Marketing Communications Today Blog

Josh Wilson is a data-driven marketing executive for community focused financial institutions. He's currently VP of marketing for Whitefish Credit Union, the largest credit union in Montana. Josh is passionate about combining data-driven marketing strategies with authentic content to provide measurable success. Over his career, Josh has held positions in marketing, finance and government. He is also a graduate of West Virginia University's  Data Marketing Communications master’s program.

Cyndi Greenglass, a DMC faculty member, spoke with Josh regarding his experience as a graduate of WVU's Data Marketing Communications graduate program. Here's what he had to say as he was hosted on the  Reed College of Media's weekly Podcast.

As individuals, we face a deluge of information unprecedented in human history, from the screens we carry in our pockets to broadcast media, from traditional print to emerging AI technologies. As marketing communications professionals, we should be asking ourselves a crucial question: How can we, as professional communicators, propel our message, reach our target audience, remain relevant, and experience professional success in a competitive industry like marketing communications?

Success in today’s fast-moving marketing communications field requires mastering consistent brand messaging and understanding how to implement data-driven action plans throughout all facets of a marketing campaign. But not only do you want to keep up in this field: You want to stay ahead of the competition and become a sought-after thought leader in your organization and your industry. A graduate degree that focuses on integrated marketing and data-driven communications will accelerate you to the top of this high-powered field, prepare you for success in an array of competitive career environments, and increase your professional ROI.

The marketing communications industry continues to evolve at lightning speed, and we — as marketing communications professionals, must be able to adapt and change with it.

To be successful in the evolving marketing communications industry, marketing managers must have the skills to create, implement, and examine marketing campaigns using an integrated, quantifiable methodology. They must have a clear understanding of how to do so by creating consistent messaging in multichannel communications. Thanks to media and technology, there are more avenues now than ever to get a message in front of consumers, but that also muddies the waters as to which avenue is the best for reaching the desired target audience.

As a marketing communications professional, there are many directions in which you could take your career. Whether you see yourself pursuing an in-house communications position or you want more variety — you are determined to establish yourself as a relevant and respected thought-leader for a competitive agency.

West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media is dedicated to preparing students for a variety of roles and work environments within the marketing communications industry. That’s why  we specifically developed the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) graduate program to equip forward-thinking marketers and communications professionals with the business acumen, industry knowledge, and skills to implement  real data-driven action plans that today’s marketing agencies are looking for (and desperately need!).

As a discipline,  Integrated Marketing Communications is a strategic, collaborative, and promotional business function through which a targeted audience senses consistent, persuasive, and reinforced brand messaging.

When you woke up this morning, what was the first thing you saw? When you reach for your clothes to get dressed, or for the ingredients in your fridge to make dinner, or when you search for something on Google for work — what brands are you exposed to, even unconsciously?

The average American is exposed to between 4,000 and 10,000 advertisements every single day. Now, if you asked anyone how many they recall seeing, it would be nowhere near that number. In fact,  one marketing firm found that less than 100 advertisements make it past our “attention wall” per day.

West Virginia University’s Master of Science in  Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) features a network of 1,500+ alumni, current students, and faculty. For IMC students, WVU's support system begins on day-one and continues as long as you let it. As the saying goes, “Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer,” 

One IMC alum, Lindsay Emery, shares her takeaways and feedback for current students and prospective students of the IMC program alike. Lindsay now uses the skills and knowledge she gained while enrolled in the IMC program in New York City where she runs the marketing department for TTC Group, a social impact consulting firm.