BMA October 2006 Event.

'Climbing the B2B Marketing Career Ladder'

IRVINE, Calif. -- The Southern California chapter of the Business Marketing Association (SoCal BMA) is pleased to announce that Nina Smith, Chief Marketing Officer of Sage Software, will be the guest speaker for its Oct. 11 dinner event. Smith's presentation, "Climbing the B2B Marketing Career Ladder," will answer pressing questions confronting B2B marketers as they evaluate and advance their careers. Those questions include: How important is industry experience in B2B marketing? Should I specialize in one marketing function? Or, should I try to excel at all different functions to get ahead?

All area marketers, BMA members and non-members alike, are encouraged to attend this event to learn, first-hand, invaluable career development tips from one of the world's largest software companies. Topics will include how to map career goals and strategies to maximize success, what employers look for in senior marketing professionals, and how to get on an executive recruiter's radar screen.

About the Speaker:

As Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Sage Software, Nina Smith is responsible for setting the strategic marketing direction and overseeing marketing across all companies and products, including Peachtree by Sage, Sage MAS 90 ERP, Sage FAS Fixed Assets, Sage Abra HRMS, and Sage nonprofit solutions, among others. She has extensive experience in branding and customer strategy issues, and has successfully implemented multi-dimensional distribution strategies that encompass retail, distribution, and business partners.

Smith joined Sage Software in 2001 from Webtrends Corporation where, as CMO, she conceived, executed, and managed a variety of marketing initiatives and functions. She previously spent 19 years at Xerox Corporation where she held a variety of senior management positions, including CMO. She lectures frequently on marketing, mentoring and general business topics, and is featured in the book, "The One to One Manager: Real World Lessons in Customer Relationship Management," by Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, Ph.D. She is a business graduate of the University of Redlands, CA.

Logistics:

This SoCal BMA dinner meeting will be held Wed., Oct. 11, 2006, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Early-bird prices are $38 for BMA members, $48 for non-members and $30 for students through Mon., Oct. 9. Prices are $50, $60 and $35, respectively, thereafter. Registration is available through the SoCal BMA website at www.socalbma.org or by emailing [e-mail].

About BMA

The Business Marketing Association is the nation's only professional association dedicated to business-to-business marketers and marketing communicators. Members receive networking benefits, peer support, and the opportunity to participate in events attracting important industry speakers and attendees. The BMA national web site is www.marketing.org. For more information on the SoCal chapter of the BMA, go to www.socalbma.org.