This candidate will have the opportunity to develop some of the coolest social and mobile applications, pushing the boundaries of what’s new in digital marketing, for some of the most iconic brands in the region.

We are looking for a responsible team player who seeks a great place to grow and culture a position of leadership in our full service agency.

Candidate will work with creative professionals and answer to the Art Director in a flexible work environment with competitive salary, bonus opportunities and health care benefits and 401k. We honor all major holidays, provide vacation and time-off with flexible work schedule if needed.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Strong experience using modern web standards (CSS3, HTML5) and Javascript Strong experience with
• Strong experience using modern web standards (CSS3, HTML5) and Javascript
• A master of the Adobe Creative Suite (Particularly Photoshop and Illustrator)
• Experience in illustration and/or 3D design is a definite plus.
• Strong understanding of compositing, typography, layout, and color theory.
• Ability to work within brand guidelines.
• Keep cool under pressure and can execute projects within deadlines
• Juggle multiple projects at once.
• Able to clearly communicate ideas and tell stories.
• A good team player who can also carry out tasks independently if necessary.
• Will mesh seamlessly with the Times Digital Group team through a positive attitude and willingness learn and grow. Culture is a top priority for us.
• Additional skillset considered a plus:
• Experience with WordPress, PHP or other object-oriented software is a plus.
• Familiary with animation software, motion graphics and Final Cut Pro a plus as well
Company Description

Times Digital Group is a full service interactive marketing agency in Kingsport, TN.

We’re a next generation digital agency rooted in innovation and drive. We develop everything from enterprise-level websites to highly complex mobile apps to innovative rich media campaigns.

What makes us different is our local team of highly motivated and creative professionals backed by strong media partnerships in the region including major media networks, Chamber of Commerce and government organizations.

If you’re sharp, creative, and forward-thinking – and if complacency isn’t in your vocabulary – drop us a line. It takes a special kind of person to work here, and we hope that’s you.

Please send resume and portfolio link with application to dcate@timesdigitalgroup.com

The Star Technology Group, an IT solutions and Internet marketing company in Elizabethton, Tenn., has formed a strategic partnership with Times Digital Group of Kingsport, Tenn.

Star Technology Group has been serving businesses in Carter County, Tenn., and Western North Carolina with personal expertise and affordable services since 2001. The company’s business operations have expanded to include website hosting, web design and Internet marketing. The company is a subsidiary of Elizabethton Newspapers Inc., publisher of the Elizabethton Star newspaper.

Times Digital Group is a digital media agency located in Kingsport and is an award-winning developer of websites, mobile technologies, custom software and other forms of interactive marketing. Since 1998, the company has formed the region’s largest online network and is a creative resource for Internet marketing solutions.

Together these two companies will be working to improve the personal interaction with current and new businesses to expand and grow their online business.

Nathan Goodwin, president of Elizabethton Newspapers Inc. and Star Technology, said he is excited about the new partnership.

“Our clients need to have the best resources and attention as they seek new customers,” Goodwin said. “Our staff has an extraordinary opportunity to work with this new team of digital experts, and we’re excited about the creative new ideas and access to one of the best interactive think tanks in the region.”

Times Digital Group and the Elizabethton Star have already had a successful working relationship prior to the latest partnership. The two companies worked together on the relaunch of the newspaper’s website, an effort that led to a first-place award for Best Website from the Tennessee Press Association in 2012, said Mark A. Stevens, publisher of the Elizabethton Star.

The Times Digital Group’s studios are located in Kingsport and include a native Elizabethton representative who will work closely with the staff of the Elizabethton Star and Star Technology Group. Current customers will have personal service and access to the best online examples for web site design, mobile applications, search engine optimization, social media, video production, custom software, and other interactive projects.

David Cate, creative director for Times Digital Group says, “Today’s consumer judges any brand first by their digital experience. They’re engaged on several devices, and businesses are competing for the attention and engagement for new customers.”

He continues, “We couldn’t be more excited about this new opportunity. Carter County and Elizabethton is a wonderful community with amazing opportunities. We look forward to amazing new ideas moving forward with the Star Technology Group, its staff, and the business community in Carter County. Great business is ahead.”

For more information;

David Cate
Times Digital Group
dcate@timesdigitalgroup.com
423.392.1741

Times Digital Group is looking for a lead developer to join our expanding digital agency in Kingsport, TN.

