AMA Birmingham

October AMA Halloween Mixer
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00 UTC | AL

October Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Connecting With Customers
Presented by Michele Elrod, Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing – Regions Financial
Join us as Michele shares with us Regions’ mission, the thrill of creating a new brand and the role of the iconic bike, how Regions is better connecting with customers, and Regions’ commitment to communities through financial education and sponsorships.
Michele Elrod has been a marketing professional for nearly 35 years, 30 of those in the ever-changing banking industry. In her words, “Today, marketing offers more opportunities than ever before to support your company and ensure that marketing is a revenue center.”
She earned her master’s degree from the University of Alabama School of Communication and Information Services, where she was recently recognized as the 2014 Outstanding Alumna in Advertising. The Birmingham Business Journal honored Michele as a top CMO in the 2014 C-suite awards. She currently serves in the University Of Alabama Culverhouse School Of Commerce Mentor Program and is a member of the Culverhouse Board of Visitors.

This event is sponsored by the Exact Target Marketing Cloud. The Exact Target Marketing Cloud from Salesforce is the platform for 1:1 customer journeys, connecting companies with customers in whole new ways. Learn more at exacttarget.com.

Sam Capra will discuss the world’s most powerful 1:1 digital marketing platform, the ExactTarget Marketing Cloud. Learn how it helps you make the most of every customer interaction—creating personalized, cross-channel customer journeys that deliver exceptional brand experiences.

April Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Guest Speaker: Hatton Smith, Royal Cup
Join us as Hatton Smith shares the strategies behind Royal Cup’s two-tiered marketing strategy.
Royal Cup Coffee has built a national brand whose coffee and teas are not sold in stores. The company partners with restaurants, hotels, offices and resorts to develop custom blends of coffee and tea that customers recognize as special and unique. From Highlands Bar & Grill to the Waffle House – they’re serving custom blended coffee and/or tea manufactured exclusively by Royal Cup Coffee.
Fifteen years ago the company began offering its products online through EspresShip.com – an easy and convenient way for home consumers and businesses of all sizes to enjoy coffee-house-quality coffee. Royal Cup also recently introduced a customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van with a complete barista bar outfitted with state-of-the-art brewing equipment, a full graphics wrap, and an exterior pop-up digital flatscreen monitor for images and videos.
Early Birds Register and Pay by Friday Noon April 10: Members $20, Guests $30, Students $10
After Friday Noon April 10: Members $30, Guests $40, Students $15

**Early Bird prices accepted at the door for company checks and students cash.

November Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Bew White, CEO of Summer Classics Companies will share his experience founding and growing the largest luxury outdoor furniture manufacturer in the United States.
From a textile Engineering Degree at Auburn with an expected future at Avondale Mills, the great grandson of its founder and Alabama Governor, Braxton Bragg Comer, Bew began a life long entrepreneurial pursuit of excellence in home goods leading to the industry’s leading brand.
Bew has opened plants in Chile 1989 to 1995, and Mexico from 1993 to 2000. He has been to China 29 times from 1998 to 2014, and has captive factories in Dalian, Heshan and Shunde. A lifetime of developing innovative materials, his latest is a sustainable product made of rice hulls and mineral spirits called Resysta, made in a plant in Indonesia.
Coupled with how his legacy William White remarkably founded the industry leading Gabby brand in the pit of a crippling recession marks a dynasty of Alabama rainmaker’s.
From a 35+ year legacy of taste, Summer Classics has become the premier manufacturer of luxury outdoor furniture. We innovate with timeless materials like exclusive resin wicker, cast aluminum, teak, and iron. Our beautiful creations enhance the quality of life for our customers and change the way people think about outdoor furniture. Our Purpose: We exist to provide, Life’s best moments… Furnished.™
Alabama’s largest home goods importer, the company houses a full service marketing and PR department, largest internal furniture design department in the industry, and manufactures product in 8 countries. The company is now headquartered in one of Birmingham’s largest buildings, the newly renovated, former Moore Handley building at 487,000 square feet.
Bew recently was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF). Don’t miss incredible insight into the ups and downs of leading a fashion driven business.

