Health Care and Renewable energy are the big winners in the Stimulus bill. There was a lot of discussion about efficiencies in health care as an opportunity and I just wondered if that was going to decrease my bill at all. My 24-year old son just received about $2,000 in bills for 4 stitches above his knees. Now, the circumstances were somewhat unusual and he had taken an ambulance at the request of the hotel he injured himself at but still $2K is $2K. Efficiencies are one thing, but do we really think that is going to provide us with relief in health care expenses?
2. On renewable energy sources, there was a lot of discussions about the transformation on the auto industry moving to electric cars, mainly Chrysler and also manufacturers developing resources to supply the wind power industry. Now I realize this the Green thing to do, but I am not sure we can convert that quickly and harvest an industry out of the passage of one bill, no matter how large it is. Manufacturers looking to be a supplier, need to look around and find how competitive an industry this may be and who is already successful in it. This will provide a model that they can see if they can duplicate or become better at. I think most manufacturers will be surprised by the competition that has been working very hard in this industry and will be unwilling to give market share away so readily. The thought process is great, if we are going to supply tax dollars and incentives lets do it in areas that we make the world a better place. I compliment the initiative.
3. Following the money, that recommended trail is very much a slippery slope in my opinion. The recommendation that was given was to monitor the companies that won bids and solicit their business. I am sorry, I think that is a failed strategy. I believe that if I was one that won a bid, my ducks were already in a row on how I was going to spend it! What about you? The bottom line is that you better be seeking their business way before they get the money.
4. I noticed so much of the stimulus has not been spent yet. But when it is let, there are extremely short deadlines so that the money can be put into the economy quickly. I would encourage you to surround yourself with people that are knowledgeable about completing grants and SBA loans for example. I think the companies that processes the information quickly and correctly will be the most likely to succeed.

Again, like most conferences and events I attend, there was plenty of people there to tell you what to do and few there to do it! I think once the stimulus package figures out how to swap that number around, we might be on to something!

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SocialMediaFortWayne.com will be hosting a Brown Bag Webinar on an aspect of Social Media every Monday at noon. The site, offers visitors a platform to discuss Social Media questions and to follow certain conversations, blog post and join discussion groups that interest them. It is centered at the development of Social Media in Fort Wayne. The e-lunch will be a live forum to interact and receive training on a particular subject.

The first Brown Bag Online lunch on Monday at noon will be on "Why Local Social Media is important". The following weeks, we will be focusing on topics of interest driven by the members request. If you are a member of the site there is no cost. If not, you can still attend if you register but there will be a cost of $25 to attend."

Non-members can register at http://elunchfortwayne.eventbrite.com/

People are trying to get a handle on Social Media and one of the outgrowths of it is the concept of interaction has changed. Even meetings are commonly held on line. So, the e-lunch is great way to receive training.

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Read the entire News Release

Go directly to the site.

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Due to the tight job market many career seekers are deciding for the first time to become self-employed. Three area entrepreneurs have gathered to create a free public seminar on discussing the joys and perils you may encounter on this journey and outline a map that others have used for success. If you are interested in participating, you are invited to learn more at http://becomingself-employed.com .

Attendees will have an opportunity to interact with the presenters to have their questions answered and to network with others who share common concerns and experiences. Individuals from all types of careers and educational backgrounds are invited to attend Becoming Self-Employed Seminars. There is no charge to attend the seminars; however, online registration is required.

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1. Hang out with your customers: If you have a target market, go start hanging out in it. Not only go to network events but also in social media. If someone blogs start making comments. Try to think that you need to be anyplace they are at and you ma find great opportunities to network and meet people.
2. Show your face: Have your picture visible and a good one. This may be your headline, time and time again.
3. Write clearly and with personality: This goes without saying. Find someone to edit your material if need be but make sure you leave your personality show through. Use a lot of bullet point and outcomes in your discussion.
4. Create a posse: I think this is misunderstood in the unemployed world. You cannot hear or see everything. Form a power group and keep it active till all of you have a job. Of course, the group needs to include non-competitive fields but that should not be hard. But keep it personal, form a group online and meet once a week. 
5. Serve the right customers: Can you volunteer? Can you refer their work? Can you work for them pro bono(part Time) till the position opens up? Try to serve your customer – Give to get, Try it!

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Slideshow on the upcoming seminars that a group of us are putting on in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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Fort Wayne, IN – In today’s struggling economy, unemployment is a growing problem in the U.S., with more than 12 million people – ranging from high school graduates in traditionally blue-collar jobs to executives with PhDs – currently without jobs. To address this problem locally, two upcoming Survive in 2009, Become Employable Seminars are being planned to help jobless individuals cope with their unique situation and prepare for their future careers. Unemployed individuals from all types of careers and educational backgrounds are invited to attend the Survive in 2009, Become Employable Seminars.

The seminars, which are free of charge and open to all unemployed individuals from the tri-state region, will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates at these designated Fort Wayne locations:

• April 8 at the Fort Wayne Campus of Trine University, 9910 Dupont Circle Drive East, Suite 130 (located off of Dupont Road at I-69); and
• April 13 at the new Holiday Inn Fort Wayne at 4111 Paul Shaffer Drive (located off of Coliseum Boulevard near IPFW and across from the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum).

There is a website www.BecomeEmployable.com. The content of the new site will be user driven and allow members to visit, comment and add their own content. Also, new information will be posted about the events and future events.

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Why you should participate in social media.

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Some of the benefits of the chamber made it very attractive. I can utilize the meeting rooms, press releases, community calendar, and more. So it made a lot of sense, but with a marketing background, I know it will take something more to stand out among 1900 members.

What is going to be my purple cow or my pig in boots?

Does anyone have any creative ideas on what to do?  Or for that matter, is there something that worked for you?

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Rainmakers Main Event
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
5:30pm – 8:00pm

Location: Knights of Columbus
2100 E 71st St
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Directions

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Well the bottom line is we do work. But why do we make it difficult! There are problems enough created by our outside environment why add to them. I read a book that never really became mainstreamed by Mahan Khalsa. “Let’s Get Real or Let’s not Play that went right to the juggler. It is what I would call the “Discovery” stage with a client. Let’s find out now if we are a match and if not lets move on. The book was promoted as a tool to help clients succeed but the message I received from it was spend time on discovery, making sure that you and your company our a good match with your client. Dissimilar cultures rarely succeed.

What happens when you find yourself in a dissimilar culture. The work is difficult, the client is not happy, your not happy and it becomes well “work.” Is that what we are looking for?

Why is it -5 where I am at?

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