AMA Tampa Bay recognized as the fastest growing chapter in the nation

TAMPA (July, 2007) - The American Marketing Association (AMA), Tampa Bay chapter recorded not only the highest percentage of membership growth in their size category, but were the recruitment leaders for the entire country, wrangling in a 19 percent increase in membership in just 3 months. The chapter participated in the national AMA 2007 Spring Membership Campaign and received the good news in early July. Current membership now sits at 280 and is expected to break 300 by the end of the year.

“Our volunteer board leaders in Tampa Bay have incredible talent, enthusiasm and dedication, and to take this chapter to the next level, our board has elevated the opportunities for our current and future members,” says chapter president, Karin Arden of JFD Advertising & Public Relations. “We have made amazing strides in the past year and predict an unprecedented period of growth in our future, along with enhanced programming and sponsorship opportunities.”

Velma Knowles, of AAA Auto Club South, the chapter’s president-elect, knew she had an aggressive growth goal over previous years, but “never imagined our team would have blown the numbers away like this.”

The spring drive was part of an amazing overall membership increase of nearly 70 percent for the year ending June 30.

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The increase in chapter excitement is partly credited to their monthly speaker series luncheons. Speakers for the Tampa Bay chapter in the last year have represented major national brands, including Check-fil-A, AAA Auto Club South and most recently, JetBlue.. Upcoming events will feature Univision and MasterCard, among others.

The American Marketing Association, one of the largest professional associations for marketers, has 38,000 members worldwide in every area of marketing. For over six decades the AMA has been the leading source for information, knowledge sharing and development in the marketing profession.

The Tampa Bay Chapter of the AMA, with 280 members, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the professional marketing community. The chapter’s Web site is located at www.amatampabay.org.


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