Montana State AMA Chapter Hosts Successful Regional Conference
Sponsored by Foundant Technologies, the conference featured speakers, panels and
competitions focused on the future of marketing
Bozeman, Mont., March 1, 2024 — The Montana State University chapter of the American
Marketing Association (AMA) hosted its fourth annual regional conference Feb. 22-24,
showcasing the exceptional talents and achievements of its members. The Foundant
Technologies Regional AMA Conference, presented by Reveal, brought together students,
faculty, and industry professionals in a celebration of innovation, creativity, and the future of
marketing.
“I'm thrilled with how our event went; it showcased our members' achievements and the
innovative spirit of our MSU AMA community.,” said Emilie Rupprecht, President of the AMA
chapter at Montana State.
Throughout the three-day event, more than 50 students participated in three competitions,
including a Crisis Management Challenge, a Shark Tank Challenge, and a two-round Marketing
Strategy event.
Sponsored by Hardy Brands, the Marketing Strategy competition involves students in two-
person teams receiving a one-page product description, after which they have 20 minutes to
develop a strategic plan with a complete marketing mix to support the product. Then, they have
seven minutes to present their strategy to a panel of judges and three minutes to answer two
questions. The first round took place on the first day of the conference with more than 20
students competing, and three finalist teams then completed the next day. The winning teams
were:
First Place: Hannah Boraas and Bella Pich
Second Place: Marta Pendergast and Daniel Kempers
Third Place: Shawn Huseby and Max Wolsborn
In the Crisis Management Challenge on Friday, participants were given a presentation by Terry
Balluck, Director of ESG at Texas Instruments, on how to manage a brand during a crisis
situation. Following the presentation, student working in teams of four were given a crisis
situation and had 20 minutes to prepare for a press conference to address the crisis. Judges and
the audience played the role of news media and peppered each team with questions, after
which the judges chose a winning team based on their resilience and strategic thinking. The
winning team was comprised of: Emily Rupprecht, Daniel McReynolds, Hannah Boraas, and
Amber Kurth.
The Blackstone Launchpad sponsored the Shark Tank Challenge on Friday, where students were
again given a presentation, this time by entrepreneur and professor Andrew Hull, who provided
tips on how to come up with an idea for a new product. Working in teams, students had 30
minutes to develop an idea, and three minutes to pitch it to the panel of judges. Winners were
Rebecca Jolly, Jack Hays, and Jackson Redder, impressing the judges with their innovative
business idea for Bridger Bindings.
The Regional Conference also featured two panel discussions, providing acendees with valuable
insights from industry experts. The "College to Career" panel featured professionals from
nonprofit organization Eagle Mount, broadcast media KZBK, sales stagging company Navitec,
and e-commerce consultant Tadpull.The second panel was the "AI & Future of Marketing" and
featured experts from Texas Instruments, The Virtual Wild, Tadpull, and The Shared Marketer.
These panelists explored the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on marketing
practices, offering thought-provoking insights into the future of the industry.
"We are immensely proud of the accomplishments of our members and the success of our
annual event," said Dr. Eric Van Steenburg, the AMA chapter’s faculty advisor. "The dedication
and talent displayed by our participants reflect the caliber of marketing education and
opportunities available at Montana State University."
The American Marketing Association at Montana State is MSU’s student chapter of the AMA.
We prepare students for their professional careers through empowering experiences that
develop strong networks, personal growth, and ethical leadership with a community-oriented
focus. Membership in the AMA at MSU is open to all students of any major. For more
information about AMA at Montana State please visit the following site:
http://www.amamontanastate.org