What AMA Chicago does

AMA Chicago (legal name: Chicago Chapter Of The American Marketing Association) is a nonprofit professional association chapter founded in 1937 and operating for 88 years as the largest American Marketing Association chapter in North America. It serves Chicago-area marketing professionals through a membership-plus-events model, with a stated email database of 8,000+ marketers and an active Slack community of 860+ members. The chapter is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by President Karen Hatfield, President-elect Jennifer Severns, and Executive Director Bonnie Massa, with hundreds of volunteers organized into six committees (Communications, Membership Relations, Marketing Insights, Programming, Sponsorship, and Strategic Relations).

The chapter's core products are its membership programs (individual at $199/year, group at $169/person/year, collegiate at $29/year), over 50 annual events and programs (Connex networking, monthly Workshops, quarterly Signature Speaker Series, AI Marketing Forum, Career Connections, the BrandSmart annual conference, and the CMO Forum), two award franchises (the Palmer Marketing Awards across nine categories and the Marketer of the Year award), a 9-month Marketing Mentorship Program, seven Special Interest Groups (SIGs), the Chicago Marketing Directory, a marketing job board, and content distribution via amachicago.org and LinkedIn Live. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run on standard third-party tools including Cvent for event registration, Zoom for virtual events, LinkedIn for live streaming, Slack for member community, and Evalato for award submissions.

Revenue is generated from four streams: recurring membership dues, event attendance fees ($20–$30 per non-member event), award submission fees ($375/$275 for Palmer entries, $125 for Marketer of the Year), and corporate sponsorship packages sold to marketing service providers and agencies. Sponsors include VML, Catalyst Ranch, Be Found Online, Winger Marketing, Sprout Social, QuestionPro, StudioNorth, and others. The organization operates as a chapter under the national American Marketing Association nonprofit, maintaining operational autonomy through its own board and programming while accessing a national network of 30,000+ marketers.

Name

AMA Chicago

Legal name

Chicago Chapter Of The American Marketing Association

Website

https://amachicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AMA Chicago is the largest American Marketing Association chapter in North America, providing professional development, events, and networking for 8,000+ Chicago marketing professionals through membership, 50+ annual programs, and two annual award franchises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards (THAHAMAD), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK), Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Professional marketing association
• Marketing networking events
• Marketing awards programs
• Marketing mentorship programs
• Professional development events

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Primary revenue stream from individual and group memberships. Individual membership is $199/year, collegiate membership is $29/year (undergraduate students only), and group membership is $169/person/year. Membership provides free access to all monthly events, discounts on BrandSmart tickets, access to SIGs, member-only Slack channel, and AMA national resources.
2. Event Fees: Revenue from event attendance fees. Members receive free or discounted access to events including Connex, AI Marketing Forum, Workshops, Signature Speaker Series, and Career Connections. Non-members pay $25 for Signature Speaker events, $20 for workshops, and $30 for Signature Speaker Series events.
3. Award Submissions: Palmer Marketing Awards charge $375 per submission, $275 for subsequent submissions. Marketer of the Year submissions cost $125 per submission.
4. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors pay for various sponsorship levels to gain access to the marketing professional community. Sponsors include VML, Be Found Online, Catalyst Ranch, Akire Productions, CO-5, First Position Digital, Massa & Company, Organic Headshots, p3 mediaworks, QuestionPro, Sixième Son, Sprout Social, StudioNorth, Tiger 12, Vaulted Oak, and Winger Marketing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AMA Chicago operates as a nonprofit professional association chapter providing marketing professionals in the Chicago metropolitan area with annual memberships, 50+ in-person and virtual events per year (workshops, speaker series, networking, conferences), industry award programs, a 9-month mentorship program, and Special Interest Groups. The organization sells individual and group memberships, accepts award submissions and sponsorships, and produces flagship programming such as the BrandSmart conference and CMO Forum.

