Got great ideas, but just need someone to share them with?

Share your unique marketing perspective on the MN AMA blog as a Blog Contributor! We’re looking for bloggers with varying expertise to write blog posts on marketing or business related content. If interested, contact the MN AMA Blog Content Manager today!

Job Description: The MN AMA Blog Contributor is responsible for creating insightful and relevant blog posts for the MN AMA blog.  Blogs typically range from 300-700 words and can focus on any marketing or business related content. This position is a great way to share content with members, elevate your presence as a marketing expert and hone your social media and blogging expertise. Commitment expectations for this position can vary from bi-annually to bi-monthly depending on your availability.  This is a perfect position for those who are interested in starting a volunteer position with the MN AMA!

December is MN AMA Volunteer Appreciation Month!

We want to take the time to say “Thank you!!” to all of the MN AMA Volunteers who help make the MN AMA so successful! We appreciate your hard work and commitment to the MN AMA. We could not be the organization we are today without your dedication, support and commitment.

Special thanks to the following volunteers:

Membership - Aimee Cheek:

Aimee has been instrumental in helping the Membership team pick out interesting and unique venues for our events. She is always willing to help out to find a venue for any type of event and she always works hard with the venue to make sure we get the best deal.Thanks to Aimee we have been able to book venues that the MN AMA would never have had before.

Programming - Tony Rivera:

Tony Rivera is an outstanding volunteer within the MN AMA Programming Committee. Through his dedication, drive to succeed and unparalleled work ethic, Tony single-handedly established a new role within the Programming Committee as Project Manager and continues to produce new ideas and processes that have yielded positive results across our organization. In addition, he volunteered to be an Event Manager for our September 2011 event while continuing his Project Manager responsibilities. Tony demonstrates a natural enthusiasm for learning and brings out the best in people. He has done a fantastic job in adding value and establishing credibility across our members, participants, volunteers and committee members.

Sponsorship - Lynnda Nelson:

Lynnda works for HALO Branded Solutions and has been a volunteer with Sponsorship since June.  Since joining our committee, she has developed a great rapport with the sponsors she has worked with and focuses on MN AMA’s overall relationship with our sponsors.   

Member of the Month—November 2011

Welcome to the MN AMA’s new feature—Member of the Month!

Member of the Month is designed to show appreciation for and recognize MN AMA members for their membership. Member of the Month is also a great way for other members to get to know each other. Once a month a member will be chosen at random at the end of the month and receive a congratulations email at the beginning of their month asking them for an interview.

Member of the Month receives:

• Recognition on the MN AMA website, all social media outlets and at all monthly events.
• Free attendance at all events (mixers/programming events) that month (minus Annual Conference).
• Thank you card from VP of Membership and President.
• Personal Phone call from VP of Membership.

November Member of the Month

1.     What’s your name?

Darren Drumsta

2.     Where do you work? What is your role?

I am Product Manager at MEDGRAPHICS Corporation. I handle all upstream 

marketing efforts for the Exercise Cardio respiratory Diagnostics Product Portfolio.

3.     When did you join the AMA?

May 2011

4.     Why did you join the AMA?

AMA helps foster development of marketing professionals in multiple disciplines.

5.     What have you learned or do you hope to learn from the MN AMA?

Through the AMA, I hope to continue my personal professional development and build my professional network.

6.     What is one piece of career/marketing advice you have for other MN AMA Members?

I constantly remind myself to think panoramically in terms of overall market understanding and strategy. Often times we are too narrow-minded and force ideas and concepts upon each other that are developed in a “vacuum” so-to-speak. It is my opinion that looking at the bigger picture is where innovation really comes from, however it’s always important to remember the finer details that tie everything together in the end.

MN AMA-What a way to grow your business or career!

Cheryl Powers

You’ve heard it before -- how participating in professional associations pays off and your career will benefit in untold and unforeseen ways. But, you ask, is that still true in this social media age – where with LinkedIn and Facebook you can develop thousands of contacts without meeting a single person face to face? 

