About the Columbus Chapter of the American Marketing Association
Chapter Vision
Marketers see opportunities everywhere. The Columbus AMA vision is to offer members compelling opportunities to:
- Get a competitive edge
- Network with peers
- Develop their skills
- Advance their career
- Join a community
- Make a difference
- Be inspired
- Have fun
- Celebrate wins
- Be appreciated & acknowledged
- Be a leader
- Stand out in a crowd
- Increase their personal and professional ROI
Chapter Mission
To provide the best opportunities for marketers in Central Ohio and be regarded as the premiere professional organization in the region.
Columbus AMA Facts
Columbus AMA began in 1950 as the Central Ohio AMA. It became Columbus AMA in July 1977. The chapter was recognized by the AMA’s International Headquarters as Chapter of the Year in 2001, Signature Chapter in 2002, and with a special merit award for membership in 2007. In 2004, the Columbus chapter served as a model for the Board in a Box program developed by international headquarters in Chicago, a program which will provide leadership training for board members in the 74 other chapters in the United States and Canada.
Columbus AMA totals approximately 340 members, including practitioners, academics, and students. About 1,100 total marketing professionals are included in distribution list for Columbus AMA communications. The average Columbus AMA member has been a member for 4 years.
Columbus AMA holds over 25 events in a typical year, including monthly luncheons, morning Java Talk sessions, special interest group events, and our annual Achievement In Marketing awards ceremony. In 2007-2008, the chapter added a flexible schedule seminar, with lunch, half-day, and full-day options, along with a series of non-profit marketing roundtables. The chapter also frequently hosts national events, such as the Branding Bootcamp, Advanced Marketing Bootcamp, and Marketing Research Bootcamp. The chapter also provides a prep course for the AMA’s Professional Certified Marketer examination.
Professional membership company breakdown
- Corporations (McGraw-Hill, Emerson Network Power, Alliance Data Systems) – 32%
- Agencies (Retail Forward, Resource Interactive, Cleverly & Associates) – 20%
- Financial services (Nationwide, Grange Insurance, JPMorgan Chase) – 13%
- Non-Profits (Ohio Society of CPAs, United Way, Columbus Foundation) – 12%
- Higher Education (Ohio State, Franklin, Capital) – 11%
- Professional Services (Bricker & Eckler, Ernst & Young, MoodyNolan) – 7%
- Health Care (Cardinal Health, OhioHealth) – 3%
- Government (ODNR, City of Westerville) – 2%
Professional member career level breakdown
- Manager – 21%
- Coordinator/Specialist – 20%
- Director – 17%
- Vice-President – 13%
- CEO/President/Principal – 11%
- Consultant/Analyst – 9%
- Assistant Director – 6%
- Account Manager – 4%
Member interest area breakdown
- Branding – 15.8%
- Business Marketing – 15.4%
- Marketing Strategy – 13.2%
- Consumer Marketing – 12.0%
- Services Marketing – 9.4%
- Marketing Management – 7.7%
- Marketing Research – 7.3%
- Marketing Education – 6.0%
- Online/Interactive – 4.3%
- Non-Profit – 3.0%
- Health Care – 3.0%
- Database/CRM – 3.0%





