Business students showcase skills at National Marketing Conference
Kim Chaudoin |
A team of six students from Lipscomb University's College of Business represented the Bison Herd at the American Marketing Association’s International Collegiate Conference held in New Orleans this spring.
In the competition the team showcased their marketing knowledge and skills finishing among the top in a competitive field of more than 1,500 participants from across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The team, which included Evan Bestwick, Natalie Blickensderfer, Bethany Burkhardt, Luke Martin, Ramon Nunez Molina and John Ribeiro, clinched first place in the Design Marketing Lab Competition. In this rigorous contest, teams had two hours to research, develop, and present a digital marketing strategy aimed at boosting visibility and engagement for local small businesses on Instagram and Yelp.
"This team of students effectively applied their academic learning to real-world challenges,” said Davis Brown, the team's coach and an instructor in marketing at Lipscomb University. “Their success in this competition is a reflection of the practical, hands-on approach that is a key part of what we teach in the classroom.”
In addition to their win in the Design Marketing Lab, the group also scored a top 10 finish in the Marketplace Simulations Competition, where they navigated complex business scenarios to hone their strategic decision-making skills.
Individually, Blickensderfer took third place in the highly competitive Sales Competition. She and Ribeiro placed fourth in the Marketing Strategy Competition. Burkhardt, Martin and Blickensderfer also reached the finals of the Perfect Pitch Competition.
The conference also provided the team opportunities for professional development through keynotes, workshops and sessions designed to enhance their skills and prepare them for successful careers in marketing.