Mnemonic Pairings

I often find myself meeting people playing golf, usually at my home nine-hole municipal course in Creve Coeur. Thinking in terms of a mnemonic devices to remember names on the golf course started as a practical thing. It turned into an interesting game of trivia. With the help of Google and Wikipedia here are some examples of pairings I can recall having encountered as partners on the links:

Martin & Lewis - (The golfers were Marty and Louis) but to remember them I thought of Martin and Lewis, the comedy team of singer Dean Martin, straight man and Jerry Lewis, comedic foil.

Tom & Jerry – Tom and Jerry animated cartoon created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, centering on a rivalry between a cat (Tom) and a mouse (Jerry) whose chases include slapstick comedy.

Ben & Jerry – Ben & Jerry's is an American ice cream company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Burlington, Vermont.

Tyler & Perry -  Tyler Perry is movie actor best known for both creating and performing (in drag) the Madea character, a large, in-charge, tough elderly black woman.

Tommy & John – Tommy John, the player and the surgery a procedure first performed in 1974 by Dr. Frank Jobe, and is named after major league pitcher Tommy John, whose 288 career victories among the top left-handed pitchers of all time.

John, Paul and George – My playing partners on a weekend round as luck would have it. “I guess I’m Ringo,” I offered, to which my playing partners recognized ourselves at the fab four Beatles.

John and Paul – If George can’t make it, the pairing is more Papal than pop. Pope John Paul II was the head of the Catholic Church 1978 to his death in 2005.

Mark and Dave – For these two IT guys, I haven’t concocted a mnemonic device to remember their names because to me, they are Mutt & Jeff  (a popular newspaper comic strip created by cartoonist Bud Fisher in 1907).

I usually only have to remember two names because I am either playing with a friend or alone when paired up with a two-some, but one day I might find myself on a busy day playing with the three musketeers, the three stooges or maybe Peter Paul and Mary.   

AMA STL Program Recap 2012-13

This has been a year of diverse programming. In addition to the programming listed here, we implemented a Research Special Interest Group (SIG), Business to Business Social Media Special Interest Group and continue to support the St. Charles sub-chapter activities. We hosted a New Member Breakfast. We also cooperated in joint efforts in St. Louis chapters with  two other professional associations - the Business Marketing Association (BMA) for our holiday event/screening of SKYFALL 007 and our April joint program with the Public Relations Society of American (PRSA). The American Marketing Association of St. Louis delivers great programming and seeks to promote marketing by connecting, informing, and advancing. What that really means is that we want to be better marketers, learn, network and grow as professionals. We set a goal to attract over 1,000 members and guests to our programs for the year.  

July 1, 2012 - Golf Outing at CCGC - Our fiscal year began as we kicked off the year with our annual golf outing at Creve Coeur Golf Course. Golfers braved temperatures over 100 degrees and others joined us for lunch-only that day. 30 Golfers.  

August 16, 2012 - The Voice of the Customer - Lon Zimmerman's presentation highlighted how corporations and organizations are finding value by listening to the customer. He included examples of ways it helps improve operations, sharpen marketing activities, increase customer satisfaction, various methodologies for gathering data and conducting research. 74 attended this event in August.

September 12, 2012 - Speed Networking at Llyweln's Pub in Webster Groves began at 5:30 p.m. This after-hours event of meeting offered members, guests and others interested in connecting and advancing their profession and/or career. “Bring your best elevator speech and plenty of business cards.”  50 people participated in this event.   

 
September 20, 2012 – Kraftig Launch Story Executives of the William K. Busch Brewing Company want you to know two things: They have no association with Anheuser-Busch InBev, even though their company's namesake and chairman is a great-grandson of A-B founder Adolphus Busch. And they are not setting out to make craft beers. William K. "Billy" Busch and Michael J. Brooks, Executive Advisor and partner to the company were on hand to give an inside look at the brewery's success since it the November 2011 product launches of Kräftig Lager and Kräftig Light  (pronounced CREF-tig, it is German for "powerful"). 74 attended this event.
 
October 18, 2012 - Lessons from the Unconscious Mind for Healthcare Marketers Phil Smith, Executive Creative Director of Prairie Dog/TCG discussed how a growing body of evidence pointing to the unconscious as a dominant influencer of consumer behavior. Yet most marketing, particularly in healthcare, rely on traditional (conscious) qualitative research. Based on insights from recent leaders in this marketing movement, How Customers Think, Buyology, and The Culture Code, he exposed gaps in current practices and illustrated opportunities with work from national brands. “Join us as we expose the comical flaws in conventional focus group research and reconsider the truths in modern marketing.” 62 attended this event.

