Beyond the Pitch Recap: AMA Montana State Wraps Up a Successful CED Marketing Week
A week of inspiration and connection featuring hands-on workshops, expert insights, friendly competition, and unforgettable experiences leaves students motivated and ready to take on the marketing world.
Bozeman, Mont. – Oct 10, 2025 – The American Marketing Association (AMA) at Montana State, the 2024–2025 International Chapter of the Year, successfully wrapped up its annual CED Marketing Week, held October 6–10. The five-day event brought students and professionals together for a series of engaging activities, including an Outdoor Industry Marketing Panel, Perfect Pitch Workshop, and Outbound Sales Competition. The week concluded with a behind-the-scenes tour of Gallatin Ice, leaving participants inspired, connected, and eager to apply their new marketing insights.
Day 1 Highlights:
The conference kicked off on Monday, Oct 6, with a Perfect Pitch Workshop guided by Tara Petre, VP of Customer Success at Simon AI. Tara taught participants how to craft and deliver a compelling 90-second pitch, helping them confidently present themselves for any job opportunity.
Day 2 Highlights:
Day two of the conference, held on Tuesday, Oct. 7, brought out students’ competitive spirits with Trivia Night. Teams tested their knowledge across a range of topics, challenging their peers in a lively evening filled with creativity, laughter, and collaboration. The event fostered camaraderie among participants, with top teams earning prizes and bragging rights.
Winners: Team HIHE
Izze Truax, Hunter Swenson, Hailey Anderson, Elle Pannell
Day 3 Highlights
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, attendees gathered for the highly anticipated Outdoor Industry Marketing Panel, featuring leaders from top outdoor and adventure brands. Panelists included Jill Shinn, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at OnXmaps; Jackson Keogh, Managing Director of Big Sky Mountain Products; Katie Sproles, Communications Manager at the Gallatin Valley Land Trust; and Martijn Linden, Head of Brand and Product Strategy at Oboz Footwear. The session offered students an inside look at how these professionals shape brand campaigns, product strategies, and digital marketing efforts providing valuable insights into the world of outdoor industry marketing.
Day 4 Highlights:
On Thursday, Oct. 9, students put their communication skills to the test during the annual CED Outbound Sales Competition. Each participant had 90 seconds to secure an appointment with a sales prospect, showcasing their ability to think quickly and deliver a persuasive pitch. The top two finishers earned the opportunity to represent Montana State University at the Regional AMA Conference hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater from Oct. 16–18.
First Place Winner: Hugo Rice
Hugo emphasized CED’s unique market position during their sales call, stating, “With 700 branches, CED offers international pricing and inventory, but local flexibility and service.”
Second Place: Calvin Schmidt
Third Place: Erin Lawrence
Day 5 Highlights:
On Friday, Oct. 10, Marketing Week concluded with an exclusive behind-the-scenes Tour of Gallatin Ice, led by Jeff Moore. Attendees explored the operations, design, and marketing efforts that drive the organization’s success, gaining insight into how strategic marketing supports local businesses and builds lasting brand impact
Students Thoughts:
“It went super well! My favorite part was the Outbound Sales Competition since I love competing in events. The other events were also helpful experiences, giving me practice and ideas I can apply in real-world marketing.” said Farrell Zulkarnain, a senior marketing major and VP of Fundraising for Montana State’s AMA chapter.
Next Event:
Next week, AMA Montana State will host a Sports Marketing Presentation with Roger Wexelburg, General Manager of Bobcat Sports Properties, on Tuesday, October 22. Students will have the opportunity to learn directly from a leader in sports marketing and gain insights into the industry.
The American Marketing Association at Montana State prepares 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 www.amamontanastate.org
Montana State AMA Contacts:
Ella Kunze
Vice President of Communications, AMA
communications.msu.ama@gmail.com
Dr. Eric Van Steenburg
Faculty Advisor, AMA