A Letter from the President: September 2007

Hello Austin AMA Members!

The new Board Year officially started on July 1st, 2007. Your new Board is working to build on the Chapter's past successes and to create a vision for the future. Our vision for the 2007 - 2008 term is to "engage, educate, and develop marketing professionals to directly and positively impact the Austin community."

We have focused on documenting and standardizing processes and procedures to ensure the future success of the Austin Chapter. Below is a snapshot of some of the recent accomplishments of the Austin AMA's leadership team:

  • Creation and use of an event operations budget and reporting document.
  • Creation of a planning and execution checklist for events.
  • Documented talking points to facilitate recruiting, retention, and engagement efforts.
  • Created top-ten lists of "how to serve in a mentor role" and "how to be mentored."
  • Documented the costs and benefits of serving as an Austin AMA Sponsor.
  • Added a fourth level of sponsorship to accommodate Sponsor requests.
  • Identified in-kind Sponsors (and the requirements from each Sponsor) that will help reduce Austin AMA operational costs.
  • Base lined sponsorship levels to ensure consistency. Created a contract template for each level.
  • Created step-by-step documents to ensure that knowledge is transferred to current and future Board members. Some of the processes documented include: how to manage the Austin AMA website, CVENT (our online registration / payment system), and email notification.
  • Austin AMA email addresses were created (and published to the website) for the Executive Board members, Career Center, Sponsorships, Public Relations, and Volunteers.
  • Permanent nametags were created, printed, and collated. Austin AMA member nametags are white and potential members have blue nametags -- this visual differentiation helps our recruiting efforts!

In August, we sent out a membership survey and seventy-six of you responded! Thanks for taking the time to offer thoughtful feedback as this information helps us identify your main concerns and goals for the Austin Chapter.

As an Austin AMA member, you are welcome to attend our monthly Extended Board meetings -- it is a great way to keep up with the Chapter operations. The monthly meetings last one hour and include updates by our elected Board Officers and appointed Directors. Please contact me if you want to attend --I will verify the date, time, and location of the meeting.

This is a great time to be an Austin AMA Member! Spread the word -- bring a friend and/or colleague to an Austin AMA event. Let´s continue to grow our Chapter with other Austin professionals! Please let me know if you have suggestions to improve the Austin AMA -- I look forward to hearing from you! Our leadership team exists to serve the Austin AMA.

Best regards,
Stephanie Craft
President, Austin Chapter
American Marketing Association
president@austinama.org

Mentoring Future Marketing Leaders

The Austin AMA Chapter has a long history and commitment to helping students and new graduates make the transition from school to the working world. Recently, the Austin Chapter invited students from St. Edwards University, Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin, to participate in our annual mentoring program.

Both mentors and mentees filled out an application and were then paired-up based on career experience and interests. Mentors will meet with students on a regular basis to help in any way they can. This often includes resume writing, interviewing techniques, how to network and insight into various marketing professions.

“The mentor program is a special opportunity for Austin AMA members to welcome local university students to the marketing profession. As professionals, we can offer so much to these students because we’ve been there, we know what they’re going through, and can offer career insight that means so much!” -- Terri Waggoner, Director of Mentor Programs, Austin AMA Chapter.

Contact Terri Waggoner with questions about the Austin AMA mentor program: collegiate_relations@austinama.org.

American Marketing Association Honors Austin Chapter

The Austin Chapter of the American Marketing Association has been recognized for “Programming Overall Excellence” in the American Marketing Association’s annual Chapter Excellence Awards competition. Austin was one of only three chapters, out of 74 chapters internationally, to receive this prestigious award for the 2006-2007 year. Atlanta and New York Capital Region were also recognized for this award. The chapter will receive a $200 check for the honor.

Using the AMA’s Board in a Box as a Programming guide, the Committee hosted more than 20 events, ranging from Luncheon Meetings and High-Tech breakfasts to a Marketing Boot Camp and after-hours socials. For the year, events exceeded attendance goals by more than 110%, despite event cancellations due to low registrations and weather-related issues with three events. Over the course of 11 evaluated activities, 97.5% of the chapter’s members and guests rated Austin chapter events as Great or Good.

