It’s official: AMA-Madison’s triumphant return with the 2024-2025 season is right around the corner! We’re kicking it off with a Season Launch Party coming up on Wednesday, August 14 from 4:30-6:30 PM at KARBEN4. Not only will there be the opportunity to network with your fellow Madison marketers, but you’ll get to join us for a brewery tour, a raffle, and an exciting presentation that’ll give you a preview of the programming coming up for AMA-Madison’s new season.
You can find more information about the event and register to secure your spot here.
We’ve got a lot of exciting changes coming soon, which AMA organizers and marketing afficionados Carrie Brown, Jessica Wagner, and Kristin McGuine will be revealing in their presentation at the launch party. But to give you a preview of the news they’re going to be breaking, I asked the three of them some questions about the future of AMA-Madison. Take a look below.
What to Expect: Q&A with Carrie, Jessica, and Kristin
1. AMA: Tell us a little bit about yourselves and your roles within the marketing world.
Carrie: Over the last twenty years I have worked in many capacities as a marketer–communications, digital, social, events and anything else that needs to get done! Most recently I have settled into the strategy arena for the financial services and insurance industries. I love working on products that are complex with a multi-step sales process. It’s challenging and very fulfilling for me as a professional.
Jessica: I’ve been in marketing for nearly 20 years (dang that makes me feel old!) and would consider myself a generalist or jill of all trades. The last 10 or so years have been spent at firms focusing on energy efficiency/decarbonization. It’s a great feeling knowing where I work is trying to make the planet a better place. I’m currently the Associate Director of Marketing at Michaels Energy. I work on all things marketing here – campaigns to promote Michaels and oversee our marketing to support utility programs. While not marketing per se, I also serve on the City of Sun Prairie’s Sustainability Committee. In my free time during the summer, I enjoy gardening and making jam.
Kristin: I have been in marketing for a hot while, most recently in managing marketing strategy, communications and graphic design for associations at an association management company (AMC), an agency model organization. I love doing work I enjoy, for organizations making a positive impact in their respective corners of the world! I currently work on marketing communications and graphic design work as a freelancer on a contract basis. I am excited to be joining the AMA-Madison chapter board, and see it as a perfect intersection of my marketing industry background and association experience. In my free time, I am probably outside hiking, biking or paddling – especially in summer. I love Wisconsin summers!
2. AMA: Hooray for a new AMA season, and with more exciting changes than ever! Can you give us a preview of how AMA Madison’s event programming will be different this season than in past years, and what new experiences can Madison area marketers expect?
Carrie: Collaboration and coming together as a community is a key focus of our chapter. One of the pieces of our programming that I am most excited about is our line up of speakers, specifically the three panel events we have planned. Attendees will be educated and inspired at each event. I can’t wait to share the details at our Summer Social and Launch on August 14. We are also extremely excited about a joint event this winter featuring Social Media Breakfast, Madison Media Professionals, and the Public Relations Society of America.
Jessica: The biggest change this year to our programming is no more Craft Marketing. It’s been such a staple for our chapter, that it’ll be weird to not have it. This year we’ll be trying out some new venues and different times of day. We want to make sure we can provide our community with programming that fits in their schedule and as marketers we do love some A/B testing on which times of day and locations work best. 😊
Kristin: We are SO excited about our 2024-2025 programming! We sat down and really put thought into how we can bring maximum value to as many local marketers as possible. We brainstormed topics in a very intentional way! And we are looking to incorporate some more dynamic program formats for additional perspective and engagement. It won’t be all work and no play, though – We are infusing elements of fun, as well! We are offering two series – One in the mornings (AMA Bright Beginnings) and one in the late afternoons (AMA After Hours) on alternating months. Hopefully everyone will find the timing of one or the other, if not both, fits their schedule. And sessions will be held at new locations – Both of which are centrally located, easily accessed and bring fresh, amazing energy. We will be unveiling the full schedule on August 14 at our Summer Social, and we hope to see all our people – members and non-members – there!
3. AMA: What was your vision in shaping the future of AMA-Madison, and how has member feedback played a role?
Carrie: Member feedback is essential to how our chapter operates. In addition to surveys, we keep a close pulse on anecdotal comments and digital data to see what is really resonating with our audience. This year we are trying several new initiatives based on this information to make AMA Madison the most educational, inclusive, accessible and FUN organization in the area!
Kristin: We indeed took member feedback into consideration as we built this year’s schedule. Plus, we focused on doing more of what has been working best, letting other initiatives go, all with a willingness to try some new things!
4. AMA: AMA-Madison has already made a positive difference in the lives of its members in the past, connecting passionate marketers and giving them the space to share ideas. Now that we’re entering a new era, what additional impact do you foresee this new direction of AMA-Madison having on the local marketing community?
Carrie: Our volunteer leaders are laser focused on making sure that AMA Madison is known as THE organization to available to support, educate, inspire, and champion them as marketing professionals. I expect that this will have a ripple effect of vibrancy in the whole experience of being part of AMA Madison that will in turn make it a “must” in our local community!
Jessica: This is a tough one for me to answer. I’ve been on the board of AMA Madison for 7 years (I think??) and this will be my last year. I’ve certainly appreciated the opportunity that serving on the board has provided, most importantly the connections. We have a such a great board roster this year and I can’t wait to see where it goes!
Kristin: We are looking to build on that foundation, ensure all members remain relevant as masters of our craft, and grow as a community in support of each other. I am really, really excited about this AMA leadership team – There are great things to come!
See You August 14!
If you haven’t yet, register here. We can’t wait to learn and network with you.
Thank you to our sponsor(s)
About the Venue
Located on Madison’s East side, Karben4 makes high quality beers with the best ingredients they can find. From hoppy beers to malty ones and the spectrum in between, we have something for every palate.
About the Author
Kara Martin, Senior Content Creator at Naviant, specializes in written B2B content, from case studies to blogs and beyond. She transforms complex technical information into compelling, data-driven content that helps organizations turn their digital transformation goals into a reality.