October 26, 2012 – Marketing Research SIG  Wally Balden, Delve - The first presentation meeting of the St. Louis AMA featured Wally Balden, Managing Director of Online Research for Delve,  a marketing research firm based in St. Louis.  Mr. Belden presented how to use online marketing research tools to address shortcomings of more traditional marketing research tools.  Mr. Belden discussed how mobile research capabilities can provide feedback at any time from anyplace.  22 people attended this event. 

November 15, 2012 - Sports Business Jim Woodcock of Fleishman-Hillard Jim leads the FH sports business practice which combines its global network with a seasoned point of view forged by dozens of professionals and decades of sports industry expertise. Senior Vice President Jim Woodcock leads Sports-related client work which includes planning and counsel to league and team executives, representation of ownership, crisis communications, branding, social media strategy, public affairs, media training, and global marketing and expansion. 46 attended this event.

November 29, 2012 - SKYFALL 007 - A special joint networking and social event presented by the St. Louis chapters of American Marketing Association and the Business Marketing Association at the Werhenberg Five Star Lounge and Theater in Des Peres,, MO members and guests gathered to enjoy the lastest Bond film. 50 people attended this exclusive event in the 5 star lounge and upscale theater experience.

January 17, 2013 - Stephen Reynolds, Director of Marketing and Player Development – Ameristar Casino. You can feel the excitement from miles away. Beyond the kinetic, high-speed flashing lights, the 74,000 square-foot porte cochère at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa the action inside. The stunning stained-glass skylights, 130,000-square foot casino and the Victorian design you can get insight into the latest, most popular slot and video poker machines, a wide variety of table games and one of the last live poker rooms in the market. Stephen provided insight into marketing the games, as well as the special player events offered at Ameristar. He also shared the strategy behind the advertising for Ameristar. 50 attended this event.

January 25, 2013 – Marketing Research SIG  Megg Withinton, President of Aspect Market Intelligence, gave a presentation of what the purpose of intel is and what it entails.  Ms. Withinton  discussed how competitive intelligence and traditional marketing research come into play.  We also had a discussion among the attendees how what competitive intelligence tools they use and how they use them.  24 people attended this event.

February 22, 2013 – Remarkable Leadership - the 52nd Annual Conference theme at Missouri History Museum at Forest Park (Event is from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 and includes company tours of Group 360, Lockerdome, Stealth Creative and Manifest Digital – formerly 4orce). Master of Ceremonies, Bill Ellis (Branding for Results) hosted the morning sessions. The program included presentations from Andrew Grinch, Associate AD, University of Missouri Athletic Department (rebranding the Mizzou Tigers as they enter the SEC); Nancy Schnoebelen, Director of Advancement Communications and Barb Meyer, Vice President Marketing and Communications (crisis communications after St. John’s Mercy in Joplin was destroyed in a tornado in May 2011); Eliot Robia, Market Strategist from Pixel Farm of Minneapolis (the emerging trends in Social Media); and Keynote speaker Kevin Eikenberry, author of Remarkable Leadership. Lunch and breakout round-table opportunities will be in meeting room adjacent to the Lee Auditorium immediately following the keynote speaker. 100 people attended this event in spite of difficult weather conditions.

March 21, 2013 - Elizabeth Frantz, Social Media Editor at Better Homes and Gardens, our speaker from Better Homes and Gardens, the magazine, which is still read by more 7.5 million people. Our March speaker shared with us how the brand that began in 1922 is responding to the digital age in a big way. “If you are interested in cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, entertaining or just want to hear about a remarkable brand and where it is headed, don’t miss this special event.” 54 attended this event.

April 18, 2013 – Pew State of the Media report with Amy Mitchell (acting director) and panel (Jim Steward, DICOM; Denise Bentele, Common Ground; Jill Gainer) at UMSL/WMU facility on Olive next to channel 9 and around the corner from the Fabulous Fox Theater. Afternoon function from 4:30-6:30 p.m. - a special joint presentation of the St. Louis Chapters of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) 110 attended this event.