I say yes, definitely.  Granted, my business was started in the caveman days (1995), when the U.S. post office rather than email, delivered MN AMA’s newsletter. But even with today’s ability to ‘meet’ people online via LinkedIn and other social media, the value of personal involvement and contact remains extremely high.  The mere existence of MeetUp.com is a testament to the value of in-person, face-to-face engagement.

My personal experience with MN AMA is a case in point.  As with most start-ups, I was longer on time than on money, when I started my business16 years ago. One of the best decisions I made was to get involved in the MN chapter of the AMA.  Already an AMA member, I became a committee volunteer and served on the board for several years.  The people I met through these activities lead directly to projects, as well as referrals.  In fact, nearly all of my clients in those early years were via AMA connections.  It was (and still is) a great way to grow your business or your personal brand.  I recently received a referral via MN AMA’s LinkedIn group, which lead to a new, and hopefully long-term, client. 

Your personal involvement in MN AMA is an opportunity to actively address today’s challenges -- whether it’s a new job, new business or larger personal network.  Keep growing by ‘getting into it’!   Now is the perfect time to join MN AMA during the Fall Membership Drive.  Receive discounted registration dues and additional savings if you register before November 18^th, check out the membership drive page for more information.

Cheryl Powers is the President of The Research Edge® LLC, a full-service market research company that provides qualitative and quantitative methodologies to a broad range of businesses and industries.  Cheryl has been a member of the MN AMA since 1995 and has served in many leadership positions over the years.

Connect. Learn. Grow. With the MN AMA!

The American Marketing Association is a nonprofit organization, serving as THE SOURCE for more than 23,000 professional marketers in 74 chapters across the United States and Canada.

AMA members receive members-only access to the AMA website, which includes numerous incentives such as free webinars and the latest research in the field of marketing; steep discounts on the AMA’s national training programs; and a choice of AMA marketing journals for cutting-edge articles and information. On the local level, you will receive a 30 percent discount on all local events, be able to take your networking to the next level as a volunteer on an AMA committee, and have access to other members-only events and incentives.  AMA connects you to a world of resources that deliver results, and helps you succeed today and into the future.

Still not convinced?  Below are the Top 10 reasons why your employer should support your professional development with a MN AMA Membership:

1. Expand your knowledge base to become a better marketer

2. Market your company by sharing its story and mission

3. Stay ahead of the competition with marketing best practices

4. Follow the latest marketing trends for consideration by your company

5. Learn what other Minnesota companies are doing firsthand

6. Strengthen or develop your managerial and leadership skills

7. Find qualified professionals when it’s time to grow your team

8. Receive the industry’s finest publications—not available without membership

9. Hone your networking skills as a representative of your company

10. Collaborate with other marketing professionals to build career-long relationships

The MN AMA is a very active, exciting marketing organization.  I personally have been a member since2008, and have enjoyed many career benefits and enhancements as a direct result from my membership.  We have over 600 members representing every type of marketing discipline, industry, and business entity.  If you are interested in developing your marketing knowledge, looking for resources, building your contact list, and meeting business leaders, then you would find membership in our organization to be a good fit.

Already a Member?  Help spread the word about the MN AMA! All members are allowed 2 guest passes per every year to show others what the MN AMA is about.  Guest pass registration is unavailable online; call the MN AMA office at 651-917-6241 to register your guest.

Now is a great time to join….Sept 6-Nov 8tn is the Fall Membership Drive!  Anyone who becomes a New Member during the drive will receive the following benefits^*:

·       Complimentary registration fee ($30 value)

·       A choice of ONE of the following offers:

o   A $20 Amazon** Gift Card

o   A $200 coupon redeemable at any AMA national conference

Don’t miss this great opportunity to get involved with MN AMA!

*The following offers are valid for applications received 9/6/11-11/18/11. Group members, College members and current AMA Members are not eligible to redeem offer.

**Amazon.com is not a sponsor of this promotion. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, and the Amazon Gift Cards logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com Gift Cards (“GCs”) may be used only for purchases of eligible goods on Amazon.com or its affiliated website Endless.com. GCs cannot be redeemed for purchases of gift cards. Except as required by law, GCs cannot be reloaded, resold, transferred for value, redeemed for cash, or applied to any other account. See www.amazon.com/gc-legal for complete terms and conditions. GCs are issued and ©2011 by ACI Gift Cards, Inc., a Washington corporation.

