Established in 2008 as an initiative of the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA), the eMarketing Learning Center is an educational and research organization for e-marketing professional development and business mentoring. The eMarketing Learning Center offers an affordable, world-class, research-based curriculum taught by experienced industry experts.

According to the Annenberg report entitled, “The 2008 Digital Future Project,” 80% of Internet users age 17 and older consider the Internet to be an important source of information, up from 66% in 2006, and higher than television (6%), radio (63%) and newspapers (63%). The Internet has become the preferred channel for consumers and businesses to research, evaluate, and make purchases. Online Marketing involves sales, marketing and technology. The multi-channel process includes the Web, e-mail, search engines, social media and more to profitably acquire and retain customers.

"The Internet as a marketing channel has become a very powerful platform impacting the economy, communications and the way business is done. In fact, during these difficult economic times, businesses need to remain competitive in a cost effective manner and job seekers need to fine tune their skills and gain a competitive advantage to remain valuable in the work place," said Cathy von Birgelen, director of the eMarketing Learning Center. “We designed our professional development programs to help marketers and decision makers become more educated in the digital space and learn how to apply it to their businesses. Those that take advantage will stay ahead of the game.”

The eMarketing Learning Center is located at eBizITPA in Knowledge Park; however, live classes are offered across the state of Pennsylvania and webinars and other web-based offerings are on the eMarketing Learning Center’s website. “Our classes in Email marketing and Search Engine Optimization teach how to execute the best known practices, and our newest class offered February 5th is called ‘Fundamental Guide to Developing a Paid Search Advertising Strategy,’ with a Google AdWords certified instructor. Learning these new strategies and technologies is required if one wants to remain competitive in the job market,” von Birgelen said.

The eMarketing Learning Center recently released the 2009 Course Schedule which includes courses on: Email Deliverability, Paid Search Advertising, Successful Search Engine Optimization and Successful Email Marketing.

eBizITPA established the eMarketing Learning Center in response to the regional and global online marketing talent and skills gap that are in great demand for this high-growth area of business. In addition, audiences are fractured and scattered across a continuously expanding and complicated multi-channel landscape. Businesses today can no longer ignore the fact that they need to integrate affordable, effective and efficient eMarketing into their marketing strategy in order to survive and compete in our very competitive global markets.

“EMarketing offers high value at low cost, and more importantly eMarketing is the most interactive and traceable method of reaching customers and generating sales leads,” von Birgelen added. “New markets equal new opportunities.”

The course instructors teaching the 2009 Course Schedule are qualified in their area of expertise as follows:

Chris Rudd, the Web marketing specialist at PAPA Advertising , with offices in Erie, PA and Charlotte, NC. With nearly 10 years of experience, he provides dynamic solutions and strategies for interactive marketing, including web management, promotion and sales. Rudd has past experience as a web optimization consultant, director of web marketing, and director of business development for regional and national firms. Rudd is also a certified Google AdWords Qualified Individual.

Jeff Parnell is a 23-year veteran of the direct marketing industry. Jeff is a board member and former boar chairman of the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA) as well as a member of the adjunct faculty at Gannon University’s Dahlkemper School of Business. From 2000-2007, he served as a Vice President with Blair Corporation, and led their e-commerce business from start-up to nearly $100 million in sales. He holds a Bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. from East Carolina University and recently joined Howard Industries as Chief Operating Officer.

Neal Rabogliatti, the senior e-strategy consultant for Catalyst Connection in Pittsburgh, PA, has over 12 years of Internet development and marketing experience, specializing in developing strategies for search engine optimization and conversion in the B2B and manufacturing sectors. Some of his clients include: PPG, Erie Insurance, and the University of Arkansas. Neal lectures nationally on search engine optimization and is a member of the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO).

Cathy von Birgelen, director of the eMarketing Learning Center, is a certified email marketing professional and a strategic marketing consultant with more than 12 years of experience in e-marketing and business development efforts. She has consulted with many regional and national clients including: GE, Choice Hotels, Proctor & Gamble, Holcombs, Howard Industries, Troyer Farms, Gannon University, Blair.com, and Penn State Erie, the Behrend College.