Marketing The Waste Management Phoenix Open

Tickets Can be Picked up at Will Call under "Your" name
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The Avnet Tent is on the 18th Hole

The golf course. Business professionals often claim, “It’s where deals are made and jobs are won.” Maybe you’ve experienced this first hand, or maybe you think it’s a load of “garbage.” Either way, BMA Phoenix would like to invite you to attend our Waste Management Phoenix Open Special Event on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.

Find out how Waste Management, North America’s leading provider of integrated environmental solutions, determined that sponsoring The Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale would prove to be a hole-in-one to help the company market its brand. Join us as we evaluate this partnership with tournament leaders in charge of marketing the 2012 tournament, and hear about the challenges and opportunities they’ve uncovered through this winning partnership.

Alex Clark – 2012 Tournament Chair

Alex Clark is a partner in the commercial real estate firm B.D. Baker Company with over 18 years of experience in retail leasing, sales and development.

B.D. Baker Company is a small, boutique real estate firm that has specialized in tenant and landlord representation in Arizona and Nevada. Alex and his partner represent Wal-Mart Stores, Sam’s Clubs, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets, Murphy Oil, Nationwide Visions Centers, Quick Trip and several other national retail tenants and landlords.

Alex has been an active Thunderbird since 2004, serving as the House and Grounds Chairman, Player Liaison, Sponsor Value Chairman, Mischief, ASU Thunderbird Pro Am Chairman, Tee Off Luncheon Chairman and is currently the Assistant Tournament Chairman. Alex will be the Tournament Chairman for the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Alex received his Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Business Finance and Real Estate in 1990.

Mike Piazza – 2012 Tournament Marketing Director

As Vice President, Arizona Marketing Director for MidFirst Bank since 2006, Michael oversaw the execution of the strategic brand launch for MidFirst Bank in Arizona. Now, with more than 20 banking centers in the metro Phoenix area, Michael focuses daily on branding, customer acquisition and marketing support for commercial, business, private and personal banking.

MidFirst Bank is very involved in the Phoenix community as the official bank of the Phoenix Suns, proud supporter of the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State University, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, American Heart Association and Waste Management Phoenix Open, among others.

An active member of the Thunderbirds since 2000, Michael has secured over $7,000,000 in sponsorship sales and ranks 4th in lifetime sales for the organization. Having overseen several venues and projects including the Coors Light Birds Nest, Grayhawk Member’s Club, Tournament Scoring & Communications, Waste Management Opening Sponsor Party and the and the Thunderbird Membership Committee, Michael currently serves as the 2012 Marketing Chairman for the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Bill Lavidge - CEO of the Lavidge Company

Bill Lavidge’s career spans over 30 years and includes two of the country’s largest and most respected advertising agencies. Tours of duty with Bozell & Jacobs followed by Foote, Cone & Belding provided Bill with the training and discipline that helped shape the philosophy of the agency he founded in 1982. Today, The Lavidge Company is among the largest full-service marketing firms in Arizona, with capitalized billings in excess of $60 million.

The Lavidge Company is made up of four separate marketing communications divisions: Advertising, Public Relations, Interactive and Special Projects. TLC’s client roster consists of nearly 40 blue chip companies including the Arizona Diamondbacks, ASU Athletics, Banner Healthcare, Celebrity Fight Night, Discount Tire Company, KTAR Radio, LifeLock Identity Theft Protection, Massage Envy, McDonald’s, Pert Shampoo, Pulte/Del Webb, Phoenix International Raceway, Sure Deodorant and TGEN.

During his career in Phoenix, Bill has shown a long history of support for the advertising industry and the local community. He has held leadership positions for countless civic organizations. He is past chairman of KAET Public Television, the ASU M.B.A Council and the Phoenix Advertising Club, as well as a former board member of Valley Leadership. He served on the Foundation Board of The Better Business Bureau, and also served on the panel of Truth Watch, an investigative series sponsored by the Arizona Republic and KPNX-TV Channel 12 that reviewed and critiqued political advertising.

Bill is a Member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the organization that stages the Waste Management Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament, which raises millions of dollars for local charities. He was a founding member and past president of Phoenix Suns Charities and a past Chapter Chairman of the Young President’s Organization (YPO).

Bill’s honors include the ASU Distinguished Alumni Award, Advertising Person of the Year, and Ad Management Person of the Year. The agency also received the inaugural Spirit of Enterprise Award from Arizona State University Center and the Economic Club of Phoenix.

Originally from the Chicago area, Bill attended Arizona State University, where he received an undergraduate degree in business and a master’s degree in business administration. He also has taught in the marketing department as a faculty associate for the university.

Boards/Leadership Positions
• Heard Museum, Board Member
• YPO, Chapter Chairman and Past Education Chairman
• Russell Racing School, Board Member
• Bell Automotive Products, Board Member
• Better Business Bureau, Foundation Board, Past Chairman
• KAET (Public Television) Board, Past Chairman
• ASU M.B.A. Alumni Council, Founder & Honorary Chairman
• Dean’s Council 100, ASU College of Business, Member
• Phoenix Advertising Club, Past President
• Phoenix Suns Charities, Founding Board Member, Past President
• Valley Leadership, Past Board Member
• Phoenix Thunderbirds, Member
• ASU Faculty Associate (two years)
• Dean’s Club, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

BMA Members: $75
(Please note: This is a members-only event)

Your registration includes access to the Corporate Village and the FBR/Xerox Pro-Am for the entire day Wednesday, February 2nd, thanks to our sponsor, Avnet. This is a special event and space is limited.
Be sure to register today!