The Soft Pitch

The Business Marketing Association (BMA) Phoenix and the Arizona Technology Council held the first ever Marketing Technology Summit 2009 on September 15th at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. More than 375 marketing and technology professionals attended the conference, which featured a keynote presentation, two panel discussions and a networking and technology showcase with 50 exhibition booths. MY fav was our own Michelle Gorel with Cisco’s Brad Whitworth. Marketing experts shared real-life perspectives on what’s working, what’s not, and how to measure success in the emerging world of digital and social marketing.

The overwhelming response to this event points to an underlying need in the Arizona business community for more information about technology that can enhance productivity, creativity and ultimately the brand of companies. The Marketing Technology Summit connected marketing professionals with people and businesses versus just luncheon speakers that most associations put on. Rumor has it no BMA chapter has done this before, and based on the success of the program we will do it again here. This is what makes me tick, doing things not done before…BUT our BMA PHX Chapter board made it happen…a board that works, wanted to make a difference and helped educate seemed to really resonant with everyone. What also kicked butt was the smiles on the faces of the exhibitors who were getting quality leads…many had ever done anything like this before.

Emceed by Steven Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, the conference revealed how marketers must contend with the radical changes that technology is driving in their field…like search optimization. Marketing executives discussed strategies for implementing technology to advance their brand and demand generation efforts and shared insights on measuring returns on investment for the C-Suite…which of course no one knows.

The coolest thing was BMA National president and big kahuna Gary Slack and B to B magazine’s editor Ellis Booker both flew in from Chicago to be at the program. They were kind to be on a panel with me for just our local members…they were the pros that know everything…wish we had them on for longer! One question i wanted to hear is my hometown Chicago getting the Olympics? They know there are hurdles but we have a good chance.

I’m the local president of BMA…could not be prouder.

To view photos, videos, and presentations from the event, please visit http://www.bmaphoenix.org/events.asp

To view feedback from attendees via Twitter, search #PhxMTS here: http://search.twitter.com/

The Business Marketing Association, Phoenix
Begun in 1922 as the National Industrial Advertising Association, today’s Business Marketing Association represents a lifetime of expertise in business-to-business marketing and communications strategy and tactics. The Phoenix chapter was established in 2008. They meet every third Tuesday afternoon with workshops and programs that enhance members’ marketing knowledge and careers.

Sweet home Chicago, in town at the Drake for the national Business Marketing Assoc (BMA) UNlearn conference with a crowd of approx 400 members. The theme is about how marketers must think differently…

The event started with the old famous McGraw Hill ad with the old man saying I do not know you” etc…came alive with an actor and a contemporay actor saying the samething, brillant start by Ralph Oliva.

The meeting speakers have been great…lead by one the best speakers I have seen, David Meerman Scott about a the new rules for marketing and PR …and leaders from salesforce.com, LinkedIn, and Siemens. I was impressed by the IBM Smart Planet agenda prseneted by our largest supplier’s Matt Preschen.

If you are b2b marketer you should not miss this event in future…join up.

Our past chair, and someone I truly respect Kodak’s Jeff Hayzlett was named the prestigous Crain award winner. Accenture was marketer of the year. Even the awards program comedian was good.

A few more days to go. But new chair Gary Slack is kicking off his new term in style. They only made one mistake, they voted me back as a board member.