Cal Poly’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter has become a vital link between marketing students and industry, taking students off campus to tour, network and experience a day at a number of California’s top corporations. In 2014 members had the chance to visit Citrix, Sonos, Appfolio, Symantec, Screen Engine and more on field trips that helped students see themselves leading marketing efforts on a grand scale. The Orfalea College of Business and Cal Poly took notice, recognizing the AMA’s efforts by naming it the 2014 Orfalea College of Business Best Club of the Year.
AMA has also made great strides in attracting industry leaders to campus through speaking opportunities at its popular weekly meetings and the annual Marketing Career Conference held each February. The conference has grown to host 20 companies with roughly twice the number of industry executives and recruiters. Today the event brings together Cal Poly’s top marketing students with professionals and alumni working in technology, healthcare and entertainment marketing for a fast-paced day of panel discussions, student pitches, and a keynote speaker exploring some of the industry’s biggest challenges. The event has also become a direct link for companies looking to source top marketing talent ahead of graduation.
Many marketing alumni stay connected to Cal Poly by lending support and insight to the AMA chapter. From participation in the Executive in Residence program to coordinating vital internships for students, reconnecting with Cal Poly enriches the marketing program and expands the alumni network. To get involved, contact president.calpolyama@gmail.com or visit www.calpolyama.org.
Cal Poly Students Shine at the 2015 American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference
In March, 12 Cal Poly students traveled with faculty to New Orleans for the 2015 American Marketing Association (AMA) International Collegiate Conference. While at the conference, Cal Poly’s AMA chapter was recognized for excellence professional development, chapter planning and membership. In addition to networking with marketing professionals from around the nation, Cal Poly’s cohort competed against dozens of other university teams in practical and simulated exercises.
Cal Poly’s AMA chapter placed second out of 35 schools in the Strategic Allocation of Business Resources (SABRE) Business Simulation. SABRE provides the competitive environment in which students leverage market studies to make strategic product planning, sales force deployment, advertising, pricing, and research and development expenditure decisions about a simulated company. The exercise mimics one year in the marketplace, determining market share, product contribution and overall profit for each company.
The chapter also took second place for its video contest entry promoting Be The Match, the AMA’s national philanthropic partner. Cal Poly students created an engaging mini-documentary to share stories about bone marrow donors and recipients whose lives have been changed forever by the organization. The videography team also captured interviews with Cal Poly’s Be the Match chapter president and edited the video together to promote the program on campus. View the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs4zruWDaeA.
More than 180 universities attended the AMA conference, including 1,481 students and 183 faculty advisors.
Marketing Career Conference