April 26, 2013 – Marketing Research SIG  Sean Jordan, Research Director of The Research and Planning Group, used examples of comic book superheroes and how they join forces to introduce how marketing researchers can combine qualitative and quantitative to increase the effectiveness of their research.   Mr. Jordan presented how individually quant and qual have different strengths and weaknesses.  By showing examples of how The Research and Planning Group combined the two methods to increase the effectiveness of the research. 10 people attended this event.

May 16, 2013 – Dan Curran of Manifest Digital will stood in for Jim Holbrook. Executive Vice President of Marketing, Post Holdings Post is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded ready-to-eat cereals.Post has leveraged the strength of its brands, category expertise, and over a century of institutional knowledge to create a diverse portfolio of cereals that enhance the lives of consumers, bringing quality foods to the breakfast table since the company's founding in 1897. Post's portfolio of brands includes diverse offerings such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, Pebbles®, Post Selects®, Great Grains®, Spoon Size® Shredded Wheat, Post® Raisin Bran, Grape-Nuts®, and Honeycomb®. 75 attended this event.

June  20, 2013 – LockerDome founder Gabe Lozano – LockerDome is social media for your sports life and has more than 8 million users and counting. CEO Gabe Lozano started out building websites for amateur and youth sports leagues. His company, LockerDome, eventually captured the interest of St. Louis investors like Jim McKelvey, the co-founder of mobile payment Square, Jack Dorsey, Twiter co-founder and a few others and In 2013 LockerDome established an advertising partnership with USA Today. LockerDome is an amazing story of success in St. Louis. 75 attended this event.

July 5, 2013 - Golf Outing at CCGC - Our new fiscal year begins as we kicked off the year with our annual golf outing at Creve Coeur Golf Course. Sponsors include Creatives-on-Call, iDream Solutions, MarketVolt and Sandbox Creative. $40 pays for a full afternoon that includes lunch, golf (nine holes), cart and prizes. Lunch begins at 11:30, shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Golfer or not, guests and members are also invited to an awards ceremony and networking event at MarketVolt beginning at approximately 4:00 p.m. 40 golfers an 15 guests for lunch and/or post round awards reception.

August 15, 2013 – Biz Library’s Chris Osborne  – VP of Marketing Chris Osborn will present Biz Library solutions to training on workplace training and development. BizLibrary is a leading provider of comprehensive learning and talent management solutions specifically designed for small and mid-sized organizations. The award-winning online content libraries include streaming videos, interactive e-learning courses, custom courses, reference materials and e-books. Additionally, cloud-hosted LMS, Performance Management and Social Learning applications help organizations streamline and simplify important talent management processes. 90+ estimated attendance.  

 

Molloy Wins

Annual AMA Golf Event

Mike Molloy wins Traveling Trophy

 

40 golfers and 10-15 others participated in the 2013 Golf Event at Creve Coeur Golf Course and MarketVolt corporate offices on Olde Cabin Road. We enjoyed a glorious day of sunshine and golf on Friday July 5th. Mike Molloy prevailed as champion with a low score of 38 at the tight municipal nine-hole track.  Mike was awarded the traveling trophy and pledged to defend his title next year.  About half of the golfers (by show of hands) had participated in this event before while half indicated this was their first time participating.

The event owes a debt of gratitude to committee volunteers Bud Menzel (Treetop Enterprises), Jamie Collins (Kent Precision Foods), Dave Cox and Bethany Kellogg (Sandbox Creative), Pat Hawn (MarketVolt), Jeff Snell (iDream Solutions), Kelly Wiethuchter (Centro) and chairman Wes Morgan (Morgan Studio/East). A special thanks to the golf course who again provided tournament conditions and first-rate services to our group. 

The American Marketing Association of St. Louis also grateful acknowledges the sponsors Creatives-on-Call, MarketVolt, Sandbox Creative, iDream Solutions and Morgan Studio/East. Golfers, luncheon guests, volunteers and post-game reception/networking guests enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 80s. Among the field were teams from Digital Intersection (including the remarkable swing of young Eric Mastis), Bolt Restoration (featuring the Purcell brothers), Kent Precision Foods (best dressed team in knickers and caps) and Sandbox Creative (with clients from Unico and CitiMortgage) and Victor Technologies (featuring Tony “Tiger”Tatar).

