Extension marketing moves forward
After announcing new directions for North Carolina Cooperative Extension at seven district conferences last spring, the organization moved forward with its change management and marketing initiative. Over the summer, a search committee began looking for a marketing director, and four other groups began charting next steps.
As of late August, the search committee had received applications for a new marketing organization for Extension and was preparing to narrow the field for interviews. The marketing director will report to both Dr. Jon Ort, state director at N.C. State University, and Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, administrator at N.C. A&T State University.
Four other committees of Extension employees were created in June to help move forward with several recommendations from the change management and marketing initiative.
"We are counting on these teams to help us lead change that will build a stronger Extension - an Extension that's widely recognized as an invaluable partner in North Carolina's progress toward a thriving future," said Ort, in a July memo to Cooperative Extension employees.
-Natalie Hampton
As of late August, the search committee had received applications for a new marketing organization for Extension and was preparing to narrow the field for interviews. The marketing director will report to both Dr. Jon Ort, state director at N.C. State University, and Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, administrator at N.C. A&T State University.
Four other committees of Extension employees were created in June to help move forward with several recommendations from the change management and marketing initiative.
- The Extension Education Program Development Model Team was charged with creating a comprehensive program-development model, which would include needs-assessment and prioritization processes for counties and departments. The group will look for ways to report outcomes into the Integrated Reported System.
- The Integrated Reporting System Team will develop a system for collecting accomplishment data from both counties and campus faculty. These data are used to generate federal, state and personnel evaluation reports and accountabilities.
- The Marketing and Communication Team was asked to develop consistent marketing messages for Extension, an Extension brand and mechanisms for connecting marketing and programming.
- The Strategic Plan Team will develop a dynamic, fluid, strategic plan for the organization. The plan will include a flexible template, which can be used for any issue. This system will be short, simple and easy to use and will interface with the Integrated Reporting System.
"We are counting on these teams to help us lead change that will build a stronger Extension - an Extension that's widely recognized as an invaluable partner in North Carolina's progress toward a thriving future," said Ort, in a July memo to Cooperative Extension employees.
-Natalie Hampton