San Diego American Marketing Association Presents 11th Annual AMA Cause Conference

San Diego, CA, Feb. 26, 2009 — The San Diego Chapter of the American Marketing Association (SDAMA) is hosting the 11th Annual AMA Cause Conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. The conference is the West Coast’s largest business partnership conference for nonprofit and corporate leaders.

This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Will Marre, an award-winning writer, researcher and expert on leadership. A co-founder of The Covey Leadership Center, Marre received an Emmy Award for his PBS television special entitled “Reclaiming Your American Dream.” Marre’s keynote presentation includes excerpts from his latest book, “Save the World and Still Be Home for Dinner,” and also will discuss trends, market changes, new forces and new opportunities for both the nonprofit and business world in these uncertain economic and social times.

“Charities are designed to relieve acute human suffering,” said Marre. But the model is broken. They spend enormous amounts of time and resources to raise money, mostly through episodic events which are expensive diversions from their mission. Both nonprofit organizations and corporations mistakenly under-invest in cause marketing which I believe is the future of commerce. During the AMA Cause Conference, I’ll be examining cause marketing mishaps as well as model of success,” he said.

In addition, the event will feature for the second time, the popular “Fast Pitch” competition presented by the San Diego Business Journal. Results for last year’s winner, “Survivors of Torture,” will be shown and four other organizations will each give a three-minute presentation to request support for the upcoming year. Just like American Idol, the audience votes and the winner is announced at the end of the conference. The winner receives a graphics package worth $10,000 from the UCSD Extension Digital Arts Center.

Sponsored by Sempra Energy, the 11th Annual AMA Cause Conference will include speakers and panelists from San Diego’s most prominent businesses and nonprofits including Second Chance, Union Bank, Barona, Sempra, Allison and Partners, San Diego Grantmakers, Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research of USD, UCSD Extension and The Social Enterprise Institute. Media partners include The San Diego Business Journal, Voice of San Diego, Cox Communications and KyXy 96.5 (ABC Radio).

“Sempra Energy makes a difference in our communities by creating innovative partnerships to produce sustainable and responsible change,” said Frank Urtasun, director of community partnerships for Sempra Energy and executive director of the Sempra Energy Foundation. “We dedicate ourselves to investing in creative ideas and innovative approaches, and this conference is a way for non-profits to take their forward-thinking ideas to the next level.”

In addition to the keynote addresses and panel of corporate executives’ Q & A, new this year is a “Nonprofit Olympiad” where three finalists will compete on-stage for a $15,000 video package and ultimately over $250,000 in cash and support from San Diego Social Venture Partners. Also new: focused tracks for beginner to intermediate practitioners, and another for advanced and corporate practitioners.

The price for AMA Members, Cause Partner organization member & non-profit organizations is $109 before March 4, $139 after March 4 and $169 on the day of the event. The price for corporate & non-member attendees is $129 before March 4, $149 after March 4 and $179 on the day of the event. The cost includes parking, continental breakfast, choice of sessions, lunch and a Cause Conference informational binder with DVD.

Attendance is limited to 200. The conference has sold out for the past eight years, so individuals interested in attending are asked to register as soon as possible by logging on to www.sdama.org or by calling (619) 402-7825.

About the San Diego American Marketing Association
The San Diego American Marketing Association is the premier professional development association for San Diego’s marketing community. For more information on the local chapter, please visit www.sdama.org. For more on the national organization, visit www.marketingpower.com.