Among those returning golfers were Bob Mogley of Stealth Creative, Bob Bishop of Bishop & Partners, John Grizzell (Grizzell and Company), Annie McBride (Annie M. Creative), Tom Shaughnessy (Group 360), Rowdy Jones (Compear Design). Michelle Yates (The Lawrence Group), Jeff and Sarah Kirtley (Val Pak). Among the first timers were Nate Bookout (Neu Concept Productions), Don Vail (Horizon Point Strategies), Perry Drake (UMSL professor) and Todd Purcell (recent MBA) and Joyce Bruno who won “longest drive” with a little help from a friendly cart path bounce.
 

The event tees up a new year for the St. Louis Chapter of the American Marketing Association. It is a tribute to our tradition of advancing the study, practice of marketing and connecting marketers. Thanks to all who participated, volunteered and supported this 15^th annual AMA golf event at Creve Coeur Golf Course!

 

 

 

 

SQ3R

Think about the best teachers you’ve had in your lifetime. Teachers inspire you to go beyond what is required. They teach you life lessons. They are people who give you a love of learning.

Mr. Wilson had a law degree when he was my 7^th Grade teacher at St. Luke’s in Lakewood, Ohio. He was teaching a religion class but the most valuable lesson he offered was a study method he called SQ3R (Study, Question, Read, Write and Review). By following Mr. Wilson’s system you couldn’t help but learn. (That’s an eye opener in seventh grade! Well, it was for me.)

Dom Battalglia was my High School instructor in commercial art. He demonstrated the importance of delivering on time and being able to articulate how your solution matched the assignment. Practical work stuff.

Coach Cousineau believed in me in High School. He recognized me as a team leader. I wasn’t the biggest, toughest or most talented. Coach Cousineau’s son (Tom) played high school football for St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio and was one of the most highly-recruited football players in the country in his senior year. Unlike his son, I didn’t go on to play college and professional football but I learned a lot in the course of our 8-2 season. Lesson: even ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Go Rangers!

Gene Massin taught drawing classes at the University of Miami. Something he repeated often inspired the artist in us all. “Maybe you came here to learn to draw. I am not going to teach you to draw. I’m going to teach you something more important. I am going to teach you to SEE.” An so he did.

Lester Goran taught creative writing and literature classes at the University of Miami. His lessons on story-telling and how to engage readers were reinforced with examples from classic literature. It was Professor Goran who encouraged me to pursue the position of associate editor of my college yearbook. That vote of confidence meant a lot coming from him.  

Teachers, coaches and mentors with the greatest impact go above and beyond the scope of the coursework. Consider those personal heroes in your life: The teachers, role models and the lessons you take with you.  Be inspired and inspire.

The Building and your Brand

If you are fortunate enough to have a building initiative as part of your growth plans, I hope you won’t forget to leverage every step of the way to reinforce your brand and your message. Outlined here are just some of the best ways to make sure your stakeholders and fans know that for which your brand stands. Done thoughtfully the milestones along the way will signal to everyone from employee to stockholder that you mean business.  Don’t cut corners on some of these incremental activities that are in fact great opportunities.

Renderings  - You have worked through every detail of your design, architecture and engineering of your project. That project rendering is an awesome tool. When you are ready to let the world know of your plans, a beautiful rendering increases the likelihood of getting news coverage of your building. That visual will also increase the chances of readership. It is worthwhile to make sure your brand and appropriate marks are prominent on the visuals that will accompany the news of your project. (Work with your architect and building team to get the images you want to represent the project.)

Site Signage -  Another great place to showcase your project rendering, brand and mission. Your job site is enhanced greatly when you let your business neighbors know you are looking forward to occupying a beautiful space in the community. Take advantage of the signage to effectively generate word of mouth and anticipation. 

Traffic and Safety - Construction can often be disruptive but giving thought to the details of alternative traffic flow, parking and safety says a lot about how you do business. All of those individuals working on the job, working around the construction and supporting the building. should note the care by which look to those details.

Groundbreaking - Another place to feature your rendering, brand and key messages is in the ceremonial tradition of breaking ground. This can be a modest affair with only principals or a catered gala with music and dignitaries depending on the scope of the impact you want to make.

Topping off ceremony - Depending on your project, it might make sense to celebrate the final beam or finishing piece. You might prefer to celebrate a finishing touch like a sculptural adornment or foyer statue. Look for opportunities to generate news and excitement.

Donor wall, bricks, glass or plaques - If your business is member driven, a not for profit or one that wants to recognize the historical contributions of donations, efforts and support of individuals. Recognize with design and architectural significance. Dedicate it with media attention and celebrate with representatives of this group.

Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening - When you want the world to know you are open for business, a ceremonial ribbon cutting followed by grand opening activities can go a long way. This could be focused on a single day or extended over a period of time.

Of course every project is different but most have causes for celebration. Don’t miss the opportunity think like a marketer when those building milestones are in sight.     

Nothing Gold Can Stay

St. Louis is a parochial place. People who live here like to know where you went to High School. They are emphatic fans of their Cardinals Major League Baseball team proud of their big small town. So when one if its flagship corporate headquarters has news, people listen. Such was the case when InBev launched its takeover of the King of Beers.

Visit St. Louis and you can count among your stops a complimentary tour of the oldest and largest Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Since its founding in 1852 in St. Louis, Missouri the company has been a symbol of the American entrepreneurial spirit. We love Horatio Alger stories of rising from humble backgrounds to lives of security and comfort through determination, courage, and hard work. A great story, yet the company recently moved into a new chapter as a global firm.   

How did InBev, a Belgian company controlled by Brazilians, take over one of America's most beloved brands? In Dethroning the King, author Julie MacIntosh details how the drama that unfolded at Anheuser-Busch in 2008 went largely unreported as the world tumbled into a global economic crisis second only to the Great Depression. The book published in November of 2011 helps shed light on how the King of Beers was so easily captured by a foreign corporation.

I’ve lived in St. Louis for more than 15 years but I know that I’m still technically an outsider. I can see, however, that our little Shangri La cannot remain unchanged. Nor can we as business people expect to protect the status quo. Read this account of the takeover of the King of Beers and you will get a peak at the forces at play. The global economy, management and corporate governance are variables. Timing and opportunity are factors.

Nevertheless, as I read this incredible business story, I couldn’t help chuckling as I have had something less than six degrees of separation from those quoted heavily in this account. My friend Bill Finnie (a 27 year veteran of Anheuser-Busch), Charlie Claggett (the former advertising agency creative chief and managing director) and Dave Peacock (a top executive at AB even after the merger before his departure this past year) are all close encounters with my own career path for a variety of reasons. I am reminded of the Robert Frost poem Nothing Gold Can Stay. A cautionary tale perhaps, but one worth considering.      

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay. 

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

Kinmundy Pride

 

 

1906 Kinmundy High School graduating class

Back row: James O. Lowe, Harry F. Craig, J. Ben Morgan, Clemmie Whittenburg

Front row: M. Thrasher - Superintendent, Evangeline Parrill - Asst. Supt.

 

April 19, 1906:

Four Complete Course and Receive Diplomas. It is with pleasure that we chronicle the commencement exercises rendered on the evenings of April 10 and 11, closing a seven months term of the Kinmundy High School which completed the course for the following graduates: Messrs. James O. LOWE, Harry F. CRAIG, J. Ben MORGAN, and Miss Clemmie WHITTENBURG. On Tuesday evening, April 10, at 8:30, the curtain lifted, revealing the eager gaze of hundreds, the graduates and orchestra seated on the stage in a semi-circle, whose radiant faces were beaming with smiles while their olfactories and optics were regales with the rich odors and superb tints of fragrant flowers. (*) (A class picture accompanied this article)

 

June 2, 1910:

Kinmundy Boys Honored: J. Ben MORGAN and Harry CRAIG, both of this city, who have been in St. Louis the past four years studying medicine, have successfully passed the examinations and are graduating; Ben from the St. Louis University of Medicine on Tuesday May 31, and Harry from the Washington University June 9. A few days ago, the St. Louis City Hospital gave a very rigid examination to the graduates of the different schools in the city, and these two boys were among the number to pass and gain places in the hospital, which Harry expects to accept. These examinations given by the City Hospital are so thorough that only a small percent of the applicants pass it, and our boys are above the average in their studies to gain these honors. Ben has been offered a position in St. John’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, as House Physician, which he expects to accept about July 1^st. There are 68 members in his class of which he has the honor of being Secretary. These two young men have both worked faithfully for the honors they are receiving and both are to be complimented upon their success.

Note: Kinmundy was a family driving vacation when we were young enough to travel (4 boys, mom and dad, I cannot recall if Lynn was with us too. Older brother Sundance was not living at home at that time.) A city brochure we picked up included a poem, part of which I will paraphrase. Mom read it aloud in a playfully mocking way to tease Dad who really had an attachment to the place. It said, "Take Kinmundy, our city fair. No fog. No smog. Just clean fresh air."