American Marketing Association recognizes SUNY New Paltz student chapter as one of the Top 16 in the nation for third year in a row

NEW PALTZ – SUNY New Paltz was selected as one of the Top 16 collegiate chapters by the American Marketing Association (AMA). New Paltz received a bronze chapter award, making this the third year in a row the college has placed in the Top 16. The awards were presented at the AMA’s Annual International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans March 22 to March 25.

The colleges were judged on the quality of their strategic marketing plan and annual report submitted for the contest. The strategic plan outlines what the chapter plans to accomplish. The annual report documents the results achieved in regard to community service, chapter planning, fundraising, communications, and student professional development in accordance with the plan. Of the approximately 400 AMA international collegiate chapters, 180 submitted strategic marketing plans and reports to compete for awards – the highest number of entries ever received for this competition.

Faculty Advisor Ted Clark said this was a major accomplishment for a chapter from a small institution. “The award is especially noteworthy given that New Paltz was the second smallest school to place in the top 16, was the only one that placed in this category from within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, and defeated larger schools such as Bowling Green State University, Duquesne University, University of South Carolina, and Texas A&M University,” he said.

For the first time, the students also submitted entries in several other categories, including Pearson Case; Northwestern Mutual sales; website; marketing week; membership; and regional conference. The New Paltz chapter was awarded honorable mention for the membership competition based on achieving its goal of an 85% increase and was also recognized for the scope of its student conference.

“We are very proud of our students and of their advisor, Ted Clark. Their work is a great reflection of the School of Business,” said Hadi Salavitabar, dean of the School of Business. “Their achievement in New Orleans shows the quality of education students receive at our school and the skills they develop.”

One thousand, three hundred students and 101 faculty advisors from chapters across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico attended the annual event.

Representing the SUNY New Paltz AMA chapter were: Hadi Salavitabar, dean of the School of Business; Professor Ted Clark, faculty advisor; Fiona Lee, president; Eddie Monroy, executive vice president; Kristin Wood, vice president of communications; Ashley Barraud, vice president of promotions; Derya Eren, vice president of programming; Mariuxi Izquierdo, vice president of finance; Alexandra Sanky, vice president of fundraising; and four general members, Erica Vaccaro, Colleen Moran, Krystal Lokys and Cassandra Pebbles.

For more information about the School of Business, visit www.newpaltz.edu/schoolofbusiness or call 845-257-2930.