The Reno-Tahoe chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) has had an extremely successful term to date, including a 26% increase in membership, winning multiple awards from the AMA International Headquarters and record setting attendance at the monthly Insider’s Forums.

According to Regina Casteneda, vice president of membership, the current membership term, which started in July of 2004, has seen a 26% increase in membership, for a total of 91 members.  “During our Fall Membership Acquisition Campaign we experienced a 22.97% increase, resulting in an award for the largest percentage increase in membership among all chapters,” Casteneda noted.  The chapter received $1,000 in acknowledgement of this achievement. 

AMA International Headquarters has bestowed three additional awards on the Reno-Tahoe chapter this term, including “Turn Around Chapter of the Year”, “Fastest Growing Chapter,” and they also awarded the chapter a “Special Merit in Communications.”

The Reno-Tahoe chapter has also seen record attendance at the last two Insider’s Forums.  January’s forum set a new record with 215 guests in attendance.  The Forum, “How Technology Has Improved Direct Marketing,” featured Jeff Bargerhuff, senior vice president and marketing director for Nevada State Bank, and Chris Fleiner, president of JLH Direct Solutions.   December’s Forum, which drew 105 guests, featured a dynamic presentation by Jennifer Bushman, owner of Nothing to It! Culinary Center. 

Samantha Fleischer, President of the Reno-Tahoe AMA chapter, attributed the increased attendance to a combination of excellent speakers and increased promotion via email, direct mail and newspaper advertising.  In addition, Ms. Fleischer added, “We have an incredibly dedicated Board of Directors that works tirelessly to create and promote interesting programs targeted to the Northern Nevada marketing community.  Our record setting attendance simply reflects their success.”    

About American Marketing Association:

A non-profit organization and over 25,000 members internationally, the American Marketing Association is the source that marketers turn to every day, online, in print and in person.  Since 1982, the Reno-Tahoe Chapter of AMA’s mission has been to serve our members and be the marketing source by providing networking, knowledge and career development.  Visit us online at www.RenoTahoeAma.com.

Reno, NV – The Reno-Tahoe Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMART) awarded fifteen ACE awards, fifteen Certificates of Excellence and fifteen Awards of Excellence at the 17th annual ACE Awards event held May 19, 2005, which honored the best in marketing in the Reno-Tahoe area.  AMART also named Steve Fierro of Casino Fandango, as “Marketer of the Year”, inducted Phil Rose, Chairman of the Board of the Rose-Glenn Group, into the Marketing Hall of Fame and named David Roberts “Member of the Year”.

The Reno-Tahoe AMA chapter achieved dramatically increased participation this year, with a 93% increase in the number of entries from last year’s competition, including 11 companies new to the competition.  According to Samantha Fleischer, Reno-Tahoe AMA President, “this year’s record-setting number of entries is reflective of the smart marketers we have in this community. These smart marketers know ads are just advertising unless they are coupled with a focus on return on investment. This is the difference between just advertising and marketing, which is what the AMA is all about.”

The competition was judged by the American Marketing Association, and awards were based on an overall score for each entry.  The highest honor is the ACE Award, which was awarded in the following categories.  The next highest honor is the Award of Excellence, followed by the Certificate of Excellence.  The following is the list of winners.

• Special Event (under 25K)
  • Certificate of Excellence: KUNR Sunday Jazz Brunch
  • Award of Excellence: Extreme Ability Challenge Public Relations
  • Ace Awards: Taste of the Orient (Circus Circus) and the Nevada Women’s Conference (State of NV Treasurer’s Office)
• Special Event (25K and over)
  • Award of Excellence: Holiday Handbags (Circus Circus)
  • Ace Award: 2004 Reno River Festival (RSCVA)
• Print Advertising Campaign (under 4-color)
  • Ace Award: Home Equity Line of Credit Print Campaign (Nevada State Bank)

• Print Advertising Campaign (4-color+)
  • Certificate of Excellence: Lincoln County Advertising Campaign
  • Awards of Excellence:
    • Casino Fandango Awareness Campaign
    • Executive Impact sm Product Launch Advertising Series (Miller Heiman)
  • Nevada – Wide Open Campaign (NCOT)
  • Ace Award: Go to a Better Place (Montreaux)
• Television Advertising Campaign (25K and over)
  • Certificates of Excellence
  • “Closed” campaign (Nevada Surplus Lines)
  • Nevada – Wide Open Campaign (NCOT)
  • Ace Award: “What it means to be first” campaign (First Independent Bank)
• Direct Mail Campaign (Under 4-color):
  • Ace Award: Home Equity Postcard (Nevada State Bank)
• Direct Mail Campaign (4-color+)
  • Awards of Excellence:
    • Head North Lease Weekend Direct Mail (Head North)
    • Miller Heiman Brochure Campaign
  • Ace Award: Casino Fandango Awareness Campaign
• Web Marketing
  • Certificates of Excellence:
    • Washoe County School District
    • TahoeBonanzaRealEstate.com
  • Award of Excellence:  Heavenly ‘04/’05 Interactive Marketing
  • Ace Award:  Miller Heiman e-Tips Newsletter
• Non-Profit Marketing Campaign:
  • Certificates of Excellence:
    • 7th Annual JDRF Monopoly Gala
    • KUNR Sunday Jazz Brunch
  • Award of Excellence: Designer Showcase Home 2004 (Big Brothers & Big Sisters Reno)
  • Ace Award: 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board (The National Judicial College)

• Publicity/Public Relations Campaign
  • Certificates of Excellence:
    • Reno-Tahoe Media Events: New York and Atlanta Media Nights and Regional Media Tour (Reno-Tahoe Regional Marketing Committee)
    • National Analyst Tour (Twelve Horses North America)
    • Awards of Excellence:
    • Delta Air Lines “Live From Reno-Tahoe” Radio Remotes (Reno-Tahoe Regional Marketing Committee)
    • 2005 Miller Heiman Sales Effectiveness Study
    • Ace Award: 2004 Holiday Public Relations (Meadowood Mall)
• Comprehensive Marketing Program/Campaign
  • Certificates of Excellence:
    • Anywhere, Anytime Advertising Campaign (Airport Authority of Washoe County)
    • Cha Ching Promotion (Meadowood Mall)
    • Fort Reno Marketing Program (Bonanza Casino)
  • Awards of Excellence:
    • UPromise College Fund 529 Plan Campaign (State of NV Treasurer’s Office)
    • Washoe Medical Center South Meadows ER Campaign (Washoe Medical Center South Meadows)
    • Casino Fandango Awareness Campaign
    • California Marketing Campaign (EDAWN)
  • Ace Award: “Get the Scoop” Ben & Jerry’s Sparks Grand Opening

About American Marketing Association:

A non-profit organization and over 25,000 members internationally, the American Marketing Association is the source that marketers turn to every day, online, in print and in person.  Since 1982, the Reno-Tahoe Chapter of AMA’s mission has been to serve our members and be the marketing source by providing networking, knowledge and career development.  AMA International Headquarters has bestowed three awards on the Reno-Tahoe chapter this term, including “Turn-Around Chapter of the Year”, “Fastest Growing Chapter,” and they also awarded the chapter a “Special Merit in Communications.”