Agent Farewell: Nancy Tyree

Special agents (left to right) Nancy Tyree and Amanda Doty.

As many trade in their beach bags for book bags, seasons of life turn from summer to fall for all.

It seems like only yesterday we couldn't wait for summer time. At The Midas Center, we were especially excited for the opportunity to host young talent in our special agent program. Three agents were selected for special missions, if they chose to accept the internship mission. The special agents are Nancy Tyree, Amanda Doty and Justin Shenenberger. This week, we will be sharing a series titled, Agent Farewell to honor each of these special talented young professionals. Today's post will highlight our first intern to join our agency.

Our first special agent, Nancy Tyree started working for The Midas Center last December during her Christmas break from her studies at Indiana University in Bloomington. During her holiday break while staying at home, Nancy accepted the mission filled with research on the history of social media and its impact on modern society. She returned to finish her junior year at IU and shared with us that her internship experience encouraged her to start her own blog once back at school. She then came home for the summer and accepted another mission at The Midas Center: Community Manager of iHEARTplymouth. 

Nancy accepted the mission and bravely stepped out from her comfort zone while interfacing with people making a positive difference throughout the community. She captured stories and photos to share on www.iHEARTplymouth.com. She shared on her summer experience at The Midas Center as a special agent intern, "It gave me the opportunity to talk to business owners that I may have never reached out to." Her favorite interaction she told us was when she covered the new sky diving business in town. Check out her review on this local business, Free Falling Soars in Plymouth  >> 

Other noteworthy highlights of her mission include:

- Playful iSPYplymouth games 

Can you spot some of these photos taken in and around Plymouth? >>

- iHEART on the Spot

Nancy traveled throughout town to share some iHEART swag and interact with businesses. Check out some of the places where she may have been spotted >>

- Meet the people of Plymouth

Another special task of her mission included meeting and greeting special people in the community who are making a difference. Some of the people she highlighted included Jennifer Maddox, Barbara Winters, Mindy and Bill Langdon, and more. Also, she shared stories on a new downtown business owner Lisa Miller, Second Friday fun and Culver Lakefest. 

We encourage you to do a search for Nancy Tyree in the search bar of iHEARTplymouth and share your comments on her stories.

We are proud of Agent Nancy Tyree and we wish her the best as she continues on her professional development as a senior studying telecommunications as well as life's lessons she will experience along the way. 

Thank you agent on another mission accomplished.  

If you or someone you know would be interested in joining The Midas Center as a special agent intern,  please check out the details >

Indiana Chamber Recognizes The Midas Center As Finalist in Employer of the Year

Indiana INTERNnet, Inc., a statewide internship resource provided by the Indiana Chamber, has named The Midas Center as a finalist for the Employer of the Year in recognition of its 2010 student internship program. The awards program will take place in Indianapolis on February 10, 2011 at the Indiana Chamber Conference Center beginning at 11:30 a.m. People interested in attending the event may register at www.indianaintern.net or call IndianaINTERNnet, Inc. at 317-264-7536. The Indiana Chamber is the largest business advocacy organization in the state.

The Midas Center’s program caught the Chamber’s attention because of the leadership opportunities it offered in local business development and new technology. Owner Andrea Cook comments, “One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been obtaining projects that provide jobs and empower other creative professionals. Working with younger individuals challenges me to keep learning all the evolving technology solutions.”

Intern Camden Robertson, a 2010 graduate of Plymouth High School, was given an opportunity to learn and practice business development skills with the launch of iHEARTplymouth.com. This social media resource was created to improve the quality of life and economic development for local communities and was rolled out during his summer internship program. "The internship has really proved to be beneficial to me in so many aspects,” said Robertson. “My time management has gotten a lot better. My experience at The Midas Center has not only improved my communication skills with some important customers, but the fact that I have experience in sales and marketing via an Internet platform puts me above many of my coworkers that are my age. I’m grateful for my experience there." Robertson is now a student at DePaul University in Chicago.

The Midas Center is a full-service creative communications agency located in downtown Plymouth that provides professional marketing, advertising, public relations and branding services to businesses and organizations. For information about internships at The Midas Center, please contact Andrea Cook, President, by phone at 574-936-7058 or by e-mail >

Wheel of Progress Congratulates Winners!

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Wheel of Progress: 2010 drawing for Plymouth Chamber of Commerce gift certificates!

Today, on Monday, December 9th, The Midas Center presented the results of the Wheel of Progress 2010 to the public. During this presentation, The Midas Center shared the process on how the new image and message was developed. Much of the process included an agreement on the need of a cohesive image for Plymouth as stated collectively by five key stakeholders. Stakeholders included the City of Plymouth, Plymouth Community Public Schools, Plymouth's Chamber of Commerce and PIDCO who commissioned The Midas Center to develop a new image and message that will be used to communicate Plymouth online.

The presentation overview may be reviewed on a post shared on iHEARTplymouth.com >

The apex of the presentation was a slide show of the value propositions of Plymouth with the main message, "Join us in the Journey." For a preview of this slideshow, please see below:

And last, but not the least of today's presentation included the announcement of the winners of the five $100 gift certificates from the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. The winners are:
- Ken Houin
- Gnomes_Garden
- Lois Evan
- S Clarke @ fourway
- Brantley Houlihan

You may stop by the new offices at The Midas Center, 200 N. Michigan Street in downtown Plymouth to pick up your gift certificate. Please stop by during regular business hours and I.D. will be required.

The next phase of the Wheel of Progress: 2010 will be presented to the public in March of 2011.

Thank you all who participated to make this campaign successful! The members of The Midas Center thank you for your investment into this public branding program and we hope to continue to work with the community towards the ongoing progress!

Local Social Media Workshop for Beginners

You are invited to attend a beginner's social media workshop titled iHEARTplymouth 101.

iHEARTplymouth is a free local social media resource for everything we love about Plymouth. This workshop is open to persons of all ages. Workshop will provide hands on, step by step instructions for getting your own page for yourself, your business, church or neighborhood. Printed materials will be provided and will include how to set up a page, upload photos, add events, add friends, integrate with other social media tools like Facebook and Twitter and more. Bring questions and an eagerness to learn. All questions are welcome!

iHEARTplymouth 101 is a class sponsored by People's University as part of the Plymouth Park Department's Art and Leisure fall courses.

Cost is $3 for city residents, $5 for out of city limits.
Students need to bring a wireless laptop.

Classes will be held at Webster Recreation Center.
Located at 110 Webster Avenue, Plymouth, IN, west of South Michigan Street near Felke Florist.

Register for workshop by contacting People's University by phone or email.
phone: 936-9904 or toll-free at 1-866-936-9904 or email mcoas@hotmail.com

Select preferred date and class item number:
Friday, September 17, 9:45 a.m.
AL 110-1 Social Media (Instructor Cook)

Friday, October 1, 9:45 a.m.
AL 110-2 Social Media (Instructor Cook)

Interested in other social media workshops The Midas Center has available?

Some topics include:
- Branding: It is More Than Just For Cows
- Twitter 101: To Tweep Or Not To Tweep
- Social Media Pioneers: A New Frontier
- Be Famous: Get Your Blog On
- You’re Never Too Old: Social Media

Contact Andrea Cook at The Midas Center to schedule a workshop customized to meet your individual or group's needs today by calling 936 - 7058.

Birthing Story of Go Green Media and iHEARTplymouth

When The Midas Center relocated and opened its doors last fall in Plymouth, we hoped to reach out to help local businesses and organizations succeed. Previously, we specialized in legal marketing and clearly knew how to help law firms and attorneys build a brand and get the message out using the business media outlets and channels online and in print.

We quickly learned that to help get the word out in a small town, however, was not as simple as sending out a press release to a news wire or calling reporters who covered a specific beat. Being creative solution seekers and doers, we launched a new media business called Go Green Media. Go Green Media helps businesses and organizations get the word out organically, at a grass roots level. It spreads the message that builds the brand without using harmful toxic inks and wasteful paper. It is also powered 100% by wind energy. One of the products that Go Green Media has proudly launched this summer is called iheartplymouth.com.

iheartplymouth.com is a social media resource created specifically for the Plymouth, Indiana community. Much like an online magazine, it includes photos, articles and events that relate to "everything you love about Plymouth." It is community-based, like a local Facebook with full interaction. It also links with Facebook and Twitter automatically, enlarging the readership. Any one can access the content at any time and there is no cost to read, write or share the copy. The tag is Extra Extra! Read it. Write it. Share it. Live it. Love it.

iheartplymouth.com was launched summer 2010 and in the past 10 weeks has received over 30,000 pageviews. It is financially supported by private investors, advertisers and business membership sponsors. It has been designed to promote businesses and organizations and all the great activities that the community has to offer leading to an improved quality of life for its residents, businesses and visitors. As social media becomes more mainstream, iheartplymouth.com provides the necessary components for strong economic development.

Founder, social activist and editor Andrea Cook shares, "Preserving the unique characteristics of a small town is as important to me as building community. It is a pleasure giving individuals, businesses and places a voice and online brand."

Cook hopes to continue to grow iheartplymouth.com for the local town of Plymouth, Indiana as well as offer the social media service to other communities, upon request. If your community would be interested in the benefits that an online community product offers its residents, businesses and visitors, feel free to contact The Midas Center to learn more.