Marketing Sparks are dynamic meet-ups where hand-picked teams of marketing experts come together with the best and brightest startup entrepreneurs. The goal of these intensive three-hour sessions is for the entrepreneurs to come away with actionable strategic and tactical marketing ideas to maximize their chances of success.

We are currently running in Pittsburgh and Chicago.

Upcoming Events

Chicago

August 4, 2015/in Chicago, Event /by admin

Tuesday, October 25, 2016 from 6-9pm
Location: 1871, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, 12th Floor Chicago, IL

Pittsburgh

August 4, 2015/in Event, Pittsburgh /by admin

Fall 2016 from 6-9pm
Location: Tower Two Nova Place (previously Allegheny Center), 7th floor, Pittsburgh, PA

On behalf of everyone on my team I would like to thank you for this incredible opportunity to work with some amazing people specifically on this project we have created. It was an amazing experience for all of us and we all left with some really solid take aways.

- Dean Rosenwald | Chief Communications Officer, SolarCell

Great event! Loved being part of it, so thank you. Would most definitely do it again and recruit others.

- Jill Berardi | Owner, Berardi Group

Marketing Sparks was a great way to spend a weeknight. It was truly refreshing to be around so many collaborative marketers and impressive startups. There was a lot of hustle in that room. The variety of perspectives made for thought provoking conversations and, for our startup anyway, a course of action with tangible next steps. . .an outcome I wish more meetings had.

- Chris Daley | Senior Manager of Digital Media, UPMC

To sit with a diverse group of senior marketers to brainstorm fundamental marketing problems for start-ups has been so refreshing. It has forced me to think in a grassroots fashion which is something that I’ve brought back to my daily work.

- Brian Lantz | SVP of Digital/Direct Marketing, PNC Bank

In my world, I tackle bank marketing problems with bank marketers and bankers. It was refreshing to work with a diverse group of thinkers to solve these problems…. How do we generate awareness for a product, how do we truly define our value proposition, how do we define and measure success. Stepping out of the day to day reminds us why we got into marketing in the first place.

- Rick Steiner | SVP/Chief Marketing Officer, F.N.B. Corporation

We may take for granted the basic formula for earning customers because we have an established customer base, but when you’re starting from scratch, it’s the whole focus. That’s definitely a good refresher for our own businesses. How is our product different and more tuned into what the customer wants than the other offerings in the market?

- Kevin O’Connell | Senior Vice President of Marketing, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group

What I learned tonight is just how creative and innovative some of the new business are that are being started up right here in Chicago.

- Lauren McCadney | Director, Digital Engagement and Social Media, CDW

I want to attend it again. It got me to think outside of my comfort zone and outside what I do every day.

- Ted Green | Director of Ecommerce & Digital Media, Payless ShoeSource

I can’t tell you how impressed I was at the turnout, the process, and the results of last night’s Marketing Sparks! The first of many I hope.

- Babs Carryer | Director of Education & Outreach at Innovation Institute, University of Pittsburgh

It reinvigorated my passion for thinking a bit more artisan about what I do on a daily basis.

- Lauren Lackey | VP of Research and Development, SC Johnson

It brings you back to the fundamentals of understanding your customer and what you need to do to differentiate yourself vs. someone else who can serve the same customer in the same way.

- Fred Ehle | Director of Customer Experience, McDonald’s Corporation

IGNITING MARKETING FOR STARTUPS

Bringing together entrepreneurs and marketers to create marketing strategies

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