92 I Academics Suiting up for Success Marketing seminar class writes marketing plans for local businesses Assistant Professor of Engineering and Physics Dr. Rich Wells listens to senior Tonghua "Hill" Xian explain his marketing plan for the Baja project, a national competition among engineering schools Nov. 8. Through MKTG 455, Xian designed a logo, worked on brochures to present to investors and wrote a 5-year plan for this competition. Ashe/ Parsons est.2001 College of Business Administration 12 majors I 27 faculty I 127 courses Every student hoped the classes they took would help with the challenges of the future. Some classes provided practical knowledge which a student could lean on for professional experience to show future employers they were knowledgeable in their field. MKTG 455, the capstone course for marketing majors in the College of Business Administration, was one of those classes. Taught by Assistant Professor of Marketing Lori Sloan, MKTG 455 provided students the opportunity to create a marketing plan for an existing client. Sloan contacted entrepreneurs to bring their needs forth for the students to solve. "The goal is for the student to Jearn to meet with a client and assess a very specific need that they have that fits within our time-frame of a semester, and I help coach them through working with the client," Sloan said. Several projects from the class had been implemented on campus. Other students used them or passed by them every day, without realizing the origin of the ideas. For example, the class promoted the Harding Green Initiative, so all of the recycling bins on campus could be attributed to the class. "It is truly a fun experience to be able to take a real world situation and apply the many marketing concepts I have learned prior to this class and create a solution that would help the client achieve their goals in a smart and effective manner," senior Ross Copeland said. Each student produced a 20-plus page paper or a marketing plan for the client they chose and gave a final presentation in front of the client to pitch the plan. "I am just always so proud at the creativity and amazed at the talent of the students that come through," Sloan said. Each client chose which elements to use of the marketing program proposed by the students. In the fall semester, Copeland constructed a marketing plan for The Bridge, the cafe that replaced the Underground Cafe in downtown Searcy. Copeland's focus was to raise awareness for the cafe and the presentation of a grand opening. "He's been doing a great job," owner Sean Hudkins said. "It's been a very positive experience. It helps us out a ton, especially for those who don't know much about business, and it's great having him working for us." The class continued to resonate around campus and Searcy, providing students with professional experience and a chance to be creative and providing clients with a publicized and improved business. Chaney Mitchell
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