Charley Gilbert visits BSU’s student chapter of the American Marketing Society as part of her ongoing series exploring clubs and organizations on campus.
On the lookout for a new club that could help me meet new friends and further my academic opportunities, I decided to attend a meeting of the American Marketing Association.
AMA provides community and networking for all students. Guest speakers come to meetings and provide students with valuable insight about entering the job market in addition to creating networking opportunities for the club’s members.
Some group members participate in the AMA International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, which includes a multi-category sales competition. Thousands of students attend the competition each year and compete for awards and scholarships.
Bob Strand, an associate professor of business administration at BSU and the club’s advisor, shared some of the club’s impressive accomplishments.
“Last year, we were recognized as a Top 5 chapter across the U.S. among other universities our size,” he said. “We’ve also been proud to have several students over the past few years earning top ranks at many of the competitive sales and marketing events that AMA participates in, competing against some of the country’s biggest universities toe-to-toe.”
Kiersten Flaig, a business administration major who serves AMA as a presidential cabinet member, says the club is the perfect combination of business and fun.
“We have a lot of networking, internship and travel opportunities,” Flaig said. “That is what we do at AMA and why we are such a fun organization.”
Nathan Row, a business administration major from Thief River Falls, said the club has provided unique professional opportunities that can help build new skills.
“AMA has been a steppingstone for me and my professional journey,” he said. “This club has caused me to explore areas inside and outside of my comfort zone.”
I spoke with Mitch Nemec, a business administration major who is also part of the presidential cabinet, about his experiences with sales competitions.
“I got introduced to sales competitions through AMA,” he said. “AMA helps me develop my skills and provides networking opportunities that will help me further my career.”
As a community-driven organization, AMA welcomes students from all majors and backgrounds. Erin Jones, a marketing communications major from Thief River Falls, is glad she joined last year. She shares the value of this student club through her new experiences.
“Being in AMA has taught me more about marketing than I realized. I learn so much from the guest speakers,” she said. “They provide real world job descriptions and valuable advice.”
AMA’s leadership team is happy to answer any questions about their organization and opportunities. Strand said any student who wishes to learn more about the club and upcoming events is invited to attend a meeting
“One of the best ways to see what AMA has to offer is to stop in at one of the regular meetings or join us for some of the upcoming guest speakers,” he said. “AMA is one of the best ways to jumpstart all of your creative business and marketing creativity.”
Learn more about AMA and the annual International Collegiate Conference at https://www.ama.org/
About the author
Hi, my name is Charley, and I am a senior communication studies major. My position as a content writer for the Office of Communications and Marketing gives me the amazing opportunity to showcase Bemidji State and highlight student achievements. You can expect a variety of new content from me this year, so stay tuned!