MN AMA Welcomes It's New Board of Directors

Congratulations to the new MN AMA Board of Directors, which took over for the new fiscal year on July 1^st. In the coming year, our members can look forward to new events and new programs designed to accelerate your career, increase the depth of your knowledge and put you face-to-face with the movers and shakers of the Minnesota marketing community.   We’re looking forward to a great year!

Danielle Luffey - President

Ann Kline - President Elect

Andy Chollar - Immediate Past President

Barrie Berquist - AVP Annual Conference

Clark Gregor - VP Collegiate Relations

Haley Kurtz - AVP Collegiate Relations

Laura Kalies - VP Finance

Erin Liddy - AVP Finance

Rob McChane - VP Marketing Communications

Kaitlin Carter - AVP Marketing Communications 

Heidi Theede - VP Membership 

Carie Schaitberger - AVP Membership

Laura Bates - VP Programming

Andrea Timmerman - AVP Programming

Melissa Halling - VP Sponsorship

Ben Crowe - AVP Sponsorship

Chuck Swennson - Director At Large - Executive Engagement

Please join us in welcoming this new group of leaders to the MN AMA board of directors!

Kick Your Career Engine into High Gear by Joining the Minnesota Chapter of the American Marketing Association

If you are not yet a member of the MN AMA, now is the perfect time to join!


Connecting. Informing. Advancing.  The MN AMA provides the fuel you need to win.


Between now and May 31st, we are holding our annual Spring Membership Drive, where you can get freebies and discounts only offered during certain times of the year!


Currently, you receive:

• A complimentary registration fee - $30 value!
• Your choice of:
• A $20 Amazon gift card OR 
•  A $200 coupon redeemable at any AMA national conference
• Also, if you join during the Spring Membership Drive AND attend our June New Member Orientation, you'll receive free gifts and have the chance to win gift certificates. 
• Attendees at the June New Member Orientation will also have the opportunity to bring along a gues for free.

Plus, as a member, you'll save between $15-$35 off of each additional educational, training and networking event.  Plus, you'll enjoy the ability to build your network with hundreds of local, talented marketing professionals.  

Check out our member benefits for more information or ask members directly on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter!  

Visit www.marketingpower.com or call 1.800.AMA.1150 to join. 

But don't wait - the 2011 Spring Membership Drive ends on May 31st!

Tweet to win a “coffee cupping” or tour at Caribou event Sep. 23

Lisa Baker

Don’t miss out on the chance to win a special experience at our upcoming “Pour It Like You Mean It: The Evolution of the Caribou Coffee Brand event”. Just follow us on Twitter and watch for tweets containing “Contest” as the first word.

WHY THE CONTESTS?

We want to spread the word about our upcoming programs to both AMA members and their networks. By engaging with you via social media, we hope you like what you see and experience, and interact with us again and frequently.

PRIZES

• 9 winners will get to participate in a coffee cupping (like a wine tasting but with coffee)
• 20 winners will get to participate in a tour of the corporate facilities and warehouse

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• Follow @MNAMA on Twitter
• Watch for MNAMA tweets starting with “Contest” between Aug. 17 and Sep. 21
• There will be 3-4 contests including:
•  A specific retweet request
• A series of trivia questions (you must correctly answer all questions in the series)
•  Tweet your fill-in-the-blank response using the correct event information
• Answers can be found on the event registration page or Caribou Coffee’s homepage
•  Be the first to respond - we’ll choose winners in order of correct responses

RULES

• Participants must be registered for the event before they are eligible to win contests. You do not need to be an AMA member.
• Response to contest questions must include the hashtags #MNAMA and #Caribou
• Winners can only win once; you can win a coffee cupping or a tour, not both.
• Winners must allow for an additional 30 minutes after the event on Sep. 23 for the coffee cupping and tour.

Watch for details and winner announcements on our Facebook and Twitter feeds.             

               

Questions? Feel free to leave a comment here or reach us via Twitter @MNAMA. Good luck, and spread the word!

