Written by Toni Stauffer

The American Marketing Association (AMA), established in 1937, is one of the largest marketing organizations in the world with more than 30,000 members across the globe. The organization’s mission is to serve as a forum to connect like-minded individuals and foster knowledge sharing. The AMA provides resources, tools, and training for members, and also supports marketing practice and thought leadership around the world.

Jaspen “Jay” Armstead, senior marketing major, is the current chapter president for AMA at CSU. This year, Armstead said the organization’s main focus on campus was to help students develop their professional skills and to teach them how to market themselves and their skill sets. When asked how much the AMA has positively affected his life, Armstead stated, “Extremely, especially in my collegiate life with exposure to leadership opportunities and professional development.” He added, “We pride ourselves on being active in the College of Business, CSU, and the community.”

The CSU chapter of the AMA has plenty to be proud about after returning from the American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference held in New Orleans last month with an award for Outstanding Chapter Plan and excellence in fundraising, communication, and membership.

Members of CSU came home with individual prizes as well. Armstead won both an award and a second place victory in the sales competition. Another member, senior marketing major Tanika Owens, took the prize of a Microsoft Surface Pro 64GB Tablet. For Owens, the AMA conference “revealed to me what it takes to be prosperous in my profession and was a wondrous way to network.”

While Armstead will be graduating this May, he plans to remain active in the AMA at CSU; interviews are currently being conducted for new officers who will assume their duties in the fall.

The AMA is open to all students regardless of major and is advised by College of Business faculty member Bob Kinnett. Students are encouraged to sign up through CSUInvolve. A general meeting is held every first and third Tuesday of every month in CCT 309 at 12:30 p.m. For more information on the AMA at CSU, contact Jay Armstead at armstead_jaspen@columbusstate.edu.