Chamber project a valuable experience for students

HUNTINGTON, IN MAY 1, 1997 --- Huntington College executive-in-residence Jim O'Donnell today said advertising sales have been brisk in the community viewbook which he and a group of students are producing for the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce.

"We are excited by the community's response to this project," said O'Donnell. "We have sold most of the full page ads and many of the half-page spots, but a number of excellent advertising spaces yet remain."

"As in years past, the new edition of Welcome to Huntington County will be an outstanding means of enhancing pride in our community and promoting the many resources of Huntington County," O'Donnell added. The publication will be distributed by advertisers and the Chamber of Commerce to prospective new residents and businesses.

O'Donnell has organized a team of three senior business students to sell advertising space in the publication. The students say the real-world experience provided by this project has been invaluable.

"I have found this sales project to be educational in ways that classroom instruction cannot be," said Jeff Roloff. "Interaction with people with different backgrounds, concerns, and ideas has given me real experience with how to handle people in various situations."

His classmate, Kurt Grau, agreed. "It has definitely been educational, and will be something that I will be able to take with me into the business world. It has been a pleasure to deal with area business professionals, because they have been very receptive of our sales team."

"It has been a pleasure to get to know some of the area business people, " said Scott Starry, also a senior business management major. "They have been very supportive of this publication. I sincerely appreciate the friendliness and professional attitudes of the business leaders I have spoken with. The experience I have gained from this project is irreplaceable."

"I am pleased that the Chamber had the faith and confidence in students to complete an important task for the community," Roloff added.

Grau and Starry plan to seek full-time employment in sales and marketing after graduation, preferably in northeast Indiana. Roloff also envisions a future in marketing, perhaps in his home state of Michigan. First, though, he will serve as manager for One Generation, a Huntington College quartet that will tour the United States this summer.

Advertising sales will continue through July 1. O'Donnell reported that all previous advertisers had been contacted and now the sales team was working to attract new advertisers to the project.

Once the sales phase of the project is closed, the publication will be written and designed. O'Donnell has acquired the freelance services of John Paff, Huntington College's director of public relations and publications. Paff said he will work closely with Chamber representatives to create a publication that "will show off what a wonderful place Huntington County is to live, work, run a business and raise a family."

For further information about Welcome to Huntington County, contact O'Donnell at 359-4236.