Student Marketers Attend Rochester Conference
On Friday, Feb. 23, members of the St. John Fisher College chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) attended the fifth annual Rochester Collegiate Conference. The event was held by the Rochester AMA at the Brook-Lea County Club and featured guest speakers, resume resources, and a networking session and career fair.
Rochester AMA is the only professional marketing association in Western New York that provides a full day conference and career fair for students enrolled in business programs. The conference provides a venue for business professionals and students to discuss area opportunities for jobs and internships. Attendants included students from St. John Fisher College, Niagara University, RIT Saunders College of Business, RIT School of Communication, SUNY Brockport, and Genesee Community College.
The morning session began with a talk by St. John Fisher College AMA President Morgan Van der Horst, who shared her experience in last year’s Student Marketing Campaign Competition. Merlin Digital Printing chose Fisher’s submission as first place, and hired Van der Horst as a summer intern to implement the group’s ideas. Greg Cunneyworth, a RIT graduate and co-founder of Makeway LLC, discussed the different aspects involved in starting a business, while Leire Bascaran, head of client services at Helen and Gertrude, offered advice on how to find the right career path based on passion and ability.
Next, leaders of the teams participating in the Student Marketing Campaign Competition presented highlights of their respective team’s submission. This year’s challenge was to present recommendations to Charles Schwab on how to increase investing awareness among millennials. Fisher’s team, which included Emily Risch ’20, Carly Farineau ’19, and Mike Gorton ’18, received a financial incentive award of $300 for their work on the case.
The afternoon session included a career fair with several companies offering interview opportunities for internships and employment. Experienced career and resume advisors provided one-on-one feedback and advice for students looking to advance their prospects. Additionally, each of the colleges had a recruitment representative available to discuss their undergraduate and graduate business programs.
“Attending the conference is such a valuable experience,” said Risch. “Having the opportunity to network with local Rochester businesses is extremely useful for making yourself known among the marketing community.”
In the Photo: John Valentine, vice president senior financial consultant, Charles Schwab; Emily Risch ’20; Dr. Monica Hodis, St. John Fisher College School of Business faculty member and AMA advisor; Christopher LoTempio, vice president financial consultant, Charles Schwab; and Russ McDonald, vice president of collegiate relations, Rochester AMA.