Columbia, MD (April 26, 2010) - Tonya R. Taylor, Howard County entrepreneur and principle of Rising Star Ideas (www.RisingStarIdeas.com), has recently joined Baltimore’s Examiner.com as its social media examiner.

Taylor will have a page on Examiner.com dedicated to all things social media in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Articles will include:

• Profiles of entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, solopreneurs, small businesses and non-profit organizations getting results 
• Insider tips and local “secrets”
• How-to or advice-oriented information
• “Did you know?” information locals may take for granted
• Social media events: workshops, conferences and seminars

Examiners are local experts who are passionate about their topic and prolific in sharing information about it. Their credibility is real and varied, based on education, experience and insider enthusiasm.

“I think that Tonya will be a great fit as a Baltimore Social Media Examiner,” said Krista Cousin, Examiner.com Recruitment Manager. “We are excited to have her join our team.”

Readers may keep current with the Baltimore region's booming social media happenings by visiting Taylor’s Examiner.com page often, subscribing via email or through an RSS feed.

A member of the Howard Technology Council, Taylor is one of the region’s leading social media strategists and sought-after speakers.  She has participated on social media related panels and presented seminars on “Using Twitter to Grow Your Business” for the Howard Technology Council.  Her company, Rising Star Ideas, developed and delivered several training seminars on “Online Tools on a Shoestring Budget” for small businesses in partnership with Howard County’s Center for Business and Technology Development.  Her firm also produces interactive half day workshops to help businesses use, measure and enhance the results of their social media activities.  Ms. Taylor has spoken on social media to a variety of regional business groups including Chambers of Commerce and targeted business development groups.

“It is exciting to learn that Tonya’s reputation as an acknowledged social media expert is growing.  She is a dynamic, engaging speaker and is passionate about helping others leverage social media tools effectively,” said Larry Collins, Howard Technology Council Executive Director.

About Rising Star Ideas.com and Tonya R. Taylor:  RisingStarIdeas.com - a Columbia, Maryland based company founded by Tonya R. Taylor in 1999 - provides strategic social media and technology solutions for entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, solopreneurs, small businesses and non-profit organizations guaranteed to get results fast.  For more information or to schedule Ms. Taylor for a speaking engagement, visit http://RisingStarIdeas.com or follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RisingStarIdeas.

Tonya R. Taylor is the author of the “Twitter Quick-Start Toolkit“ a four part system used to build your audience, increase your traffic, broadcast your message and boost your sales, quickly, easily and automatically. Taylor works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and other solo professionals who say, “I don’t get Twitter.” Taylor provides her clients with tips, resources and strategies designed to obtain greater results using Twitter for business without spending a ton of money advertising and marketing.

About The Center for Business and Technology Development: Founded in May 2000, The Center is dedicated to the discovery, stimulation, nurturing, growth, and success of entrepreneurship in Howard County. It has gained a reputation for providing valuable assistance to its clients and for creating innovative programs that foster entrepreneurship in the region. The Center provides assistance to approximately 1,000 entrepreneurs annually through its unique combined services platform.  A “one stop shop” for entrepreneurial services, The Center supports small and medium sized businesses through its Business Resource Center, NeoTech Incubator, and Howard Technology Council. For more information about The Center for Business and Technology Development, please visit www.thecenter.biz.

The Center for Business and Technology Development is part of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, a public-private partnership whose primary goal is to promote economic growth and stability by supporting existing businesses, targeting new businesses, and attracting corporate/regional headquarters. The Authority also maintains several programs aimed at the special needs of small, minority-owned, and agricultural business communities. Additionally, the Authority strives to preserve the distinctive quality of life in Howard County. The Authority can be reached at www.hceda.org.

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