“This is a huge opportunity for us at Grace to bridge the gap between marketing students and marketing professionals,” said Heidi Miller, assistant professor of marketing at Grace. “Our chapter mission is to create an experiential learning environment within the field of marketing and foster opportunities for students to develop professional competence and demonstrate active service in our greater community,” she said.
The first meeting will include a presentation from Lore Gill, the AMA director of community experience, as well as Dave Grout, a local marketing expert who serves as president and owner of Timberline Team Consulting. After Grout shares, attendees are invited to enjoy pizza and cake in the Grace Alumni Hospitality Suite.
“Having a chapter of the American Marketing Association on the Grace Campus will help students develop and pursue meaningful careers in marketing which will promote academic achievement, professional development and networking within the community,” said Grout. “It is an honor to speak to students about the intersection of marketing and ethics in today’s complex and ever-changing business world,” he said.
Summer Engle, a marketing student at Grace and student president of the AMA chapter, has big hopes for the group. “It’s our goal to provide AMA members with opportunities for personal growth by participating in professional development, community service, networking events and fundraising activities,” she said. “I’m excited to see how this group empowers marketing students to pioneer leadership and development in our community.”
The group has plans to participate in four community-focused events and help provide marketing services for nonprofit organizations in the community such as Fellowship Missions, Habitat for Humanity and Combined Community Services.
“Not only is Grace the fourth chapter in the state, but we are also the first faith-based chapter in Indiana,” said Miller. “We are going to really press into that. We want to leverage this group to serve others, partner with the community and produce marketing professionals who are excellent in their craft. This is the way of Grace.”
For more information about the Grace College AMA, contact Heidi Miller at millerhc@grace.edu.
