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Marketing & Communications Update

I’m pleased to announce that with the help of several Search Committees, we have filled 4 of the 5 new positions created by the restructuring of the Marketing & Communications team. More detailed information about roles and responsibilities and how the Marketing & Communications department can assist in your marketing & communications efforts will be shared in the coming weeks as the team continues to transition.

Andrew Krueger – Director of PR & Internal Communications (Lewis 317)
Andrew Krueger who joins the team on January 14, 2008, is steeped in the ways of internal and external communications. As the Director of Marketing and Communications for Seattle’s labyrinthine Pike Place Market, his internal constituents ranged from the Board, to business owners, to Hmong farmers. He worked with national and local media to position Pike Place as the ultimate public market in the nation. Andrew’s experience also includes promoting the vitality of downtown Seattle, successful marketing of Plymouth Housing Group’s capital campaign and acting as the communications lead for Community Health Network of Washington. He is fueled by caffeine and a talent for matching creative ideas with precise execution.

Reporting to Andrew will be:

  • Andrea Bowers, Communications Specialist. Andrea rejoined the team in a new capacity, effective December 17, 2007 (though on vacation Dec 21st until Jan 7th). Changing hats to Public Relations and Internal Communications, Andrea Bowers will leverage her three years as a marketing writer for the Foster School of Business. “The more people I get to know from the School of Business, the more stories I uncover,” she says. “I am looking forward to telling our stories in creative and compelling ways.” Andrea brings more than twelve years of experience in public relations and marketing that involved directing PR campaigns for Camp Fire USA, orchestrating media events for Seattle City agencies and advancing internal communications at Bellevue Community College. A “Geoduck” from The Evergreen State College, Andrea married into a family full of Huskies, including a father-in-law who graduated from the School of Business. When she’s not looking up esoteric words in the dictionary or checking the AP Style Guide, Andrea spends time at her other half-time job – parent to twin six-year-old boys.

Eric Nobis – Director of Strategic Marketing & Services (Lewis 211)
Eric Nobis who joins the team on January 14, 2008 brings expertise in integrated branding, public relations and copywriting. His strengths include brand development and messaging, team management, client relations, and experience across the marketing mix. His industry experience ranges from non-profits to healthcare to technology, having worked with brands such as PATH, Community Transit, Hewlett Packard, Philips Medical Systems, Attachmate and MSN Games. A UW graduate, Eric has contributed to two branding books, industry articles and numerous client bylines.

Reporting to Eric will be:

Steve Bangs, Strategic Marketing Manager
Ed Kromer, Collateral Specialist
Michelle Degen, Direct Marketing Specialist
Renate Kroll, Advertising Specialist

LA Smith – Director of Online Marketing (Lewis 213)
LA SmithLA Smith (she prefers initials to her real first name) joins the team on January 2, 2008. She is a seasoned marketing professional with extensive experience in both traditional and new media for industry leaders including Amazon.com, Classmates.com, and Microsoft Corporation. Her core competencies include goal setting and strategic development, process analysis and improvement, information architecture and user experience design. A skilled trainer and facilitator, well versed in current leadership and management principles, she has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, coach, mentor, and instructional designer. A highly organized leader and team player with excellent communication skills, LA is passionate about providing great user experiences online.

Reporting to LA will be:

I want to thank the many individuals who gave of their time to interview the many qualified candidates for these positions. Please join me in welcoming Andrew, Eric, LA and Andrea to the Foster School of Business.

Thanks,

Pam McCoy
Executive Director, Marketing & Communications