NAMA marketing team makes plans for winter semester
By Alice Roach, 12/5/05

The MU chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is actively preparing for the NAMA Marketing Team Competition held during the annual NAMA Conference and Trade Show. Although the conference won’t be held until April 19-21, 2006, the club has already begun preparation.

According to NAMA president and agribusiness management student Tom Koenigsfeld, groundwork for the new product marketing team begins early and club members have already started. Preliminary work includes researching and planning.

“A lot of work we’ve already started,” Koenigsfeld said. “We start with a business plan that contains everything you would start a business with. A lot of work goes into that.”

To become a part of the marketing team, prospective team members go through an interview selection process in early February. Once the team is finalized and has the new product business plan completed, marketing team members prepare a 20 minute presentation that must be memorized.

During the month before the national competition, the marketing team visits companies around the area to practice their presentation. These companies provide a professional viewpoint and critique for the team to consider before actually competing.

Koenigsfeld, who was a member of the marketing team last year, appreciates the experience that he gained from participating.

“It’s amazing,” Koenigsfeld said. “It’s really a hands-on experience to take things you learn in the classroom and apply them. It sets us a part from other organizations because we have that opportunity.”

Senior agricultural journalism student Hannah Jackson was another marketing team member on last year’s team. She enjoys NAMA as it prepares students for working with a variety of sectors like marketing, advertising, communications, sales and public relations.

“Students are then in a better position to select a career that best fits their interests and talents,” Jackson said.

NAMA meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. To learn more about NAMA or how to become a member, contact Koenigsfeld at tjk2nd@mizzou.edu.

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