Athletic World Advertising was something of a quaint little business when Gregg Ogden brought his expertise in sports marketing to the Fayetteville-based family firm in 1996. There’s nothing quaint about AWA anymore.
With sales expected to pass $20 million this year, AWA is the largest producer in the world of athletic calendars for high schools and colleges.
The company has more than 3,800 schools in all 50 states under contract, and its sights are set on doubling that business with what Ogden called ”spin-off ” plans in the very near future. Having worked with athletic administrators in the past, Ogden said he knew what appealed to them.
“{Athletic Directors} want trust, “ said Ogden, president of and CEO of AWA. “When they sign off on something they have to live in that community year round.”
For the last three year, AWA has put on the Nike Athletic Director of the Year Conference in St. Augustine, Fla., at the World Golf Village. The first year (1997) 47 states were represented. Those athletic directors went back and spread the word about AWA, something Ogden said was invaluable.
Ogden also got former Tennessee Johnny Majors involved in the conference as well as Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden. Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr and Michigan Athletic Director Andy Geiger, who is in charge of the largest athletic budget in the NCAA.
“Our real key to success is the people we have working for us,” Ogden said. “We have a great family of employees. Our philosophy is to treat them like family. With every business it takes a team to work and good managers. We’ve got that with Mark McQueen {Chief Operating Officer}.
“The growth phase we’re going through creates a lot of excitement. There is a positive buzz going around the office. That makes us successful.”
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