February 2009 Marketing Buzz
MSU Advertising Team Takes on Exclusive Project
By Sherry Cook
After winning back-to-back national advertising competitions, the MSU Ad Team has been exclusively selected to design a website for the FBI and Department of Homeland Security's National Internship Program. Edventure Partners approached the MSU Advertising Team with this opportunity after seeing how successful the team was in developing campaigns for other organizations. The National Security Internship (NSI) is one of the most prestigious internship programs in the country. This is not a competition but rather, the team has been exclusively contracted to redesign the NSI website and develop promotional material for the purpose of generating the best recruits.
Although the Missouri State University Advertising Team has been the recipient of numerous national honors and awards, their recent solo selection and invitation to design a website and interactive campaign is an accomplishment unprecedented.
After winning back-to-back first place national titles, Missouri State’s Ad Team takes on a new challenge this semester. They have been exclusively contracted to design a website for the FBI and Homeland Security’s National Internship Program. Team members, left to right, include Samantha Francka, Ryan Simpson, Dr. Melissa Burnett, Megan Killion, Chris Kuhn, Chris Triplett, Travis Randolph, Noelle Boettge, Meghan Walters, Amanda Sodam, Kimberly Williams, Andrew Garton, Katie Griffith (Not pictured: Lindsey Lattimore)
For the past two semesters, the Ad Team has participated in Edventure Partners’ programs that bridge the gap between industry and education by providing students with real-world projects by charging them with the task of developing integrated marketing campaigns for clients. Both times the team competed, they walked away with first place national titles.
The goal of the NSI website redesign is to create a more appealing and engaging experience. The MSU Ad Team will focus on developing strong brand strategy and generating a positive and more connected social network. For Tony Sgro, CEO of Edventure Partners, Missouri State was a logical place to turn when he needed to depend on the highest level of student performance: “It seemed like a perfect fit to ask MSU—home of some of the most creative, forward-thinking, and professional advertising and communications students in the US—to undertake the challenge of building Version 3 of this site.”
The MSU Ad Team plans to work throughout the semester on the NSI website. After completing the project, the students will present the final site along with their newly-developed interactive and print materials to officials from the FBI and the DHS. The new NSI site will go live in June 2009. Ad Team President, Megan Killion, believes, “It is an honor to be selected to work on such an important project. The National Security Internship is critical to our nation’s security. Knowing we have been chosen to play a role in attracting the best recruits to participate is what keeps us motivated.”
Missouri State University will receive a $2,500 grant for their efforts; however, the Director of the Advertising Team, Dr. Melissa Burnett, says, “The true rewards for us will be not only presenting our work in front of officials from the DHS and the FBI but also seeing the results when the website goes live and other materials are distributed. Giving back to our country through this project is the opportunity of a lifetime—an opportunity made possible because of the support and encouragement of the MSU Administration and our strong alliance with Edventure Partners, Inc.”
Marketing Alum Bill Perry Continues to Support COBA/Marketing Department
By Sherry Cook
Special thanks to Marketing alumnus Bill Perry and his wife Heather, Dallas, Texas, for their continued support of Missouri State University and the College of Business. Their most recent contribution was a generous financial donation to the Marketing Department. In addition, Accenture, the company in which Bill Perry is a partner, will match the donation this spring through its foundation. Accenture is a $23.4 billion revenue global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company with 186,000 employees serving clients in more than 120 countries.
Says Department Head Robert Luke, “We cannot thank [the Perry’s] enough for their continued support of the Marketing Department, its programs, and its faculty. We are all facing challenging times financially…personally and professionally. Therefore, we are even more appreciative of their gift to us at this time. I can promise that this donation will be used in the very best ways possible to further educate our students and provide an environment for learning.”
Perry graduated from Missouri State University in 1984 with a degree in Marketing. A distinguished Military Graduate, Perry received a Regular Army commission as a member of MSU’s Military Science ROTC program. He spent four years in active military service, leaving in 1988 with the rank of captain. Since leaving active service, Perry has participated in more than $16 billion in outsourcing and technology services transactions, first for Electronic Data Systems Corporation, and then for Accenture. Perry has negotiated transactions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia and has had direct business experience in more than 20 countries.
In March 2007, Perry also served as the keynote speaker in the Breakfast with Champions series, co-sponsored by COBA, Springfield Business Journal and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Perry’s presentation was entitled, “Best Practices: Interests Based Negotiations.” In addition he has spoken to several MSU Marketing classes.
AMA Club Members Raise Money for Spring Conference
By Sherry Cook
The American Marketing Association (AMA), formally known as Marketing Club, has been busy this semester. Because of departmental budget cuts, the club has to raise at least $3000 in order to go to its annual international conference in New Orleans. One of the main fundraisers will be a spring break themed swimsuit fashion show at Zan, a new downtown night club, on Thursday, March 5 at 10 p.m. The title of the event is “The Babes and Ballers of Springfield 09.” Both men and women who attend MSU will model swimsuits from H20 swimwear and The Buckle. Kokomo Tans also sponsors the event, offering free tanning to the models. In addition, AMA will be selling COBA T-shirts to all COBA students.
Besides fundraising, the club offers members free workshops on topics such as Photoshop and portfolio web design this semester. The Buckle has teamed up with the club to work on members’ resumes and interviewing skills.
It’s not all about raising money or professional development though. AMA is also busy volunteering each month. During February club members served at the Ronald McDonald House and will team up with the Humane Society in March.
AMA is open to all majors with an interest in Marketing. The group meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in Glass Hall. Students are welcome to join any time throughout the semester. All that is required is to fill out a Missouri State club application and the AMA national application and pay dues ($42 for AMA national dues and $15 a semester for the local affiliate).