“You meet, have fun and connections are made,” emphasized Gert in his welcome and expressly thanked the members for taking time for the club’s events. He also particularly welcomed the honorary members present, including Honorary President Lothar Nadler.
Marketing in transition – network as a strength of the region:
In his speech, Duschan Gert addressed the profound changes in the economy and society. Markets and forms of communication are in a phase of rapid transformation that challenges companies and marketing managers alike.
A strong regional network is invaluable, especially in times of accelerated change. The Marketing Club offers a platform to share knowledge, exchange experiences and make the region’s expertise visible. His special thanks went to the voluntary commitment of the board and advisory board, who put a lot of effort into shaping club life.
Looking back on an active year of events:
Patrick Jost, executive director of the MCO, then looked back on the 2025 event year. The club organized a total of five lecture events, three “on-site marketing” formats, a meet & greet, the summer special and a special event at the “Black Forest Space” online marketing trade fair in Offenburg.
What was particularly pleasing was that the number of participants increased again compared to the previous year. In total, the Marketing Club can now look back on 344 events since it was founded – impressive evidence of the network’s continuous work in the region.
New impulses for 2026:
Patrick Jost also presented exciting perspectives for the current year. In addition to tried and tested formats, members can look forward to new initiatives.
A special highlight is the cooperation with Offenburg University under the title “Marketing Talents Offenburg”. Students have the opportunity to present their final theses to a committee of the Marketing Club. The aim is to bring together innovations from science and practice and to promote exchange between young talent and experienced marketing experts.
“A strong network is created where members show themselves and benefit from each other,” said Jost, summing up the club’s focus.
Federal association in transition:
As part of the general meeting, a look was also taken at the Federal Association of Marketing Clubs eV (BVMC). After increasing criticism from regional marketing clubs, the association is facing a process of change.
The aim is to create more transparency, review existing structures and reshape the future of the association together with the clubs. If necessary, an extraordinary general meeting could take place during the year.
Solid finances and unanimous discharge:
The financial report was presented by Dr. Martin Mildenberger, CFO of the MCO, introduced. The subsequent financial audit was presented by Silvia Kolb, who confirmed proper accounting.
At the request of member Mathias Schmidt, the president, board of directors and advisory board were discharged from the meeting after a vote.
Outlook for the 2026 program:
Sandra Wörner, program director of the Marketing Club, also gave an overview of the events that have already taken place in 2026 as well as an outlook on the upcoming dates. This year, members can once again look forward to a variety of formats that offer insights into innovative companies, current marketing trends and exciting practical examples.
Honors for long-term membership:
A special moment of the meeting was the honoring of long-standing members.
– 2 members were honored for 25 years of membership, including Dirk Knop and Rainer Waltersbacher.
– 2 additional members were honored for 20 years.
– 5 members received an award for 10 years of commitment to the club.
The honors underlined the strong connection many members have with the Ortenau-Offenburg Marketing Club.
Exchange over the rooftops of Offenburg:
After the official part, the general meeting turned into a social evening. With a buffet from the Armbruster bakery and good drinks, the members took the opportunity to exchange ideas, make new contacts and deepen existing networks.
The evening ended in a relaxed atmosphere over the rooftops of Offenburg – in keeping with the spirit of the club: Marketing thrives on dialogue, ideas and people connecting with each other.
(Press release: Marketing Club Ortenau-Offenburg, March 11, 2026)
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