The new year brings great things from AMA|Rochester!

AMA|Rochester members will get a lot more for their membership in 2015. The chapter will continue its strong lineup of smart educational programs and networking opportunities while reducing fees for AMA members this year.

Highlights of the 2015 calendar include events with market leaders Marketo and Brand Networks, and the Pinnacle awards program in May. Also, members of the AMA|Rochester chapter will receive even greater discounts to events than non-members.

“We have a very active volunteer board that is delivering great programs and opportunities for professional growth for Rochester’s marketing community. Our strong programs have helped us grow and retain members. Now, we are increasing the value of membership even more by lowering event fees for members,” said Laura Dwyer, board president; and senior lecturer, marketing at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Saunders College of Business. Dwyer is also president of Strategic Insite.

Highlights of 2014 include:

• Growth in membership and maintaining an above-average member retention rate
• High-value events including a workshop on real-time marketing for high-impact-results; a keynote event with HubSpot, and interactive roundtables on integrating social media into marketing plans.
• Record number of applications for annual Pinnacle Awards.
• Newly designed website for the chapter.

In addition to Dwyer, members of the 2015 board are:

• JoAnn Linder, president-elect; director, global marketing communications at Carestream Health
• Tom Agnello, immediate past president; partner with Madison One Clearinghouse Network
• Rosanne Bellavia, secretary; marketing manager at CaterTrax
• Christopher Piedici, treasurer; CPA and manager in Freed Maxick’s Audit Practice
• Tanya Babcock, vice president of programming; director of marketing and advertising at Brite Computers
• Ann O’Grady, vice president, communications; partner of Insight Solutions, a market research consultancy
• Cathy Rubino Hines, vice president, sponsorship; founder and chief marketing officer at The Marketing Collaborative
• Javier Bautista, vice president, membership; independent consultant marketing research and analytics
• Russell McDonald; vice president, collegiate relations; formerly senior marketing manager with Xerox Corporation
• Michael Baron, programming; creative director at Partners + Napier
• Diana Valenti, co-chair of programming; associate marketing manager at PAYCHEX
• Jill Rehak Kemp, awards; marketing manager at Highland Hospital
• Brian Rapp, sponsorship; vice president, creative director at Roberts Communications
• Heidi Marcin, chair of higher education special interest group; director of marketing at Finger Lakes Community College
• Cassandra Peltzer, communications; assistant director of marketing and undergraduate recruitment at RITSaunders College of Business
• Paul Schiller, communications; director of product marketing at Piksel
• Kathleen Kilfoyle Remis, communications; independent marketing communications strategist and copywriter
• Christian Costa, communications; account executive, Grid; adjunct faculty, FLCC