AMA Travels to Chicago for Annual International Collegiate Conference

March 20, 2026

The St. John Fisher University chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to participate in the 2026 AMA International Collegiate Conference (ICC), one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings of marketing students in the world.

A group of Fisher students of the American Marketing Association stand near the AMA initials.

The St. John Fisher University chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to participate in the 2026 AMA International Collegiate Conference (ICC), one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings of marketing students in the world. 

Fisher students attend the AMA International Collegiate Conference.

Nico LaRosa ’26, Connor Dziulko ’26, Jason Schiltz ’26, Hailey Gunther ’26, Ella Savoca ’26, Bella D’Ambrosio ’26, Janie Missel ’26, Jack Tamberino ’26, Matt Clair ’26, Nick Mazza ’26, and Sully Clarke ’27 participated in this year’s conference. The group was accompanied by Professor Ron Sicker, who serves as the AMA faculty advisor.

The AMA International Collegiate Conference brings together nearly 2,000 students from more than 130 universities each year. Designed to prepare the next generation of marketing leaders, the conference features a wide range of competitive events, including case competitions, sales challenges, marketing strategy simulations, and chapter leadership awards. Students also attend keynote presentations from industry executives, professional development workshops, and networking sessions with recruiters and marketing professionals from across the country.

Participation in the ICC provides students with hands‑on experience in strategic thinking, communication, branding, analytics, and leadership, skills that are essential in today’s rapidly evolving marketing landscape.

LaRosa, who serves as the AMA president, praised the team’s performance and professionalism throughout the conference. 

Fisher students place fourth in the Marketplace Simulation competition.

Fisher students place fourth in the Marketplace Simulation competition.

“I’m most proud of how well we competed against such tough competition, but even more so the confidence and great attitude we brought,” he said. “This group showed what Fisher students are capable of on a national level.”

Fisher’s AMA chapter has seen consistent success through recent years at the ICC, enhancing the University’s visibility within the AMA network and highlighting the strength of its business programs. Competing against large universities and nationally recognized business schools, Fisher students continue to demonstrate their talent, preparation, and leadership.

This year, the group returned to campus with several awards. Schiltz placed fifth in the Sales Competition sponsored by Insight Global, while LaRosa, Dziulko, Schiltz, Mazza, and Clair placed fourth in the Marketplace Simulation. In the Perfect Pitch competition, sponsored by Gartner, Gunther was a finalist as was Schiltz, who also earned an honorable mention. 

Students stand under the Bean in Chicago.

Beyond the competitive events, the conference offered students the opportunity to explore a major metropolitan city, expand their professional networks, and represent Fisher with pride.

The 2027 conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Looking ahead, LaRosa offered advice for future Fisher participants. 

“Confidence is key. That’s what really stood out about this group, and it’s why I believe AMA has such a bright future,” he said.

This article was written by Hailey Gunther, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2025-2026 academic year.