October Networking Mixer
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00

May Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
The Sales Gap Model: Creating lift by moving McKinsey’s CDJ theory into a practical, sales driven, marketing process.

Guest Speaker: Sean Doyle, FitzMartin
Sean’s thinking, vision and experience are focused on helping clients truly align marketing and sales with one another and jointly with the customer. The FitzMartin process is linear and can be used to create “rational” buying experiences. This is a major “a-ha” for B2B marketers because it has repercussions for more than just tools but also behavior. It puts marketers in a position of serving as counselors/advisors to sales and across the entire enterprise.
Sean will share his lead tool, a sales gap analysis, and demonstrate how the Sales Gap framework was used by one of the 50 largest banks in the world to create marketing and sales alignment. He also will review the efficacy of marketing tools and sales behaviors and explain how that client created $100,000,000’s in sales (fee, loan and deposit growth) using this process.
Sean will share:

How you can identify barriers to sales
How you can advance your professional marketing skills from “I think that will work” to “this will work because…”
How to collaborate with sales in pursuit of today’s revenue (and management in pursuit of tomorrow’s growth)
A quantitative tool to evaluate sales process and behavior
A quantitative way to evaluate creative and predict its efficacy

As a principal of FitzMartin, Sean is a leading mind and voice on B2B sales and marketing strategy. Particularly adroit at applying the science of behavioral change to sales and marketing communications, Sean drives the team at FitzMartin to focus on the needs of business and business leaders. For over 25 years, Sean has worked with businesses to solve the most pressing sales and marketing challenges: planning, positioning, and branding of course, but also growth initiatives, sales optimization, metrics and analytics, high value hard to reach sales programs, customer experience mapping and design, sales technology integration, sales and marketing leadership coaching, even fractional CMO engagements.
Clients include Georgia Pacific, the Southeastern Conference and BBVA Compass. Sean’s first book, Enabling Profit, is a guide for an executive in charge of marketing but not trained to do it!
Early Birds Register and Pay by Friday Noon May 15: Members $20, Guests $30, Students $10
After Friday Noon May 15: Members $30, Guests $40, Students $15

**Early Bird prices accepted at the door for company checks and students cash.

November Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
You Don’t Have To Wear Wing Tip Shoes To Be An Entrepreneur
Presented by Bud Cason, Owner, Founder and CEO, Bud’s Best Cookies
Join us as Bud Cason shares with us his story of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
Bud’s Best Cookies is one of the country’s leaders in bite-sized cookie production. Bud’s manufactures several brands of cookies in 30 different flavors and varieties and produces over one million cookies per hour in their Hoover location.
Register by 12 pm November 14: Students $10 Members $20 Guests $30
Register at the door (space permitting): Students $15 Members $30 Guests $40

February Fling
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Join us for a night of networking with Birmingham’s growing marketing community!

AMA Coffee Talk
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Find out why joining AMA is a great value and an important investment in your future! Meet and mingle with both new and long-time AMA members. We want to get know you better and to share with you how AMA membership can benefit your career. Register now so we can reserve space. This is a FREE event!
Looking forward to getting to know YOU!

Learn, Connect, Advance Conference
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Brought To You By

About the Event
JUNE 26th, 2015: The Birmingham Chapter of the American Marketing Association is holding their biggest professional development event of the year… ‘LEARN, CONNECT, ADVANCE’ Conference. Featuring 3 keynote speakers and 7 breakout sessions (breakfast and lunch included) this event will feature dynamic programming on a variety of marketing topics, networking opportunities and leadership insights from some of the areas best marketers to keep you and your organization on point.
View The Full Conference Agenda

Be Sure To Attend The Conference After Party!
4:30 – 6:30: Conference Power Networking & Drinks @ Olivia’s
2013 2nd Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203

Members – $65
Non- members – $75
On event day – $85
Students – $35

Birmingham AMA Holiday Networking Mixer
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00

September Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Stumbling And Serving: a Trekker’s Guide to the C-Suite
The C-Suite: part myth, part reality. Not a destination harbor, just one more port of call
Presented by: Bill Todd
Bill Todd of o2ideas will share his unique perspective of winding up in the C-Suite and ad agency ownership at our September AMA luncheon. Todd, who originally started as a TV reporter in Birmingham, in April became an owner of Birmingham ad shop o2ideas after being named president more than two years ago. He will offer practical tips on how to make your journey to the C-Suite based on a three-decade odyssey across the high seas filled with stumbles, catastrophes, victories and joy.

AMA Summer Marketing Mixer
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Network and mingle with fellow marketing and advertising professionals on a cool summer evening at Above, the rooftop bar at the Redmont Hotel.AMA Summer Marketing Mixer
Prepay online for just $15 or pay $20 at the door. Registration includes a delicious Taziki’s buffet plus two drink tickets!
Enjoy salsa dancing starting at 8:30.
Non-members and guests welcome.

January Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Tackling 100+ Unique Markets Through Effective Communications
Presented by Casey Lassiter- Associate Director of Communications, Healthsouth Corporation
Casey will share how her very small staff, handles communications and marketing for more than 100 hospitals in HealthSouth’s nationwide network.
The hospitals are in very different markets – some in small markets with no competitors while some experience the opposite. This creates a challenge for her team, which acts as a resource and support for all HealthSouth hospitals as well as the corporate office.
The presentation will include details on how they tackle public relations, media relations, crisis communications, creative services, online communications (including social media) and internal communications and marketing from a corporate level while still allowing hospitals to customize their message and marketing.
About Casey Lassiter
Casey Lassiter serves as associate director of communications at HealthSouth Corporation where she is responsible for the company’s external communications including public and media relations for both the corporate office and the company’s nationwide network of more than 100 hospitals in 33 states. In this role, she also serves as the media spokesperson for the company. Many of her current tasks include working directly with corporate leadership to communicate current and trending news for the company that involves media outlets in both the local and national markets. Casey has worked with HealthSouth’s development team and other departments to bring more than ten new hospitals and acquisitions to the HealthSouth network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and was part of the team that redesigned the corporate website and the team that redesigned more than 100 HealthSouth hospital websites across the country. Casey’s public relations work on the company’s Amputees Across America program received a Public Relations Council of Alabama Medallion Award and a Public Relations Society of America Award of Excellence Silver Anvil Award.
Early Birds Register and Pay by Friday Noon Jan. 16: Members $20, Guests $30, Students $10
After Friday Noon Jan. 16: Members $30, Guests $40, Students $15
**Early Bird prices accepted at the door for company checks and student cash.

October Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Cindy Fisher Crawford- Editor, Birmingham Business Journal
“What News is HOT in Birmingham”
Cindy Fisher Crawford will delve into the numbers of online readership to show which stories get the most interest from Birmingham business leaders. And, she will share how that information can help marketing professionals make smarter branding decisions.
Cindy Fisher Crawford is editor of the Birmingham Business Journal. In a leadership role at the top business publication in the state for eight years, she has gained inside knowledge and outside perspective on the pulse of the business community. Fisher Crawford will share Birmingham business insights with the AMA chapter on Oct. 21.
Fisher Crawford is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has 17 years of experience in newspapers. She started out her career as a government and education reporter at the Birmingham Post-Herald, where she worked for three years, and then moved to Connecticut to work as a reporter at the Waterbury Republican-American. She later worked for five years at the Daytona Beach News-Journal as a reporter covering governments.
Fisher Crawford, a Tuscaloosa native, returned to her home state to join the Birmingham Business Journal as managing editor in 2007 and was promoted to editor in September 2010. She is the mother of two children ages 8 and 5 and a regular contributor to NPR and Fox 6 news.

