The American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter at Mercer University held its annual AMA Day on March 26.
“AMA Day is an annual event when Mercer’s AMA chapter brings in professionals to talk about the field of marketing,” said Dr. Steven McClung, associate dean of faculty and research at the Stetson School of Business and Economics. “It’s a panel forum with guests in the marketing profession. Each year, the panel is developed around a theme. Last year was ‘Social Media Marketing,’ and we had social media marketers from several businesses including Google. This year’s theme is local sales, and we’ve invited people from Macon and Atlanta businesses to talk to our students about the role of local sales and marketing.” The four panelists for this year’s AMA event were Yolanda Latimore, Jim Skesavage, Joanna Hemleb and Tom Comerford.
Latimore is the sole proprietor of Like Water Publicity, an advertising and booking agency. The majority of work for this agency comes from placing media buys in an average of 18 markets across America, including her hometown of Macon. Other demands for this business involves creating marketing and publicity plans for customers.
In addition, she books artists, bands and speakers for all type of functions. Much of her experience in advertising, booking and marketing blossoms from apprenticeship and employment with companies such as Clear Channel, Roberts and Murray Communications.
Skesavage is director of marketing, principal and a member of the management team at Atlanta Capital Management Co., LLC. With over 30 years of professional experience, Skesavage has served in a variety of marketing and client service roles. Before joining Atlanta Capital in 2002, he was director of client service and product management, a global partner and member of the management team at Invesco Capital Management. Skesavage acts as chairman of the American Society for Competitiveness. He serves on the board of visitors for the Stetson School of Business and Economics at Mercer University, and the advisory committee of the John Early Society at Loyola University Maryland.
He was past president of the board of directors for the Association of Investment Marketing Sales Executives. Skesavage has served on the boards of Zoo Atlanta, the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association and the Alumni Association for the Stetson School of Business and Economics at Mercer University. He has also participated on the program committee for the Southern Employee Benefits Conference.
Hemleb and Comerford are the lead sales team for Macon’s Fox24 and ABC16 television. They are experienced veterans in television sales.
“The American Marketing Association is a great organization to join for anyone who has an interest in marketing, sales or business in general,” said Daniel Quintanilla, senior and president of Mercer’s AMA chapter. “We’re really trying to reach out, and we’ve partnered with AMA Atlanta, which is one of the top five AMA chapters in the country.”
“This coming year, we want to enter the competition,” said McClung. “We want to start getting a team to go to regionals, which is a big step. It takes a lot of people and a lot of work, but it can be very rewarding for the students who get involved because they’re in front of people who hire.”
Mercer’s AMA chapter mission is to provide members with the knowledge, skills and connections needed to develop networks, resumes and a bright future. It is also an outlet for creativity and innovation. AMA is part of an international organization comprised of 40,000 professional marketers in more than 600 chapters across more than 100 countries. Students can open doors for a career in marketing through membership in Mercer’s AMA chapter.
American Marketing Association hosts annual AMA Day at Mercer
