Inaugural Department of Marketing Advisory Board convenes

On October 1, inaugural members of the Clemson University Department of Marketing Advisory Board convened to generate ideas and develop strategic planning initiatives to advance the mission of the department. The 19-member board is composed of successful industry partners, all Clemson supporters or alumni, who will advise Department Chair Jennifer Siemens on industry and national matters, directly and indirectly, affecting marketing students, faculty and staff. Each board member will serve at least a two-year term, and the board meets once a semester.

“We are incredibly blessed to have such an energetic, dedicated advisory board to provide strategic guidance as we consider the future of the Department of Marketing. Board members will play an integral role in facilitating student engagement and experiential learning, supporting faculty research and ensuring career readiness of our graduates. We are so thankful for their collective expertise and their commitment to Clemson University,” shares Siemens.

J.D. Tuminski, board member and vice president of commerce and digital marketing at Def Jam Recordings, states, “It’s encouraging to see that higher education is so much more than just attending lectures and reading your textbook. Clemson University is creating immersive experiences that resonate with students to better prepare them for postgraduate life.”

Additionally, Alan Magee, vice president of digital marketing at OVME Aesthetics, shares, “The opportunity, as a Clemson alumnus, to be part of the marketing department advisory board and have strategic input into the continuation of creating future business leaders is an important cause we are all invested in.”

During the inaugural meeting, board members participated in a discussion on applied research facilitated by professor of marketing Dr. Scott Swain, heard from Dean Wendy York and established goals for Spring 2022.  Going forward, board members will work in subcommittees to address the following focus areas: student mentoring, faculty engagement, careers and experiential learning opportunities.

“There has never been a better time to be a part of the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, so I was honored to join the marketing department’s first advisory board,” says Stephanie Blanton, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Bank of America. “As the fastest-growing college within the University, and the move to an incredible new building, there’s so much momentum for faculty and students right now. We have a lot of opportunity to advance our profile and be seen as one of the country’s top business schools. I think the quality of the marketing program and the talent of students coming out of the major are a big part of the story we have to tell.”

The Department of Marketing prepares students for professional careers in marketing, a field focused on the promotion, facilitation and maintenance of exchange relationships between an organization (its products, services and ideas) and its customers. Marketing is the revenue-generating activity of organizations and is critical to its success and survival. Because of marketing’s vital role in economic health, there is a growing demand for well-educated marketing professionals. The marketing department has developed a reputation for its broad-based, interdisciplinary programs.

To view board member photos, click here: https://www.clemson.edu/business/departments/marketing/advisory-board.html

2021-2022 Advisory Board Members

Kristen Agbato – North America home and personal care sales director, Dow
New York, N.Y. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-agbato-733b3513/

Stephanie Blanton – Senior vice president of global marketing and corporate affairs, Bank of America
Charlotte, N.C. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-blanton-6b93901b2/

Teresa Coles – President, Riggs Partners; Co-founder of CreateAthon
Lexington, S.C.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresacoles/

John Covington – Senior strategic account manager, Integrated Power Services
Greenville, S.C.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-covington-b654934/

Ashley Cribb – Vice president, marketing and global sales, general industrial division at Sherwin-Williams
Minneapolis, Minn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-cribb-b9b2618/

Mark Dodds – Senior vice president, global services and software sales, Cisco
New York, N.Y.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdodds2/

Michael Garcia – Senior director, P&G
Minneapolis, Minn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-garcia-a110b66/

Peter Haabestad – Co-founder and managing partner, Guardian Capital Partners
Wayne, Penn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-haabestad-4a068/

Wendy Haabestad – Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors
Wayne, Penn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-haabestad-20666a85/

Ashley Hegler – Account management leader, UnitedHealth Group
Brecksville, Ohio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hegler-06b28a8/

Jessica Lalley – Founder, Voices to Connect
Atlanta, Ga.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalalley/

Kevin Long – Senior director IT transformation and global sales, Cisco
Columbia, S.C.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-r-long/

Alan Magee – Vice president, digital marketing, OVME Aesthetic
Atlanta, Ga.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmagee/

Adam Massey – Chief executive officer, F33.ai
Lafayette, Calif.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammassey/

Todd Pigeon – Chief commercial officer, Sealand, A Maersk Company
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddpigeon/

Meredith Rigdon – Realtor, Foothills Property Group; founder and president, Narrative Strategic Communications
Anderson, S.C.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithrigdoncommunications/

Brandon Speweik – Head of industry sales and strategy, GFT Group
New York, N.Y.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bspeweik/

Pamela Trimnal – Senior vice president, marketing and media services, Comporium
Rock Hill, S.C.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-trimnal-57a3197/

J.D. Tuminski – Vice president, commerce and digital marketing, Def Jam Recordings

Santa Monica, Calif.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdtuminski/