At JB Media Group, we believe in informed decision making by businesses and non-profits for their Internet marketing needs. Education has always been a key aspect of JB Media Group and is a large part of what brought fellow lead trainer for the JB Media Institute, Sarah Beniot to the team.
Sarah and I had both been working in the industry in the Asheville area since the early 2000s and most of our interactions between 2008 and 2010 were around education and training. Technically, we were competitors since our services and target markets overlapped. We both taught classes at local educational organizations and after attending each others trainings on multiple occasions, we developed a friendly and cordial relationship around mutual respect.
During the fall of 2010 as I began organizing the launch of JB Media Group, I met with Sarah to let her know about my business plans. I told her of my desire to have training and education be a key aspect of the business and to have Sarah involved in our education programs, even if only as a contract teacher. We also discussed the possibility of her joining the company in a more formal role as the Director of Training. Fortunately for me, Sarah shared my vision and joined the company as Director of Training and SEO when we officially opened in April of 2011.
Since then we have continued to refine our focus on education and training by offering classes, workshops, custom trainings, and developing a full online marketing school. Our most ambitious and rewarding endeavor into training came with the launch of the JB Media Institute last year. In 2012 we came up with the idea and a basic business plan for an online marketing schools to meet the growing demand for Internet marketing training by business owners, marketing professionals and independent students. With the help of a full time intern, Thyman Rundberg, who was studying at Western Carolina University via an international exchange from Avans University in the Netherlands, we developed a feasibility study, detailed market research and a marketing plan to launch a comprehensive online marketing school. Although we didn’t know her then, Operations Director Adrianne Gordon would have been proud!
Since the pilot program in the summer of 2013, we have continued to refine the curriculum and have offered the JB Media Institute again in the fall of 2013 and the winter 2014. Our next session will be held this summer. We are currently working on a variety of plans to grown the Institute both locally and outside of Asheville.
Keep up with the program by visiting our section on the JB Media Institute.