We’re looking for an amazing, creative software developer with a technology stack that includes object oriented programming expertise with PHP, Javascript, third-party API experience and C+ or X-Code. You’ll get to be the coder that makes our ideas a reality and work with an amazing group of developers and designers on some of the most interesting and prominent brands in Northeast Tennessee.

REQUIREMENTS
• Strong understanding of object-oriented programming
• Cross-functional. You should be comfortable with both server-side and client-side work.
• Experience interacting with third-party APIs and web services.
• Demonstrated familiarity and application of open-source tools.
• Responsive and touch techniques for mobile development.
• Competency of PHP and WordPress. We work primarily with PHP and WordPress, so competency is vital – but we do welcome knowledge of other languages as long as you’re properly skilled.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
• Knows his or her way around any or all of the following: PHP, Git, HTML5, CSS3, jQuery, node.js, Unix, MySQL, WordPress, C++, X-Code and other frameworks
• Is passionate about all things mobile, web, and social.
• Has existing open-source contributions under his or her belt.
• Will mesh seamlessly with the Times Digital team. Culture is an important priority for us. This means you should be amazing… and a little bit insane. A great sense of humor is a plus.
• Is active on social media.

Benefits
• Competitive salary with monthly and quarterly income bonuses for achieving goals
• Paid sick, vacation and holidays
• Health insurance
• 410k plan with company matching
• Creative work environment
• Expense budget

We:
- Create immersive and innovative solutions for our clients and for ourselves
- Offer extremely competitive compensation and benefits
- Have a dog-friendly office
- Create work for clients like Wysong Enterprises, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Elizabethton Star, Tri-Cities Bottling, Bristol Rhythm and Roots and more…

Visit us at http://www.timesdigitalgroup.com

How to apply:
Send us an email at dcate@timesdigitalgroup.com with the subject line “Software Developer,” and include a link to your online portfolio, resume, and one thing non-work related you are particularly proud of.

DESCRIPTION:
Times Digital Group is seeking a Business Development Director for our expanding digital agency in Kingsport, TN. We’re looking for a bright marketing expert to help guide and direct digital strategies, interactive advertising campaigns and supervise client relationships.

This is a managing partner role and the successful candidate will report to the Creative Director to lead business development and successfully elevate our clients brands and services using new technology and innovative marketing ideas generated from our studios.

This position requires a self-motivated individual with a perpetual desire to learn, interpret and deliver amazing customer experiences. We seek extraordinary creativity, curiosity and team players who sees themselves as a student, teacher, maker and entrepreneur with distinct knowledge of sales management, marketing, interactive experiences and social connections.

We have an extraordinary team of award-winning designers and developers managing one of the largest Networks in the region and we seek a creative leader to reinforce deeper relationships with brands and their customers.

TASKS
• Serve as point of contact between our awesome clients and the Times Digital team.
• Identify and initiate new business opportunities related to agency level design projects for Internet, mobile, print, social and community online experiences.
• Proactively manage the relationships with our clients to develop the most creative projects.
• Communicate between the client and our producers on a daily basis.
• Stay in touch with our business accounts team.
• Lead status meetings with clients.
• Manage assistant account executives.
• Collaborate on ideas that will maximize our clients’ ROI.
• Participate in new business proposals & pitches.
• Attend and facilitate Chamber of Commerce and other business meetings.

Requirements
• Top notch liaison skills.
• 3+ years in digital agency/advertising/or marketing campaigns.
• A strong passion for all things digital and social.
• Ability to synthesize information.
• Leadership experience with client-facing projects.
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail.
• We’re never just working on one project here, so you’ll need to be good at juggling multiple tasks at once.
• Familiar with video production and planning
• Speak well in public
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Benefits
• Competitive salary with monthly and quarterly income bonuses for achieving goals
• Paid sick, vacation and holidays
• Health insurance
• 410k plan with company matching
• Creative work environment
• Expense budget

We:
- Create immersive and innovative solutions for our clients and for ourselves
- Offer extremely competitive compensation and benefits
- Have a dog-friendly office
- Create work for clients like Wysong Enterprises, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Elizabethton Star, Tri-Cities Bottling, Bristol Rhythm and Roots and more…

Visit us at http://www.timesdigitalgroup.com

How to apply:
Send us an email at dcate@timesdigitalgroup.com with the subject line “Business Development Director,” and include a link to your online portfolio, resume, and one thing non-work related you are particularly proud of.

