On The Hunt - Independent Study & More

I've been trying to figure out what my focus would be for my blog post election since for the last several posts the topics that sparked an entry was about the pending presidential election. Well, I believe I now have a couple of topics.

The first is what I learn as I move forward with my job search. The other will focus on my independent study project that will officially start December 1st and go through early May. I've included a description of the independent study project because I am still searching for a company for whom I could help solve a marketing problem. I hope you will help me by suggesting some companies who may be interested in benefiting from this program.

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For several years, VCU Brandcenter graduate students have contributed to businesses and non-profit organizations as part of our independent study program. This program requires each of our Creative Brand Management students to complete a semester-long marketing project for an outside client in order to graduate.

Typically, there is no cost to the organizations who participate in this program and they can put to use the outstanding work that results. In past years our students have tackled serious projects such as these:

• Conducting research and developing a strategy to accelerate the growth of Genworth’s Long Term Care insurance line.
• Identifying new avenues for growth for an organic pet food company.
• Crafting a plan for DICK’S Sporting Goods to increase growth within minority communities.
• Developing strategies for outreach for a regional hospital.
• Helping a national office furniture retailer target new customers.
• Developing a social media strategy for a global educational marketer.

Each of these projects is supervised by a team of VCU Brandcenter professors, including Founder & President of O'Keefe Brands, Kelly O'Keefe, along with former Martin Agency CEO, Don Just and the Martin Agency’s Chief Strategic Officer, Earl Cox.

This is one of the programs that has helped make the VCU Brandcenter the #1 ranked graduate school of advertising. I hope you will consider participating.

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I hope you will help me by suggesting some companies who may be interested in benefiting from this program. Feel free to leave your suggestion in a comment or email me privately here.