OBU Students Assist Shawnee Regional Airport with Marketing Strategy

June 9, 2017

By Connelly Rader

Students at Oklahoma Baptist University worked with the Shawnee Regional Airport during the spring semester to help with the airport’s marketing tactics. The three students, Connelly Rader, Zach Romoser and Daniel Maranell, were all students in a small business marketing class.

The course was taught by Dr. Daryl Green, assistant professor of business and Dickinson Chair of Business. He assigned each student in the class to team up with local businesses in order to gain real world experience, while implementing material learned inside the classroom.

The three students paired with Shawnee Regional Airport (SRA) in order to focus on improving online presence through Facebook as well as developing a detailed brochure. Their brochure will be used by Shawnee Regional Airport manager Keenan English at the Oshkosh airshow this summer.

“Their decision to create some marketing materials came at a perfect time,” English said. “We plan on representing the Shawnee Regional Airport at the Oshkosh airshow this July, and having some brochures to take with us will help us advertise to pilots from across the nation as to why they should come fly in to Shawnee.”

When Green approached the airport about a potential partnership with his students, they were ecstatic about gaining a new and fresh insight on different marketing tactics that could be realistically applied.

“Being so involved in the operation and development of the airport, airport staff has little time to devote to marketing efforts,” English said. “OBU students help us bridge that gap through projects like the one they did this year as well as past years. Their efforts speak to the great relationship that exists between OBU and the city of Shawnee.”

Students were focused on improving the airport’s presence on Facebook by keeping the page’s audience informed and updated with photos and current events. Students also suggested their page content needed to be updated on the “About” and “Services” tabs.

Students also designed a tri-fold brochure which includes important information for their target audience such as amenities offered at the airport and other detailed information that is important for pilots.

“It’s been great getting real world experience and being able to see the things we’ve learned play out in an actual company,” Romoser said. “To know our work is actually going to be used has made this a very humbling experience.”

The mission of the Paul Dickinson College of Business is to provide a quality, Christian-based education to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business. OBU’s business degree programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. For more information on studying business at OBU, visit www.okbu.edu/business.