AMA Spring Mixer 2016
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00

October Signature Series Luncheon | Dreamland’s Challenge: Connecting With New Markets While Maintaining Core Identity
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Dreamland’s Challenge: Connecting With New Markets While Maintaining Core Identity
Presented by Betsy McAtee, CEO, Dreamland BBQ
Dreamland Bar-B-Que is an iconic brand with a history that spans over half-a-century. Dreamland’s identity is a result of one man’s dream and guests’ memories and experiences tied to that dream. Now with nine locations across the Southeast, a retail product line available in grocery stores and nationwide shipping from dreamlandbbq.com, Dreamland faces an opportunity (and challenge) every day to connect with new and existing audiences with relevant and compelling messaging while remaining true to their core identity. Dreamland CEO Betsy McAtee will discuss the expansion of the brand, diversification of operations and the marketing strategies that support the goal of creating a mutually beneficial relationship with guests and customers.
With over 20 years of experience in the food industry, Betsy McAtee has spent her career in key positions for regional and national brands. When she joined Dreamland Holding Company in 2000, she brought that vast experience with her. Dreamland BBQ Holding Company owns and operates seven restaurants in the Southeast and is the franchisor of the Dreamland Brand, a nationally recognized restaurant brand. Under Betsy’s direction, Dreamland has not only retained the legendary identity that has created an ever-loyal customer base over the last 50 years, but has also expanded and evolved to meet the needs of the modern customer.
Dreamland has been recognized among the best BBQ in the nation by Southern Living, Men’s Journal, USA Today and more! Birmingham Magazine named Dreamland a Legacy Business in 2012. Dreamland was named the Retailer of the Year Silver Medalist by the Alabama Retail Association in 2014 and Retailer of the Year Gold Medalist in 2015. Prior to her career at Dreamland, Betsy served as District Manager, Area Training Manager, Zone Business Manager and Key Account Manager for the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo. She was responsible for implementation of a national route sales training program and served as the test market coordinator for a bakery product line extension in the Southeast.

[April 2016 Luncheon] The Absolutely Essential Social Media Tools
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
The Absolutely Essential Social Media Tools
by Wade Kwon, Founder of Y’all Connect conference
Social media is much more than hashtags and apps. It’s about interaction and reach, about conversions and sales.
Crafting a solid social media marketing plan begins with the right tools. Let Wade Kwon, one of the Poynter Institute’s 35 Influential People in Social Media, point you to the best free and paid apps to maximize engagement and minimize stress.
Communications consultant and Birmingham Blogging Academy founder Wade Kwon has written thousands of blog posts and created blogs big and small. He loves to tell stories, in person and in print and online as Birmingham’s Best Blogger.
He is founder of the Y’all Connect conference, yallconnect.com.
The Poynter Institute selected Kwon as one of 35 Influential People in Social Media. Birmingham Magazine readers selected him as Best Tweeter 2 years running in the Best of B’ham 2010 and 2011 online polls. His site, Magic City Post, was voted Best Website in the Birmingham’s Best 2011 readers’ poll by the Birmingham News; it also won 2011 Green Eyeshade Awards for Best Blog and Specialized Site.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wadeontweets

2016 Executive Reception - AMA Members-Only
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Join us and over 100 executives from Birmingham and beyond at this AMA members-only event.
Held at Samford University’s Brock School of Business.