On behalf of the entire AMA Board and our growing membership, congratulations to the 2006-2007 Programming Committee for their outstanding commitment, dedication and contribution to the success of the Austin AMA Chapter.

The 2006-2007 Programming Committee included:

  • Tracy Sullivan – Vice President of Programs
  • Project By Project Marketing Communications
  • Committee Members:
    • Don Fogle – SHINE Strategic Communications
    • Jennifer Hunter – Accudata Systems
    • John Meadows – Simon Management Group
    • Rusty Nelson – The Lithoprint Company (now Ginny’s)
    • Lauren Sell – Porter Novelli
    • Jude Vanover – Rule Products
    • Rhonda Wunderlin – Eloqua

Past Austin AMA Events

PAST SPEAKER LUNCHEONS

July Luncheon Speaker: Clayton Christopher, Co-Founder, Sweet Leaf Tea

Clayton Christopher and co-founder David Smith started Sweet Leaf Tea in 1998 after noticing that although there were multiple options for bottled iced tea, there was nothing that came close to the homemade tea. Inspired by the recipe that Clayton's grandmother used to make, they began by brewing tea in Clayton's kitchen. Shortly thereafter, with $10,000 in savings and an old delivery van, Sweet Leaf Tea was born. Since Sweet Leaf Tea's inception, Christopher has consistently found innovative ways for marketing especially in the rapidly changing and highly competitive beverage industry. Today Sweet Leaf Tea is one of the fastest growing food & beverage companies in the U.S. and consumers can buy Sweet Leaf Tea products at many grocery and retail outlets.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, Clayton will discuss how he grew the Sweet Leaf Tea utilizing effective "outside the box" start-up guerrilla marketing (branding, positioning, messaging, corporate identity, strategic marketing, funding ) principles in order to build a small business and succeed in growing the company. He will also show how the company is continuing to be innovative and providing marketing leadership, achievement and social responsibility.

Clayton received the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Central Texas Region in 2006 and takes an active role in the local community and philanthropic organizations and national charities such as Big Brothers and Sisters of Central Texas, AIDS Services, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Caritas and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

August Luncheon Speaker: Tom Segesta, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel, Austin

Tom identified the “Fifteen Characteristics of Leadership” that he uses daily as the GM of the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. Tom mentioned that these characteristics help build on the company’s highly esteemed position as one of the preeminent luxury hotel chains, and reinforced the company’s brand equity in providing world-class hospitality services to ensure that every guest has an unforgettable experience. Tom also mentioned that he believed that everyone is a leader and has an important part in making their (marketing) career and their personal life successful.

September Luncheon Speaker: Cliff Redd, Executive Director, The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin

A personal tour (before it is opened to the public) was provided by the staff at The Long Center for the Performing Arts which is investing the donations of $80+ million dollars to create a true community performing arts center. Cliff Redd spoke about how he and his team engaged the community to raise the money and develop all the construction, public relations and marketing aspects for the forthcoming opening of the Long Center (March ’08).

October Luncheon Speaker: Allen Olivo, Vice President, VP of Global Brand Marketing, Yahoo! Inc.

The Austin AMA took its monthly luncheon series to InnoTech Austin, and the all day eMarketing Summit. Allen Olivo, Vice President, Global Brand Marketing, Yahoo! Inc. was this year’s eMarketing Summit Keynote Presenter.

