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Student-inspired conference lands students in the business world
Three years ago, Simon Walls’ Marketing Research students conducted a study with the Durango Chamber of Commerce. The results revealed that local professionals desired more education about how to utilize digital marketing to advance their businesses.
The research students recommended the idea of hosting a digital marketing conference in the community. Walls, an associate professor of Marketing, made the idea a reality.
The resulting Tech-Knowledge Conference, which just completed its second year, is now a successful collaboration between the School of Business Administration and the Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the event. It also opens the opportunity for FLC students to incorporate themselves into the local business community.
“This experience is meaningful for students seeking internships and future employment opportunities,” Walls says.
The conference aims to develop local businesses’ digital marketing skills. The day-long series of classes and workshops focuses on such topics as cloud technology and hashtag campaigns.
Unofficially, the conference also serves as a networking tool for local business owners, entrepreneurs, practitioners – and upper-division FLC students, who attend through ten scholarships funded by the Chamber’s sponsors.
“We made a point to help the students network by introducing them to local business leaders,” says Walls. “They introduced speakers and helped the event run smoothly. And of course, they were able to attend the session presentations.”
Sophomore Navonne Benally, who participated in the conference in March, was struck by the reality that even successful businesses face challenges. “All these companies weren’t afraid to say, ‘I’m struggling with this, I need help with this,’” she says. “They were so direct.”
“The conference was very eye-opening,” she adds. “Digital marketing can come in any shape and form. It’s so unpredictable. My idea of marketing changes every day.”