JMU COB Marketing

We hope our spring 2024 graduates are still basking in the afterglow of Friday's Commencement Ceremony! May you always remember the words of wisdom and optimism shared by Commencement Speaker Richard Tate, our very own Lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Director of the Center for Professional Sales:

"Class of 2024, you have the grit, intelligence, and passion to truly make your mark. Lean on your JMU family always, use your voice as a force for inspiration and change, and condition your brilliant minds to overcome any obstacles by first seeing your path to success.

What is the best that will happen?"

Congratulations to the Department of Marketing's Class of 2024!

On behalf of the Department of Marketing, we extend our congratulations to the four marketing students recognized at the 2024 College of Business Awards Ceremony. Photographed with Dr. Theresa Clarke, from left to right, Caitlin McGeehan (Outstanding JMU Digital Marketing Student Award presented by Workshop Digital), Adrianna Rippon (Faculty Award for Excellence), Zoe Kopidis (Outstanding Marketing Student), and Faris Hreish (Outstanding Student in Professional Sales).

It's been an incredible semester in Professor Steve Kozak's MKTG 380 class! Under his guidance and with the help of Mary Denlinger, Manager of the JMU Community Engagement & Volunteer Center, 21 student teams were tasked with creating marketing plans for local organizations in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County area. Organizations that served as class clients included Hope Distributed, New Directions Center, Rockingham County Public Schools, City of Harrisonburg Public Works, Red Cross of the Virginia Region, Camp Holiday Trails, Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions, and Harrisonburg Education Foundation.

One of Professor Kozak's classes had the pleasure of hosting Cody Oliver, Executive Director of the Harrisonburg Education Foundation (photographed second from the left, next to Professor Kozak), for student presentations.

Kudos to Professor Kozak, Mary Denlinger, Cody Oliver, and all the representatives from these organizations for facilitating engaged learning opportunities and providing hands-on experiences for our Dukes. We're excited to see the positive impact these collaborations will have on our community!

Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. Tim Ozcan has been selected for the Wampler-Longacre Professorship in Marketing at JMU! His appointment will begin September 1 of this year, and he will serve in this capacity for five years, through the end of the 2028-2029 academic year.

Of his accomplishment, Academic Unit Head Dr. Theresa Clarke shared, “Tim has demonstrated unparalleled passion and dedication through his teaching, personal research agenda, and research leadership within the Department of Marketing and the College of Business. His professional contributions are both broad and remarkable. As the next Wampler-Longacre Professor, Tim will continue to leverage his scholarly expertise to lead and positively impact our academic community in the coming years.”

Congratulations, Dr. Ozcan!

We are delighted to recognize the newest members of Mu Kappa Tau who were initiated into the honor society during this past Wednesday's induction ceremony. Mu Kappa Tau (MKT) is the only marketing honor society recognized by the Association of Collegiate Honor Societies (ACHS). Membership is by invitation only to students who achieve the highest academic standards, including a 3.25 or higher GPA. Juniors must rank in the top 10 percent of their class of marketing majors to qualify for admission, while seniors and graduate students majoring in marketing must rank in the top 20 percent of their fellow marketing majors.

Please join us in welcoming the following Marketing Majors to Mu Kappa Tau and congratulating them on their selection to this prestigious honor society!

Carinne M. Adams
Abby Burden
Andrew B. Edwards
Tyler Esterly
Maddie Harris
Zoe Kopidis
Rachel Miragliuolo
Cassandra M. Moore
Kayla Nassoiy
Sophia Parr
Rachel Smith
Raphaella M. Stulce
Shai Szulkowski

Hannah Irene Johnson is our final Alum of the Month feature for the 2023-24 academic year!

Hannah is currently working as an SEO Lead at Terakeet. In addition to her technical SEO knowledge, she focuses on branding and PR within SEO landscapes for various Fortune 500 companies. Before her work in SEO at Merkle and Terakeet, she focused on the paid side of search, which she originally learned through digital marketing classes and practicums during her time at JMU.