Executives in attendance include:
Jeff Stephens, General Manager, 365-Inc.
Gary Bolton, Vice President Global Marketing, Adtran
Ralph Moore, President, AHI Corporate Housing Group
John Hudson, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, Alabama Power
Susan Brouillette, CEO, Alacare
Don Moore, Director of Business Development & Analytics, Alagasco
John Gourley, Managing Director, Altec
Drew Smith, Marketing Communications Director, Altec
John Howe, CEO, American Pipe & Supply
Fred McCallum President, AT&T Alabama
Jim Hulsey, Director of Marketing, Atlas RFID Solutions, LLC
Melanie Smith, Public Relations Communication Manager, Atlas RFID Solutions, LLC
Linda Cencula, President/CEO, Avadian Credit Union
Joe O’Donnell, Editor/Publisher, B Metro Magazine
Brook W. Redmond, Director of Business Development, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Laurie Holt, Marketing Coordinator, Barfield, Murphy, Shank, & Smith CPA
Bethanne Jenkins, Director of Marketing, Bayer Properties
Mark Klein, SVP, Director of Marketing Operations, Brand & Advertising BBVA Compass
Michelle Stotz Gels, Director of Channel Acquisition, Programs and Analytics, BBVA Compass
Deborah Stephens, Founder, Chairman, & CEO, Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.
Judi Braswell, VP of Marketing, Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.
Brook W. Redmond, Dir. of Business Development, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Cindy Fisher Crawford, Director of Communications and Brand Strategy, Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
Dr. Jesse J. Lewis, Sr., Founder, Birmingham Times
Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, President, Birmingham-Southern College
Blake Rhodes, Marketing Manager, BL Harbert International
Rebekah Elgin-Council, Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
Kelly Schrupp, Director of Business Development & Marketing, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
John Stivender, VP-Business Development, Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors
Kate DeWitt Darden, VP Health Marketing and Communications, Brookwood Baptist Health
Dee Dee Mathis, Sr. VP of Marketing, Bruno Event Team,
Al Cason, President & Chief Operating Officer, Bud’s Best Cookies, Inc.
Walker Sorrell, Associate Publisher, Business Alabama-PMT Publishing,
Tim Carroll, Director of Sales/Marketing, Business Interiors
Jeff Skipper, VP Marketing, Chester’s International LLC
Tom Carr, VP of Marketing, Chicken Salad Chick
Garland Stansell, Chief Communications Officer-Corporate Communications & Marketing, Children’s of Alabama
Alton Irwin, CMO, COCM
Michael Wilson, Corporate Marketing Director, Command Alkon
Tanveer Patel, CEO, ConcertCare
Mark Johnson, President and CEO, Creative Benefits Solutions LLC
Pat Henry, President, Daniel Corporation
Lisa Hasen, Sr. Marketing Director, Daxko
April Benetollo, Head of Career Development, Daxko
Brad Fisher, Corporate Dir. of Marketing & Communication, DCH Health System
David Rula, Partner, Digital Marketing Services, Inc.
John Peinhardt, President, Direct Point
David Rula, Partner, Digital Marketing Services, Inc.
Betsy McAtee, CEO, Dreamland BBQ
Karla Wiles, VP Corporate Communications, EBSCO Industries
Tate Maddox, Dir. of Marketing, Employment Screening Services
John Burdett, President and CEO, FastSlowMotion
Cord Sachs, President/CEO, FireSeeds
Will Riley, Marketing Director, FireSeeds
Mike McCraw, Managing Director, Founders Investment Banking
Andy Harp, Founder, Frios Gourmet Pops
Leisha Harris, Dir. of Marketing & Public Relations, Grandview Medical Center
Rebel Negley, CEO, Granny Hester’s Fine Foods, LLC
James Riley, CMO, Great Southern Wood Preserving Inc.
Francis Hare, High Commander & Chief Creative Officer, Hare Communications
Heidi Elnora, Owner, Heidi Elnora
Sarah Sharp, VP Marketing, Hibbett Sports
Eric Hoffman, President & COO, Hoffman Media, LLC
Dan Pahos, Franchise Owner, Home Instead Senior Care
Cathleen Shaw, Marketing & Communications Manager, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
Anna Powell, VP Marketing, Influence Health
Mike Nolte, CEO, Influence Health
Jason Lovoy, President, Infomedia
Devon Laney, President & CEO, Innovation Depot
Kris Bishop, President & CEO, Integrated Legacy Solutions
Jake McKenzie, CEO, Intermark
Jim Cavale, President, Iron Tribe
Brian Pitts, CEO, ITAC Solutions
Pam Measel, Dir. of Marketing, Jack’s
David P. Kassouf, Director, Kassouf & Company
Mike Kemp, President/CEO, Kemp Management Solutions
Jay Brandrup, Principal, Kinetic Communications
David Knight, CEO, Knight Eady
