Blink your eyes and your company needs a new marketing plan. Or so it seems in today’s rapid-response marketplace.
An impressive lineup of industry insiders explained important trends in marketing and business during the American Marketing Association’s (AMA) third annual Florida Regional Collegiate Marketing Conference, held November 5, 2010 at the College of Business Complex at Florida International University (FIU).
Marketing Sustainability: Marketing Today for Tomorrow was the theme of the event, hosted for the second time by AMA chapters of FIU and the University of South Florida (USF).
Walfried Lassar, chair of the College of Business Administration’s Marketing Department, welcomed the group of more than 180 students, faculty and staff members from universities across the state including the host schools, the University of Florida, the University of Miami and Saint Leo University.
Presenting companies were:
- Target: Jacqueline Gonzalez, field campus recruiter/HR-Talent Acquisition
- Bacardi: Antonio Pujala, brand director
- YouTube: Rick Silvestrini, product marketing manager
- Baptist Health Systems: Georgina Gonzalez-Robiou, director of marketing & public relations
- Dell: Brianne Brewer, member of Social Media Team
The presentation by Silvestrini of YouTube was actually a web cast from California, and included audience interaction.
“Through the informative presentations, we learned how these companies supervise efforts in environmentally conscious strategies, effective brand management and changing advertising patterns,” said Giancarlo Russo, president of FIU’s AMA chapter. “Plus there was quite a bit of new information on social media and its impact.”
In a special team-building session hosted by Jim Reed of Jim Reed Consulting, attendees had a chance to develop teamwork and communication skills.
Target Corporation sponsored the conference with a $2,500 grant. Other businesses contributing support included Mercantile Bank, Bonsai Restaurant and Any Lab Test Now.
Way to go, FIU’s AMA.
“I’m constantly amazed at the high caliber of work put forth by the students in the AMA,” said Tim Dugan Birrittella, the chapter’s advisor. “The conference continues to get better each year as this has become an annual tradition in Florida. I’m very proud of their accomplishments.”