After graduating from JMU, she moved out west for a few years, living in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but ultimately moved back east to Charlottesville with her dog, Bandit. She is constantly learning something new and is currently learning nose work with her dog and web development for herself.

Hannah's advice for current Marketing Dukes is well suited for those soon graduating and entering the workforce:

“Your learning doesn’t stop when you leave JMU. You are going to be constantly learning throughout your career. Whether that is on-the-job learning, informal chats, or more formal education, be sure to keep learning! You never know what doors it may open. In my own experience, my willingness to learn from others helped me shift my career from paid to organic search.”

Hannah welcomes you to connect with her on

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahirenejohnson/

❗ATTENTION JMU MARKETING SENIORS 🎓 If you want a College of Business Medallion to wear at commencement, be sure to complete the CoB Senior Exit Survey in Canvas by Sunday, May 5th, at 11:59 PM.

This week's student is Jennifer Zhao! Jennifer is a senior at JMU graduating this May 2024 with a B.B.A in Marketing with a Digital Marketing Concentration and a Music Industry Minor. She is from Alexandria, VA and is currently working as a Digital Marketing Intern at CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union. Outside of class and work, she co-hosts a radio show on WXJM 88.7, JMU's college radio station. Throughout her time at JMU, Jennifer has served as the Executive Marketing Chair in COB's Student Diversity Council. She was one of the first students to help in re-establishing the organization after the pandemic, and is passionate about increasing DEI across JMU.

After graduation, Jennifer will be completing a digital marketing internship at TuaTeam in Valencia, Spain. After returning from Spain, Jennifer plans to continue her journey in Digital Marketing and hopes to enter a Music Marketing role. She is excited to further her experience in digital marketing, leveraging her creative and analytical mindset, after graduation at JMU!

View Jennifer's portfolio at https://jennzportfolio.weebly.com to see her past work and connect with her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwzhao/ to keep up with her future accomplishments!

Congratulations to this year's recipients of the Mark-It Forward Scholarship, Mei Bell and Mohamed Ghanem, who were recognized at the 2024 Networking Lunch with the Department of Marketing Executive Advisory Board Members last week.

Based on the “pay-it-forward” concept, the “Mark-It-Forward” scholarship was established through generous donations from members of the Department of Marketing Executive Advisory Board (EAB). This $1,000 scholarship provides financial support and unique mentorship opportunities with members of the EAB.

This week's student is Jake Levy! Jake Levy is a senior Marketing Major with a Professional Sales concentration. Within the College of Business, he is a member of the professional business fraternity, Pi Sigma Epsilon, and serves as the Vice President of Competitions for the Professional Sales Club. During his time at James Madison University, he has connected with global business leaders and has been successful in numerous business and sales competitions. After graduating this May, he will begin a position with Ethos Group in Tampa, Florida.

Connect with Jake on LinkedIn to learn more about his academic and professional accomplishments:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-levy-b79aa4223/

Congratulations to Ann Chappell Ellington, Lauren Kavana, Ryan Skees, Luke Ward, Nikash Pant, Madeline Harris, Lauren Price, and Tyler Esterly on their invitation to join Beta Gamma Sigma, the most prestigious Honor Society in Business Education! These eight Marketing Majors were inducted into the Honor Society this afternoon at the JMU College of Business's 65th Induction Ceremony.

Our April Alum of the Month is Brianna J. Boykin! Brianna is currently working as a Senior Specialist of Paid Search at Tinuiti, the largest independent performance marketing firm across Streaming TV, Google, Meta, and Amazon. As a Paid Search practitioner, she works to create and optimize paid search campaigns, including Display, YouTube, and Demand Gen, for agency clients. On a day-to-day basis, Brianna analyzes data to create compelling stories while also using it to provide optimization recommendations to move her clients' media performance in the preferred direction. Before Tinuiti, she worked at Gannett/USA Today, HZDG, and Silverback Strategies.

