Knoxville American Marketing Association
presents a luncheon with

The Rocky Top Institute at The University of Tennessee
Hands-on Experiential Marketing

Wednesday, November 16th
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Calhoun’s on the River

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It’s student designed and marketed. And, you can buy it at the luncheon.

Hear and see homegrown product development and marketing at its best. Be there for behind-the-scene stories and new UT apparel from The Rocky Top Institute Fellowship students. The Rocky Top Institute’s Associate Director Myra Loveday and six students—Azlinn Alder, Makinzi Butram, Tiffany Waddell, Sally Brink, Amanda May and Kara Rose O’Malley—will present products, let us in on the marketing strategy and its success and share how what they do is making an impact.

These enterprising students have put products in the VolShop, collaborated with Champion brand and sold their goods from the shelves of the University Commons Walmart.

You’ll have the opportunity to browse and buy from the Rocky Top pop-up shop! Paisley, plaid and more. Credit and cash only. Get a jump on Christmas and your new Rocky Top gear on November 16th!

The Backstory

The University of Tennessee’s Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences has a partnership with the House of Bryant, who owns the legendary song rights to Rocky Top. The Rocky Top Institute Fellowship is awarded to rising junior-level retail and consumer science majors in the Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. The students under the two-year Rocky Top Institute Fellowship Program create products and learn through experiential academic initiatives in product development, brand management, marketing, licensing and retail business strategies with hands-on, real-world industry projects, while strengthening leadership, creativity and professional skills.
Stepping out of the classroom, and off campus, allows students to work in a professional business environment and, ultimately, to build their skill sets to start a successful career in these related professions. The Rocky Top Institute products are sold in major regional retailers, small retailers and boutiques. Royalties from the products fund student scholarships and academic initiatives.

Myra Loveday is the Associate Director of the Rocky Top Institute and a lecturer of Practice, Retail & Consumer Science in the Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Management Department at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her interests include instruction through experiential learning and applied skills via real-world platforms, drawing on comprehensive concepts, theories and critical thinking to achieve practical results. Her focus is to provide robust topics that interest students to play a responsible and successful part in either B2B (Business to Business) or B2C (Business to Consumer) retail business career paths.

She is an avid believer that students are poised to be game changers in their field of study through gaining knowledge and understanding of how they can influence consumers, communities, business strategies and the greater global marketplace. I am interested in meaningful research to connect the right goods and services to the right people at the right time to make positive global impact.

Myra is an instructor for the Rocky Top Fellowship independent studies classes and Product Development, and her background includes a B.S. in Retail and Consumer Science with a minor in Business, as well as a specialty in business and consumer-focused strategies, from The University of Tennessee. The Bombay Company, SAKS Inc., PetSafe corporations and numerous independent retailers are among her extensive retail experiences.

Azlinn Alder is a senior in retail and consumer science with a minor in business. A leader with an entrepreneurship spirit, she owns her own retail company named Azlinn Hope Boutique. She currently holds Miss Food City title as the corporate ambassador at Nascar races, store openings and this year’s Battle at Bristol UT football game. Azlinn is also product ambassador and a model for Altar’d State, Lyda Formals, Kanali K and Spoiled Rotten Boutique.

Makinzi Butram is a senior in retail and consumer science. She is a member of the National Retail Federation Student Association and a full-time educator at lululemon, focused on in-store visual merchandising. Makinzi served as Orientation Leader 2015, Ignite Team Leader 2014-2015, Ignite Knox Student Co-Director for inaugural year 2016, and she is Involved in the Center for Leadership and Service, Emerging Leaders and Leadership Knoxville Scholars. She’s a member of Student Alumni Associates, 2015-present.

Tiffany Waddell is a senior in retail and consumer science, as well as president of the National Retail Federation Student Association. She is the leader of the Retail, Hospitality and Tourism department’s fundraiser for 2015-2017. Tiffany is a Greek life member of Zeta Tau Alpha and a member of The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Undergraduate Advisory Board. She interned with Kohl’s Corporate in juniors active and graphics buying office and accepted Kohl’s Merchant Analyst Trainee offer to go full time June 2017.

Sally Brink is a junior in retail and consumer science and a member of the National Retail Federation Student Association. She is the recipient of the National Retail Federation Rising Star Scholarship, as well as a member of Student Alumni Association and Rocky Top Round Table. She studied Italian fashion in Florence, Italy. Sally is a Greek life member of Alpha Chi Omega and serves on the executive board as vice president of membership programming, and is also a member of Greek Leader Initiative.

Amanda May is a junior in retail and consumer science, a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and marketing intern 2014 for Childrens’ Court Appointed Service Advocates. She is a devoted volunteer for Play with No Boundaries for disabled children, Zoo Knoxville and Girls Inc. Amanda currently works in the ladies contemporary department at Dillard’s Department Store.

Kara Rose O’Malley is a junior in retail and consumer science. She is involved in the National Retail Student Federation while serving as the executive director of philanthropy and service. Passionate in service, building relationships and learning through experience and challenges, Kara currently works in product development for a downtown Knoxville company.

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