Miami, Oct. 5, 2022 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Business Innovation & Technology (BIT) Center will launch the College’s first Student Operated Digital Agency (SODA) in the heart of downtown Miami. Through SODA, students interested in careers in marketing can obtain industry-recognized certifications, such as Google and Hootsuite free of charge, and will have the opportunity to work with local businesses and organizations to help them overcome marketing and business growth challenges.
SODA will be officially inaugurated on Thursday, Oct. 13, with a series of events free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the BIT Center located at the Wolfson Campus.
“Since opening in 2020, the BIT Center has proudly carried out its mission to facilitate access and understanding of emerging technologies, including Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, DeFi, NFTs and Metaverse, among others,” said Chechu Lasheras, BIT Center director. “With SODA, we are expanding that mission, allowing students to put their knowledge to the test by creating marketing strategies for real clients while earning certifications and learning new skills at no cost.”
Created to enhance college credit programs offered through MDC’s School of Global Business, Trade and Transportation, SODA was first conceived by Lasheras with the idea of building the confidence of students by having them earn globally recognized marketing certifications and the opportunity to be cross-trained in the areas of business and digital marketing. In addition, students will be assisting local business owners and organizations with various services, including digital footprint audits and targeted paid media campaigns.
Mirroring the organizational chart of a traditional ad agency, SODA is currently comprised of a team of five students: Supervision & Management major Minerva Roca, serving as SODA President; Graphic Design Technology major Melany Rodriguez, SODA Vice president at West Campus and Creative Director; Business major Rafael Toledo, SODA Vice president at Wolfson Campus and Marketing Specialist; Graphic Design Technology major, Dave Chavez and Multimedia Graphic Designer and Business Administration major, Juan Minoprio, who works as Content Producer.
The agency works under the guidance of faculty advisor Max Ramirez, BIT Center manager and professor of digital marketing at MDC, who previously worked as director of advertising, leading teams for NYTimes.com and Time Warner Digital. The BIT Center will actively recruit students for SODA from all eight MDC campuses.
SODA operates like a regular agency with departments representing research, strategy, creative and production. Student members represent a range of academic majors, from finance to graphic arts, and with zero to some marketing experience. They volunteer up to five hours per week. Agency members are supported by a faculty advisor and industry-recognized ad agency partners, such as Diaz & Cooper Advertising. SODA has already developed its first digital paid media campaign for Dinerazo.com, a Miami-based investment advisor for Hispanics. Results of the said campaign will be presented during SODA’s inauguration.
The agency will officially open for business on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Students or local businesses interested in learning more may contact Max Ramirez at rramire2@mdc.edu.
About MDC’s BIT Center
MDC’s state-of-the-art BIT Center explores the role of technology in digital transformation, process automation, and analytics in the ever-changing business landscape. The BIT Center is an initiative of MDC’s Miguel B. Fernandez Family School of Global Business, Trade & Transportation and offers various programs and courses in three core areas – marketing and digital marketing; banking and finance; and industry certifications. For a complete list of BIT Center courses and events, visit www.mdc.edu/bitcenter.
For more information about the BIT Center, please contact Chechu Lasheras at 305-297-5696, jlashera@mdc.edu, or Max Ramirez at rramirez2@mdc.edu.
WHAT: BIT Center Inaugurates New Student Operated Digital Agency (SODA)
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. – Noon
Marketing Workshops delivered by MDC students and guest marketing experts
Noon – 1 p.m. – SODA official launch & inauguration
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/2rc8nc9m
WHERE: The BIT Center at MDC Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. 2nd Ave., Building 2