Some highlights from her time at JMU include becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, studying abroad in Panama and Colombia, becoming the President of the C.U.R.L.S. Club, and being an inaugural member of the Alpha Chapter of Delta Mu Sigma Digital Marketing Honor Society.

In her free time, Brianna enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, reading, and testing her creativity through various arts and crafts. She resides in the Northern Virginia area where she was born and raised.

Brianna shared these words of advice to current marketing students:

"Sometimes rejection is redirection! In some instances, what you want is not always what is right for you. I can attest to this personally and professionally. While very cliche, I also urge you to remember that nothing that is meant for you will pass you by!"

Reach out and connect with Brianna on LinkedIn:
https://lnkd.in/eDi_nsgB

Congratulations to members of scratch pad, JMU’s only student-run advertising agency, and faculty club advisor Professor Canessa Collins on placing 3rd overall in the District 3 National Student Advertising Competition last week! This annual competition, hosted by the American Advertising Federation, requires student teams to create a campaign for a designated client, with this year's focus being Tide detergent. We are delighted to share that this year's competition was JMU's highest placement to date! Well done, team, and thanks for representing JMU so well!

We are delighted to extend heartfelt congratulations to Robert McMillen, our esteemed Senior Lecturer, who was presented the Faculty Advisor Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans last week.

Mr. McMillen's remarkable tenure of over three decades as an advisor to the JMU chapter of AMA serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to fostering student success and upholding standards of academic excellence.

Speaking about Professor McMillen's dedication to the AMA, Dr. Val Larsen, Professor of Marketing shared, "For almost three decades, Bob McMillen has advised the JMU student chapter of the American Marketing Association. During that time, JMU's record in AMA competitions is unmatched. JMU has won the top chapter award year after year after year during that time. This achievement reflects the hard work and outstanding leadership of thousands of JMU students who have passed through the JMU AMA chapter. It reflects the high proportion of Marketing students who join the AMA and consistently make it, by far, the largest student organization in the College of Business. But this decades-long record of success has one connecting and obviously essential thread: Bob McMillen. But for Bob's vision, leadership, and support, the many awards won, the extensive amount of service rendered, the countless enriching experiences students have had in JMU's AMA chapter, would not have happened."

Congratulations again, Professor McMillen, on this well-deserved recognition!

This week's student is Mackenzie Keeling! Mackenzie is a Senior from Ashburn, Virginia, graduating this summer with a B.B.A. in Marketing, a Digital Marketing concentration, and a minor in Music Industry. After receiving her A.B.A. from Northern Virginia Community College, Mackenzie transferred to JMU in the fall of 2022, jumping right into COB 300. Throughout her time at JMU, Mackenzie has made the Dean's and President's lists and has accepted invitations to join Mu Kappa Tau, the National Honor Marketing Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Honor Business Society. She is a member of JMU's Be Friendly Beekeeping Club and a volunteer for the Serenity Center, a designated space for practicing mindfulness on campus.

Last summer, Mackenzie was a Brand Ambassador for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA, where she will be returning this summer as a ticket services intern. After graduation, Mackenzie plans to grow her experience in this field, utilizing both her degrees to connect people with art and experiences that resonate and inspire.

Connect with Mackenzie on LinkedIn and visit her website to learn more about her passions, accomplishments, and career aspirations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenziekeeling/

https://mackenzieckeeling.weebly.com/

This week's student is Shai Szulkowski! Shai is a Senior from West Lafayette, Indiana graduating this May with a double major in Marketing, concentrating in Professional Sales, and Business Management, with concentrations in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and European Business, which she gained through her study abroad experience in Antwerp, Belgium.