Product overview

AMA Chicago is the largest American Marketing Association chapter in North America, offering a comprehensive suite of professional development and networking services for marketing professionals. The organization operates as a platform-plus-programs model centered around membership, with core offerings including the Marketer of the Year award program, the Palmer Marketing Awards (featuring nine categories including a new Generative AI category), the 9-month Marketing Mentorship Program, and over 50 annual events including Connex networking, Workshop Series, Signature Speaker Series, BrandSmart annual conference, and CMO Forum. Additional services include Special Interest Groups (SIGs) covering Brand, B2B, Digital Marketing, Marketing Team of One, Nonprofits, Product Marketing, and Research & Insights; a Marketing Blog with guest articles; the Chicago Marketing Directory for finding agencies and talent; LinkedIn Live Talks featuring industry leaders; and sponsorship opportunities. The organization also facilitates volunteer engagement through six committees and offers customized sponsorship packages connecting brands with 8,000+ Chicago marketing professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marketer of the Year Award: Annual award recognizing an outstanding marketer in the Chicagoland area who has made notable contributions to the field of marketing.
• Palmer Marketing Awards
• Marketing Mentorship Program
• Connex
• BrandSmart
• CMO Forum
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Products and services

• AMA Chicago Membership Programs Individual membership ($199/year), collegiate membership ($29/year for undergraduates), and group membership ($169/person/year) giving marketing professionals access to free monthly events, SIG participation, member-only Slack channel with 860+ members, Chicago Marketing Directory profile, AMA national resources including templates, tools, webcasts, and professional certifications.
• Marketing Mentorship Program 9-month program matching emerging marketing professionals (1-5 years experience) with experienced marketing mentors, including monthly one-on-one sessions, networking events, and structured career development support. Open to AMA Chicago members.
• Palmer Marketing Awards Award program named in honor of James L. Palmer recognizing outstanding marketing campaigns across nine categories: Product/Service Launch, Momentum, Data-Driven Marketing, Engagement, Integrated Marketing, Not-for-Profit Marketing, Influencer Collaboration, B2B Marketing, and Best Use of Generative AI. Submissions cost $375 per entry ($275 for subsequent submissions from the same organization), with winners announced at the awards ceremony.
• Marketer of the Year Award Annual award recognizing the most outstanding marketer in the Chicagoland area, including submission portal via Evalato at $125 per submission, awards ceremony at BrandSmart, LinkedIn Live interview, and speaking opportunities for the winner.
• BrandSmart Annual Conference The longest-running branding conference in the country, featuring TED Talk-style case studies, best practices, and visions for the future of branding from thought leaders and brands. Held annually at major Chicago venues including Navy Pier. Members receive discounted tickets.
• CMO Forum Annual event gathering top CMOs from multiple backgrounds to discuss successes, failures and lessons learned. The Marketer of the Year award is announced at this forum.
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Member-only collaborative discussion groups covering Brand, B2B, Digital Marketing, Marketing Team of One, Nonprofits, Product Marketing, and Research & Insights. Monthly virtual meetings via Zoom and Slack for topic-specific peer learning.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Customized corporate sponsorship packages connecting companies with 8,000+ Chicago marketing professionals. Multiple sponsorship levels with benefits including event visibility, social network exposure, email marketing access, and networking opportunities. Current sponsors include VML, Be Found Online, Catalyst Ranch, Sprout Social, QuestionPro, and others.
• Signature Speaker Series Events Quarterly events featuring leading marketing practitioners from innovative brands. Format ranges from individual speakers to power panels covering B2B, B2C, startups, non-profits and Fortune 500 companies. Free for AMA Chicago members; $30 for non-members per event.
• Workshop Series Monthly virtual lunchtime sessions led by topic experts teaching best practices and hands-on skills. 11 workshops per year held via Zoom. Free for AMA Chicago members; $20 per workshop for non-members; free for full-time students.
• Connex Networking Events Bi-monthly networking events at Catalyst Ranch featuring speed networking and small group round-robin discussions around hot marketing topics. Free for AMA Chicago members.
• AI Marketing Forum Members-only discussion series held every other month on AI in marketing, featuring expert-led collaboration on AI agents and frameworks for marketing workflows. Led by VML Global Client & AI Lead Joe Grigsby.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to network of 8,000+ experienced marketers including academics, researchers and professionals from every industry
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• American Marketing Association (National)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMA Chicago is the largest chapter of the American Marketing Association, operating as a non-profit corporation governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The national organization provides resources, certifications, and a network of 30,000+ marketers. AMA Chicago pays annual dues to the national organization and operates autonomously with its own board and programming.
• VMLcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVML serves as a primary sponsor of AMA Chicago events including the AI Marketing Forum, Signature Speaker Series, and Workshops. Joe Grigsby, Global Client & AI Lead at VML, regularly leads AI Marketing Forum discussions and participates in LinkedIn Live interviews.
• Catalyst RanchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCatalyst Ranch hosts Connex networking events at their venue (656 W. Randolph St, Chicago). Woman-owned business and pioneer of Chicago's West Loop, providing meeting space for AMA Chicago's bi-monthly networking events.
• Be Found OnlinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSEO and digital marketing agency sponsor. Steve Krull, CEO, has appeared on multiple LinkedIn Live interviews discussing SEO and content strategy. Team members contribute blog content on SEO trends and best practices.
• Winger MarketingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFull-service marketing communications firm and sponsor. Karolyn Raphael, President, serves as Director of Public Relations on AMA Chicago's board and leads award submission workshops.
• First Position DigitalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPaid digital advertising and SEO agency sponsor. Sean Sweeney, CEO, hosted LinkedIn Live on breaking channel silos and contributing speaker at marketing events.
• Organic HeadshotsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago-based photography studio, certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB). Offers member-only discounts for headshot services.
• Akire ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent production company with 15+ years of experience producing virtual and in-person events. Sponsor providing event production expertise.
• CO-5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndependent marketing agency sponsor. Driving brand value through strategy, design, story, film and realities.
• Massa & CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing analytics company and sponsor. Bonnie Massa, Founder & President, serves as Executive Director of AMA Chicago. Data-driven marketing analytics services.
• QuestionProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSurvey and research platform sponsor. Provides online survey software with over 2.5 million users across 40 countries.
• Sixième SonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal sonic branding agency and sponsor. Colleen Fahey, US Managing Director, participates in AMA Chicago programming on audio branding topics.
• Sprout SocialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media management platform sponsor. Founded in 2010, helps businesses streamline engagement with customers on social platforms.
• StudioNorthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFull-service marketing agency and sponsor. Serves clients from Fortune 500 to startups and non-profits.
• Tiger 12minorGTM or Marketing PartnerManaged hosting provider (AWS-powered) and sponsor. Offers website hosting services for clients.
• Vaulted OakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite support and maintenance service for Shopify and WordPress. Sponsor working with e-commerce, non-profits, finance, health & wellness, and CPG brands.
• p3 mediaworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative video agency and sponsor. Creates culture videos for recruitment, employee engagement and brand loyalty.
• Collegiate AMA Chapters in IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Relations committee builds relationships with collegiate AMA chapters across Illinois. Aims to engage students entering the marketing field and pipeline future members.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AMA New York: Another major AMA chapter operating under the same national parent, serving New York marketing professionals with comparable membership, events, awards, and sponsorship programs. One of the closest direct comparables given similar chapter structure and programming mix.
• PRSA Chicago Chapter: Chicago chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Closely comparable to AMA Chicago as a nonprofit professional association chapter delivering local programming, awards, and member services — but in the adjacent communications discipline of PR rather than marketing.
• Ad 2 Chicago: Chicago chapter of the Ad 2 National network for young professionals (32 and under) in advertising and marketing. Comparable local chapter model but focused exclusively on emerging professionals, contrasting with AMA Chicago's broader demographic.

