So honored and so proud. That’s exactly how I feel about the recent award that the Iowa chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA Iowa) received.

CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD!

I have met so many great people through being involved with AMA Iowa. I am beyond blessed to be on the board with an incredibly talented group of professionals. And I am so lucky to also call them friends!

We have had some pretty incredible past presidents that led us to where we are today. Georgann Smith started a trend to make our chapter the best there was, April Schmaltz took the reigns and led us to a Runner Up award last year, and Kelly Moore fulfilled the ultimate goal during her year with chapter of the year. A huge thank you to Lori Howe from Share Marketing and the the team at ColorFX for sponsoring our award winning entry this year. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Here is the press release that went out this week regarding the award. So proud of everyone on the board, our volunteers, sponsors and everyone else who contributes and makes AMA Iowa the best chapter there is!

AMA Iowa Awarded International Chapter of the Year
Experienced membership and a crew of volunteers drive chapter to success

Citing 22 percent growth and all-time record membership in the last year, the Iowa chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA Iowa) announced today that it has received the highest professional chapters award – 2012-13 Chapter of the Year. Last year, the chapter was runner-up to Houston, Texas, and the AMA Iowa
all-volunteer board of 23 marketers set a goal of capturing the crown. This annual awards program, hosted by AMA International Headquarters, highlights excellence among the organization’s 75 chapters across the U.S. and Canada.

“AMA Iowa’s recognition as Chapter of the Year is a testament to the thriving marketing professional community in Iowa and in the Des Moines region,” said Susan Ramsey, senior vice president, communications/marketing, Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Central Iowa is experiencing an amazing economic development boom. This recognition will help us support new and expanding Iowa companies to recruit, retain and further educate the nation’s top marketing talent.”

Judges of the competition cited AMA Iowa’s strong membership growth and retention numbers, along with financial stability and strategic planning, as key factors in receiving 155.33 points out of a possible 181 in the Chapter of the Year competition. The average score of all AMA chapters entering the competition was 114.58. Comments from the judges included:

• “Iowa’s leadership strength and accountability is very apparent.”

• “The chapter’s financials were very strong, and you saw great growth over the previous year as well as against budget.”

• “It’s evident that a lot of good things are going on in Iowa!”

“With their grasp on communication, business intelligence and the power of connection, marketers are among the most influential leaders in any given business community,” said Kelly Moore, president of Kelly Moore Consulting and AMA Iowa 2012-13 president. “Our chapter’s growth is evidence of the fact Iowa businesspeople understand this and are willing to invest in a network of educated, energized marketers.”

The AMA Iowa board members set a program goal this year to encourage members and company executives to (re)think AMA Iowa. The strategy had three components – (re)brand, (re)tain and (re)ach the C-suite. With 58 percent of AMA Iowa membership holding 10-plus years of experience in the marketing, it was important for the chapter to provide a variety of challenging and diversified programming.

“This award is both an extreme honor and quite humbling,” said Josh Fleming, current AMA Iowa president and brand counselor at The Meyocks Group. “While the board does an excellent job in preparing our chapter for success, we are nothing without the 357 members who consistently support us through chapter activities and their desire to learn more about their profession, network with their peers and lead their organizations.”