Columbus AMA Chapter Announces

2007-2008 Executive Board

Members look to push chapter forward in the year of its 30th anniversary

Columbus, Ohio (July 9, 2007) - The Columbus Chapter of the American Marketing Association, which celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, has recently announced their new executive board. Members will hold office for the 2007-2008 chapter year, ending their term in June 2008.

The 2007-2008 board includes:

• President – Eric Ralph, Pricing Analyst, Sterling Commerce (43230)
• President Elect – Merry Sroufe, Marketing Recruiter, Nationwide (43021)
• Past President – Bridget McAuliffe, Senior Business Development Manager, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff (43017)
• VP of Communications –Michael Spiellman, Communications Manager, BMI Federal Credit Union (43209)
• VP of Membership – Scott Peacock
• VP of Programming – Crystal Poole, Marketing Communications Specialist, CAS (43206)
• VP of Special Interest Groups – Jennifer DeMatteis, Market Director, Moody-Nolan, Inc. (43082)
• VP of Professional Development – Rebecca Forrer, Associate Manager, Prospect Marketing, Alliance Data (43081)
• VP of Sponsorship – Nick Iannitto, Director of Business Development, Media Solutions (43228)
• VP at Large – Allison Short, Marketing Communications Consultant, Global Communications, Cardinal Health (43065)
• Secretary – Jennifer Eschbaugh, Account Executive, Signature Worldwide (43215)

The Columbus Chapter of the AMA is composed of more than 300 members from a variety of esteemed companies in the Central Ohio area. The chapter has celebrated various recent successes, winning the title of 2001 Chapter of the Year and earning Signature Chapter status in 2002. In 2004, the Columbus chapter served as a model for the Board in a Box program, which will provide leadership training for board members of all other chapters in the association.

“We’re proud of the things we’ve accomplished in the past few years and are excited to push the chapter even further,” said Eric Ralph, incoming president. “As president, I aim to make the Columbus chapter the best it’s ever been.”

The heart of every chapter is programming. Upcoming Columbus AMA events include Kris Miotke, VP of Marketing for Donato’s, who will be speaking to the members at the Columbus AMA’s July 17 Luncheon. The speaker for the August 7 Luncheon will be Melvin Lenzy, Asia Pacific Brand Manager, Basketball, Sport Culture and Energy, from NIKE.

About the Columbus AMA

The Columbus Chapter of the American Marketing Association is composed of more than 300 marketing professionals from a wide variety of distinguished organizations located throughout central Ohio. Its programs offer professionals an opportunity to excel in the marketing realm and to build relationships with fellow marketers by creating an environment for learning and sharing new, up-to-date marketing trends and strategies. The Columbus Chapter of the American Marketing Association won the Chapter of the Year Award in 2001 and earned Signature Chapter status in 2002. For more information about the Columbus AMA's events and services for marketing professionals and the broader business community, visit www.columbusama.org.

ProBonoLink.org — Connecting Marketers, Non-Profits

The Columbus AMA, as part of its own efforts to have a positive impact on the community, is pleased to highlight a website and service that is making things happen to create just such an impact...   ProBonoLink.org was created to help connect non-profit organizations that need marketing help with marketing and communications professionals willing to work on a pro bono or reduced-fee basis.  As an aside, we are also proud to say that www.ProBonoLink.org was started by a former Columbus AMA President.

Technology Makes It Difficult to Ensure Positive Spin on Products
Rick Adamczak, Reporter Staff Writer

Crisis management and overall postive marketing efforts have become more difficult as communications options have increased, according to local industry authorities.

"Companies now have to do some sophisticated searching to find out what's being said about them. They're having to be proactive," said Eric Ralph, president-elect for the Columbus chapter of the American Marketing Association and founder of Martial Path LLC, a company that helps service and technology firms beome more profitable. "It's more work. It's not just issuing a press release and controlling the message."

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