During her time at JMU, Shai has been a diligent student, earning a spot on the Dean’s list at least one semester for each of her Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. She has been involved in multiple on-campus organizations and was recently invited to join Sigma Iota Epsilon, a national Management Honors Organization. She has also completed multiple internships throughout her college career, which have expanded her knowledge in sales and digital marketing.

Shai has accepted an offer with Tom James Company, where she will move to New York City to become a Professional Clothier after graduation. She is excited to continue her love for sales and fashion as she moves forward in her career.

🔗 Connect with Shai on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shai-szulkowski/

This week's student is Natalie Keller! Natalie is a Senior graduating this May from Bethesda, Maryland. In addition to her Marketing Major, Natalie is also minoring in Computer Information Systems and concentrating in European Business through her study abroad experience in Antwerp, Belgium. Natalie has interned for two summers as a product management intern in customer acquisitions, where she gained experience leading marketing campaigns and completing data analysis. These experiences have allowed her to leverage both her marketing degree and her CIS background. Post graduation, Natalie plans to pursue roles in marketing analytics, market research, paid media, and SEO, where she can bridge the communication gap between data and strategy.

Natalie is a Gamma Phi Beta sorority member and the Vice President of Project Management for JMU's Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) on campus. In this role, she leads the organization in completing the case competition, which received a commendable mention for this year's submission. Natalie will represent the JMU AMA alongside other members for the International Collegiate Conference held in New Orleans this April.

🔗 Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn to learn more about her achievements, certifications, and extracurriculars. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliekkeller/

Our March Alum of the Month is Lauren Hale ('14)! Lauren currently serves AT&T as Principal Technical Product Manager, where she heads up user acquisition, engagement, and retention strategy for AT&T publisher products. Her broader experience spans digital marketing and product management within retail, auto, live music, and telecom industries. Aspects Lauren enjoys most about her role involve bringing products and unique experiences from concept to fruition.

Since graduating from JMU, Lauren lived and worked in Charlottesville, VA, for three years before moving to Los Angeles to work in the music industry - a decision she says she "wouldn't trade for the world," and through which she's grateful to have met incredible people, including her now-fiance!

Here are some words of wisdom Lauren wanted us to pass on to current Marketing Dukes and soon-to-be grads:

"You wholly belong in whatever space you pursue. Listen to your gut. It's okay to change your mind, and the fastest way we learn is through some form of failure. The relationships you cultivate and uphold are often more important than what you know."

"To current students and alums, let's connect! I am an open book and would love to hear about your own journey and offer whatever guidance or resources I can."

Connect with Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-hale-45987033/

Thank you for catching up with us and sharing your insights, Lauren!

This week's student is Annette Williams! Annette is a Marketing major concentrating in Digital Marketing from Richmond, VA, and expects to graduate in May 2024. She is currently the Content and Marketing intern at Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and is seeking to continue her career in Marketing after graduation. Annette also serves as the Director of Content and Digital Marketing for Scratchpad, JMU's student-run advertising agency.

Check out Annette's website and connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more about her skills and accomplishments!

Website: annettecwilliams.weebly.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annette-williams-9920a91b4

Congratulations to Caitlin McGeehan for being named the 2024 Outstanding JMU Digital Marketing Student Award Sponsored by Workshop Digital! The JMU Department of Marketing is immensely grateful to Workshop Digital for their unwavering support in nurturing talent and fostering the growth of digital marketing students over the past 11 years.

Congratulations to Workshop Digital’s 2024 JMU Outstanding Digital Marketing Student award winner – Caitlin McGeehan!

Caitlin is a marketing major with a concentration in digital and a minor in the music industry and impressed us with her application as a stand-out student.

This marks the 11th year that Workshop Digital has presented this award to a senior at James Madison University to support JMU students as they launch their careers as digital marketers.

“Winning this award is a huge honor! It means so much to me to be recognized for my achievements as a Digital Marketing student. I am so excited for the opportunities it will open up for me.” - Caitlin McGeehan

Congratulations, Caitlin! We look forward to watching you achieve your goals.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/3TKgY7H

This week’s student is Kelly Dudley! Kelly is a sophomore marketing major from Covington, VA. Kelly plans to concentrate in professional sales when the time comes. Kelly also has a passion for the performing arts and is double majoring in theatre.