We gathered up the cameras and made our way to the Kingsport Renaissance Center with three cameras and captured this documentary featuring these local impersonators. It was a family affair all around and particular enjoyed talking with each of them about their inspiration.

Channeling Elvis from TimesDigital on Vimeo.

Last week, we saw a post on Twitter about cupcakes using a soft drink. Not uncommon in the least bit. Innovative cooks have tried all kinds of recipes, besides…who doesn’t like a cupcake. They always brighten any day.

Next door to our studio in Downtown Kingsport, we dropped in on Elizabeth one morning. She’s the manager of Babycakes Cupcakery aand always helpful with coffee in the morning and treats for our clients.

We shared with her our idea about making cupcakes with Johnson City’s Dr. Enuf. It’s one of our favorite drinks and we shared our idea. Since Thursday’s are ‘Baker’s Choice’ – we talked her into making a batch of cupcakes with Dr. Enuf.

That morning, we brought her a couple of six packs and within a couple of hours, she had crafted the world’s first Energy Cupcake with Dr. Enuf.

Without hesitation, as soon as the green goodies were out of the oven, we were on Twitter and Facebook sending out the message and within an hour, fans started coming in a grabbing some of the treats to take back to the office. The social landscape started to light up with our Instagram photos and cool idea spread quickly.

Besides the burst of excitement, we had a good time and had some terrific new social fodder spreading around the region. Dr. Enuf’s Twitter page picked up the word as well as their Facebook and several other fans who love the original energy drink.

Thanks to Babycakes for playing with our idea and next time you need a little pick-me-up, pick up a Dr. Enuf or better yet, break out your on creation and let us know.

Still celebrating the success of the August ‘Gentleman of the Road’ (Mumford and Son) show in Bristol, as well as the uber-cool Bonnarro Music Festival and Moogfest, Jeff shared excellent insights into modern festival marketing techniques and ethos about their highly successful event productions.

With a disdain for boring Powerpoint presentations, Jeff greeted the audience of 40 attendees with a couple of great movies showing the excitement around each of the festivals. He also prefaced his conversation with the commitment to talk about ‘experiences.’

Among the many insights, we learned plenty about the logistics and effort going into each of these festivals. How partners like Garnier were rolled into the Bonnaroo experience with their brand and their real world application (smelly concert goers) interacted with their brands more than just a logo on stage banner.

There were some interesting discussions about how traditional marketing. Jeff stated, “Reaching people is really tough these days.” He added that “Our street teams are the most effective  way of getting the word out – peer to peer works.”

Evidently, like most ventures these days, it’s hard to pinpoint an ROI on social media. The folks at Bonnaroo cited their early days of email lists and how the phenomenon grew ticket sales over the years. Any ROI is roughly measured by the success, but the science is still lacking in lieu of the assumptions.

Last year, Bonnaroo partnered with YouTube to stream two live channels from the festival. The HD work and multi-camera angles and superior audio were a treat for fans  who didn’t attend the festival. However, there was no business model in place as YouTube was underwriting the entire concept as a seed project.

Food was great this session too. We enjoyed the Barberitos Tex-Mex offerings along with the yummy fudge brownies on the back end of the event.

Jeff was a great presenter and had some wonderful ideas to share about new media, mobile interaction and real-world festival experiences. He’s a delightful speaker full of relevant information and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next time from the AAF of Northeast Tennessee.

Kudos to all the organizers for a terrific program.

Aundrea Wilcox and Marybeth McClain have put together a informative panel discussion for small business owners to learn about emerging technologies and new media tools in the connected age.

Times Digital Group is honored to be included in this panel discussion on Friday, August 10th, 2012 and look forward to the discussion along with other area business leaders.

Please join this special presentation and contact Times Digital Group for consulting and further discussions about the unique opportunities available from our team of developers and this great community resource.

On July 17th, at their annual newspaper conference in Nashville, The Elizabethton STAR won the “Best Website” award by the Tennessee Press Association.

The TPA is made up of 122 member newspapers across the state of Tennessee. The Elizabethton STAR competed in the Group IV category, which included such newspapers as the Jackson Sun, the Cleveland Daily Banner, the Greeneville Sun, Bristol Herald Courier and the Leaf-Chronicle of Clarksville.

Times Digital Group have enjoyed working with the STAR to increase their engagement and grow their online audience. They have a terrific team of editors and photographers who make a great team, working together to craft a bonafide award-winner.

Congratulations to everyone at the Elizabethton STAR for this outstanding recognition.