Business students present marketing plan to zaahah

On June 1, a team of 13 marketing majors from Western Washington University presented a detailed Integrated Marketing Communication plan to James Sisneros, the CEO of zaahah, Inc., a social search site that enables students to collaborate on academic projects.

The students are Casey McEnry, Camas; Anna Akopova, Shoreline; Jenna Badilla, Tacoma; Krystal Clark, Auburn; Kathleen Esses, Montesano; Elizabeth Hansen, Sumas; Spencer Heinzel, Kenmore; Cassandra Helms, Enumclaw; Sarah Hunt, Lake Stevens; Sarah Marsh, Renton; Jordan Perry, Honolulu, Hawaii; Greg Pogue, Redmond and Jordan Renshaw, Woodinville.

Sisneros provided the students with a $3,000 budget to create their plan: a strategic campaign targeted at WWU students, including print, television and digital ads, two events, a Google Ad Words campaign, a social media effort and publicity in the form of press releases sent to local media. The students were responsible for creating a formal presentation about their plan to present to the client.

The students were participants in the EdVenture Partners Internship Program, which allows students to work as marketing consultants for an actual client, providing them with the opportunity to apply their marketing coursework to a real-world situation. The Western team is one of 12 teams from universities across the country competing to develop and implement the most effective Integrated Marketing Communication plan. The winning team will be flown to San Francisco to present their plan to zaahah’s management in next month.

For more information on the team or its internship, contact Wendy Bryce Wilhelm, WWU professor of Marketing, at (360) 650-4816.