Doane Marketing Students Gain Real-World Experience
In the Fall of 2007, students in Doane's Marketing Research class worked with a local business organization, the Crete Area Medical Center (CAMC), to conduct two marketing research projects. One project was designed to measure perceptions of and level of satisfaction with the Cardiac Care Rehabilitation Program. The second project was designed to measure awareness of the CAMC and programs offered.
In addition to working closely with their professor, Kathleen Zumpfe, the students had the opportunity to receive practical advice and guidance from Doane alumnae Gene Filipi and Cristi Reid, who are both business professionals in marketing research.
The students located their sample population, prepared questions, and pre-tested the survey. Operating as a team, they wrote a final report and presented it to CAMC management. By working on this research project of significance to a local business, the students gained great hands-on experience while addressing the needs of a real-world "client" and being mentored by talented business professionals. It is anticipated that the Fall 2008 class, working with the CAMC, will conduct the survey, analyze the results, and report their findings to the hospital.
Harley Davidson Project
In 2006, Ray Croghan, a 1971 Doane graduate, generously donated a new motorcycle and created another special learning opportunity for Doane students. Students in Promotions Management designed and implemented a campaign to raffle a high-tech, custom Harley-Davidson Night-Rod motorcycle. Working on this fund-raiser for the college, the students were responsible for the overall raffle strategy, promotion, and monitoring of the event.
In teams, students created posters for display on the Crete campus, designed the raffle ticket, drafted press releases and newspaper advertisements, and created a Web site to help in promoting the raffle of the Harley motorcycle. The project concluded with a drawing at Homecoming 2006 and the motorcycle was won by the grandmother of a Doane student!
The funds raised in the raffle event were used to purchase fitness equipment, which will be placed in the new Recreation and Athletic Center on the Crete campus. Overall, the project allowed students to be creative and prepare for the professional world.