Since coming to JMU, Kelly has enjoyed being involved on campus. She currently serves as the President of Alpha Lambda Delta (Academic Honor Society), as a career ambassador for the University Career Center’s Student Advisory Board, and was recently inducted as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma in Fall 2023. Kelly is also a dedicated student who has earned a spot on the Dean’s List all three semesters she has studied at JMU.

Kelly is passionate about helping other JMU students succeed and thrive. She applied to be an RA on campus and was accepted to start with the residence life team in Fall 2023. Kelly has enjoyed her time working with the residents this academic year and looks forward to continuing in this role next Fall.

Kelly is also very excited to announce that she will be studying abroad with JMU this summer in London, England. She looks forward to learning about the Age of Enlightenment and exploring a new culture.

After graduation, Kelly hopes to move to a large city and work in a position that allows her to collaborate with others at a company with opportunities for further learning and growth. She is open to exploring different career opportunities within the marketing field.

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn to learn more about her interests and accomplishments:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyraydudley

This week's student is Patrick Schwab! Patrick is a Senior Marketing major with a minor in Spanish and concentrations in Digital Marketing and European Business, who is on track to graduate in May of 2024.

Throughout his time at JMU, he has held several internships, focusing on social media and digital marketing. He currently serves as the marketing manager of Unmatched Athlete. In these roles, Patrick has gained valuable experience in marketing analytics, interpersonal skills, and content creation. These skills have been applied to marketing campaigns in his academic career and throughout his internships.

At JMU, Patrick stays involved in campus groups as a member of the American Marketing Association and the Secretary of Club Dodgeball.

As he approaches graduation, Patrick looks to apply the skills learned at JMU and internship experience to a digital marketing position that has opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Check out Patrick's LinkedIn to learn more about his interests and achievements:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-schwab-jmu-marketing/

Dr. Carissa Kim presented her research “The Role of Ambivalence in Frontline Employee-Customer Interactions” at the Winter American Marketing Association (AMA) conference in St. Pete Beach, FL. Her research results suggest strategies for helping frontline employees interact with difficult customers. Well done, Dr. Kim!

This week's student is Sarah Rothbart! Sarah is a senior Marketing major with a concentration in Digital Marketing and a minor in Sociology who is on track to graduate in May 2024.

Throughout her academic journey, Sarah has gained hands-on experience through completing two distinctive internships- one focused on Social Media Marketing and the other on Graphic Design. In these roles, she honed a diverse skill set that spans content creation, account management, and a spectrum of graphic design proficiencies. Sarah has earned certifications in industry-standard tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, and Illustrator. She also holds accreditations in Social Media Marketing, showcasing her commitment to staying at the forefront of her field.

Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Sarah is an active member of various campus organizations. She is a member of and contributes to the vibrant communities of Future Business Leaders of America, Delta Mu Sigma, and Alpha Phi.

As she approaches graduation, Sarah is prepared to apply her multifaceted skills, experiences, and certifications toward a fulfilling career journey in digital marketing.

Sarah welcomes you to connect with her on LinkedIn! www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rothbart

Our February Alum of the Month is Shannon Thompson!

Shannon Thompson is currently working as the Director of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) at iQuanti, a performance marketing agency specializing in end-to-end marketing for primarily businesses in the banking and financial services as well as healthcare industries. As the Director of SEO, she works across a variety of clients providing strategic SEO guidance and educating executives on the role of SEO in their digital marketing plans. Prior to joining iQuanti, Shannon spent 7+ years at Silverback Strategies, working in various SEO roles as well as interning at Merkle.

