Marketing The Town Of Camp Verde With Steve Ayers And Sebra Choe

Do you have a passion for your cause?

Your company?

Does your team share your passion?

On Tuesday, July 25th, 2017, we had the honor of interviewing Steve Ayers and Sebra Choe of the Economic Development Department for the rural town of Camp Verde. Their passion was palpable throughout the studio and we hope you can feel it through the sound waves during this interview.

Steve Ayers spent 24 years in sales and marketing before receiving a B.S. in Strategic Communications and Professional Writing in 2004. That same year, he began a career in journalism with the Verde Independent and Camp Verde Bugle newspapers. During his eight-years as a journalist, he wrote extensively on the Verde River, environmental issues, local agriculture and Verde Valley history along with covering community issues in Camp Verde.

In 2013, Steve made yet another career change: taking over as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Camp Verde. Over the last three years, he has been instrumental in developing an economic program that blends traditional economic development programs with asset-based, place-making initiatives and environmental conservation.

In 2016, Steve was named Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development!

Sebra Choe, Economic Development Specialist for the Town of Camp Verde, is originally from Korea and a former Captain in the U.S. Army. (wow!)

Sebra’s current projects include Student Entrepreneurship, International Dark Skies designation, Tiny House pilot project, Arts & Culture events, Small Business support, Digital Marketing, and Tourism product creation. (wow again!)

Sebra has a B.A. from the University of Portland in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a Master of Divinity from Gateway Seminary. A Verde Valley resident of 10 years, Sebra has also worked for the Town of Camp Verde as a recording secretary, Library Teen Programs Specialist and Programs & Outreach Specialist.

Sebra’s awards include 2017 Oral Presentation Champs at AAED Basic Course, $25,000 LSTA grant recipient, and 2016-2017 Verde Valley Leadership nomination.

Sebra recently completed humanitarian trips to South Africa and Cambodia, and dreams of seeing more student start-up businesses, tiny houses, and Asian cuisine in the Verde Valley.

One of the programs Sebra discussed on the program is the Entrepreneurship Program (EP) at Camp Verde High School, which is an extracurricular program co-facilitated with Graphic Design teacher, Tina Scott.

“We have worked with 5 graphic design students, 10^th through 12^th grade, from August 2016 to current, with the goal of inspiring them toward entrepreneurship as a career path in Camp Verde. Through partnerships with ASU, Yavapai College, and the business community, we inspired them with guest speakers and field trips, and challenged them to start an online school store. These 5 students have now expressed a desire to go into business together in Camp Verde upon graduation! They hope to offer digital marketing and custom computer-building services to the small business community. The Town’s role is transitioning to incubating this student start-up business and determining the future of EP at Camp Verde High School for school year 2017-2018!” (wahoo!)

Listen to the episode here (subscribe to the podcast on iTunes), then let us know when you’re coming out for a visit (Camp Verde is only a short drive from our Sedona Marketing Retreats property, and home of one of the best Sicilian restaurant’s we’ve experienced – Moscato)!