Marketing Refresher Course Offered In Guymon

A session for marketing a business, organization or activity will be presented Thursday, March 15, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Acapulco Restaurant, 634 Highway 54 N.E ., is part of a series of Lunch and Learn workshops sponsored by Main Street Guymon and Texas County Coalition .

The session, taught by Linda Ward, marketing director for Epic Touch/Epic PCS, is open to the public. The cost is $10 per person, which includes lunch and a marketing booklet. Advance registration is not required, but is recommended so that enough booklets can be prepared.

“This marketing session will include advice and discussion on marketing issues brought forth by the participants,” said Melyn Johnson, director of Main Street Guymon. “The class, a brief media mix of blending various publicity elements together with emphasis on free publicity to create a marketing plan, has something for all from businesses to charities and service organizations and rodeo fund raising dinners to arts council concerts.”

“In today’s competitive market, it is important for non-profits to review the methods of using persuasion and information to get people to come to an event or think favorably about their non-profit groups whether it is on a local, state or a national level. This is a refresher course for those with experience and valuable for those who are just beginning to help their non-profits in the publicity and marketing areas,” said Ward.

Ward designed the course as a training program for volunteer directors of American Kids Inc., a nonprofit group for children involved in the performing arts. She has presented it previously for Main Street Guymon Epic Saturdays and the Hooker Chamber of Commerce. On a regional level she presented it for Civitan International, a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities. Most recently the program was sent on loan to an arts program in Montreal, Canada.

Ward’s background includes journalism, public relations, marketing and advertising, and event planning. She has experience in the entertainment industry and the corporate world.

She especially values the times she worked with the late Ed McMahon, the Tuskegee Airmen and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Among those with which she has worked are the Oak Ridge Boys, Glen Campbell, Andy Williams, Mickey Gilley, Porter Wagoner, Roy Clark, John Tesh, Kitty Wells, Chubby Checker, Jimmie Rodgers, Lucas Oil, Grand Old Gospel Hour and Gallagher.

Through the Arlington National Cemetery Reforestation Project, Ward wrote public service announcements for George H. W. Bush and likes to joke that she has even gotten to tell a president what to say.

To register for the marketing session call Main Street Guymon at 580-338-6246 or email [email protected] .