Brand Building in Community Colleges: The Power of Perception

Maya Demishkevich is a distinguished marketing and communications professional, currently serving as the Chief Marketing Officer at Carroll Community College. With over 15 years of experience in higher education marketing, Maya has developed a reputation for excellence, particularly in the realms of digital media and education marketing. Her expertise extends to leveraging academic research and industry best practices to drive success in various marketing initiatives. Under Maya's leadership, the Marketing and Creative Services team at Carroll Community College has achieved significant recognition for their innovative and impactful work. The team's efforts have been honored with six Medallion Awards from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR), showcasing outstanding achievement in design and communication. These accolades include three Gold Awards, one of which celebrated the redesign of the College's website for its user-friendly interface and vibrant portrayal of campus life, significantly enhancing the institution's online presence and accessibility. Maya's strategic approach to social media and marketing has been instrumental in addressing challenges related to content development and engagement, setting a standard for excellence in community college marketing. Her work not only supports Carroll Community College's strategic goals but also positively impacts students' lives by highlighting the value and opportunities offered by the institution.

Nancie McDonnell Ruder has dedicated her career to strengthening brands and the people who build them. With over 25 years of experience in marketing strategy, marketing training, branding and consumer research, Nancie has vast experience accelerating growth for companies by helping build their internal marketing strength – so external marketing efforts are focused and most effective. Nancie began her professional career with the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago, Illinois, where she spearheaded Leo Burnett’s global new business efforts. Since launching Noetic Consulting, a marketing and leadership consultancy in 2002, Nancie has provided strategic guidance to clients large and small, including: AT&T, Discovery Channel, Georgetown University, Nike, Vail Resorts, Samsung Electronics, SC Johnson, Mayo Clinic, the Walt Disney Company and others. Noetic is proudly female owned and WBENC-Certified as a diversity owned business.