NC State AMA Chapter Members Network, Learn and Compete at International Conference

Nineteen members of the NC State University’s collegiate AMA Chapter attended the American Marketing Association’s 41st International Collegiate Conference, “Market Ambitiously,” held April 11-13, 2019, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

They were among the 1,700 student marketers from 390 U.S. and international collegiate AMA chapters at the annual conference, where they networked with peers, heard from marketing professionals and competed for cash prizes, said Melanie Noel Flowers, NC State AMA Chapter member who provided Poole College communications a news release about the event. Following is a summary from her news story.

NC State Student Award Recipients

The conference included a number of competitions with cash prizes. The NC State chapter placed in the Top 5%.

Following are NC State AMA chapter winners in individual and team competitions.

AMA EBSCO Scholarship

Marketplace Simulation Competition

AMA Chapter Recruitment Video

Key Conference Events Attended by NC State AMA Chapter Members

Parker Lee, NC State chapter president, was among the collegiate conference presenters. He spoke on the topic, “Leading Your Chapter to Success”, which was attended by about 200 collegiate AMA members. Following are other sessions attended by NC State chapter members.

• Your Ambition Can Change The World: In this kickoff event and keynote address, Natalie Kim, founder of We Are Next, encouraged young professionals to be leaders by “using their skills, presence, and voice to address the issues that the industry and world face.”
• The SABRE™ (Strategic Allocation of Business Resources), a market simulation that teaches students the skills needed to succeed in their careers by staying relevant.
• AMA Digital Marketing Bootcamp, which helped prepare students to become an AMA Professional Certified Marketer
• Perfect Pitch competition, an immersive session led by Andrew Garberson, vice president of marketing services at Boutenous.
• The Career Advice Panel: How to Get the Job. Students heard from panelists Katie Fabry, marketing manager for student memberships, The Wall Street Journal; Charity Moser, founder of Empire Growth Partners; Cassie Foery, senior marketing manager at the College Channel for Coca-Cola North America and head of its Campus Ambassador Program; and Lydia Lazar, a former associate head of recruitment and career services at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. She currently shares her experience through writing and speaking engagements.
• The Marketing Strategy Competition. Students had a short time to prepare and present a case to a panel of judges. Team scores were based on strategies, knowledge, and ability to communicate.

“Experience Speaks” Sessions

• Nine Predictions for the Future of Marketing: Jim Lecinski, associate professor of marketing, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
• Entrepreneurship Essentials: Audacious Brand Design to Transform Categories, Consumers and the World: Craig Dubinsky, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of Hello products
• How We Used Universal Marketing Principles to Raise Over $2 Million In Crowdfunding: Spencer Cope and Ryan Cope, co-founders of WANDRD
• Pop Culture, Artists and Beyond: How GIPHY Curates Content for Niche Communities: Susanna Perlov, Social Media Director for GIPHY
• You Don’t Have What it Takes: Carlos Zuluaga, CEO & creative director, Lion Fuse Digital Media

Students also heard from Lily Cloake, marketing director at The Wall Street Journal who leads the global Student Memberships marketing team. In discussing her career path, she “motivates students to strive for success by showing chutzpah while navigating their career (and) left students feeling compelled to not only find their way but to create their way,” Flowers said.

The NC State AMA participants were accompanied by the chapter’s faculty advisors, Tom Byrnes and Patrice Nealon, Poole College lecturers in marketing. Most of the cost of transportation, housing and conference fees were covered by sponsors, Flowers said. The NC State AMA chapter had 141 members at the close of the 2018-19 academic year.