PAST NETWORKING EVENTS

Networking Event at Cork and Co. – September at Cork & Co. with Austin Ad Federation

In September The Austin AMA and the Austin Ad Federation co-hosted a wine tasting event at Cork & Co. in downtown Austin to facilitate networking between our professional organizations. Cork & Co. provided a variety of South American wines paired with cheeses for a wonderful networking venue. Special thanks to our evening’s sponsors Customer Research International (CRI) owned by Austin AMA members Michelle and Sanjay Vrudhula and to Austin Ad Federation’s sponsor Refresh Web, founded and run by John Rasco for making this such a great event. We would also like to acknowledge the Austin Ad Federation President, Patricia Niekamp and the Vice Vresident of Membership, Dana Marruffo for a wonderful event.

Click here for more information on past events.

AMA Online Career Center

You wouldn’t use pliers when you need a wrench.
When looking for marketing talent, use the right tool.

The Austin AMA Online Career Center is the premier electronic recruitment resource for the Marketing industry.

  • Expose your job openings to over 750,000 marketing, advertising and PR professionals
  • Search over 3,000 resumes, both local and national
  • Post, track, and edit your job postings easily
  • Receive automatic e-mail notifications when resumes match your criteria and a direct link to your website

We offer a variety of competitively priced job posting/resume searching packages to meet your needs, including our newest package designed to help you promote your open positions to candidates in the Austin area:

  • Single 30-Day Local Austin AMA Job Posting
  • Job posting(s) appears only on the Austin AMA Career Center
  • Includes access to only Austin AMA Resumes
  • $100 (members) / $200 (non members)

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER: Receive our newest package for FREE through December 31, 2007! Includes unlimited job postings on the Austin AMA job board and access to Austin AMA resumes through the end of the year. Visit careers.ama.org and take advantage of this special offer today! Enter Promo/Marketing Code: LOCAL in the payment section when you create a job posting.

For more information about the Austin AMA Career Center, contact career_center@austinama.org.

Introducing the AMA WELCOME BOX…

Your branded promotional items wanted!

As part of the membership team, Diana Hyland would like to invite all AMA members to participate in a new “Welcome Box” program to promote your company and welcome our new members to AMA-Austin.

Here’s how it works…

When AMA Austin receives notice of a new member, we will send the member our new “AMA Welcome Box” package, which is designed to provide an instant connection with the Austin Chapter. The box features an introductory letter highlighting the website, our new Career Center and volunteer opportunities. For maximum impact, we are also providing a fun way to showcase your business by including promotional gift items. It’s a low-cost, non-intrusive way for companies and organizations to expand awareness and name recognition. Companies must have an AMA member employee to participate. Space is limited, so first come first in the box.

Here are suggested promotional items for the box:

  • Note pads
  • Sticky notes
  • Water bottles
  • Caps/hats
  • Card case
  • Pens
  • Desk accessories
  • Mini lights, radio, gadgets
  • Travel accessories
  • Book marks
  • Key rings
  • Gift certificates or discount cards
  • (No mugs, paperweights or heavy items)

How many?

100 items will last a year, but if you don’t have that many just send what you have. We average about 8 members per month, so we can continually accept and replenish gift items throughout the year. Note that the box is 12” x 9” x 4”

Where to send it…

Diana Hyland
Bells International
109 Denson Drive
Austin , TX 78752

Please include your name, company and contact information – plus the words “Welcome Box” on the package.

Timing…

The first box will go out end of October or as soon as it is filled. We will continue to add items as long as there is room – so you can send items any time. Occasional reminders will go when space is available.

Costs…

Nada. Zilch. Zip. The package is underwritten by Liant Manufacturing who will provide the packaging, fulfillment and postage, Bells International, who has designed the Welcome Box identity, sticker and letterhead, and SpeedPro Imaging, who is donating the printing.

Questions?

Contact AMA Welcome Box coordinator Diana Hyland at Bells International: 454-9663, ext.228, dhyland@bellsintl.com

Are you receiving emails from Austin AMA?

If you have not received an invite to an upcoming AMA luncheon event, the emails may be going into your spam folder. Check the settings in your mail program to ensure that emails sent from austinama.org are not being blocked as spam or junk mail, or contact your software provider to check into the problem. You may also send an email to communications@austinama.org to make sure we have the correct address on file.