AMA December Happy Hour

Celebrate December with the AMA Happy Hour!

Join us on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 for Happy Hour from 5 - 7pm. We'll be at Jazz @ Jack's, located in the Denver Pavilions (3rd floor) at 16th and Glenarm in downtown Denver. Enjoy great people and great networking!

No need to register or RSVP - just show up and get to know fellow marketers! This event is open to AMA members and non-members.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Mich, Colorado AMA VP of Membership, at jennifermich@yahoo.com.

See you there!

Green Marketing Panel - December Luncheon

Learn About the Green Movement!

While adoption rates among consumers for "green" products and services are on the rise, many marketers still wonder if the "green" movement is relevant to their company.

Join Colorado AMA on Thursday, December 11, 2008 for a panel discussion about "green" marketing. The panel will address questions such as the following:

• What is "green" marketing?
• How is the "green" movement really affecting consumer purchase decisions?
• What are the various "shades of green" of the consumer market?
• What are the do's and don't's of "green" marketing?

The floor will be open to audience participation throughout the discussion, so bring your questions and inquiries to the panel.

Panel members include Pieter Leenhouts, director of strategic marketing for Xcel Energy; Peter Murane, president and founder of BrandJuice Consulting; Joshua Onysko, founder and CEO of Pangea Organics; and Mark Harden, reporter for the Denver Business Journal.

Please visit the Colorado AMA website at http://www.coloradoama.com/ for more information on our panel hosts!

Location: Maggiano's, Denver Pavilions, 16th & Glenarm

Date and Time: Thursday, December 11, 2008

Event Pricing: AMA Members: $30 Non-Members: $45 Students: $25 Walk-Ins: $50

Registration and Refund Policy for Colorado AMA events: Registration deadline is December 9, 2008, at 11:59 PM. Walk-ins are welcome, but there is a higher walk-in fee. Due to event costs, we are unable to provide refunds with less than 48 hours notice. Contact us at info@coloradoama.com for refund requests at least 2 days in advance.

Professional Development Event - Top Trends in Search Engine Marketing

Where Do We Go From Here - Top Trends in Search Engine Marketing

The one constant for the search engine marketing industry is change. So, what's different about online advertising today and how can those differences improve the bottom line? Gain tips and tricks to stay on top of the changing search engine landscape, including new opportunities in social networking, mobile advertising, the future of personalization, universal search, etc. The Colorado AMA and Kayla Wagner present "The Top Trends in Search Engine Marketing" on December 4, 2008. Join us to learn how the future of marketing belongs to those organizations that can succeed at both innovation and execution.

Kayla Wagner is an account manager at 90octane, a Denver-based interactive marketing agency specializing in search engine marketing and online lead generation. Having worked with the agency since June 2005, she has overseen strategic programs for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients. Prior to joining 90octane, Kayle coordinated search engine marketing and email programs for the bridal division of Macys.com. She was also previously employed in event planning for non-profit organizations in the Colorado Front Range.

Kayle has an insatiable appetite for knowledge and is passionate about changing technologies, new media and tying all online tactics to business results. She values building partnerships with clients and educating them on interactive marketing.

What will people learn by attending this event?

• New trends in online marketing
• Where marketers are spending online
• New rules for 21st century marketers
• Top tips and tricks to stay ahead of the changing landscape

Location: Jazz @ Jack's - 16th and Glenarm in downtown Denver

Date and Time: Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 5:30pm

Event Pricing: AMA Members: $25 Non-Members: $35 Students: $25 Walk-Ins: $45

Registration and Refund Policy for Colorado AMA events: Registration deadline is December 3, 2008, at 11:59 PM. Walk-ins are welcome, but there is a higher walk-in fee. Due to event costs, we are unable to provide refunds with less than 48 hours notice. Contact us at info@coloradoama.com for refund requests at least 2 days in advance.

Vail Resorts - Online Marketing and Lessons Learned

Identifying and Learning from the Pitfalls of an Online Marketing Campaign

Marketers have big ideas and big expectations for the success of their campaigns. But sometimes things don't go as planned - and the best lessons are the ones you learn from a campaign that didn't produce the results you expected. Colorado AMA presents an insightful luncheon about this topic at the November luncheon on Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 11:15am to 1pm. Join us in in downtown Denver at the Maggiano's restaurant to gain new insight for your next online marketing campaign!

Elizabeth Lee, Director of Online Marketing and Sales, and Sara Turner, Marketing Manager - Direct Relationship Marketing, from Vail Resorts will speak about "The Big Snow" online campaign. This campaign was launched in 2007. The stunning website and online promotions didn't quite perform to the company's expectations. If you've ever wanted to learn from someone else's mistakes, here is your chance! Join us for this candid presentation and gain the insight that companies typically never share.

Elizabeth Lee is currently the Director of Online Marketing and Sales at Vail Resorts. Elizabeth's responsibilties include website development, e-commerce development, display advertising, paid search, natural search, viral marketing, and emerging technologies for various websites (including snow.com, 5 ski resorts, lodging, golf, and real estate sites). Elizabeth has a long history of interactive experience. She previously held positions at American Express, Digitas, and Starz Entertainment. Elizabeth holds a B.A. from Syracuse University and an M.A. from Columbia University.

