Five students in the American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter in Alfred University’s College of Business have received certificates from the Rochester Chapter of the AMA recognizing their successful completion of Market Research Boot Camp.

The Boot Camp was sponsored by the Rochester AMA and taught by Simon Graduate School of Business faculty at the University of Rochester.

The student members who attended as part of the professional development component of the AMA mission included: Todd Ford of Brockport; Mike Heaney of Angelica, NY; Jameson Pownall of Coatsville, PA; Alexandra Zupp of Norwich, NY; and Ashley Fantigrossi of Rochester. They were accompanied by William J. Ward, assistant professor of marketing and AMA faculty adviser, who also received a certificate.

Ward explained that the workshop provided the knowledge and tools needed to develop and manage research projects and also provided the opportunity to network with professionals in the field. The AMA members learned how market research works to help achieve strategic and tactical marketing goals, he said.

"The outcomes of the knowledge and skills gained at the workshop will be directly applied to projects in the classroom and will also benefit the Alfred community with the many client projects and community initiatives by the AMA chapter," commented Ward.

AMA community projects this year include the Children's Learning Initiative, the Health Fair, the Bias Report and the Gravity Car for the School of Engineering.

Heaney, a junior marketing major and a son of Mark and Kay Heaney of Angelica, expressed his appreciation that they “…were given the chance to hone our skills, learn new techniques, and network with top business professionals." Heaney is a graduate of Genesee Valley Central School.

Zupp, a freshman business administration major and a daughter of Peter and Marie Zupp of Norwich, noted, “It was great to see that what we learn in college is stuff professionals do in the real world.” Zupp is a graduate of Norwich High School.

Pownall, Alfred University AMA chapter president and a sophomore business administration major, remarked, "As someone who has had limited experience with market research I found this boot camp very informative and worthwhile." He is a son of James Pownall and Jeanie Pownall-Robinson of Coatsville, PA, and a graduate of Downington High School West.

Ford is a junior marketing major and a graduate of Brockport High School.

Fantigrossi is a freshman marketing major and a daughter of Kathleen Puggieri of Rochester and Michael Fantigrossi of Coal Township, PA. She is a graduate of Gates-Chili Senior High School

The College of Business at Alfred University was the only university to take advantage of the boot camp program, giving AU students a distinctive experience not offered at other universities, added Ward.

The AMA is the world's largest and most comprehensive professional society of marketers, consisting of more than 45,000 members worldwide, members in 92 countries and 500 chapters throughout North America. It is the only organization that provides direct benefits to marketing professionals in both business and education and services all levels of marketing practitioners, educators and students. The Rochester chapter is one of the oldest in the organization and boasts more than 150 members.