Students’ marketing solutions impress global manufacturer

An executive with a Windsor-based company whose operations span the globe said he was “very impressed” with the marketing strategies developed by teams of master of business administration students from the Odette School of Business.

Marc Levesque, marketing director for CenterLine (Windsor) Ltd., heard presentations Thursday for the company’s affiliates in Mexico, Brazil, Germany, China, and India. The firm provides metalworking equipment and supplies, specializing in advanced automation processes and technologies for the automotive, mass transit, and aerospace industries.

“There are some great ideas here,” Levesque said. “The students have definitely done their homework.”

Professor Peter Voyer said the project gave his students opportunities to apply learned concepts in real-world situations.

“This is not just an isolated academic assignment,” he said. “It’s a chance for students to become real practitioners.”

Levesque said he appreciated the fresh perspective: “The main benefit we get in partnering like this with the business school is a new set of eyes looking at our business.”

The students were happy for a chance to relate their textbook theories to an actual client.

“We’ve learned that for global firms to succeed, there has to be synergy in their communications efforts,” said MBA student Evgeni Gentchev. “They have to put forth a consistent message to maintain a dependable reputation across the board.”

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