Our Team

Beth J. Bates, Owner, Social Media Marketing and Web Strategist
Beth Jackson Bates is a jack of all trades in the web world. In 1998, Beth founded Web Strategies, a boutique digital marketing firm specializing in helping small businesses connect with customers.  She’s been in the web biz for over 15 years and enjoys putting a new twist on traditional web technology. She helps her clients understand their business needs and how digital marketing tools and tactics fulfill those needs.

In 1995 Beth started her career developing small brochure web sites for family and friends and realized that she had a real passion for technology. In the early years she developed small static websites, but quickly moved into managing large, custom software development projects. From 2001 to 2006 she consulted with USA TODAY, where she supported the Education and Circulation departments with projects ranging from new websites to application development. During her time at USA TODAY she was a three-time Jewell award winner for business innovation. She also has ten years experience working with associations and nonprofits.

Beth founded GoodDogz.org, Inc. in 2003 to help fill a void in the animal welfare community. GoodDogz.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating potential dog owners on dog selection and care and supporting the efforts of rescue groups. We believe that by assisting with good dog-owner matches, we’ll give each family the best opportunity for a life-long relationship with their new dog and help to keep dogs out of shelters. She currently serves on its board of directors as president.

Beth is excited to listen to your ideas and discuss possible solutions. She can help with blogging, content writing, SEO and social media integration. She would also enjoy speaking to your group about social media marketing or providing one-on-one coaching.

Whitney McKim, Personal/Administrative Assistant
Whitney has over seven years experience providing administrative support in various industries. Being exposed to a variety of industries has made her a very adaptable individual ready to take on any task or project. Organization is one of her strongest suits, and she is able to maintain multiple projects and calendars with ease. Whitney obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Her strong background in research and writing has greatly helped her with client research and with navigating the Internet to find reliable, well-supported sources.

In addition to administrative support, Whitney is an autodidact in graphic and web design basics and photography. She continues her self-taught education through books, webinars and web tutorials, focusing on HTML, CSS, and Joomla! and is beginning to dabble in learning to program for the iPhone development platform.

Whitney first connected with Beth through GoodDogz.org several years ago. Whitney has supported GoodDogz.org and their mission to find forever homes for homeless dogs and support rescue organizations. Whitney and her husband, Steve, are both very active in the Northern Virginia dog community. They own a Dalmatian and a Belgian Malinois and compete with the Beltway Bandits in NAFA Flyball.

Whitney provides administrative assistance for the team as well as bookkeeping, web maintenance and client support.

Lori de Pedro, Administrative Assistant
Lori is new to the world of social media marketing. Her goal is to learn more and to support the continued growth of ‘Main Street America’ by introducing small business owners to the wonderful world of ‘Tweets’ and ‘Facebook’ updates. While learning the ropes, Lori serves Beth and her team best as our administrative assistant or ‘Gal Friday’ as she prefers to be called. Lori has worked in the Virginia wine industry for the last seven years. Her experience with educating the public and the focus on local and sustainable business practices led to her desire to help other types of small business use all the resources available to them to reach local and even broader audiences.

Dog rescue is also close to Lori’s heart and she looks forward to working more with GoodDogz.org. She currently resides with one very surly and tempermental cat that she rescued 15 years ago and the tiny light of her life, Jonesy, a very handsome seven-year-old black pug. Jonesy was rescued at the age of five months old.