News

EdVenture Partners Explores Three New Industry Sectors

American Century Investments, Bausch & Lomb, Moroccan American Trade and Investment Council (MATIC) and Toyota Motor Co. Seek Marketing Expertise from Students

Orinda, Calif. – March 27, 2006 - EdVenture Partners, a leading marketing education consulting company, announces its newest additions to an already impressive list of clients and programs. American Century Investments, Bausch & Lomb, MATIC and Toyota are participating in several marketing programs managed by EdVenture Partners throughout the current spring and upcoming fall semesters. The Orinda based company partners with colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada to provide clients with unique and credible information that measures how well the clients’ products and services are positioned in the minds of college students. Over the last several years, EdVenture Partners has worked most with the automotive and government sectors. With these newest client additions, it introduces its innovative Peer-to-Peer model to three brand new industry areas – investment management, eye care and international business development – while also continuing to grow its reach in the automotive sector.

American Century Investments, an investment management firm located in Kansas City, MO will participate in EdVenture Partners’ flagship program, the Marketing Internship (MI) model. The program will be implemented on college campuses during the fall 2006 semester. The primary focus will be for students to help spread the word to their peers about the importance of investing for their futures and the different type of investment products and services that exist for students.

A leader in the eye care industry, Bausch & Lomb will participate in Marketing Internship programs with EdVenture Partners in the fall 2006 semester. The objectives of these programs will be to increase awareness, interest and purchase consideration of Bausch & Lomb brand LASIK surgery within the Gen Y target market. In addition, the programs will educate the target market on the importance of eye health and vision care, and promote Bausch & Lomb’s dedication to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers. The company also is looking to establish an opportunity for early talent identification and ongoing relationship building with high-potential medical students who may become future Bausch & Lomb customer physician Ophthalmologists and Optometrists.

With the addition of the Moroccan American Trade and Investment Council (MATIC) to its client roster, EdVenture Partners brings the challenge of in-depth research followed by development of integrated marketing communications plans to college student teams. In the form of a ten-campus by-invitation-only Research program spring 2006, followed by an open invitation national case study competition fall 2006, Brand Morocco programs focus on the identification of strategic issues that impact consideration and purchase of Moroccan goods as well as issues effecting overseas investment decisions within key industry sectors. Students have opportunities to interact with high-level representatives from MATIC and officials from the government of Morocco. Theodore R. Smith, Ph.D., President of the Moroccan American Trade and Investment Council, stated "Working with EdVenture Partners has two benefits: a high level of professionalism and attention to detail, and interactions with young people who bring their immense energies and creativity to the project. It's a cost-effective and engaging option that is giving us the data and results that we need, and hopefully, will generate enthusiasm among the students for possible career opportunities in international marketing."

Toyota has engaged EdVenture Partners to launch the Yaris Debut Challenge spring 2006, designed to have Art Institute students develop and implement a creative integrated marketing and communications campaign to express the distinctive spirit and emotive brand personality of the Yaris to Gen Y, emphasizing Yaris' unique fit with the lifestyles and passions of the target market. Students will utilize non-traditional channels, which may incorporate emerging technology, new media, and other methods of communication to effectively reach and engage the target market both on-campus and within the local creative community as part of their campaign strategies. Jennifer Savary, Events and Promotions, Toyota Marketing states, “Toyota is proud to partner with Art Institute students around the country to introduce our new Yaris to this young, creative, independent minded target. We believe that the students will come up with creative ways to generate awareness and communicate about Yaris that really resonate on campus, and in the general creative community.”

Founded in 1990, Orinda, California based EdVenture Partners (EVP) has already seen 40,000 students pass through one of their unique programs. EVP is the only marketing education consultancy in the United States that brings together educators, students, clients and their channel partners for mutual collaboration, partnership and benefit. All EVP designed programs provide the opportunity for students to apply academic theory to real-world situations, thereby leveraging student minds in addressing client goals and objectives.

For more information on EdVenture Partners, please visit http://www.edventurepartners.com.