THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100526
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 55 lines
Forward Hampton Roads has found its match.
The economic development arm of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce has named state economic development official Keith A. Norden as vice president of marketing. He will succeed Thomas O'Grady, who left Forward Hampton Roads last October to direct economic development in Suffolk.
Norden, 44, has a long record of attracting big business to the state and the region.
As a national project manager with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, formerly the Virginia Department of Economic Development, Norden helped recruit Ralston Purina, Twinpak and R.R. Donnelley, which invested $102 million in a printing facility in Roanoke.
He also spent five years as a marketing manager at Forward Hampton Roads' counterpart, the Virginia Peninsula Economic Development Council. On the Peninsula, he helped land UPS, MCI, Gateway 2000, Jay Plastics and Lucas.
``He brings a lot of credibility, wonderful relationships and a great track record with business recruitment,'' said Hans Gant, president of Forward Hampton Roads. ``His knowledge of the state, and especially Hampton Roads, makes him a valuable asset to Forward Hampton Roads' marketing efforts.''
Norden beat a field of 150 applicants, including five other finalists, Gant said. He will begin work at Forward Hampton Roads during the week of Jan. 20.
Recruited by the Virginia Department of Economic Development, Norden left the Virginia Peninsula Economic Development Council in June 1995 to work with the state's star ``salesman,'' Wayne Sterling, who directs Virginia's economic development program. During his two years with the state, Norden was responsible for marketing nationally all areas of Virginia.
``Wayne Sterling has made it very clear that economic development is teamwork between the state, the region and the localities. It would be the same teamwork that would occur at Forward Hampton Roads,'' he said. ``It'll be an easy transition.''
Norden hopes to help Forward Hampton Roads make a successful transition to a public-private agency. The organization launched a $10 million capital campaign last October, marking the first time the five South Hampton Roads cities were called upon to contribute to the formerly private group. Norden will oversee the group's marketing efforts as it expands to add three more marketing managers and a more aggressive program.
``I think it's a great opportunity both personally and with the region,'' he said.
A graduate of Granby High School and Old Dominion University, Norden has an extensive background in mortgage and commercial banking. He has worked as a regional branch manager of Fleet Mortgage Corp. in Chesapeake, Manufacturer's Hanover Mortgage Corp. in Virginia Beach and Home Savings Bank in Norfolk.
Norden lives in Hampton with his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Meghan. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Keith a. Norden, a state economic development official, will become
vice president of marketing for Forward Hampton Roads.