Emerging players

• The CMO Club: Invite-only community for senior marketing leaders (CMOs and VPs of Marketing). Comparable in providing peer networking and CMO-specific programming, but with a more senior-skewing, digital-first model than AMA Chicago's broader membership approach.

Broad incumbents

• ANA (Association of National Advertisers): National trade association for the marketing/advertising industry. Comparable in providing member services (events, training, awards) but focused on advertiser-side clients rather than the broader marketing professional community served by AMA Chicago.
• IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau): Trade association for the digital advertising and marketing industry. Comparable in delivering member events, research, and awards in the marketing space, with a more specialized focus on digital/interactive advertising.
• American Marketing Association (National): The parent organization and broader incumbent in the marketing professional association space. AMA Chicago operates as a chapter under AMA's national umbrella, sharing the AMA brand, certifications, and member resources while delivering local programming.
• 4A's (American Association of Advertising Agencies): Trade association representing advertising agencies. Overlaps with AMA Chicago in serving the marketing services ecosystem (40% of AMA Chicago membership), but focuses on agency-side issues and policy rather than cross-functional marketer development.

Regional players

• The Marketing Society: UK-headquartered global community of senior marketers with US chapters. Comparable in delivering member events, awards, and peer learning for marketing leaders, but primarily serves the UK/European market with US presence rather than Chicago concentration.
• Chicago Interactive Marketing Association (CIMA): Chicago-based professional community for interactive/digital marketing professionals. Comparable in offering local events, networking, and member services to marketers, but with a narrower focus on digital/interactive marketing disciplines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/amachicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/amachicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/amachicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amachicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/amachicago
• Pinterestpinterest.com/amachicago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AMA Chicago