Michael Eady, CMO, Knight Eady
Mark Whitworth, COO, Knight Eady
Glenn Phillips, CEO, Lake Homes Realty
Larry Norris, President & CEO, Lewis Communications,
Rhiannon Sharpe, Business Development Manager, The Lemak Group of Companies
John Gardner,President, Luckie & Company
Lisa Beck, CMO, Main Street Inc.
Danny Markstein, Managing Director, Markstein
Julie Wall, VP, Markstein
David Martin, President, Martin Retail Group
Jessica A. Findley, Executive VP, Masada Resource Group, LLC
Bill Stone, VP of Industrial & Commercial Business Development, Mayer Electric Supply Company
Gregory S. Curran, Principal, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.
Jeff McDowell, Owner, McDowell Security
Shannon Vann, VP of Sales & Marketing, McKinney Capital
Danny McKinney, CEO, McKinney Capital
Tom McLeod, President, McLeod Software
Wendi L. Allen, Dir. of Inside Sales and Marketing, The McPherson Companies
Willis McKee, VP-Marketing & Communications, MedJet Assist
Vince Thompson, Chairman/CEO, Melt LLC
Bryan Council, President, Metro Monitor
Mitch Wolfe, Chief Customer Officer, Milo’s Tea Company
Bill Fox, President and CEO, Momentum Telecom
Taylor Peake Wyatt, President, MotionMobs
Emily Hart, Dir. of Marketing, MotionMobs
Kelly Knudsen, Co-Owner, Moxy
Brandy Herschbach, Co-Owner, Moxy
Shelley Stewart, CEO, O2 Ideas
Bill Todd, President and Partner, O2 Ideas
Randy Adamy, CEO, O’Henry’s Coffees
Dana Garvin, Dir. of Strategic Partnerships, Pack Health
Paul J. DeMarco, Attorney, Parsons, Lee, Juliano, PC
Jason Harkins, Managing Member, Payroll & Benefit Solutions
Jane Barnett, Marketing and Business Development, Payroll & Benefit Solutions
Elizabeth B. Shelton, Dir. of Communications, PharmaPoint
Lykethia Pierce, CEO, Pierce & Associates CPA
Jeff Bowlby, Chief Marketing Officer, ProAssurance
Frank Sottosanti, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Protective Life Insurance Company
Dave Burke, EVP, Red Diamond
Michele R. Elrod, EVP, Head of Marketing, Regions Financial
Robert R. Jolly Jr., President & CEO, Retail Specialists, Inc.
CJ Britton, Dir. of Creative Services, Royal Cup Coffee and Tea Inc.
Owen Harris, Dir. of Brand Marketing, Royal Cup Coffee and Tea Inc.
Joe Meads, Principal and Owner, Sain Associates Inc.
Andrew Westmoreland, Ph.D., President, Samford University
Betsy Holloway, Ph.D., VP for Marketing & Communication, Samford University
Randy Pittman, VP – University Advancement, Samford University
Howard Finch, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, Samford University’s Brock School of Business
Bruce Nichols, Dir. of Executive Education, Samford University’s Brock School of Business
Darin White, Ph.D., Chair, Entrepreneurship, Management, & Marketing Department, Samford University’s Brock School of Business
Dr. Mark Schaeffer, Schaeffer Eye Care
Meagan Freeman, Dir. of Marketing & Advertising, Schaeffer Eye Care
Derek R. Waltchack, Partner, Shannon Waltchack
Alex Dudchock, County Manager, Shelby County, Alabama
Ron Shoe, President, SIP Oasis, Inc.
W. Todd Carlisle, President and Attorney, Sirote
L’Tryce Slade, Owner, Slade, LLC
Robert D. Pierce, Jr., President, SourcePointe
Steve Whatley, Chairman, President, and CEO, Southern States Bank
Meredith Nelson, SVP Marketing and Training, Southern States Bank
Dan Starnes, Publisher, Starnes Publishing
Keith P. Brown, President / CEO, State Traditions
Danae Boyd, Marketing Director, Sterne Agee
Merrill Stewart, President, Stewart/Perry
Gayle Rogers, CMO, Strong Automotive
Bill Stoeffhaas, Principal, Style Advertising, Inc.
Mark Griggs, VP Marketing, Summer Classics | Gabby | Parker James
Michael Blackstone, MD, CEO, Suture Health, Inc.
Justin Hardy, President, Switch Audio Video
Tim Lewis, President, TALA Professional Services
Seth Williams, CMO, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café
Keith Richards, Founder/Chief Development Officer, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café
Fernando Valentin, President & CEO, The Trinity Design Group, LLC, MBE
Eric Housh, CMO, TicketBiscuit
Mollie Durbin, Marketing Director, TicketBiscuit
Brian C. Hamilton, CEO, Trillion Communications Corp.
Mike Wittmann, Ph.D., Professor/Chair Department of Marketing, Industrial Distribution & Economics, UAB
Rosie O’Beirne, Dir. of Digital Strategy and Marketing, UAB
Dr. Amiee Mellon, Assistant Marketing Professor, University of Montevallo
Jim Pease, ‎‎VP Market Development, Vulcan Materials Company
Todd Decker, CMO, Warren Averett
Dominique Johnson-Lindsay, Dir. of Marketing, Wright Equipment
Julie Wade, VP, Yogurt Mountain
George Dennis, President, Zoom Motor Sports

