AMA recap from Chapter President

Dear AMA-STL Board,

 

As my tenure as President of AMA-St. Louis has come to a close, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. It has been an honor to serve alongside such a passionate, committed, and visionary group of marketing professionals.

 

Looking back at the goals we set last summer, I’m both humbled and proud of what we accomplished together. Despite the challenges of rebuilding momentum and reestablishing engagement post-pandemic, we moved forward with purpose—and it showed.

Goals & Achievements

Raise Awareness of AMA-STL Not only did we increase awareness, but we saw a 10% growth in membership, a clear sign that our voice is reaching further into the St. Louis marketing community.

Drive Event Participation While not every event hit capacity, our monthly luncheons were consistently well-attended, and we grew attendance at our Annual Spring Conference by 50%—an outstanding leap that shows we’re hitting the right notes.

 

Extend Our Reach & Collaborate

The inaugural St. Louis Marketing Mashup was a resounding success, proving that meaningful collaboration across associations can lay the foundation for what I believe will become one of the region’s premier marketing events in years to come.

 

Expanding Target Market Engagement

Corporations: Our engagement strategy opened doors to St. Louis’s largest corporations, many of whom participated in our conference and have expressed eagerness for future collaborations.Mid-Sized Businesses: Though quieter progress was made here, the seeds have been planted for deeper engagement going forward.

Universities

Faculty: The Halloween Party fostered intercollegiate engagement and directly contributed to a strong showing at our spring events. Students: Our first-ever case competition drew five teams from four universities, and interest has already been expressed by at least five additional institutions for next year.

Business & Civil Organizations:  Our Diversity Chamber Luncheon—featuring the Asian, Hispanic, and African Chambers of Commerce—reflected the evolving demographics of St. Louis, which is now the top U.S. city for international immigration.

 

Calendar Highlights

Monthly Luncheons (Oct–May): We pivoted quickly and successfully in the fall, delivering timely, relevant programming.

Case Competition: While originally slated for fall, our spring collaboration with the St. Louis Dance Theatre gave us a richer, more integrated experience that connected beautifully with the annual conference. Annual Conference: A true highlight—your work turned this into an unforgettable success. Marketing Awards (Pending): Though we didn’t get the Top Marketing Professionals Awards off the ground this year, I remain optimistic that with the right timing and partnership, this can become a signature event. Golf Tournament: As always, a crowd favorite that brings together camaraderie, networking, and just the right amount of competitiveness.

 

I am incredibly grateful for each of you—for your time, ideas, persistence, and willingness to give back to this profession we all love. I look forward to staying connected and continuing to work with you—through AMA-STL and beyond.

 

Thank you again for allowing me the privilege to lead this remarkable chapter.

 

I look forward to working with Marisa and Hannah as they continue to move the organization forward.

 

Warmest regards,
Eric Rhiney, Ph.D.

Chapter President (2024-2025)