Simon School Communications Blog

Professor George Cook Featured on D&C Podcast: Hybrid Automobiles

Simon School Executive Professor of Marketing George Cook recently was featured on a podcast that focused on the marketing of hybrid automobiles. Hosted by Sean Dobbin of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, the podcast highlights how hybrid cars (like the Toyota Prius) are progressing through the product life-cycle.

Cook speaks to the challenges facing the industry and clarifies some public misconceptions. Is the hybrid's success dependent on ever-rising gas prices? Will future energy legislation help speed the move away from gas-powered autos?

To hear the podcast in its entirety (19 minutes), access Episode 21 from this link:  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=PODCAST09

Simon Professor Leads Marketing Study

Paulo Albuquerque, assistant professor of marketing at the Simon Graduate School of Business, teaches Marketing Management, Distribution Channels and Sales-force Management courses for MBA students. His latest research on New Product Demand in the Consumer Packed Goods (CPG) industry has been accepted by the Marketing Science Journal--a premier journal focusing on empirical and theoretical quantitative research in marketing. He has applied his research techniques to evaluate the launch of the national brand, DiGiorno, in the frozen pizza category. His research has helped companies answer questions like: “Is my product attracting new customers or is it only my existing customers that are buying my new product?”

Prof. Albuquerque has been very active in his research besides teaching graduate classes at the Simon School. His other research interest includes examining factors that drive consumer choices when deciding which car to buy and where to buy it. He is also an avid tennis player and active member of the Simon Tennis Club. Find out more about Prof. Albuquerque and his research here.

Simon Alum Pens New Book on Brand Integrity

A new book by Simon Graduate School of Business alumnus Gregg Lederman '00 shares 10 truths that will lead to profitable branding for companies who embrace them. Achieve Brand Integrity (c. 2007, B@W Press), gives readers the tools to building a successful corporate branding program.

As founder of Brand Integrity Inc., Lederman consults with companies to help them create and develop branding programs that will help them build profitable work cultures where employees are truly focused on living the company brand.

Lederman teaches this methodology at the Simon School. According to Dean Mark Zupan, "The ultimate validation of the Achieving Brand Integrity methodology shows in the remarkable success of the companies who have taken the lessons most to heart." Lederman and his firm have worked with leading companies including Wegmans Food Markets Inc., Hallmark Cards Inc., PAETEC Holdings Corp., Duke Energy, Frito-Lay, the American Red Cross, among many others.

To obtain a copy of Lederman's book, visit www.brandintegrity.com

Simon Earns National Awards for Publications

The Simon School Office of Marketing and Communications is celebrating this week! We earned two prestigious national awards for the School's 2006-2008 Management Programs Catalog.

Simon received a gold award from the Service Industry Advertising Awards (S.I.A.A.), the first national advertising award competition to specifically recognize creativity and communication accomplishments of the service industry.

We also earned a silver medal in the 22nd Annual Admissions Advertising Awards for the catalog. The national competition, sponsored by Admissions Marketing Report, judges on creativity, marketing execution and impact of message. This year, over 2,100 entries were received from more than 1,200 colleges, universities and secondary schools in the U.S. and several foreign countries.

"This national recognition from two prominent education and industry leaders confirms our strategic plan to promote the Simon School among the finest graduate business schools in the world," says Dean Mark Zupan. "We strive for excellence in all facets of the Simon experience, and are gratified that our heightened emphasis on marketing and communications is gaining well-deserved national acclaim."

Super Bowl Ad Analysis

To borrow a phrase from my TV sports anchor husband who is covering the Super Bowl in Miami, "this game is global theatre." Tonight's game will be the biggest event in TV all year from a ratings and advertising perspective. An estimated 1 billion viewers worldwide will tune in to the game with more than 100 million in the U.S. alone.

Simon School marketing faculty member George Cook will be available to the media to analyze the Super Bowl ads tomorrow (Feb. 5) between 10 a.m. and noon on the University of Rochester campus. He will give his take on the best and worst ads aired during the Super Bowl game. 

Now for some Super Bowl facts researched by my 11-year-old daughter, Natalie.