Written by Gabrielle Pack, intern with The Messenger

Small and large business owners, whether just starting or existing, have an opportunity to learn to put an effective marketing plan together using a mix of traditional and general marketing as well as creative techniques with social and web media.

The Troy University’s Small Business Development Center will host its Marketing Boot Camp on March 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Pike County Economic Development Center. The camp will teach owners and managers how to expand their businesses with marketing plans that work.

“It is designed for any type of small or large businesses, whether it’s retail, manufacturing, or service,” said Judy Callin, senior consultant for the Troy University’s Small Business Development Center. “We also have three awesome speakers that are more than qualified in the field of marketing.”

The speakers include Norman Hanson, Marketing and Advertising Consultant, Former Ad Agency Owner, who will teach the businesses about general marketing, Brandon Shoupe, of Strategy 6, will speak on web marketing, and Sharon Whittaker and Aubrey Haskins of Whittaker Marketing will discuss social media marketing and general marketing.

Hanson began her career at the Tucker Wayne advertising agency in Atlanta as an assistant account executive. She founded Slaughter Hanson, which is a world-class advertising and design agency in Dothan in 1980. After 13 years, she retired and was named a member of the XXXI Women’s Honorary at University of Alabama in 2001 and received the Advertising Pioneer Award from Southeast Alabama Advertising Federation in 2004. She continues to be an independent marketing consultant.

Shoupe received a software engineering degree from Auburn University in 2003. He is the founder and owner of Strategy 6, which is a web marketing and design company out of Dothan and the President of the Alfred Saliba Center.

Whittaker started as an account manager at Market Strategies International in Columbus, Ga. She later became the Marketing Director for McDuffie Regional Hospital in Thomson, Ga., where she developed external marketing materials. She went Global with her love for international business to work as an account manager for JLA Global. She now owns her own marketing and public relations company, Whittaker Marketing.

Callin said that thirty-five business owners have already successfully registered for the camp, the original limit was 40 but they can take a few more over. There will be no more than 50 able to register.

The event is sponsored by Troy University’s Small Business Development Center, the Center for International Business & Economic Development, Pike County Economic Development Corporation and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

The event cost is $10 per person. Registration may be completed by contacting jcallin@troy.edu via email, or calling 334-674-2425.