Following her time at JMU, Shannon currently resides in Northern Virginia. While her current role at iQuanti is remote, offering much appreciated flexibility in her day-to-day life, she enjoys frequent travel in her role, visiting client offices throughout the United States.

Shannon has excellent words of wisdom to share with JMU Marketing Dukes interested in pursuing digital marketing careers where the industry is ever-evolving and constantly expanding with new opportunities:

"My advice for any business major is to not shy away from pursuing roles where you don't feel 100% qualified for or where you think that you may not have enough knowledge to display expertise. Your first role can be a jumping-off point into something entirely different or unique and you can truly take skills gained from each experience to make them relevant for any future role. Also, maximize your available resources, whether that be gaining free online certifications to bolster your resume to building relationships with professors or alumni to expand your network - these efforts may seem insignificant but truly can be catalysts for your career."

If you're interested in learning more about digital marketing or have questions about the world of SEO, feel free to connect with Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thompsonsm/.

Thank you, Shannon!

This week's student is Abby Burden!

Abby is a marketing major with a digital marketing concentration and an educational media minor. She's expected to graduate in May 2025 and is from Loudoun County, VA. Abby is a proud member of Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honor Society), Delta Mu Sigma (Digital Marketing Honor Society), and Alpha Delta Pi. She's been on the President's List twice and Dean's List twice over her four semesters. She enjoys traveling and reading in her free time. Abby is currently looking for internship opportunities for Summer 2024.

Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/Abby-Burden

This week's student is Ryan Negola! Ryan is a Marketing major from Altoona, Pennsylvania set to graduate in May 2024. He is a highly motivated student who earned a spot on the Dean's List last semester. Last summer Ryan worked as a Marketing Intern for NaturaLawn of America, where he took on various marketing-related tasks such as drafting publications and editing social media content for campaigns, and assisting in the Sales Center. After graduation, Ryan will attend Saint Francis University to pursue his MBA while also working as a Graduate Assistant.

To learn more about Ryan's achievements, you can connect with him on LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/in/ryannegola

This week's student is Ashlyn Rogowski! Ashlyn is a senior Marketing major with a Digital Marketing concentration from Richmond, VA. Throughout her time at JMU, she has been involved with multiple campus organizations, serving as a Student Ambassador and volunteer tour guide for the past two years. Ashlyn has exercised her entrepreneurial spirit by founding Student-Made JMU, which provides student creators with networking opportunities and an online platform to sell their products in partnership with the College of Business Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship. As a member of scratch pad, Ashlyn utilizes and refines her creative marketing and advertising skillsets. Her experiences on campus and through numerous digital marketing and social media internships have paved the way for her success in future endeavors as she plans to pursue positions in digital marketing and advertising post-graduation.

Check out Ashlyn's LinkedIn to learn more about her experience:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlyn-rogowski/

This week’s student is Katie Chan, a Senior Marketing major with a concentration in Digital Marketing. During her time at JMU, Katie has had three internships as a marketing associate in the food and real estate industries, and as a buyer in the fashion retail industry. Upon graduation in May 2024, Katie is interested in working as a marketing associate, buying assistant, or in a merchandising role where she can assist clients in enhancing their digital marketing presence.

On campus, Katie is a Content Manager for JMU Student Made where she oversees social media content for the organization. During her sophomore year, she represented JMU in the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC). Katie is also an active member and leader of JMU’s InterVarsity Club.

🔗 Connect with Katie on LinkedIn to learn more about her internships, certifications, and achievements.

www.linkedin.com/in/katie-chan-

This week's spotlights Alexandra Minarchi, a marketing major from Northern Virginia who will graduate in 2024 spring. Alexandra made the President's List this past fall, showcasing her commitment to excellence. Post-graduation, Alexandra plans to channel her marketing expertise into the tech sales arena, demonstrating a forward-thinking mindset and a passion for innovation. This emerging professional is poised to make a lasting impact and positive contribution to the future upward trajectory of the industry.

🔗 Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-minarchi-9298431b7/