Business Marketing Association Celebrates 90 Years as Leading Organization for B2B Marketing Professionals

CHICAGO, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past 90 years, the Business Marketing Association (BMA) has dedicated itself to the education and thought leadership of business-to-business (B2B) marketing professionals through knowledge, people and programs. This month, BMA leadership and chapter members across the country will join together to pay tribute to the organization's 90th anniversary and its longstanding commitment to marketing professionals.

In recognition of this extraordinary milestone, the BMA today released a book that tells the story of the organization's legacy, transitions and impact on the profession and what the BMA has in store for the future. This commemorative book, titled The Business Marketing Association: 90 Years of Inspiring B2B Marketers, is being distributed first at Grow, BMA's 2012 International Conference in Chicago, May 30-June 1, 2012. 

"We're honoring 90 years of innovation, education and leadership for B2B marketers by celebrating BMA," said Al Maag, 2011-12 BMA Chairman and Chief Communications Officer of Avnet. "Today's B2B marketing professionals require a diverse skill set that includes anticipating issues, executing strategy and managing change.  BMA continues to adapt and shift with the profession – providing the education, resources and networking tools to help today's marketers reach the next level of their career and empowering them to enjoy their full professional potential."

The BMA's commemorative book celebrates the organization's 90th anniversary by guiding the reader through the BMA history and growth of the B2B marketing profession, beginning with the organization's conception in 1922 through today.  The coffee-table style book shares the story based on the different eras of the BMA 90-year legacy, accompanied by full-color captioned images. BMA will also publish an electronic version of the book this summer.

The book was compiled largely as a result of volunteer efforts and includes support from over forty different advertisers. Major book contributors include Carla Johnson, Principal at Type A Communications of Denver, who researched and authored the book, IDS Technology Marketing of Phoenix, which provided the design and layout and Prisma Graphic, also of Phoenix, who handled printing.

"The BMA stems from a rich legacy of education and entrepreneurialism. This book captures the organization's 90-year legacy and illustrates major BMA accomplishments while showing how the organization continually looks toward the future growth of the profession," said Johnson.

One of the oldest professional organizations in the country, the founders organized BMA in 1922 with the mission to enrich the professional lives of B2B marketers.  Since then, BMA has grown to 2,450 members globally, 22 chapters throughout the United States and has a membership comprised of corporations, agencies and service providers.  Although the BMA has grown in numbers and adapted the organizational structure to the changing times, its mission has stayed the same. The BMA remains as committed now as it was 90 years ago to providing events, programs and opportunities to help in the growth and development of today's marketing professionals and advancement of the B2B marketing profession.

BMA has made the book available for purchase for $19.00 (including shipping and handling) for 1-49 copies and $10.00 (including shipping and handling) for orders of over 50 copies. Visit www.marketing.org/90Years  to order.

About Business Marketing Association

Started in 1922, today's Business Marketing Association (BMA) works to increase the importance, impact and value of marketing in business worldwide.  BMA is the only professional organization with an exclusive focus on business-to-business marketing and its key drivers: customer engagement and relationships, product and service innovation, value pricing, channels, online/offline marcom, and analytics.  BMA's members represent state-of-the-art expertise in business-to-business marketing and communications, and share best practices for the benefit of the global business community.  For more information about BMA, call 630-544-5054 or visit www.marketing.org.

SOURCE Business Marketing Association