[May 2016 Luncheon] Concentrate and Dominate
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
“Concentrate and Dominate” Find one niche to focus on – do one thing and do it well.
by John Paul Strong, Strong Automotive
Author of two books in the Next Day Traffic series, the first in August of 2011, and second in January 2013, both sold exclusively online and to agency clients. He has written an award winning blog since October of 2008 – also called Next Day Traffic with over 1,000 total posts. In addition, he is a member of the Texas Auto Writer’s Association.
His many accolades and proven experience have given him the opportunity to share his industry knowledge at conferences of various media companies and state automotive dealer associations, as a public speaker on automotive marketing tactics as well as dealer 20 groups to present ideas and concepts. John Paul’s relentless pursuit of excellence in dealership positioning and presentation sets a standard unmatched in the automotive marketing industry.

AMA Coffee Talk | September 2016
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
If you’ve wanted to know more about AMA Birmingham and the value that AMA membership can bring to you and your business, come by Red Cat any time between 7:30 and 8:30 am. We’ll tell you more about us and answer any questions you may have. Even better, coffee is on us!
Looking forward to getting to know YOU!

VIP Reception & Open House with the Samford AMA
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Join us on the rooftop patio of Samford’s brand new Cooney Hall as the Samford AMA hosts us for food and beverages from Taziki’s plus a tour of this state-of-the-art business education facility.

[June 2016 Luncheon] Live Your Brand in Social Media
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Live Your Brand in Social Media – Tell Customers’ Stories to Engage Prospects and Drive ROI
by Melissa Musgrove VP, Head of Social Media, Regions Financial
Melissa Musgrove is Vice-President and Head of Social Media at Regions Bank and has more than 10 years of experience in Digital and Social Media Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations. At Regions, she directs Social Media vision and strategy and leads a team of Community Managers and Social Customer Care Representatives.
Melissa will discuss creating integrated, cross-channel campaigns that amplify the Voice of the Customer through storytelling. Also, learn how to cultivate brand advocacy by providing advice and guidance to your customers through social. And understand how to capture the attention of your customers in the increasingly noisy and fragmented social media space.
Also, discover how to:
* Implement acquisition tactics and boost results
* Build campaigns around customers’ passion points
* Deliver proactive social customer care
Melissa has her M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University and B.A. from Samford University. Follow her on Twitter @MMMusgrove.

