NACMA Honors SE Athletic Marketing

DURANT, Okla. -- In advance of 2015 convention in June, the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) has honored Southeastern athletic marketing with a variety of honors.

Blake Allen has been named a NACMA Mike Cleary Stipend winner, Luke Willman has been selected to present a case study on SE's Savage Storm Spotters student-loyalty program, and SE Athletics will take home another award in the Radio Commercial category. 

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and it's fifteen affiliates will hold its 2015 convention at the World Center Marriott Resort from June 15-18 in Orlando, FL. The annual convention attracts thousands as the largest collegiate athletic convention on the planet. 

 

Allen will attend his first convention after being named a recipient in NACMA's convention stipend program. Named after NACDA Director Emeritus Mike Cleary, each stipend is valued at $1,000 and will be awarded to individuals wish to advance their collegiate marketing career, enhance their ability to generate revenue for their institution, and take advantage of valuable networking opportunities with numerous collegiate marketing administrators. Cleary served as NACDA's lone Executive Director for its first 46 years, prior to his retirement in June 2011. 

"It's an honor to receive the Mike Cleary Stipend and to be able to represent Southeastern and NCAA Division II at the 2015 NACMA conference," said Allen. "I'm very grateful to Keith Baxter and Luke Willman for the opportunities they have provided me at Southeastern. I look forward to attending the conference and continuing to develop my career in college athletics." 

One of only 30 honorees at any level, Allen is one of just four winners from the 316 NCAA Division II institutions nationally. 

Willman will again be attending the convention as the Great American Conference Representative and committee member, but the first time as a session presenter. He is the lead presenter in the student marketing track, teaming with Coastal Carolina Assistant A.D. Michael Jacobs on Implementing A Student Loyalty Program from a Small School Perspective. They duo will present three sessions on the topic in a case study style. The NACMA strategic communications committee has selected the session to stream live on Periscope as well. Willman has previously moderated open forums at the convention on two previous occassions. 

Savage Storm Spotters is coming off a pilot year which saw over thirty percent of the student body enroll in the program to check-in to events and earn rewards. The student loyalty program enjoyed a repeat rate over sixty percent which resulted in hundreds of redemptions by the student body. A collaborative effort all across campus that includes Athletics, Student Affairs, Student Life, Residence Life, Enrollment Management, Academic Advising and Outreach, Music, and Art, Communication and Theatre, the student attendance task force that created the pilot program has recently approved it for a second year. For more information, visit www.SE.edu/SavageStormSpotters. 

Athletic Marketing G.A. Chris Roussell handled much of the day-to-day administrative duties with the program as a part of his graduate assistantship, including weekly spot alert emails, event scheduling and redemptions. 

For the fifth time in the last six years, SE Athletics will be honored by NACMA in their annual 'Best of the Best' competition. The department was informed it will take home another award in the Radio Commercial category, marking the fourth year in a row in that category. This will mark the ninth NCAA or NACMA award under Willman's tenure, with honors for Game Environment, Student Promotions, Interactive/Social Media, and Radio Commercials. 

"We've got a great marketing team and most of it doesn't work directly for SE Athletics which is a testament to the great team atmosphere here at Southeastern," said Luke Willman, Director of Interactive University Marketing and Director of External Athletic Operations. "I am very proud that Blake was one of just a handful of Mike Cleary Stipend winners in all of NCAA DII, humbled that I was asked to present at this year's convention on a program that has had such a big impact, and thankful that we continue to be recognized for our marketing efforts."

NACMA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics marketing administrators. NACMA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 50th year. 







 

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