Lisa Baker manages B2B and B2C marketing for health advocacy products at CIGNA Healthcare, and she also owns her own agency - Elbie Marketing, LLC. She has a B.A. in communications and M.A. in ethnographic marketing research and servant leadership.

Meet the MN AMA’s 2010-2011 Board of Directors

Congratulations to the new MN AMA Board of Directors, which took the reins on July 1. In the upcoming year, look forward to new events and new programs designed to accelerate your career, increase the depth of your knowledge and put you face-to-face with the movers and shakers of the Minnesota marketing community. Want to learn more about our board members? Check out their goals for the 2010–2011 fiscal year:

Andrew Chollar, President

"For the last year, I’ve been working with others on the board to lay the groundwork for a program I conceived of while on the Programming Committee. It’s called the Executive Engagement Program, and is designed to increase participation in the MN AMA by senior level marketing professionals and thought leaders. Kicking off that program this year is a primary goal of mine."

Dani Luffey, President Elect

“One goal I expect to see over the next year or so, is an increase in the value we provide for MN AMA members. We have great plans for our MN AMA membership that includes improvements in the overall member experience. We'll step it up with meaningful, impactful events and tools that help members achieve their professional goals and more. I'm very excited about the future.”

Kim Verros, Immediate Past President
“To support the President in building a highly involved and relevant marketing community that marketers can count and adds value to the lives and careers of our members.”

Janelle Lynch, VP—Annual Conference
“My overall goal is to have a successful 2010 Annual Conference.”

Jessica Egyhazi, AVP—Annual Conference

“To increase 2011 and 2012 Annual Conference attendance by Midwest marketing professionals regardless of AMA affiliation.”

Jessica Meilleur, VP—Collegiate Relations
“Delivering the value of MN AMA and bridging the gap between our collegiate chapters and the professional chapter is my main goal as VP of Collegiate Relations this year.”

Clark Gregor, AVP—Collegiate Relations
“I'd like to leverage our incentives for collegiate membership to gain more graduate student members.”

Cassie Fyten, VP—Finance
“To work closely with all the committees that make up the MN AMA to ensure all financial goals are met.”
 
Laura Kalies, AVP—Finance
“I think it will be of key importance to engage the board in activities that strengthen our financial position. This will include effective budget management as well as cultivation and support of sponsorship relationships that will enable the organization to provide a meaningful experience for our members and become their primary base for education, networking and job resources.”

Dominic Fong, VP—Marcom
“I want to revitalize the MN AMA brand as the premier marketing professional organization in the State of Minnesota as well as the chapter's online and social media presence to enhance membership and programming outreach efforts.”
 
Rob McChane, AVP—Marcom
“I hope to help streamline our internal marketing communications processes to make our communications to membership as timely and effective as possible. Additionally, I hope to continue to help the chapter stay ahead of new technological advances in Social Media and online marketing communications.”

Heidi Theede, VP—Membership
“My main goal is to increase membership by retaining those members we do have by creating engaging topics, venues and speakers.”
 
Ken Gregory, AVP—Membership
“Increase member retention through focused events and initiatives that promote professional education, knowledge sharing, and networking, and provide meaningful experiences to our member community.”

Camille Benoit, VP—Programming
“My goal is to provide engaging, high-quality programming that can help marketing professionals stay current and technologically savvy amidst the rapid rate of change that is affecting every aspect of our industry.”

Laura Bates, AVP—Programming
“Continued relevant, fresh programming. Improved planning and promotion to increase attendance.”

Catherine Gillis, VP—Sponsorship
“I expect to provide an increased level of sponsorship to provide a high quality experience for members.”

Melissa Halling, AVP—Sponsorship
“One goal that I would like to achieve while in my position is to incorporate more sponsors into dual sponsorships with the MN AMA. I would like to create more excitement around our core sponsorship benefits along with stretching the sponsorships into the Annual Conference as well.”

Chuck Swensson, Director at Large—Executive Engagement
"I am excited to launch our Executive Engagement Program, which has the potential to fully engage and support the marketing executive segment of our constituency."



Learn more about the 2010-2011 MN AMA Board of Directors now!