Marketing Automation Seminar
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
You’ve heard about marketing automation (MA), but do you know what it really is?
Better yet, how can you use it effectively for your business? MA can be a powerful tool to help you implement your marketing plan.
Join us as AMA member and MA expert John Burdett helps us dig into what marketing automation is all about and discusses best practices you can use for your business. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Free for members of AMA Birmingham; $10 for guests. Please RSVP by Oct. 21.

AMA Holiday Mixer
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00

AMA Summer Mixer 2016
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00

AMA Collegiate Conference
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
AMA Collegiate Conference
The AMA Collegiate Conference is one of the best investments you can make as an aspiring marketer, and we invite you to join us Nov. 4, 2016, from 12:00-5:00 at Uptick Marketing (100 12th Street North). Take your marketing studies to the next level, and join local professionals for professional development, career advice, networking and fun.
This event is open to undergraduate Marketing and business students looking to learn from industry professionals about careers and trends in Marketing and Sales. The AMA Collegiate Conference can inspire you and give you the tools you need, to start your career as a young marketing professional.
Cost : $10, and includes Lunch and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP by Oct. 31, 2016.

January Power Marketing Luncheon
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Darin White – “Changing the Game – Key Trends Driving the Business of Sports”
Darin White is founder and coordinator of the Sports Marketing program in the Brock School of Business at Samford University. He serves as the Chair of the American Marketing Association Sports Marketing Academic Society (SIG), the leading international scholarly body charged with expanding the knowledge base of the field of sports marketing.
He is a go-to source for media seeking insights into sports business and has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, ESPN Radio, Saturday Down South and the International Business Times. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Sports Foundation, the primary lobby responsible for bringing sporting events to the state of Alabama.
Recently, Mr. Whites sports marketing program at Samford University made a national impression on the world of sports when his team of seniors pitched their strategic marketing plan to increase fan engagement within the millennial generation to Jason Kaufman, Vice President , Market Research and Analytics for the National Basketball Association.

August 2016 Luncheon | Five Ways To Win At Content Marketing
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
Five Ways To Win At Content Marketing
Presented by Eric Housh, CMO of TicketBiscuit and Mollie Durbin, TicketBiscuit Marketing Director
Join us and learn proven strategies and processes that have helped TicketBiscuit launch successful new brands and gain massive audiences of fans and ambassadors.
After being named CMO in 2008, Eric immediately redefined the nature of the ticket buyer experience, conceiving and driving the development of several programs aimed at artist discovery and internet marketing. In the years that followed, TicketBiscuit continued its trajectory of relentless innovation, launching what would soon become one of the largest primary ticketing affiliate networks and being of the first companies to offer mobile ticketing, Facebook ticketing, Apple Passbook integration and much more. He was nominated for Alabama CMO of the year in 2012, and helped TicketBiscuit achieve recognition as one of Birmingham’s best places to work in 2013 and 2015. Eric was named TicketBiscuit Director of Sales in late 2013, and has since led the company to consecutive years of double digit year-over-year growth.
Mollie’s background includes more than 15 years of experience in marketing and public relations in a variety of industries, including entertainment/events, healthcare and software. As marketing has become an increasingly technical endeavor, she has been able to draw on her background in web design and coding to help companies “punch above their weight” in the ever-evolving digital world. Her ability to combine content marketing, SEO, paid search and other marketing efforts into one robust marketing engine has made it possible for her to help companies grow in powerful ways.

Holiday Celebration 2016
2017-02-15 11:30 - 13:00
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we’re making it even brighter… with giveaways! First, become a member of AMA Birmingham before our December 1st Holiday Party and receive free admission! Second, come to the party at Vulcan Park where all members in attendance will have a chance to win other great prizes – including one year of FREE admission to our Signature Series luncheons (a $200 value)! If you bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, and we’ll put your name in the hat again to increase you chance of winning! To become an AMA Birmingham member, visit http://bit.ly/2fFFAsi or contact membership@bhamama.org.