Topics covered include interactive marketing, website marketing, SEO/SEM, and promotions. Takeaways from this event include learning from marketing mistakes. Anyone interested in online/interactive marketing will learn useful tips and ideas. If you communicate internally about business plans, marketing strategies, and marketing campaigns, this presentation will help you make your online marketing a success.

Location: Maggiano's, Denver Pavilions, 16th & Glenarm

Date and Time: Thursday, November 13, 2008

Event Pricing: AMA Members: $30Non-Members: $45Students: $25Walk-Ins: $50

Registration and Refund Policy for Colorado AMA events: Registration deadline is November 11, 2008, at 11:59 PM. Walk-ins are welcome, but there is a higher walk-in fee. Due to event costs, we are unable to provide refunds with less than 48 hours notice. Contact us at info@coloradoama.com for refund requests at least 2 days in advance.

Plug In and Get Connected to Colorado AMA

This week you'll have an opportunity to find out more about Colorado AMA. Not sure how you fit in with our group? We have answers! Join us this Wednesday, October 29, for the free "Plug In and Get Connected" event.

Where: Via Trattoria, 1801 Wynkoop Street, Suite 150, Denver, CO www.viatrattoria.com

Time:
5:00 - 6:00 pm - Happy Hour
6:00 - 7:00 pm - Plug In and Get Connected presentation

AMA Board members will share information about AMA membership, programs, volunteering, online resources, and more. A Q&A session allows attendees to ask the Board anything they'd like to know about Colorado AMA.

Find our more information on the Colorado AMA website at this link: http://www.coloradoama.com/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=event&eventID=98

Innovation in a Rough Economy

How will your company survive the economic turmoil? Our October luncheon can help!

In tough economic times, marketing budgets are vulnerable. Innovation can play a key role in the success or failure of a company and its marketing. You might be surprised to learn that innovation exists in products, customer service techniques, business models, and even processes.

For product managers, this might be a great time to take a step back and really look at what you're developing and why. How innovative are your products, and how do they compare to your competitors?

For marketing communicators, the challenge is to communicate in an innovative way. Are you continually re-evaluating your audience, message, and channels?

Take control of your company's innovation! Next Thursday October 9, 2008 is the October Luncheon. Our luncheon this month features AeroGrow, Inc. - Innovation Management, with Sylvia Bernstein. Join us at Maggiano's at Denver Pavilions, from 11:15am to 1pm.

Meet and listen to Sylvia Bernstein, Vice President of New Product Development and Innovation at AeroGrow. This presentation will inspire marketers to take the leap into becoming innovative - to push boundaries, create change, and establish routine processes for emphasizing and implementing innovation.

Some of the questions Sylvia will address include the following:
* What does innovation really mean?
* Why is innovation important to marketing as well as to business as a whole?
* Is innovation something that just happens or can it be managed and created with processes?
* What can marketers do to bring innovation into their own companies?

Innovation is one of the ways a company can survive in difficult economic times. Have you taken the time to step back and look at the role of innovation in your company? Does your firm grasp what innovation is and how it can help your company survive?

Kick Off the 2008-2009 Year!

The 2008-2009 year will be a great one for the Colorado AMA! Our first luncheon is next Thursday, September 11, 2008.

Kick it off with our first luncheon on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - "Bringing the Democratic National Convention to Life". Learn how Steve Sander, Director of Strategic Marketing, and Brent Tongco, Communications/Marketing Specialist for the City and County of Denver, made this event a success for Denver.

Join us at 11:15 am on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at the Maggiano's in Denver Pavilions (16th and Glenarm). Network with your fellow AMA members and marketers, then enjoy a delicious lunch while you hear Steve and Brent's presentation. Steve and Brent will highlight the development of the Denver 2008 brand and the strategies and tactics implemented to make the DNC event a success. Find out about the initial goals, how they overcame the challenges and issues, how they developed the branding and campaign components of the event, and their keys to success. You will take away information and strategies that you can use for your own company's success.

Questions to consider: What do you think were the main challenges for Steve and Brent? How does development of a brand tie into the actual implementation of marketing strategies?

Great end-of-year programs

As we come down the home stretch of our programming year (which ends in June) COAMA has a wealth of great events lined up. In addition to our remaining monthly luncheons (which includes speakers from Orange-Glo and Giaim), Happy Hours and UP Group activities, we have three major programming events to close out the year: The Non-Profit Conference, The Market Research Conference, and our Annual PEAK Award Ceremony. You won't want to miss any of these events. For more information on all of the COAMA events you can view our Event Calendar just by clicking on the following:

COAMA Event Calendar

If you would like to view specific information for any of the "Big Three", click on the desired link below:

Non-Profit Conference

Market Research Conference

Annual PEAK Awards

It's time to vote!

Forget Clinton and Obama - think Cruickshank and Mayberry! It's time to vote for your CoAMA 2008/2009 Board of Directors. All members are encouraged to vote and it only takes a minute (really, it's that quick). Look for the voting-link email to appear in your email inbox. Click here to check out the candidates:

Vote for the CoAMA 08/09 Board of Directors

Time again to get happy!

CoAMA's March Happy Hour is being held at the Yia Yia Euro Cafe in the Tech Center. This monthly event continues to grow as Jennifer and Curtis play hosts to this increasing popular networking function. The date of this month's Happy Hour is March 19th. Click here to check it out and get happy!

March Happy Hour