A note from the SMA president.
Bennett, Gregg
The Sport Marketing Association (SMA) executive board is preparing
to meet in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as I write this note. By the time
you read this, board members Steve McKelvey (Industry Relations), Khalid
Ballouli (Academic Affairs), Andrea Eagleman (Student Affairs), Joris
Drayer (at-large), Nancy Lough (President Elect), and Eric Schwarz (SMA
Executive Director) will have met to plan SMA 2013. The Board will also
discuss issues of priority and growth for the year at these mid-year
meetings. It has been a joy to work with each of these board members
over the brief time I have been the President of our organization.
One of the priorities of SMA this year will be to increase our web
presence, including the continued development of our website
(http://sportmarketingassociation.net/) and specific social media
initiatives. Beth Grupsmith will participate in our mid-year meetings
and has joined SMA as a social media consultant. You have likely noticed
Beth's work already as our presence on Facebook and Twitter
(@SMA_National) has expanded due in large part to her efforts to help us
more effectively communicate with each other via these mediums. If you
have not already liked SMA on Facebook or followed the organization on
Twitter please do so. We will continue to grow our presence in these
mediums and will begin to include blogs and other platforms that promote
the organization.
I am also excited about the work that Joris is doing with our
awards committees. It is my hope that the 2013 conference will solidify
an awards process that will recognize your academic achievements for
years to come. All of us work very hard for our students and
institutions; it is time for SMA to be the organization that recognizes
your noteworthy achievements and I am confident we will establish a set
of awards this year.
SMA 2013 will also be the first year in our history that we have an
elected President. Of course, this is a great honor and I am humbled to
be able to serve in this position for 2013. It is also the first time
that our President will serve for a year rather than a three-year
commitment. Both of these changes in operations are important to the
growth of SMA as it will allow more of us to invest in the organization
through leadership roles. In that regard, I am excited that Nancy Lough
will become the first female President in 2014. SMA will grow and
prosper if all of us get involved and provide leadership and direction
in the future. I would like to encourage all of you to consider how you
might help the organization, including serving on the executive board
and in leadership positions.
The 2013 conference will take place October 22-26, 2013, and the
theme for the conference is "Blazing the Trail to the Land of
Enchantment." With our first United States-based conference outside
of a major professional sport market, this is a great time to look
beyond the traditional sport marketing concepts into new,
underrepresented, and specialized areas of sport marketing that are
emerging on the sport business landscape. It is important that we
support this year's conference as it will set precedence for other
cities and programs that want to host the conference. Please visit the
updated SMA website for more details and plan to join us in New Mexico
for a great event!
Dr. Gregg Bennett
President, Sport Marketing Association
